Thursday, December 4, 201
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Devils Tower WY 82714
Cell: 307-680-5555
Email:
Ogden.Driskill@wyoleg.gov
1307 D Rd,
Moorcroff WY 82721
Home: 307-756-9294,
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Mark.Semlek@wyoleg.gov
,:,Govern MattMead
-" StateCapltol; ':
20OW24th St,
Cheyenne. WY 82002-0010
Phone: 307-777-7434,
Fax: 307-632-3909
Website: govemor.wy.gov
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Washington, DC Office: 307
DirenSenate Office Building,
Washington DC 20510
Main: 202-224-6441,
Fax: 202-224-1724
Toll Free: 866-235-9553
Sheridan Office:
2 N Main St Ste 206,
Sheridan WY 8280]
Main: 307-672-6456
Website: barrasso.senate.gov
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Washington DC Office: 379A
Senate Russell Office Building,
Wington DC 20510
Main: 202-224-3424,
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Toll Free: 888-250-1879
Gillette Office:
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Main: 307-682-6268,
Fax: 307-682-6501
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Cynthia Lummis
Washington DC Office:
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Page 5 The Sundance Times
The season has arrived to once again prac-
tice my military planning skills. The invasion
I have in mind is a benevolent one, of course,
in the form of yuletide gifts for my loved ones
- across two entirely separate continents.
Over the next couple of weeks, I must la-
bor to ensure that my Christmas offerings
arrive in the right home, in the correct coun-
try, on the right day and for the appropriate
person. That's not
as easy as it sounds
because, no matter
where I am located
on any given Yule,
I will still be in the
wrong region for ap-
proximately half of
my gift list.
As you can imag-
ine, this requires
a level of discipline
that only Santa himself could rival. And
when you're blessed with a memory as errat-
ic as mine, the only real option is to concoct
a spreadsheet.
I use this handy tool to remind me which
version of the major shopping websites to or-
der from, whether I can purchase an item in
person, which credit card I'm going to have
to use and what my delivery windows are for
each gift.
For this year's festivities, it's the English
half of the equation that will be throwing
up problems, because it's America's turn to
wish me good tidings. All gifts heading for my
homeland must be ordered and arranged re-
motely.
My brother is easy: he hates surprises.
During the holiday season, I refer to him as
"Ebeneezer because he is singularly unap-
preciative of thoughtfulness.
He doesn't know what he wants, he just
knows that it wasn't what you got him. He
has no wish list, just a vague idea that it
would be best for you to hand him the cash
and let him go shopping for himself.
Inevitably, after two weeks of arguing that
a gift giver likes to have at least a modicum
of control over the gift they're going to be giv-
ing, I will relent and navigate to my PayPal
account. I will do so knowing that his choice
will be the same as last year, and the same
as it's going to be next year.
He will choose a t-shirt, to be placed inside
his vast wardrobe of other t-shirts. I know
it's coming, I see it coming, but there's no
avoiding the inevitable. There is also no point
in selecting a t-shirt on his behalf, because it
absolutely, positively won't be the right one.
This Side of
the Pond
Notes from an Uprooted
Englishwoman
BY SARAH PRIDGEON
ritated by long paragraphs. It is important to
keep my instructions short. If I do not, the
end of my sentences are ignored.
Because that's not always possible, it will be
a toss-up come Christmas Day as to whether
our tributes are lovingly adorned in gift wrap
or handed over in a plastic bag. And because
my brother is a man of few words, I am un-
likely to know which extreme he erred to un-
til the reports trickle
in from our parents.
On this side of the
ocean, the husband
is both difficult to
cater for and easy,
because he only has
one rule. No item in
his festive goodie bag
should ever have a
practical use.
This gives me plen-
ty of leeway, particularly ff I'm feeling cre-
ative. It's amazing how many corkscrews,
USB drives and annual calendars you can
smuggle into the household if you're pre-
pared to opt for a novelty version.
Fortunately for me, our thought patterns
are shockingly similar. We've now reached
the point where we can't ever seem to get
stuck in to a decent debate because, no mat-
ter what the subject matter, we will realize
within two sentences that we agreed on the
outcome in the first place.
