To My Old Friend Sue

My Dearest Susie Boosie-

You've been on my case to update my blog. I have every intention of doing so and I even have a ton of ideas...but I just haven't gotten it done in a timely manner. So here's a post that I've been meaning to put up for awhile. It's specifically written to you.



Scroll down...I know you're dying to see what I have to say.....























That's not quite far enough...........................










































I know I'm asking a lot but you do this to us all the time.





























So, I've been planning this event for September 4th............






















it's kind of a big deal to me......................


























and since you were always there when we looked like this







































I was wondering if you'd stand beside me when I look like this on September 4th?












































So I won't look exactly like that, but I'll be wearing a white dress and veil!

Creatures of Habit

It is so true that we are all creatures of habit. But sometimes the habit is actually the absence of doing something....like updating my blog. I've thought of so many things to write about over the last several months but just never set aside the time to actually get it done. So this post is dedicated to the thought of getting back in the habit of updating my blog (and getting Sue off my back about it).

But I must admit it's not just the blog...there's a lot of good things I've gotten "out of" the habit of doing over the past year. And it's not New Years so they aren't resolutions...but I am committing to myself to get back in the habit of a few things.

It doesn't take much reflection to realize why some habits have gone by the wayside even though they were really good habits...like running, exercising, eating right, writing in my journal. For me, they go by the wayside because something that seems more fun and exciting takes up the time. Maybe I should "practice what I preach" and revisit the time management strategies we used to teach FFA officers in their training.

Stephen Covey describes life management by using a rock and jar analogy. On the table is a huge jar, big rocks, small pebbles and sand. It takes strategy to get all the rocks, pebbles and sand to fit in the jar. You see, if you put the big rocks in first, then the small pebbles will fill some empty spaces, then the sand will fill even more empty spaces and it all fits. But it wouldn't work that way if you did it in reverse order. Same is with life. The big rocks are those things that you value most and if you don't carve out time to dedicate to those types of activities that serve that value...they'll but pushed out by the smaller, less important stuff. We only have 24 hours in a day and unless we consciously dedicate some of that time to the things we value most....they easily get pushed out every time.

I know for me, I need to carve out some time for the big rocks of family and fitness/health. It's time they stop getting the leftover time. My calendar gets filled with work, appointments, and meetings...maybe I should start scheduling time for my big rocks so I know that they will happen too. I've been saying I am going to see my great-aunt in the care center for about six months now...maybe I should put her on my schedule for tomorrow and just go do it!

One Man's Trash...Another's Treasure

Sunday afternoon as I mowed and worked in the yard, I couldn't figure out why so many cars kept coming in and turning around in our culdasac. Luckily my neighbor, Shannon, clued me in that it was Clean Up Week....which might be better called Trade Your Trash Week! To save people the expense of going to the county landfill (and keeping people from letting junk pile up in their garage and yard), the city provides a pick up one week out of the year. You can put anything but appliances and yard waste on the curb and they'll pick it up and take it to the landfill for you....free of charge. HOWEVER, the city has some major competition....scavengers! Pick up in my part of the town started Tuesday morning at 8am; but by Sunday night people had already put out a lot of "goodies" and there were all sorts of people driving around and picking up new treasures to take home. I snapped this picture of my neighbor's pile this morning right before pick up...it's about half the size it was Sunday night! I decided last night to pull out my grape arbor and set it on the curb. Within 10 minutes, someone had stopped, pulled off the grape vines (that I left on because I figured the city would take them), strapped it to the roof of their mini-van, and they were off! Another neighbor put out three kid sized bikes...two were gone before he had time to walk in the house and take off his shoes!

While I've been amused for two days at the number of people inching along as they drive so they get a good look at the piles, it also brings to mind how one man's trash truly is another man's treasure.

Getting Crazy with Candy

Late one night last week, I ran in to pay for gas and grab a snack that would keep me occupied and awake on my drive home. As soon as I walked in the store I started to laugh because there it was...a Nutty Bar! I probably hadn't had one of those in ten years but I just love to pull them apart layer by layer, lick off the peanut butter and then eat the wafer. They are so bad for you...but oh so good and fun to eat!

As I drove down the road trying to enjoy each layer, I was glad that it was dark because I surely didn't want anyone seeing me enjoy my Nutty Bar so systematically (admit it, you look at people when you pass them and laugh at the funny things they are doing....singing their heart out, talking to themselves, picking their nose, putting on makeup...you know what I'm talking about).

