Well, school starts tonight. Actually, it started last Wednesday, but I was in Hutch, so I missed the first class. However, it my experience, the first class usually just consists of getting the syllabus and meeting your instructor and classmates. Fortunately, pretty much everyone from last semester agreed to enroll in classes again on Wednesday nights, so it will be the same group, and I have the same instructor for one class. I got the syllabus for that class from the course website and got all the readings due tonight from a classmate, so I should be set. After this semester, I will have one class each semester and 20 hours of practicum next year, 30 hours the following year. Then I will be done. Easy, right? HA!

Bud Pennington
(August 7, 1914 - January 25, 2008)

Bud (Russel J.) Pennington, 93, died Jan. 25, 2008, at Hospice House.

He was born Aug. 7, 1914, in Hutchinson, the son of Harold A. and Emma L. Justice Pennington. He graduated in 1932 from Hutchinson High School and attended Hutchinson Junior College. A lifetime Hutchinson resident, he was a retired farmer.

He belonged to the First Presbyterian Church, was active in Farm Bureau, and served on the boards of USD 309 and the Reno Township.

On Feb. 18, 1940, he married Maureen East in San Benito, Texas. She died May 5, 1993.

Survivors include: three daughters, Anne P. Simon, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Jane P. Gamber and her husband, Ken, Hutchinson, and Mary Blomquist, Overland Park; grandchildren, Jeff Gamber and wife, Debby, Hutchinson, Matt Gamber and wife, Lisa, Hutchinson, Tom Gamber and wife, Rachel, Wichita, Dave Blomquist and wife, Michelle, Overland Park, Richard Hefling and wife, Lois, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Rachel Hefling Dukuze and husband Augustin, Fredericton, New Brunswick; a granddaughter-in-law, Kristy Blomquist-Peck and her husband, Seth, Overland Park; and great-grandchildren, Gabriel, Aaron, Catlin, Jesse, Samantha, Allie Brittany, Kameron, Adrian, Harper, Olivia and Jacob.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Joyce Stone; and a grandson, Michael Blomquist.

Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Eastside Cemetery, Hutchinson, with the Rev. Mark Wiens presiding. Friends may sign the register from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to noon Monday at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. The casket will be open for family only. The family will receive friends following the graveside service at Bud's home from 3 to 6 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Salvation Army or Hospice of Reno County, both in care of the mortuary.

Personal condolences may be sent to www.elliottmortuary.com.

Dad spent his life on the family farm where he was born, raising crops and livestock. He was a student of nature, always learning and sharing the joy of those experiences with his family. He has re-entered the fold of the eternal, where he has rejoined his beloved wife Maureen and all those who passed through before him and awaits us who are still in this life

Olivia is SIX!!

Grandad

Grandad took a fall yesterday morning and is now is hospice care. He is comfortable and surrounded by all his family. Uncle Ken snapped a quick picture to send up to Mary's sister Anne in Canada. She was concerned about his comfort level. This is how the photo turned out.

So I promised sledding pictures

I went ahead this morning and moviemakered them into the following for your viewing pleasure. This weekend Harper is at her mom's, Seth and Kameron are on a Boy Scout camping trip. Yes, I know it is like 1 degree out. They are camping in Hutchinson at the Cosmosphere. Either that or they are spending most of their time at the Cosmosphere and sleeping at the college dorms nearby. I am sort of sketchy on the details. Currently, Olivia is at Gaga Kathy's, so it's just Adrian and me. Ade will play basketball today at 12:15. He gets better every week!

I went a little crazy with the hyperlinks, but it's all in good fun.


Untitled from Kristy Blomquist-Peck on Vimeo.

P.S. GO PACK!

Not a Fan of Email Forwards but...

This drives home the point pretty well-

Sometimes
we just need to be reminded!

A well-known
speaker started off his seminar by

holding up a
$20.00 bill. In the room of 200, he asked,

"Who would
like this $20 bill?"

Hands started
going up.

He said, "I am
going to give this $20 to one of you

but first, let
me do this.

He proceeded
to crumple up the $20 dollar bill.

He then asked,
"Who still wants it?"
Still the
hands were up in the air.

Well, he
replied, "What if I do this?"

And he dropped
it on the ground

and started to
grind it into the floor with his shoe.

He picked it
up, now crumpled and dirty.

"Now, who
still wants it?"

Still the
hands went into the air.

My friends, we
have all learned a very valuable lesson.

No matter what
I did to the money, you still wanted it

because it did
not decrease in value.

It was still
worth $20.

Many times in
our lives,

we are
dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt

by the
decisions we make and

the
circumstances that come our way.

We feel as
though we are worthless.

But no matter
what has happened or

what will
happen, you will never lose your value.

Dirty or
clean, crumpled or finely creased,

you are still
priceless to those who DO LOVE you.

The worth of
our lives comes not in what we do or who we know,


but by WHO WE
ARE and WHOSE WE ARE.

You are
special - Don't EVER
forget it." !


If you do not
pass this on, you may never know the

lives it
touches, the hurting hearts it speaks to,

or the hope
that it can bring.

Count your
blessings, not your problems.

"And remember:
amateurs built the ark .

professionals
built the Titanic.

If God brings
you to it - He will bring you through it.

Christmas

I've been meaning to post about Christmas, but it seems to be going on and on and on. We still haven't celebrated with Mary or Hi and Helen, so it's been somewhat of a protracted holiday for us. I do have some great pictures of Wisconsin and the impressive snow we got. The trip was fun for the kids, but a bit harrowing for the grownups. Christmas eve was great fun, but I think we'll be staying home next year

Happy happy Birthday Mr. Hill!!

I had the amazing privilege of being a part of my dear friend Summer's birth team for her home water birth of Ziah Storm, son #3 for the Hill family. It was a beautiful birth. Summer was a wonder and baby Ziah was born into a cozy warm environment surrounded by all those who will love him all his life. After baby's entrance, Summer and Ziah were wrapped up on the couch and I gave her a well deserved foot rub while they got to the business of nursing. Summer's dad had made an awesome fire in the fireplace and her mom was there with homemade bread and her calming presence. Summer's midwife, Fran was supportive and relaxed. Dad Casey was a champ of a coach for Summer and her sister Macklen and friend Kari were there to help with the boys and anything else they could. It was so great to be reminded what birth should look like. Gentle, peaceful, natural and empowering. I am so thrilled I was there and could help. Congratulations guys!!!