This also extends to entertainment tastes,
so I need only ponder a simple question as
I browse the gift aisles: is this something I
want? If it is, he will want it too, with the
added bonus that I will get to share it. All of
which leads to a very merry Christmas for
one and all.
My choices when it comes to my nieces
also follow this logic. I simply revert to my
childhood self, think back to the days when I
dreamed of getting my grubby little mitts on
the shiny things I'd been yearning for all year
long and then hope very hard that I'm still in
touch with the kids. Little girls still like weav-
ing looms, right?
For some family members on this side of
the pond, in keeping with local tradition, I
prefer to offer a handmade gift that's infused
with love and care. As I am neither practical
nor imaginative, this has been executed over
the years with varying degrees of success.
I leamed quickly that my Christmas candy
isn't a patch on everyone else's, but my gi-
ant gingerbread cookies tasted pretty good -
and it helps to hae an artist on hand to help
decorate them. I'm still pondering this year's
M: parents arc sy to choose for, but options, but I will stop right here in case any
tricMr.it:coSto lSctita0. Ivl:€ 'of the m e redingi
father will enj6 ything cerebral, while I had 15est in fact, stop right here in general,
my mother firmly stands behind the concept
that anyone who believes in Santa Claus gets
a Christmas stocking. She is also a firm be-
liever in Santa Claus.
This year, however, I must arrange said
gifts with the help of Ebeneezer, who may or
may not be willing to follow my lead. He will
affably allow me to make all the important
decisions, though he's been known to argue
on the finer details - and, because the shop-
ping will largely fall to him, I will have little
choice but to concede.
Our business must be conducted via email
for the sake of secrecy, but my brother is ir-
before I give away important details on the
gifts that will be staying on this side of the
ocean. Suffice to say, I will be stalking the
malls and browsing the internet tirelessly,
hoping I picked the right credit card.
There's a certain feeling of accomplishment
when everything goes to plan - watching
people open presents that stretched my or-
ganizational skills is a special festive feeling.
It doesn't happen every time, and it certain-
ly might not this year, but I have faith and
hope. At the end of the day, it's the thought
that always counts, and I will certainly be
doing a lot of that.
Scars
BY PASTOR DAVE JAGEMANN
It is the time of year we "try"
to look at life and sort out
the good from the bad in or-
der to find those items we are
"thankful" for. Thanksgiving
provides an opportunity to
start "pumping" the brakes in
order to slow down for the hol-
idays, get our Christmas cards
out, lists in order and put our
scales away. This truly is "a
wonderful time" of the year
as it checks our perception of
reality and reveals what truly
matters and what doesn't.
We are all very good at rec-
ognizing those obvious things
that we can give a shout of
thanks for, but what about
the less visible, yet very items
that might be doing us the
most good? I'm talking about
"Scars."
All individuals who set forth
on this planet and put one
foot in front of the other will
have =scars." They come in
many different forms, from
various directions and can
be either physically visible or
shamefully hidden. They can
be seK-inflicted like a tattoo
or sadistically hurled from
one individual to another in
order to break down, harm or
cripple. These faws, marks,
hurts can have lasting, per-
manent effects upon the body
and soul of an individual...yet
in all of this is a huge element
of "good" and reason to give
Chapel of Fa
some "thanks" if you allow it.
I carry many scars on and
in my body as they all mark
certain things done to me and
through me. Be it on the out-
side or inside, they bring to
a remembrance an occasion,
come with a story and pres-
ent some degree of hurt and
harm.
Yet when I place them in the
nail-scarred hands of My Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ, they
become something not so hor-
rible that holds me, but won-
derful to be thankful for. I see
the experience was not wasted
and, although I may never
know the reason for such a
You can all be thankful for
the many things found and
take for granted in your ev-
eryday. You need to be much
more ready to recognize those
less obvious items that at first
glance appear defective, cause
harm or are marred.
Dig deep this Thanksgiving
and really "look" into your life,
take those scars and see the
good that has worked in and
through you. There is much
more to be thankful for than
meets the eye.
Flawed and Forgiven,
Pastor Dave
But He was wounded for our
transgressions, He was bruised
hurt, I understand and can for our iniquities; The chastise-
be thankful for the strength, ment for our peace was upon
wisdom and healing in these Him, And by His stripes we are
scars, healed. Isaiah 53:5
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