And the Nutty Bar got me thinking about all the other foods that we eat with crazy patters. Take for instance the Ho-Ho. I don't think I've ever eaten a Ho-Ho without first peeling off that outer layer of chocolate trying so hard to get it all off in one piece. Or the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup; poking a hole through the middle, savoring that hunk of peanut butter then eating the outer chocolate ring. Or how about jelly filled rolls; I used to bite out a spot then use my finger to dip out all the jelly before eating the rest of the roll. One of my favorites has to be the Snickers. Haven't had one in quite awhile, but I love them cold or frozen so you can eat them by the layers; slip off the outer chocolate, then the creamy layer, which leaves you with the best part...caramel and peanuts!

When I think about it, it's not just snacks...I eat a lot of foods in crazy fashions. Maybe that's my method for slowing down so I don't eat so much!

Lyrics of Life

There's just something about music that moves me. I can hear a song and instantly be taken back to a certain time and place in my life. I can hear a song and it makes me think of a certain person. I can hear a song and tears mysteriously well up in my eyes. I can hear a song and just want to sing and dance.

I've always been surrounded by music and can feel the white noise when it's not there. I grew up with my mom always having some country music playing in the dining room. I remember how we used to stay up really late on New Year's Eve listening to the Top 100 countdown and trying to hit the tape recorder at just the right moment so we could record our favorite songs to listen to all the time. I've grown to love a wide variety of music but my roots still go back to country. There are a whole lot of people that poke fun at country music, but there's something magical in the lyrics of those songs. They tell stories that touch our souls. And for me, they often become theme songs that describe where I am in life.

I've always thought it would be interesting to make "soundtracks" every couple years to capture the songs that describe times in my life...but I'm a procrastinator and never get that done. However, there are certain songs that would make the soundtrack no matter when I created it. So step aside Casey Kasem, here's the Top 10 Theme Songs for my life (in no particular order and probably not even really the top 10...just 10 of the top):

• Settlin' by Sugarland: As a single at 36, this song struck a chord the first time I heard it. Might very well be my ultimate theme song. I'm definitely not settlin' after waiting this long.
• Life Ain't Always Beautiful by Gary Allen: This song is so on the mark that I get tears in my eyes just about every time I hear it. Not much else to say, it's amazing.
  
• One More Day by Diamond Rio: There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about my grandparents. And even though I had a special time with each of them within a month of their passing, I still wish that I had one more day so that I could tell them how much they mean to me and to tell them goodbye.
• Small Town Girl by Kellie Pickler: I've lived in several places...all bigger than my hometown. But I'm a small town girl to the core; and that's all I'll ever be...all I ever want to be really.
• I Can't Unlove You by Kenny Rogers: Every relationship I've had has made an impact that will last forever. While the song nails my first love, it also relates to how dear I hold the memories of the other relationships I've had.
  
• Small Town Kid by Eli Young Band: The words to this song are so true it's almost scary. And while they all ring true, I love how it says "I like simple, not complicated." That couldn't be more true for me.
• Happy Ending by Sugarland: "It's why we sit in the movies all the way to the closing scene" is my favorite line of this song. I guess I romanticize life at times and I'm always thinking that things will work out for the best; we're all headed toward a happy ending.
• Where I'm From by Jason Michael Carroll: I cracked up the first time I heard him say "gave their children grandmother's maiden names" because that's been my plan for many years. Just hope whoever I marry is game with that.
• Don't Forget to Remember Me by Carrie Underwood: Living several states away for so many years, this song explains many of the thoughts that went through my head. I laugh when I hear "even when it's not, I tell her everything's alright"; moms know everything and they can hear right through your words.
• Never Be One by Alabama: This has been a theme song pretty much all my life. I am Daddy's little girl and as I grow up in this world, I always look back and try to hold on to the days of our past.

All in the Name of Fun

While I was growing up, if I would have asked anyone to make a list of 10 adjectives to describe me...I'm guessing that "competitive" would have made the list. Maybe it's because I'm an overachiever, maybe it's because I'm short, or maybe it's because I'm a middle child. Regardless of the reason, I'm amazed at how non-competitive I've become! Sometimes I wonder if I just got burnt out on competition. Between showing cattle, 4-H and FFA offices, awards and competitions, and other school activities, I seriously wonder if I just had enough of it.

This isn't a new ponder, I've thought about it a lot over the last few years. But it once again entered my mind a couple of weeks ago when a group of us went bowling. Oh man, the bowling alley was exactly as I remember it from when I was growing up. They even still have those black balls with the red and blue triangles that we used to learn to bowl! And every time I got up to the lane, I could hear my Grams telling me what to do..."move over a board, reach for that arrow, you're turning your wrist, you have to follow through...". And I'm glad she wasn't there because she would have been so disappointed in the number of pins I knocked down (or didn't knock down is more like it)! But I had the best time, I just laughed all night, and didn't really care how bad I did! We even bowled a game where every frame we did something crazy like bowl with your other hand, bowl with your eyes closed, bowl between your legs, and bowl backwards (Grams might be rumbling right now that we messed around at the alley!) But it wasn't at all about winning or losing, it was about having fun. And that we did.

