What's New?
Murdock Newsletter
May 6, 2009
Calendar
Friday May 8-Junior & Senior High last day
Saturday May 9-High School Graduation at 2:00 in Murdock
Sunday May 10-Mother’s Day
Mon, May 25-Memorial Day
Inspiration
Watch your thoughts, they become words.
Watch your words, they become actions.
Watch your actions, they become habits.
Watch your habits, they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes....
your destiny.
'Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle'
Happy Mother’s Day!!!
As I thought about Mother’s Day coming up this Sunday, I had a lot of things go through my head. First of all, I’ve been so consumed with the end of the school year and all that it entails that I didn’t even realize it was Mother’s Day this weekend until five days ago. Most of you know I have a senior this year. Well, I guess he’s not a senior any more since their last day was last Friday. It was eye opening to wake up this morning and not have Nick go to school today. He is done with that portion of his life… that very big portion of his life. It is such a change for them and us (the parents). It is so amazing to me to let go of parts of our lives that are completed and embrace what is to come.
I have heard so many times, “don’t blink because they’ll be gone before you know it” or “enjoy these years with your kids because they don’t last long”. Some nights I thought lasted way too long when one of my babies stayed up most of the night, but as I look back, it is so true how fast they grow up. I’m glad I learned to slow down and smell the roses with them. I’m glad I learned to recognize those small windows of opportunity when your teen sits at the table and just start talking that it is vital to drop everything else and listen… even if you don’t understand a lot of what they are saying.
I also thought about those who have such a longing in their hearts to have children, but were unable. Or those children who have lost their mother-especially those who lost her at an early age. I think about those who didn’t have a good relationship with their mom for one reason or another. Or maybe never even knew their mother. There are so many new mother’s out there, including my daughter Erica, who is experiencing Mother’s Day for the very first time! WOW! There are a lot of mixed emotions on Mother’s Day depending on where you are in life and what your circumstances are.
I hope you’ll call your mom on Sunday. I think we mom’s all try to do the best we can even if our best isn’t very good. Or if you’re not able to call your own mom, maybe you could give someone else’s mom a call. Or that “mom figure” that God gave you.
Here is a little verse I found a while back that I thought was kind of cool. Hope everyone enjoys their Mother’s Day.
MEAN MOMS
Someday when my children are old enough to
understand the logic that motivates a parent,
I will tell them, as my Mean Mom told me:
I loved you enough to ask where you were going,
with whom, and what time you would be home.
I loved you enough to be silent and let you
discover that your new best friend was a creep.
I loved you enough to stand over you for
two hours while you cleaned your room,
a job that should have taken 15 minutes.
I loved you enough to let you see anger,
disappointment, and tears in my eyes. Children must learn that their parents aren’t perfect.
I loved you enough to let you assume the
responsibility for your actions even when the
penalties were so harsh they almost broke my heart.
But most of all, I loved you enough to say
NO when I knew you would hate me for it.
Those were the most difficult battles of all.
I’m glad I won them, because in the end you won, too.
And someday when your children are old enough to
understand the logic that motivates parents, you will tell them.
Was your Mom mean?
I know mine was.
We had the meanest mother in the whole world!
While other kids ate candy for breakfast,
we had to have cereal, eggs, and toast.
When others had a Pepsi and a Twinkie for lunch,
we had to eat sandwiches.
And you can guess our mother fixed us a dinner that was
different from what other kids had, too.
Mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times.
You’d think we were convicts in a prison.
She had to know who our friends were
and what we were doing with them.
She insisted that if we said we
would be gone for an hour, we would be gone
for an hour or less.
We were ashamed to admit it,
but she had the nerve to break
the Child Labor Laws by making us work.
We had to wash the dishes, make the beds,
learn to cook, vacuum the floor, do laundry, empty the trash and all sorts of cruel jobs.
I think she would lie awake at night
thinking of more things for us to do.
She always insisted on us telling the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
By the time we were teenagers,
she could read our minds
and had eyes in the back of her head.
Then, life was really tough!
Mother wouldn’t let our friends just honk
the horn when they drove up
They had to come up to the door
so she could meet them.
While everyone else could date
when they were 12 or 13,
we had to wait until we were 16.
Because of our mother we missed out
on lots of things other kids experienced.
