Day 30: Thirty

Oh friends...

I'm so thankful that it's November 30th.

We made it, didn't we? Well, kind of made it, but considering all that my family has been through, missing a day here and there comes with the territory.

Like last year, I am thankful to have been a part of the 30 day blog challenge, and then thankful again when it's over. Something like this is necessary to jump start my commitment to blogging as well as allow me to write about nothing and everything at the same time.

Blogs are a funny beast, really. We're all considered writers in the blogosphere, even though some are more journals than hard hitting journalism. I'm a member of the pseudo-writers on the Internet, and proud of it. Every now and again, I get a post that gets some "heat" (to use a "business" word...according to my brother...who's a real writer), but generally, I try to write to just entertain, educate and inform.

So I leave you with some blogs you should eventually check out. I tried to list off 30, but decided to just do my top 10. My number theme seemed to work, but now that I'm in my 30s (ha! there we go), I realized that going with the flow is more appealing than being neurotic and OCD!

I'm not suggesting that you should sit down and read them all at once, but in different stages of my life, I have received precious nuggets from these writers that, if not allowed a voice on this big, crazy thing called the Internet, I wouldn't have had the courage to find my own out here.

Thanks for reading this blog, first and foremost. I adore all of you and your comments, even if you don't agree with me. I find myself striving to make a post that warrants more commentary from my mom and relatives. Posts that make you want to tell me something is why I do this. I thrive on feedback...as my poor husband.

I look forward to another 30 day challenge...just not for another year...and without the loss of a loved one...and maybe with more posts like my Dr. Oz one.

1. Holly Spangler's My Generation Blog- agricultural, funny, amazing. She's my dear friend who has helped me navigate your comments, figure out how to blog well, and how to just be a great person.
2. Big Mama Blog- she's hilarious, and she loves college football...and boots. She's written the book, Green Sparkly Earrings that had me laughing out loud. And she's endorsed by none other than...#3:
3. The Pioneer Woman- need I say more? Okay, I will...butter.
4. Emily A. Clark-mother of 5 who decorates with spray paint and Goodwill finds
5. The Pleated Poppy-will make you feel like a loser because you don't sew or homeschool your kids, but she's the brains behind What I Wore Wednesday
6. Phillip Mottaz Town- This is my brother, and he's awesome.
7. I Heart Organizing- Because I do, and again, I want to be depressed about all that I haven't organized.
8. The Pinke Post- Katie Pinke is my blogging friend who makes me think and consider moving to North Dakota, thanks to her beautiful sunset pictures.
9. Beyer Beware- Have you tried the ham and cheese Hawaiian roll sandwiches on Pinterest...yeah, that's her. She's not all sandwiches and hunk of meat Mondays...she's smart and knows ag.
10. The Foodie Farmer- This is a good resource for those wanting to know more about their food. She's technical in a non-scary way.

So there you go.

Hopefully you'll enjoy a new blog or two or ten, and still enjoy mine, when I get around to posting again.

Linking up with Holly ONE MORE TIME.

Day Twenty-Seven: 27

Today is the day.

THE day.

It's Josie's birthday.

Our sweet girl has been counting down on our kitchen chalkboard since November 1st, bless her heart. She has been plotting and planning and making lists and hinting and wishing for this day.

When you're turning seven, THE day of your birthday is a big deal.

We are especially thankful for her birthday this year. It doesn't just signify another beautiful year in our sweet Josie's life, but signifies that life goes on. Birthdays are meant to be celebrated and fun, even if some times during the birthday celebration, we start to feel sad. Josie has a caring heart and tends to be the most emotional of our kids, so this emotional birthday celebration is appropriate, in my mind.

Josie is one-of-a-kind, as all kids tend to be. Girly and fluffy, and a cheerleader in training, she's as smart as a whip with a smarty side that gets her in trouble some times (I wonder where she gets THAT from). She has a personality that is infectious, and knows everyone in her school. EVERYONE. This may not bode well during the dating years, according to her dad, but is awesome now.

In this time where we are to give thanks, I am especially thankful for my Josephine. She has blessed us, challenged us, made us better and more flexible parents. She is the perfect ying to Anna's yang, and a little mother to her younger siblings. I cannot wait to see what she'll be like in 7 more years, and 7 after that, and so on and so on.