I've still got a competitive streak, especially when it comes to board games (and cheaters), but for the most part I've really been amazed at my preference for staying out of the limelight. Where I've really noticed it over the last few years is in my professional life. It's somewhat important to be involved in the professional organization, hold offices, serve on committees, and get awards...but I don't really have any interest in doing so. A funny thing happened a few weeks ago when I presented my research at a national meeting; I won second place in the poster division and really didn't even know it was a competition until right before the meeting! I know it's all going to be important the next time I look for a job in the profession, but right now I'm pretty content with the awards from way back when that are tucked away in a box, probably getting dusty and tarnished.

It's Iowa and We Don't Grow Potatoes

When you grow up in Iowa, you get really used to meeting people at national conferences and having them say "oh yah, Iowa, where they grow potatoes." And always you think, "no that's Idaho, get your geography right." It wasn't too complicated, all we had in Iowa was corn, beans, pigs and cows. But these days Iowa agriculture is becoming pretty diverse and lots of niche markets have surfaced. But the one thing that blows my mind is how many wind turbines I can see when I leave our farm. We harvest the wind! They've been doing it forever in California and the west; but who would have thought Iowa? I know they're doing good for this whole 'go green' movement; but my jury is still out whether I like the way they fill up the north central Iowa countryside. I guess I have way too much of my father in me...image has a lot of influence on decisions I make and things I accept. I'm sure I'll just need to get used to the turbines because they are here to stay. Wonder what will be next that I'll just need to get used to.

Where I Come From

As I was preparing to move back to Iowa, it seemed like people generally asked me one of two questions..."who are you going to hang out with?" or "what will you find to do for fun?" I wasn't particularly worried about either of these things because I knew what was in store. When you grow up in rural America...you know how to make due with what you have and you get creative in finding ways to entertain yourselves. I love to think back to the days when empty grain bins served as playhouses and crusted mud puddles made the perfect fake brownies and we performed like Dorothy Hamil on the frozen ponds. But yesterday I was reminded of just how crazy we can be to find fun things to do. We pulled out our bicycles and headed to Perry for the BRR ride. Rain or shine or blowing snow, this ride takes place every February. I guess it's intended to give us a little cure of our cabin fever! Lucky for us, Mother Nature brought out the sun and some 40 degree weather for the ride from Perry to Rippey...only she forgot to calm the wind as we rode into it the whole way. We joined about 3000 other people in having a blast on a winter day just dreaming of the week we'll spend on RAGBRAI this summer. It's the little things that get you through the winter. And I guess we have been raised to enjoy life and make the most of every situation.

Time

As I recover from the holidays and get back into the swing of work; my mind wanders back to the things that brought tears to my eyes over the holidays. One of those things had to do with my mom's family and how much they mean to each other. Whether it's their immediate family, extended family or relatives, they go the extra mile to make sure they see each other and spend some time together. My auntie Paula even made another surprise visit from Arizona so she could spend some time with her sisters in the frozen tundra. Their value of time together really exemplifies one of my favorite sayings "the most important things in life...aren't things."

Whether for work or play we spend most of our lives building relationships with other people. One of the things about growing up in the country is that you spend a lot of time together mostly because you have to entertain yourselves....but that time together usually results in tight knit families and friends. It makes me think about my Aunt Suzy and how important people are to her, which leads me to this picture I gleaned from Grams' photo albums. It's of Suzy and her cousin Sherry having a tea party out in the yard (covered in snow). I guess she knew early on that it's important to take time out to just slow down and share some time with others. I know that I really appreciate all the days that she stops by my house at lunchtime just to sit a spell and chat. Sometimes she sees joy and sometimes she sees tears, but she always comes back because she knows the value of spending time together.

Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing

For being an aunt with no kids of her own...I've got a pretty good collection of toys for when the wee one comes to visit. I've got everything from a Cabbage Patch doll to Melissa & Doug puzzles to toy horses to necklaces to books. But it simply amazes me that with all the different toys to choose from...every single time my niece is here she first pulls out the Little People schoolhouse full of little people and the random things their cylinder bodies fit into. These things are 30+ years old! I remember playing with the Little People, fighting over who got to play with who, pretending they were at school, and pretending they were at recess on the merry-go-round. We even had a little car that we would drive all over the living room! They were really cool in their day.

