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Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, it was interesting when a friend shared that the dictionary defines Easter as a Christian festival which celebrates the resurrection of Christ. Easter, Sunday brought to mind a myriad of images, one of which was the singing of lovely Easter anthems. A book on Hymns elucidates the following pertaining to one favorite hymn: “In the Garden” (written March 1912 by C. Austin Miles) allows the singer to share the experience of Mary Magdalene, as she met Jesus outside the tomb on Easter morn...
My memories article this time will be a little different as I will write about several individuals who I knew, played sports with, or who brought back memories of years ago. The past articles in the Eagle about "Carter County Greats" was great, informative and I agree. Those people triggered names of individuals that I would like to share with you, including the Eagle article about George Yelloweyes. I remember when I was a basketball referee and he came with the Miles City...
No one alive now will ever forget the Covid-19 Pandemic of 2020 when we all stayed home to fight an invisible enemy. As I write this, we are not sure whether we are effectively flattening the curve, but most people seem to be trying to follow the CDC guidelines. As an educator of 39 years, I find myself struggling with the part of sheltering I am supposedly professionally prepared for, which is homeschooling. There is a reason for public school, and it is that home schooling is too hard. I am tasked with homeschooling my...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: On a hillside near the city, a grove of olives grew, Gethsemane means ‘oil press’ – its nuance Jesus knew. This Garden Grove, a place of prayer – a happening there one night, near the press for oil – the press of sin, OUR sins on Christ, not light. So – what happened in that garden – where heavy weights press oil? Affliction and anxiety, to us they are a foil. The first man, Adam, by his choice disjoined[1] God by his sin. The second Adam, Jesus Christ, forgives us from within. He knew He was the...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, lots of folks have heaps of thoughts and ideas about the secret of how to have happiness. How about Christmas gifts – just think of all the items, all these special gifts are given because of the happiness and love we share. With Easter coming up, here is a good thought to embrace, in a poem by Sper: “Because of love God sent His Son From heaven’s throne to earth To rescue us from sin and death – a Gift of priceless worth!” An unknown author wrote: “The secret of happiness is...
Even though Covid-19 is a very serious topic, I feel that my job description as a cooking/humor columnist is an essential service in coping with this crisis. I think since everyone is sheltered in place in Montana and much of the nation, we need good recipes and a chuckle now more than ever. Since most of the workforce is working from home or not working, I know there are a lot of people who have their grown children and grandchildren moving home to be with them during this crisis. If there is a windfall to this, it is...
I was sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee on the morning of March 5, 2020 when the cruise ship The Grand Princess came across the screen. Somehow I knew that was the ship my friends, Judy Vidack and Theresa Hopkins were on. The report said that a passenger on the ship on a cruise to Mexico prior to their Hawaii cruise had tested positive for Coronavirus so they were going to do testing on the ship. By noon that day, the passengers were sequestered in their rooms and a Coast Guard helicopter was delivering testing sup...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, recently, we ran across some interesting truths. When a friend stated that You, Lord, are like an ‘eyelid’, we were like “What? What are you talking about?” Amazingly, we discovered some interesting and surprising pictures in the Bible, things like You, Lord God, as a laboring mother (ISA 42:14) or as a beekeeper (7:18); now that surely was all news to those of us listening! We read in Deuteronomy 32 where Moses praises the way You took care of Your people, and in verse 10 how You s...
Depression and anxiety are the two most common mental health disorders, and every person will experience one or both at some point in their life. Some people experience depression or anxiety over a short period, while others have a lifelong diagnosis. Occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. We all experience anxiety at some point, like before a big test, a job interview, or before making a big decision. However, anxiety disorders involve more than temporary fear. Those with anxiety disorders experience anxiety lifelong,...
A virus is an infectious microscopic organism which invades a living organism, such as humans, animals, bacteria, and plants, and uses those host to replicate. There are a multitude of different viruses. Many viruses cause diseases in humans, such as influenza, the common cold, chicken pox, AIDS, and rabies. Fortunately, for many common viruses there are vaccines available that humans can get to prevent infections. However, there are not vaccines available for all viruses, especially new ones, like the one that causes the...
I would like to end my articles about the family of Joe and Marj Schallenberger this week - they brought back many memories to me and hopefully to you readers. I will share a few statistics and information on the family and then I would like to share some of my recollections of this couple. Marjorie Opal Powell was born 11-20-1916 in Ekalaka to James and Effie Oberlin Powell and had a brother, Harry and a sister, Maxine Lilletvedt. At an early age, Marj lost her father and her...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, having just visited with a couple of near neighbors who are Moms of small kids, sharing some nighttime incidents, it brought back memories from long ago – but – things like ‘back then’ probably still transpire today. Back then when we were little kids, we’d go to bed and all would be hushed in our house, except for some normal night noises; one of which might awaken one of us from first sleep. Pusillanimously or nervously, we’d call out, “Mommy.” If there was no answer, we’d call...
For those of you who are stuck at home self quarantining, I have a bit of reading material for you this week. This tale by Mark Silverstein, who ranches north of Big Timber, Montana came to my inbox with the following comment, "Your Dr. Seuss tribute poem (loved that Seussan Metcalf) inspired me to write a "Fairy Tale" of my own with similar subject matter." Thanks for submitting this fairy tale, Mark! It takes our mind off of Covid-19 for a few minutes! A FAIRY TALE --by Mark Silverstein Once upon a time, millions of...