Josie, you are my girl for sure. You have been called a mini-me, and for that, I am thankful. I need a partner in crime...and shopping! You are fiesty and joyful and full of life.

We are truly thankful for you today.

Happy birthday, Sweet Josie!

Is it over yet??? Linking up with Holly for just a few more days here.

Day Twenty-Five: 25

25 Things I have learned since becoming more "agricultural."

1. Never plan an event during planting...or harvest...or haying...or calving.

2. Never plan an event.

3. Dust and dirt are inevitable.

4. The weather is your best friend and your worst enemy.

5. While we are at the mercy of the weather, all decisions are made methodically, scientifically, and with precise execution.

6. Little Debbie Nutty Bars are a must-have cupboard item.

7. White work gloves are white for only one day...which is good, because Joe looks pretty girly in them!

8. Rubber boots are seasonal, like flip flops and Uggs. Lightweight waterproof boots for the summer, heavier, insulated waterproof boots for the winter.

9. Rain is a necessary evil (see item #4, and this spring...and the fall of 2009).

10. Farm kids can easily talk about sex, life and death, and manure at the dinner table.

11. Farmers WILL talk about sex, life and death, and manure at the dinner table.

12. People are crazy about food, and hungry for knowledge, so shut up and listen and then respond in an intelligent manner

13. People are crazy about food, and will not listen even if you try to shut up and respond in an intelligent manner.

14. Legacies are left, and lived out in the work ethic of a farmer.

15. Bib overalls have not stayed in the vault of 90s fashion. They are alive and well, and currently in my dryer.

16. Cattle will get out, and you will be on vacation, or at a ball game or 30 miles away at a dinner party.

17. Neighbors are not next door, yet invaluable friends and helpers in time of need.

18. The slower you drive after a car wash, the less dust you'll kick up and keep your car dust free for about 30 seconds.

19. You'll never have a clean car.

20. When in doubt, pray for guidance and ask for wisdom. Nothing is in our control.

21. When in doubt, bake a pie. That always makes a bad day better. Who doesn't like pie?

22. Don't call your husband while he's on the top of the bin, just to check in.

23. Finding a friend who "gets it" is worth driving 45 minutes to meet them at a Starbucks.

24. Living on the farm makes you appreciate the quiet of a summer night and the bustle of a city.

25. Nothing could happen on this operation without faith in God. Nothing (see #4, #20, #14...)

Linking up with Holly for one more week right here. 

Day Twenty-One: 21

Thanks for all of your kind words in the past few days. It's been a hard time for us, and our family appreciates all the gestures and thoughts and prayers, and, lord help us, the food. I think I may have to run for a week straight, non-stop after this week.

Joe's family is primarily all in one area. We joke about how we're the only one who doesn't live close to the "compound." However, in times like these, having a compound means having a support group right there. Babysitters for the times when the kids need to just be kids. Receiving a big hug from the funeral director's wife, as she was a dance mom of my sister-in-law's studio. Having a place to land when you just need to be away, lie down, and process.

I'm hopeful to keep up on this blog challenge, but not certain.

However, I'm happy to report that amidst our traveling and sadness and family time and processing, our harvest was completed yesterday. Joe's last patch of corn was taken to town, thanks to my dad, uncle, Boyd and his wife (when he had to call in for back up due to impending rain and lines at the elevator). What a relief.

There's no theme for today, other than I have 21 other things I should be doing other than writing, but it just feels better to get it out there. Everyone has his or her own way of processing, and mine seems to be by sharing. Thanks for your continued support of my blog endeavor, and for giving me grace as we deal with our grief.

Linking up with Holly's Blog Challenge here.

Day Nineteen: 19

In my quest to stick to my 30 Days of Blogging, By the Numbers, I have found myself searching for numbers everywhere. Counting cars parked in our driveway, noticing numbers of cattle in the pasture...that type of thing.

However, today, as I was trying to get my kids hats and gloves and scarves for their potential outside, potentially chilly recess, I looked up.

There are tons hats, ball caps, in the top of my coat closet.

See?

So then I moved to the back mud room area, where I believed most of the hats to be...and I counted. 

There are 19 hats in the top of the closet, and another group of them in the back.

Where do these things come from? They're like Gremlins...or rabbits or something else that multiplies without even really trying (and don't say the Webels).

The crazy thing about these hats, is that most of the time, they just appear. Almost out of thin air. Almost always with some sort of brand emblazoned upon them, and lately almost always camo with some sort of phrase on it.