But actually I think it's pretty cool that she loves the Little People. They leave a lot up to the imagination. They make no sounds. They have plastic hair. They have no clothes just a wooden cylinder body. As I watch her play it's really neat to listen to her have one of the people talking to the horse and 'getting on' for a ride. She pushes the people that she puts in the swing on the swingset. And she sets up the classroom with the little desks.

When I see today's toys, it leaves me wondering where the room is for imagination. They are really cool with all their sounds and accessories; but what about making motor noises with your lips? What about having your own little voice for the dolly instead of her talking and crying from some magical computer device inside of her? When I saw all the plastic food for a play kitchen, it just made me laugh thinking of all the times we made 'brownies' from the dried and cracked dirt in mud puddles. Oh those were the days. And I'm so glad that my childhood was filled with creativity beyond on our imagination.

My Sister's Little Elves

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Santa's New Elves

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Santa's New Elves

Last year my dear friend Sue sent me an Elf Yourself video link of me and my Hen friends dancing as elves. It was so funny I watched it over and over just cracking up. Well, today she did it again. Only this time it was me, her two girls, their cat, and my dog. I couldn't stop laughing.

So I decided to create a little elf clan of my family. It's just so funny I had to share it with all of you.

Enjoy....and then do it for your own peeps!

The Man of the House

There is something I've always wanted but never really thought it was the right time. Well, this week I just took the plunge....and got a dog. So meet Aberdeen. He's already 16 weeks and came from an Angus breeder not far from home (Bill Schermer). I delivered some cattle for Dad on Monday and there he was just stealing my heart. I battled the decision all week and then finally told myself to just try it. So I picked him up early Friday morning. We've been hanging out all weekend and he's been doing just great. He even just stood there while I gave him a bath after our field trip to the farm today.

The biggest battle in the decision process...this is an every day commitment, are you willing to make that sacrifice? Ultimately, I said it was time. Yes there will definitely be times when I'm going to need to give up a little something in order to meet his needs...but that's part of getting older. I've been on my own for several years and could do anything, anytime...and I did. Moving home somewhat involved some thinking that I've lived for whatever I wanted the past several years and now it was time to put my family first. So maybe Aberdeen is somewhat of an extension of that. Sometimes it's just a little too easy to fall into the trap of having the world revolve around yourself.

Tag...You're It

So here's another post compliments to the prodding of SueBoo. (which I'm still working on finishing up the Pay It Forward deal she got me into) But this one is a little easier. The instructions are to post the fourth picture in the fourth folder of your pictures file; tell us about the picture; and tag a friend or two. So I'm just going to post it and consider anyone else that reads this 'tagged'.

So here's the 4th picture from the 4th folder in my "My Pictures" folder....

It's a group of random people...some that I met for the first time that night...who gathered at my house to go Christmas Caroling in the neighborhood. We had a blast...and had a great time putting smiles on people faces.

It's pretty ironic that this photo is the 4th of the 4th because where I am today connects very much to where I was on that day several years ago. I had recently moved to Athens and was slowing figuring out where the single 30 somethings fit into a college town. Lucky for me I had a great church which included a small group of girls for weekly bible study. And even though we loved hanging out together, we knew there were others just like us trying to find their place in this college town. So being the event planner that I am...I started conversations about fun things we could do that would bring people together and build relationships. So the first thing we did...host a fall social that included pumpkin carving! And since people had fun with that and figured out it was fun to be a kid again....I hosted Christmas Caroling...complete with plates of cookies for every house we visited. It was a blast and the following year we had about 20 people go out caroling.

So here I am a few years later, similar situation, different town. But this time instead of a college town, it's my hometown, a small rural town...a place that doesn't get new people to town very often. At first glance it seems that everyone within 10 years of my age is married with children. So I'm wrestling with trying to figure out how and where to get plugged in. Ironically, just this past week, I was thinking back to Athens and wondering if maybe I could host something to break the ice and help me get to know people. I was actually thinking....'what about hosting a cookie exchange or a Christmas caroling'. I guess this photo is maybe a sign that I should.

Things Change

It's hard to believe that over the last seven days...I raked leaves and mowed the yard in a short sleeve t-shirt, rode horses in short sleeves, went to the field with a sweatshirt and got too warm, and then today it's snowing! I know it won't last but it sure has been beautiful watching it come down and land on the evergreens. It just amazes me how quickly things can change.

