“You just have to get in up to your tummy,” my mother yells. We can barely hear her over the wet wind; it’s mid-June, but a face-slap of a day, one where the waves crest like we’re standing in Lake Superior instead of in a medium-sized lake in a modest suburban neighborhood.
Summer can be a manic time of year. I write this from a farm that is absolutely swarming with gnats despite my husband’s best efforts with a nontoxic-to-pets yard spray. The chickens have spent the day peering at us from behind the garage door, whatever brain space they possess likely occupied with wondering when the bugs will be gone. We have no answers.
A few weeks ago, my sermon was about Jacob. The Jacob that has such a long, wonderful story in the Bible. He’s the twin that was hanging on to his brother’s heal, trying to be the first born, but coming in second. He’s the son that cheated his brother out of the official birth rite. He’s the husband that had to work seven years for Rachel, the woman he fell in love with on first sight, only to be tricked to marry her older sister Leah and then having to work another seven years to marry Rachel, the one he truly loved. He’s the father that had at least 13 kids, but made it known he loved the two born to Rachel the most. He’s the son-in-law of Laban that had to run away at night with his wife, kids, grandkids, and possessions because he was afraid that his father-in-law wasn’t going to let him leave with his family. He’s the brother that needed to make amends for cheating his brother out of his rightful birth rite. He was the father whose 12 sons became the founders of the 12 Tribes of Israel. He’s the faithful believer that wrestled with God and wouldn’t let go until he was blessed. He’s the wrestler that walked away changed: blessed, renamed, and redefined by God.
During Monday evening’s meeting of the Yellow Medicine East School Board, Superintendent Rich Schneider addressed the district’s upcoming referendum process and other district-wide updates including staffing, insurance savings and surplus equipment management.
Between the heat, the showers and thunderstorms, and the Canadian wildfire smoke this summer, it has certainly been an interesting summer!
Friday evening, Marshall musician Sam Jeffreys took the stage at Bluenose Gopher Public House for a free live music performance. The event is made possible through donations from area community members to the Bluenose Presents fund. The next opportunity for life, free music takes place Thursday evening, July 24th when the southwest Minnesota band Flute Loops takes the stage from 7-9 p.m.
Oscar De Leon, a Moorhead-based filmmaker with deep roots in Southwest Minnesota, is set to return to Montevideo and Granite Falls this month for the filming of Tristessa, a passion project centered on love, struggle and the dream of a home. Now, in addition to filming, De Leon and his creative partner Kevin Ackley of Chamber Six Media will host a free community showcase of short films and music videos in advance of the shoot.
A total of 23 WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds came to Fiesta City Speedway for the 25 lap, $3,058 to win feature.