I cant help it:  my flowers just make me happy.

Earlier today they were covered with lots of tiny yellow butterflies.  Joy!

And while I’m on the subject, I just have to say how much joy I get from the quiet activism I see all across the state.

For example, three people from North Dakota (including North Dakota state senator Richard Marcellais, D-Belcourt) are attending the National Caucus of Native American State Legislators in Helena this Friday and Saturday.  The caucus is meeting to discuss new statistics concerning the dropout rate for Native American students; it’s about 30 percent higher than the dropout rate for other kids.  Please understand, that doesn’t bring me any joy at all.  But if I understand the agenda right, the caucus will break out into solution-finding sessions covering curriculum and standards, early childhood, strengthening student supports, and designing modern learning communities.  The fact that North Dakota has delegates who will help find solutions DOES bring me joy.

Another high note in my day was reading about the new loan program available to rural communities.  According to Governor Hoeven’s web site, the loan service is called Rural Lender Advantage and is could make it easier for small businesses in rural areas to get the funding they need. 

The press release said that 90 percent of all rural establishments are small businesses.  In the same document, Governor Hoeven called small businesses “the bedrock of our economy” and United States SBA administrator Steve Preston said the loan service ”will open a window of opportunity for small business owners in rural America.”

It’s been a purple-flowered day.  Each good thing is a separate blossom, and North Dakota is the plant.

Joy!