A couple weeks ago when it got really cold I told Mom that I wasn't sure I'm quite ready for the cold and might consider being a shut in for the winter (that is if those high school kids would deliver Meals on Wheels to me). But after seeing the huge snowflakes so peacefully dropping down this morning, I think I'm ready. Of course there will be days when it's frigid and I'm stranded because the roads are too bad; but I also think about the days when the sun shines and reflects off the snow. I think about how little kids LOVE to play in the snow. I think about how big kids (that's us) love to play in the snow on snowmobiles and the like. I think about how the cows have these pieces of snow all over their face after a snow. I think about playing with my little niece outside. In fact I'm actually pretty excited to be back in Iowa where my winter will be filled with snow covered ground. There's just something magical about it.

Music to the Ears

So the last few weeks have brought amazing fall weather to the midwest. Yes, it's a bit chilly but this is the time to savor before winter hits. So whenever Mom hasn't been in the field or I haven't been out of town for work...we've been horseback. It's so peaceful in the woods this time of year. Pretty much all you hear is the sound of the leather on your saddle as it creeks while your horse makes a path through the timber.

The other day my friend Lisa and I went for a ride. It was just us and our horses. No little kids playing horseback Indians. Not a large crowd of gals just gabbing away. Just us. And it was so peaceful. Sometimes it takes moments like that to realize just how much 'noise' is in our every day world. We are completely surrounded by activity and chaos all day long. Sometimes it is just so nice to 'unplug' from it all and truly enjoy God's creation. And to have a few moments just to relax, breathe, and reconnect with your soul. (that sounds kind of like a yoga teacher, but I really mean it) It's so easy to get wrapped up in the activity of the world, sometimes I just need to remind myself to step back and take it all in.

Pay It Forward

So last month I got sucked in to my friend Sue's 'pay it forward' contest...and I won. Which meant two things 1) she made me a lovely bracelet that matches everything I own and 2) I have to pay it forward by hosting my own contest with my own prizes.

So now it's your turn to win. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post and in a couple weeks I will put all the names in a hat and draw 3 (even if I don’t know you that is ok just leave a comment and I will give you my email address so you can email me your address so I can send the gift) If you win you need to continue the PIF by making 3 items and posting the same type of thing on your blog. Don’t worry if you don’t have a blog you just need to make 3 things and give them to others and encourage them to do the same. How fun is that? Good luck! Make sure to leave a comment here.

In the Eye of the Beholder

Everyone that knows me knows the I LOVE the midwest! I've been to 49 states (lived in 3) and 3 other countries...but no matter where I go, I don't think there is anywhere as beautiful as home. Now there have been some amazingly beautiful places...don't get me wrong...but as a whole, nothing can beat the midwest. When I lived in Michigan and Georgia, it was so cool to live amongst so many trees...but often times I felt clostrophobic because I couldn't see what was around the bend! I would get off an airplane in Iowa and just physically feel the breath release from my lungs as I relaxed and said "oh man, I can see for miles!" And this time of year....that means being able to see the sun set as it casts it's last shadow on the bean fields and combines. It's just absolutely gorgeous!

The last few weeks have brought rapid change in the crops and the trees here. Sometimes I am just in awe of the beauty this time of year. And knowing that winter is just around the corner, it makes me wonder if God created the splendor of fall just to give us something to hold us over through the winter until spring comes.

Loaded Up and Truckin'

Between cattle shows, sheep shows, and horse trail rides, I've seen thousands and thousands of miles of blacktop through the windshield of a truck and trailer. But it wasn't until yesterday, that I saw 200 of those miles from the driver's seat! Sure I've hauled some cows to the other farm...one mile away...but I've never been behind the wheel all by myself, on the highways and interstate, through town, in the morning fog, passing cars, with precious cargo in the stock trailer...until my trek yesterday. And it was a liberating experience! I knew I could do it, but I was still a bit nervous because it was a long drive for the first time all by myself. (And Mom admitted last night that as she saw the running lights turn out onto the blacktop from the lane, she was a bit nervous that she let me go alone!) My friend Lisa wanted to go to a big trail ride in northern Iowa, but my regular chauffeur and riding partner (Mom) had to stay home since they were combining beans. And since there wasn't room for me and my horse in Lisa's trailer, the question was...to go (and drive the truck and trailer for the first time) or not to go (and sit home thinking about what a pansy you are and wishing you were riding). So...I was loaded up and truckin'!

It's hard to believe with the life I've lived that I just now had this experience. But I guess it's because there has always been a mutual allowance for me to do things...but with little risk. I think back to so many things we did growing up...mowing a yard only after it was struck out, raking hay or cutting stalks only after the first few rounds were made, leading calves only after they were basically broke, etc. I'm really glad my parents protected me, but I also think I probably should have pushed the issue from time to time so that I learned to do things without a safety net. I'm thinking that "first times" are a lot easier when you're young and foolish!