Minnesota Excellence in Public Service Series (MEPS)

Dear Friends and Family,

Over the past 9 months, I have been a part of the Minnesota Excellence in Public Service Series (MEPS) program. The program is a leadership program that trains conservative women in different forms of public service. Once a month we met and had various speakers come in. We learned many different aspects of politics and other ways to serve in our state and local communities. We concluded our training by attending a National Conference in Washington D.C. We met with groups from other states, visited the U.S. Capitol, and heard from national speakers at the conference.

U.S. Capitol

 As the 2012-2013 program concludes, I would like to ask for your support for me and for the program moving forward. Part of my commitment as a MEPS fellow is to raise at least $500 for the furthering of the MEPS program.

I would really appreciate your financial support! You can donate securely through PayPal.
1. Go to this link: bit.ly/1ce5tIJ
2. Enter the dollar amount you would like to donate and log on to your PayPal account
3. By your total there is a place to "Add special instructions to the seller". Please click on that and then add my name.
4. Then finish your transaction!

Lastly, I would like to thank each one of you for your support of me over the years in both my personal life and in my involvement in politics. I am truly grateful.

Again, I would really appreciate your support for the program! I look forward to hearing back from you.

Sincerely,

Mandy

MEPS

For more information about the MEPS Series: please go to http://www.mnexcellenceseries.com or let me know if you have any questions, please let me know.

To donate: Please click the link (if donating online, please mention my name in the notes section) or contact me.  http://www.mnexcellenceseries.com/contact--apply--contribute.html 

Manners...Where are they in today's culture?

Image courtesy of Rosen Georgiev / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

You know how when you ask a question on social media, sometimes you get a lot of responses, other times you don't get hardly any response. Well the other day, I posted a question. I wasn't sure if I would get any response, but I got a ton of comments. Here is what I posted:

"I am going to be teaching a manners class to grades K-3 this fall. I have a pretty good idea of what I would like to teach them, but I was wondering what everyone has for suggestions. What manners do you see missing from kids today or what do you think they should be taught?"

Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 The responses were a wide range:

•   Eye contact (the first one that comes to mind from watching even college students interact with authority)
• Eating with mouth closed. Elbows off the table. Please and thank you.
• How to properly greet someone. Both in person and on the phone.
• How to make simple, polite conversation. 
• How to graciously accept a compliment.
• Interrupting adults talking....or any one for that matter.
• To say thank you when a waiter gives you something.
• Teach them that adults are called Mr. and Mrs.!
• Meeting adults' eyes when they greet her (especially in church).      
• Waiting to eat until everyone is seated and served. Also not using electronics during a conversation.
• Manners for the flag, ie. stand when it passes in a parade. phone etiquette
• Hats off indoors.
• Waiting your turn. Both in line and when it's time to talk.

It seems to me that manners are missing in today's culture. The list above is full of things that people are not seeing, the etiquette that is not being used.

In preparation for this class that I will be teaching, I have been more aware of my manners and the manners people are using/not using around me. I recently worked a booth at our county fair. We had a spin-the-wheel game for the children. I was surprised by the lack of manners that I saw from the children. There were so many children that simply collected their prize and left, without bothering to say a simple "thank you". It saddened me to see such a simple and everyday manner go unused. 

Where have we failed? Why is it culturally acceptable to not use manners, when etiquette used to be a such a major part of culture? What manners do you see missing?

Monday Musing - 8/26/13

This is from my "common place" book that I started ten years ago. Originally, I found the poem in a book my grandma had given me.

Mondays child poem

Mondays child is fair of face,
Tuesdays child is full of grace,
Wednesdays child is full of woe,
Thursdays child has far to go,
Fridays child is loving and giving,
Saturdays child works hard for his living,
And the child that is born on the Sabbath day
Is bonny and blithe, and good and gay.

-Charles Perrault 

Monday Musing - 8/19/13

This is on a picture my parents have in their house.

“Excellence is the Result of Caring more than others think is Wise, Risking more than others think is Safe, Dreaming more than others think is Practical, and Expecting more than others think is Possible.”

A David perspective

A few months ago I heard something interesting on the radio. It was the Focus on The Family episode from 4/25/13. Looking back, I can't remember what specifically the program was about, but I do remember getting this out of it. I wrote it down because I knew I wanted to remember this and share it with you. 

"We need a David-perspective. We look at the giant and we think that he is too big to defeat. David looked at the giant as someone too big to miss".

Do we live with a David-perspective? I think so many times we look at things in our life as too big to overcome. Too big to defeat. Maybe it is a health problem, a issue at work, or a family-related problem, but it is something that looks huge to us. We need to realize that God is on our side. And He will help us defeat the giants in our lives.

When I think of David defeating Goliath so many years ago, I also think of the movie "Facing the Giants". While the Biblical story of Daivd and Goliath is a true story and Facing the Giants is a fictional story, I think both show how God can work in our lives if we rely on Him.

So while you and I are pondering whether or not we are living with a David-perspective, check out this movie or read the story!

I'm not Perfect

While you may have already guessed this... I'm not perfect. I am not a perfectionist and I am not in any way, shape, or form perfect. When I was younger, I had people and even some extended family members that thought I was such a good little girl and maybe went so far as to say I was perfect. While it may be true, for the most part, I acted like a "good little girl", I wasn't all that good either. I was and am a sinful human being. I try to do good, but still I fail, each and every day. It drove me crazy when people thought I was the perfect kid (or maybe I only thought they thought this!).

I was thinking about all of this the other day and then yesterday I saw this on Pinterest:

http://pinterest.com/pin/532198880936639950/

I know I will never be perfect this side of Heaven. And it is doubtful that I will even become a perfectionist. But I do know this, God is perfect and we should strive to be like Him. So I will strive to be like Him, and have excellence in the things I do. And if by some chance I do demonstrate excellence, I pray that all the glory will be to the One who is perfect and provides us with our talents and abilities.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

2 Peter 3:18

My (forgotten) love of writing (with a pen and paper)

I had forgotten how much I love writing, real writing, like actually sitting down with a pen and paper and writing! Lately, so much of the writing I do is on my computer or even on my smart phone. So tonight, when I pulled out a notebook and some fun new pens I bought (they are different colors), I really enjoyed it! 

There is just something about writing things down that calms my soul. One of my favorite ways to write is by journaling. My journaling has turned into more prayer journaling than the daily diary type, but I think that is why I find writing to be calming and refreshing. When I journal my prayers, I am taking the time to really think about what I am talking to God about. It is not rushed and hurried. Instead it is as if I am writing a letter to a friend, which is what I am doing. I know God listens to my prayers in whatever form, whether it is a quick prayer, a dinner prayer, or my written letters, He is there with me. 

Hopefully, I will learn to take more time to have quiet time with God. And more time to write things down (with a pen)! 

What is you preferred method of journaling or writing? What have you been doing lately?