None of us have ever
been caught shoplifting, vandalizing other’s property or ever arrested for any crime.
It was all her fault.
Now that we have left home, we are all educated, honest adults.
We are doing our best to be mean parents just like Mom was.
I think that is what’s wrong with the world today.
It just doesn’t have enough mean moms!
What’s Happening Around Our Community
8th grade graduation took place last Tuesday after the Junior High Awards night. Mr. Allemang spoke to the students about the importance of their education and what a privilege it is to be able to continue beyond the 8th grade. It has not always been that way.
The students, family, and friends enjoyed a time of celebration with cake and punch in the old gym. The 6th grade D.A.R.E. graduation tape that Mrs. Kuhlman made was played and some pictures of the class as they were growing up were displayed. It was a very nice time. Thank you to all who helped put it together and to the 7th grade parents for serving.
Senior High Honors Night was also held last week. One by one the high school teachers came forward to recognize those students who put forth such excellent effort in their academics. I didn’t get a picture, but Marcus Winter received a standing ovation for his perfect score of 36 of his ACT test. Marcus was recognized and awarded many times for his outstanding performance. I believe Mr. Allemang said there were only 63 out of 500,000 students in the USA that accomplished this very rare achievement. Congratulations Marcus and congratulations to all of the Elmwood-Murdock students and teachers for another outstanding school year.
Another standing ovation was given last week, but this time it was to the High School Choir during the Spring Concert. All I can say is “WOW!” It was SO… amazing!
The night started off with the jazz band. Mr. Hansen conducted the Junior High and the Senior High bands and Mrs. Colbert lead the vocal portion of the program. No wonder there were so many awards given through out the year to the bands and choirs!
Manley, NE
The Gizmo Guys, Allan Jacobs and Barrett Felk
World-Class Entertainers at the Lofte
What do you get when you cross world-class juggling talent with family friendly comedy? The answer is, the Gizmo Guys!
Allan Jacobs and Barrett Felker have amazed and amused audiences around the world. The Gizmo Guys have strutted their stuff in places as diverse as Saudi Arabia and Japan and have taught juggling at the renowned French and Canadian National Circus Schools. But, what makes their act so appealing is their combination of technique and infectious humor. The Gizmo Guys' rapid-fire act inspires sidesplitting laughter in audience members of all ages.
The Gizmo Guys are based out of New York City, but have visited Nebraska several times in the past. Most recently they performed at Lincoln's Lied Center for the Performing Arts in 2007 and treated a sell-out crowd to their special brand of family entertainment.
The Gizmo Guys will be performing at the Lofte on Friday, May 8th at 7:00pm. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for children ages 12 and under. Their show generally runs about an hour.
Everyone from age 0-100 is encouraged to join us for this fun-filled evening. Bring the kids. Bring Grandma and Grandpa. The whole family will have fond memories of this one!
Tuesday, May 12, at 11:30 a.m. at the Cass County Museum as part of the Brown Bag Series is the film, “The Plow that Broke the Plains” film with a panel discussion following. This event is free and open to the public, please bring your “brown bag” lunch with you to enjoy during the event.
ELMWOOD COMMUNITY
BLOOD DRIVE
Tuesday, May 19th, 2009
1:00 – 5:00 PM
For an appointment call JoANN at 994-5095 or go online @ www.giveBLOODgiveLIFE.org
AMERICAN RED CROSS
Flying Wheels Summer Hours!
Flying Wheels will be open on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons 1:00 – 4:00 starting on May 26th. Tuesdays will be skating and the regular games. Thursday there may be an extra activity.
Stay tuned to our website for more details! We will also be open on Saturday mornings for awhile…everyone is just too busy to come skating. We will post it on the website when we will start closing on Saturday mornings. Saturday nights though…we will be open! 6:30 to 10:30 as usual. There will be a couple times in the summer when we will be closed on Saturdays but we will post those dates on signs and on the website. Sundays we will probably be open one Sunday a month. Again, everyone is just so busy! It will be posted on our website! www.flyingwheelsrocks.com
Louisville's Annual Spring Parade
Louisville's B.U.I.L.D. GROUP (Businesses United In Louisville's Development) would like to invite you to join us in our Annual Spring Parade-one of the largest in the area!
