I.amN.otD.eadY.et children so listen up!

It has been quite a year. Here we are approaching fall, speculating on whether winter will be mild or cold and snowy. The gardens are nearly done producing, and the root cellar has been restocked as the pile of empty jars goes down to nearly nothing. An awesome trade-off.

Speaking of trade-offs, I have accomplished many “firsts” this year by not attending farmers’ markets every weekend. I missed my customers, and so I decided to bite the bullet and pay the fee to do the market this weekend. I have limited quantities of many canned goods and fresh vegetables. I will do some baking. I’m thinking sourdough bread, banana bread, and my mom’s famous cracked top ginger cookies. I also have two rhubarb pies. So, Saturday, Sept. 20, 8 a.m. to sellout at Ace Hardware North.

With the majority of my commitments behind me, I have just one more event to go. I will be participating in the North Dakota Farmers Market and Growers Association annual conference in Carrington this October.

I did three speaking engagements last week. First, I presented my Estonian mission trip with the Amazing Grays at Charity Lutheran. These people supported my mission as well as the Home of Hope in Estonia for nearly 20 years.

It was a large crowd of about 42 people, most of whom I have known for nearly 40 years. It’s more nerve-wracking to present to friends than to strangers.

The week continued with a trip to Jamestown on Wednesday, where I had a nice visit with my brother, who made sushi for lunch. Afterwards, I headed off to Brewhalla in Fargo. What a place—it gave me an opportunity to walk around and absorb the market offerings and available food. 

Tired as I was, when my friend and co-host of Prairie Public Radio’s Main Street, when I was doing Main Street Eats, Ashley, called and I said YES. Zach and Ashley picked me up for a tour of their new yoga, sauna, and cold dip studio space. We had a lovely conversation and a beer while discussing future options for collaborations.

So, here goes my mind. Seeing art. Seeing art studios. Seeing artists. I’m thinking I need to get my loom dusted off and start weaving again.

Thursday, I presented my cancer journey to more than 150 women cancer survivors. It went well. On Friday, I joined more than 100 local cancer survivors at BSC for another keynote presentation. Whatever I said was well received, and the whole week was again an overwhelming emotional few days. I felt a deep sense of connection with those who attended, as their shared stories reminded me that I am never alone in this journey. 

Now that I don’t have to think about my cancer for a few weeks, I turn my attention to the garden. It’s time to clear out the jams, jellies, salsas, pickles, cowboy candy, sauerkraut, onions, pumpkins, and whatever else I can dig up before the weekend at the Bismarck Farmers Market at Ace Hardware on Saturday, Sept. 20. I am also hoping to do Oct. 4 and 11. 

It’s time to wrap up the garden for another season, and I have too much stuff.

Miss Lucy Mae will be selling her Halloween earrings, and Oliver will be helping sell our product and carrying packages to people’s cars. I can’t wait. It will be so much fun to spend time with my grands.

On Sunday, I will be taking my other granddaughter Elle, back to Huron and staying for homecoming. She is on the cheer squad, and I cannot wait to spend time with her and her little sister, Miss Addy. (Addy is a firecracker for sure and talking up a storm.)

In a nutshell, here is a list of 2025 firsts:

1. Flew to Washington, DC
2. Spoke to legislative staff about the importance of Medicaid, the NIH, and the CDC, especially regarding cutting research dollars for cancer.
3. Flew abroad
4. Spent a week on a mission trip in a foreign country
5. Did not one, but two keynotes in one week

What a year. What a couple of weeks. On Wednesday, I meet my new oncologist.

When I reflect on this year, one major milestone comes to mind. It’s been nearly two years since the gamma knife surgery on my brain.

Here is my prayer. The next first I would like to experience before the end of this exceptional year is making two full years with “no new evidence of disease.” (I want to marry NED.)

In all that I experienced this year, I never spoke about my cancer without mentioning how it is your prayers and God’s healing touch that carried me this far. To you, my dear friends and family, thank you for being my strength. Praise God. And thank you.