Why must that be? Why must things that are marketed towards those living in the country reinforce the stereotype? And what's with the phrases on hats? I hate it when people don't look at me in the eye when they're talking to me, do I really want them to be reading the top of my head? (not that I wear hats...I have big hair and an even bigger head, but that's a post for another day...perhaps I'll measure its circumference...)

Anyway, moving on. We have lots of hats. And that's kind of weird. But, what can you do?

I'll just continue to try to contain the hat madness...one basket and bin and shelf at a time.

Linking up with the 30 Days of Blogging here.

Day Seventeen: 17

I know it's technically Day 18, but I cannot go through without a) writing a blog every single day (remember, I'm weird like that) and b) addressing what has happened in our area.

This:

This happened. In a town about 40 minutes from here, but a town where I just visited for a meeting, and left thinking what a beautiful place to live. So close to Peoria, so lovely, wonderful park district, community pride. It had it all.

Until this.

Yesterday, November 17th, a devastating tornado hit Washington, Pekin, East Peoria, marching on across the state to Gifford, hitting homestead after homestead, house after house. Destroying homes and businesses.

My best college friend lives in Washington. She is my dear friend who took this picture.

and this one...

 and this one...

and this one (it's one of my favorites)

 and then this Christmas card:

Look at these babies!!

and this baby...

Anyway, this post is not about pictures of my beautiful babies, but, then again, it kind of is. Kara Kamienski is my dear friend, and she lives in one of the communities devastated by the tornado. Her house was spared, but hundreds of her fellow Washington folks homes were not. 400-500, according to my boss, another Washington resident. 

These folks don't have these pictures in a frame on their walls any more. They don't have walls. They don't have homes. Kara took pictures just like these that hung in beautiful homes that are now gone. The pictures of the rubble are astounding. My boss said this morning it sounded like a war zone with all the helicopters.

As an employee of the United Way, we don't give direct services, but we fund programs through groups such as the Red Cross. We needed to react, to support, to address the situation, regardless of if we're the people distributing blankets, or writing the checks to buy them. Seeing my boss, our CEO, and all the VPs sitting at a table, an impromptu meeting...one member knowing first hand how scary this situation really is, was amazing.

If you feel so inclined, I recommend donating. Go to the Red Cross website and donate. Bring water to a drop center if you're in central Illinois. Pray.

November 17th warrants a blog. Although we've been dealing with our own family crisis of sorts, one must respond to the needs of nearby communities. 

We need to react in times of crisis. 

Life is too precious.

Linking up with Holly's 30 Day Blog Challenge here.

Day Eighteen: 18

And now back to our regularly scheduled blog theme...

So it's day 18, and I'm thinking about the age 18. The magic age of "adulthood." The birthday when my brother had luggage so lovingly placed in front of his bedroom door, my dad quoting, over and over from The Simpsons, "When you're 18, you're out the door!"


At 18, I enjoyed my first taste of true independence: first year of college, sorority rush, football games and fraternity parties, late nights, and really, really hard classes, weird roommates and lifetime friends. It was a glorious time. Ahhh...to be 18.

18 is when you're considered an adult, right?

18 is when you gain financial responsibility, receive more duties that are "adult like," and try to navigate new situations on your own.

However, on a farm, things happen a little faster than in town. 16 may be the driving age, but my daughter has taken the truck for a (well monitored) spin in the hay field. 18 is the year for adult things like jobs and checkbooks and responsibilities. But on a farm, there's no specific age.

Even before his licensed driving days, Joe was backing a livestock trailer into a tight spot for his mom at a county fair. Even before her first "real" job, Anna will receive a pay check well before many of her friends receive an allowance. My kids will have adult like responsibilities long before the magic age of 18.

That to me is good and bad. I enjoyed being a kid. I hate to even admit that I was well into adulthood when I finally began to pay my own car insurance. I know, I know...I was a "kept kid." Walk in Joe's shoes before age 18, and if he wanted something, he'd work for it, save for it, and then, after he had enough money, he'd buy it.

These are lessons that will make my kids more adult before many of their friends. Is that fair? Are we making them grow up too fast? Possibly. However, if making our kids responsible, respectful and hard working adults before the magic age of 18 dawns upon them is wrong, then I don't want to be right.


Linking up with Holly here.