SURPRISE!  (OH NO!!!!!!!)

It was the opportunity to experience a different culture.  The 79 year old white-haired Grandma had just had her hair styled and hoped she looked pretty while enjoying a quiet birthday lunch.  Her grown-up children wanted her to cultivate new customs, they explained.

They found a restaurant during a trip to Minnesota and the food was delicious even though grandma had no idea what to expect!

The staff had been told that it was her birthday - although she would have preferred to be anonymous.

So when the servers showed up after the meal with a rather silly looking “birthday hat”, she gamely put it on and smiled.  And a large glass goblet with dessert was put in front of her while the staff sang “Happy Birthday”.

This sounds as if it’s going well... right?
                                        Oh Oh!

When the song was finished, one member of the staff quickly reached over the table and shoved a large slab of foamy substance onto her face! (It turned out to be whipping cream.)

Her immediate reaction was:  Is something bad happening?  Do I need to protect someone?

A cultural tradition?

Although shocked, grandma had to wonder if this was part of this culture’s tradition?

She accepted the pile of napkins the staff was giving her to clean off her face.

In confusion she tried to decide how to react.  

Apparently she was supposed to like this experience and laugh.

Instead, her daughter watched concernedly as grandma’s hand was inching toward the large glass goblet... with the possible intention of throwing it!

But instead, grandma decided to simply taste the sweet dessert... although feeling quiet desperation.

And why do this?

After leaving a nice tip - the original meal was good - grandma waited until her children had left the restaurant and quietly asked to talk with the manager.

Her idea was to find out if this was a tradition in their culture?  Because it wasn’t in hers.  This could be part of learning to know each other.  There are many new things they learn when coming to the U.S.

And maybe they could accept that this was not something everyone enjoys!

The manager said it wasn’t their culture’s tradition and he thought they could ask people next time.  

And so...

So how did I get this story?

I am the grandma.

I’m not mentioning the name of the restaurant because it’s really good and it looks like they will change their policy.  

I’ve probably done things I thought were fun that someone else might not have enjoyed as much as me!  And now my friends will probably keep whipping cream ready to spray me!

But I would still like to protect other “grandmas” who don’t want this surprise!  So if you run into a similar situation, please let me know.

And Happy Birthday to you too!  

(Yes, my son captured the whole scene on my iphone!  No...I don’t plan to put it on Youtube!)

“We can’t save them all... 

 but we can show them love”

            “We teach them how it is to be loved.”
“Nobody was their voice... they had nobody to protect them." 

       

This is the heart’s desire of three women whose mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome slaughter bound horses and also horses in situations involving abuse, neglect or the inability of the owner to provide needed care.

The gals are: from L-R:  Madeline (Maddy) Snyder, Apple Valley, Kat Rohl, Cannon Falls and Kathy Peterson, North Branch.  Kat has turned her home stables south of Cannon Falls into Resthaven Horse Rescue.

The business acumen of the three who also work full-time resulted in getting legal recognition of their tax exempt status with a 501c3.  And they have the enthusiasm to organize fundraisers to help with their project.

Their years of experience with horses has provided them with the understanding of the amount of work involved and the dedication needed.

Kat explained:  “All we do is work hard.”

Maddy added: “We can’t give up now!”

Why do this?

Kat explained how they got into this project.  A few years ago they knew they wanted to save horses from slaughter but decided they would focus on helping horses who were in life threatening situations.

Their plan is to get the horses healthy and then find homes for them.

Where do they find them?

They find the horses they rescue in various ways.  Some are seen online where it is explained that if they aren’t sold by a certain date they will go to slaughter.

Or someone gets a horse out of a slaughter pen and then finds it’s too much for them and they need the help of these gals.

Or authorities call them.

Where the horses come from...

It’s not always the fault of bad owners, Kat explained.  There may be circumstances that led to the problem.  They have a strict privacy policy and do not release the names of the owners.

In one case no one knew what the problem was.  The horse was deteriorating. They had tests done that showed an intestinal cancer that was difficult to diagnose or treat.  This horse didn’t make it.  To this day they miss her, Kat explained.   

“We cannot save them all, but we can show them respect, compassion and love.”

Some of the success stories...

The horses reflect a variety of breeds... quarter horse, mustang, mini and then there’s Erica, a “Jenny” mini mule. 

Kat explained, when Erica came she would not eat, she had a heart murmur, stomach ulcers, fluid buildup on her belly, open sores from her jaw to her tail and was so skinny her bones stuck out.  She was very sick.”

Here she is today.

Another horse, Sable, was missing one-third of her tongue.  And Kitchi is a mustang from North Dakota that had had no food or water over the winter and was severely malnourished.

Resthaven Horse Rescue is full at the present time.  Like Kat explained:  “We are responsible for the animals we have now.”

More stories and examples of ways to help are listed on their website: www.resthavenhorserescue.com.

“God’s work. Our hands.”

  “Share God’s love with our neighbors”…  as shown by various activities at First English Lutheran Church.  

          Pictured are some of their activities from last year followed by a list of opportunities that any of us can join in this year!

Photos from Melissa Thomas.

***

  A “Thank You” to all first responders.  

Homemade greeting cards with notes in them were sent to Cannon Falls Police, Fire, EMT, etc.  Judy Holt led the activity.  All ages participated. 

  Around the table: William and Nicole Holz, Jeanette Sutherland, Donna Kimmes,  Judy Holt, Bev Stedman and Jim Magnuson.

***

School kit assembly.  

These kits were to be sent through Lutheran World Relief to youngsters around the world.  Some students cannot attend school unless they can show that they have the proper supplies.  Over 30 kits were created and sent.

Donna Miller, Lorraine Moorhouse, Meredith Barker, Jeanette Sutherland, Melissa Thomas, Jamie, Karsyn and Jaci Winchell and Elizabeth Yarbrough in front.

***
Caring for the ages...

  In the Cannon Falls cemetery, all ages cleaned gravestones with mold and debris.  They started in the older area of the cemetery.  Led by Steve Gesme. 

       In front are Brian McDonald and Gary Thomas.

***

Following is a list of opportunities this year for “neighbors being neighborly”.  

* Putting finishing touches on the Habitat for Humanity House.

* Hope Through a Bar of Soap: assembling personal care kits to share with those in need after a natural disaster or life-ghreatening violence.

* Kindness Stations - a “round robin” of short activities and crafts at church.

* Cemetery Cleanup:  Clearing moss and weeds from headstones at the Cannon Falls cemetery.

* Interacting with residents at the Gardens of Cannon Falls and Twin Rivers.

* Cannon Valley Trail: working with grasses and natural plants.

* Visiting with special needs residents at the adult Lutheran Social Services Falls House.

* Making cards and writing notes to show care for first responders, inmates, veterans and others.

Like Ripples... 

acts of kindness reach the farthest shore.

.