Joe and Marj Schallenberger Joe continues his Shifting Scenes article with the statement: “in 1933 Mother passed away and with Floyd and Mildred married and Clyde working outside, he, his dad, and Etola stayed on the ranch.” Hard, tough years: “1934 caught us out of feed both in the stack and on the ground and we along with the majority were forced to sell our stock to the Government. Good cows brought $20.00 each and the poorer ones $16.00. They had to be delivered to the railroad at Marmarth, North Dakota — about seventy...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: A while back we had the privilege to read a grade school kid’s speech on STAYING ACTIVE/FIT. That brought back some childhood memories. As a farm/ranch kid, whoever thought about anorexia or obesity? We didn’t have time for that and we certainly never heard of all the electronics that folks have at their fingertips today. Most of those items weren’t even invented, way back then. We had chores to do outside in the fresh air – all four seasons: winter COLD, summer HEAT and delightful days of spring an...
When our son was in junior high, his English teacher asked the students to write about someone they admired. Any mother would be flattered to think her adolescent son admired her. She might not be so flattered by the title of his essay. In bold print it read, “She Just Sits on Her Butt.” In a humorous way he was telling people about his mother who used a wheelchair. The reason I have spent over half a year now in a hospital is trying to heal those pressure sores that resulted from a bony bottom in a wheelchair. Instead of...
My County School Superintendent's office is in the Sweet Grass County Annex, which used to be the old county hospital and medical clinic. Many of my colleagues are sure the Annex is haunted, but in all my years there, I have never seen a ghost. However, recently I did have two disconcerting experiences with my garbage can that have me wondering about the possibility of paranormal activity. My garbage can sits right beside my desk, but one day a few weeks back, I returned from the copy room to find my garbage can sitting right...
It is time for another Memories article and this time I have chosen a couple and family who were very close and special to Phyl and I. That couple was Joseph (Joe) and Marjorie (Marj) Schallenberger. “Shifting Scenes Vol. II” has an article written by Joe about his family homestead days, early school days, hardships, good times and bad. I found it interesting and it brought to life the changes that have occurred from his childhood until the present time. Also, I have some more information that was given to me before their pas...
It is Dr. Seuss's birthday this week, and it is celebrated as a major holiday in elementary schools across the nation. Though there are those who accuse him of being racist and sexist and every other "ist" there is, he was an amazing writer whose books have taught simple lessons to at least four generations of children. His simple rhymes contained powerful messages, so I decided to honor this great children's author with a poem that I really hope carries a palatable message to consumers and those in the beef industry....
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, a book of devotions began each month with a three-line verse (author unknown) entitled Gifts of the Season. February’s gift was The Seed. [“Planted in winter’s dark womb, prayer seeds germinate, creating new growth.”] We were to trust You, Lord, working unseen, waiting quietly for answers to our prayers. The Wind is the Gift of the Season for March: (“Touch of Spirit’s breath offers lift to kites and prayers as March winds praise God.”). In March, we’re to pray that this month’s breez...
I heard on the radio the other day that children get their intelligence from their mothers. That might explain what has happened to my brain. Perhaps I drained part of it for the first child and the rest for the second. I can almost buy that theory--except for the fact that I have another theory that makes more sense to me: Susan's Full Brain Theory. I believe my brain is like a computer that has no memory left. My brain is full, and my folders cannot be compacted. In fact, my brain is so full that according to the bathroom...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, loneliness is no respect for persons; a group of us gals know that personally, having just met in a Support Group where we shared our thoughts and feelings. It was kind of surprising that even though we all are grieving, we each have a different feeling about loneliness; we each have a dissimilar point of view, but we all know that You, Lord, are there with us and for each one of us. Yes, ‘grief road’ is difficult, but we’re still traveling on. No matter what, many turn to ‘drink...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, dear Lord, the snow falls fast, Winter is on our mind. Icicles guard, the wind does moan, a warm place the birds can’t find. Sparkle of frost on windowsill recaps our childhood ‘view’; we’d ‘scratch’ frost off to take a peek – we saw a calf, brand new! Sometimes the sky is low and mean, snowflakes might cause a yawn; across the barn or through a rut, debates if it goes on. We’ve all been there, we’ve heard the noise, we know how Winter smells. We’ve seen the ‘look’ and felt the c...
The January 3rd issue of the Eagle had an article about the Montana Greats Project which was recently published in the Billings Gazette. This article invited Ekalaka people to give their opinions on the greatest athletes from Carter County. I contend that this would be very difficult to do correctly because of the different sports and the time differences, I was in Carter County High School from 1952 to 1956. If I had to pick the best five athletes of my era, I would pick, Bob Lasater, Tom McCamish, Buddy Morrison, Milton...
Several years ago, we decided that ranching for fun and not profit was not really working for us, so we decided to lop off a few acres with a view up the creek and down the Yellowstone and make money the old fashioned way--selling the rural lifestyle to folks determined to get out of town and return to their agrarian roots. Believe me, providing that opportunity is easier said than done! In the first year, we spent the $500.00 we had in our life savings account and a whole lot of the bank's money on surveying, consultant...
