Fr. Kevin organized and served as a spiritual co-director for a Marian pilgrimage to Mexico from February 6-13, 2009. I was fortunate to be able to join the group for an amazing week of visiting magnificent churches, joining several Mexican parishes for masses, enjoying the local cuisine, learning much about Mexican history and culture, connecting with my fellow pilgrims, and recharging my spiritual batteries. The highlight of the trip was a mass in Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica in Mexico City where Kevin con-celebrated with a Mexican priest & a fellow South Dakotan.  The basilica holds 10,000 people.  Fortunately for us, it wasn't nearly full the day we were there. 

The photo above was taken in Querétaro.  The arches in the background are part of an aqueduct, built in the early 1700s, that provided water to the city of Querétaro from nearby springs. It was possible thanks to the donations of a Spanish nobleman. Legend has it that he was in love with a nun from the Convent of the Holy Cross, thus the aqueduct ended in a fountain in the Convent's orchard.

Kevin continues to serve as the associate pastor at Holy Spirit Parish in Sioux Falls.

  We spent a long weekend in early September in Lubbock, Texas with Cody and Wesley.  Their house on 30th Street got a fresh coat of paint while we were there.  Cody is working on his PhD in agronomy, and Wesley is in her first year of med school.  The Lubbock area and Texas Tech seem to be a good fit for them, but we wish they were closer to home.

Don & Peg continue to live on the home ranch and do the day-to-day work. Don keeps the cattle fed and is the head vet. I help outside when needed during the busy seasons of calving, sale time, and AI, but mostly do the computer work of maintaining records, finances and web site.  I love my work but wish I had more time to quilt! 

John, age 95, lives in his own home in Highmore.  If there is no snow on the golf course, one can find him out there before breakfast, both winter and summer.  He plays pool, cards, writes weekly letters to the editors of local papers, and competes in the Senior Games. He's an inspiration to his family and friends.

Seth and his grandfathers, Ralph Zieger and John Zilverberg at our 2008 sale. Our fathers, Ralph & John greet the people and assist in distributing buyer numbers.  Many of our family members help us on sale day.  Seth will be returning to the ranch full time in mid-May.  He has spent the past two years working for FarmHouse Fraternity, International which is based in Kansas City.  This year he is serving as the FarmHouse director at Colorado State in Fort Collins, in addition to representing FarmHouse, International at several national events, and also working at home during vacation and breaks.  We are very much looking forward to his return to the the ranch as our partner.

We appreciate all the help our family and friends give us on sale day. Top picture are Peg's mother, Barb Zieger, sister Jan Fett and cousin Kathy Zilverberg. They keep the people fed and watered. Next picture: Peg and her sisters. Jan Fett, an RN from Grand Island, NE. Peg in the middle. Laurie Milbrodt, a Pampered Chef senior executive director  from Kansas City, MO.

The Zilverberg Families celebrated John's 95th birthday on August 2, 2008 at the Senior Center in Highmore.  This picture and time of being together is more special to us now as Dorothy passed away on December 2, just 4 months after this picture was taken.