Date: Saturday, May 16th
Time: 1:00 PM - Line up at Noon on Cherry St
This can be a great opportunity to bring exposure to your town. We encourage participation by businesses as well as churches, schools, civic and private groups.
We love to see imaginative floats but welcome vehicles and walkers.
Entry forms can be found at louisvillenebraska.com under Events.
Deadline for entries is Friday, May 8th
For questions call Dee 402-234-7705 or Nancy 402-670-9016
Along with the parade we will have entertainment on Main Street, food vendors and an art fair from 10:00-5:00 - an "Air Your Art In Louisville" event.
Our businesses will be open for shopping and restaurants invite you to stop in for a bite to eat.
Louisville Art Gallery will host its annual Thrown & Blown....artists, glass blowers, pottery and jewelry makers will have demonstrations and goods for sale Saturday and Sunday.
Bring your family and make a day of it in Downtown Louisville!
Upcoming Events at the Old Avoca Schoolhouse
Greenblatt & Seay's Schoolhouse Performance Series features an old-time dance on Sunday, May 10, at 2:30 p.m., with Greenblatt & Seay & their fine audience. The afternoon festivities will encourage and instruct the audience in the art of circle dances, contra dances, waltzes, polkas, and a few surprises.
Greenblatt & Seay will provide the live music for the dances, and will provide a little background music and vocalizing between the dances, so that the dancers can catch their breath.
The dance will be followed by light refreshments, and a chance to chat and even jam with the performers. Admission is $5.00 for adults, and $1.00 for children and students. For more information, call 275-3221, or e-mail them at g-s@alltel.net This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .
Tidbit
A Quiz For People Who Know Everything
(1) There's one "sport" in which neither the spectators nor the participants
know the score or the leader until the contest ends. What is it?
(2) What famous North American landmark is constantly moving backward?
(3) Of all vegetables, only two can live to produce on their own for several
growing seasons. All other vegetables must be replanted every year. What are the
only two perennial vegetables?
(4) Name the only sport in which the ball is always in possession of the team on
defense, and the offensive team can score without touching the ball?
(5) What fruit has its seeds on the outside?
(6) In many liquor stores, you can buy pear brandy, with a real pear inside the
bottle. The pear is whole and ripe, and the bottle is genuine; it hasn't been
cut in any way. How did the pear get inside the bottle?
(7) Only three words in standard English begin with the letters "dw." They are
all common. Name two of them.
(8) There are fourteen punctuation marks in English grammar. Can you name half
of them?
(9) Where are the lakes that are referred to in the "Los Angeles Lakers?"
(10) There are seven ways a baseball player can legally reach first base without
getting a hit. Taking a base on balls-a walk-is one way. Name the other six.
(11) It's the only vegetable or fruit that is never sold frozen, canned,
processed, cooked, or in any other form but fresh. What is it?
(12) Name six or more things that you can wear on your feet that begin with the
letter "S."
Website of the Week
www.elmwoodlibrary.com
"Answers To Quiz"
1. Boxing.
2. Niagara Falls. The rim is worn down about two and a half feet each year
because of the millions of gallons of water that rush over it every minute.
3. Asparagus and rhubarb.
4. Baseball.
5. Strawberry.
6. The pear grew inside the bottle. The bottles are placed over pear buds when they are small, and are wired in place on the tree. The bottle is left in place
for the whole growing season. When the pears are ripe, they are snipped off at
the stems.
7. Dwarf, dwell, and dwindle.
8. Period, comma, colon, semicolon, dash, hyphen, apostrophe, question mark,
exclamation point, quotation marks, brackets, parenthesis, braces, and ellipses.
9. In Minnesota. The team was originally known as the Minneapolis Lakers and
kept the name when they moved west.
10. Batter hit by a pitch; passed ball; catcher interference; catcher drops
third strike; fielder's choice; and being designated as a pinch runner.
11. Lettuce.
12. Shoes, socks, sandals, sneakers, slippers, skis, snowshoes, stockings.
...Well, now you know! Feel any smarter?
News to the Editor
- Please send all your Murdock area news to me. Birthdays, anniversaries, announcements, events or news are welcome and will be added to the upcoming newsletter. Thanks in advance for all your help!
Teri Bowman
Editor@murdocknebraska.com
