“Hi Mama! It’s nice to finally see your beautiful face!” (picture credit to Auntie Taylor)
I’ve got one hour. One hour before the entire year of 2014 is in the history books.
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traditional traditions
I have to begin this with a HAPPY 29th BIRTHDAY to Jamie!!!
Our family loves traditions! And, this time of the year is one time that traditions run rampant!
One tradition that was started way back when was the yearly visit to see Santa Claus. I wrote a post about the very last picture of the four girls with Santa. That’s already been three years ago. Gosh, a lot has happened in those three years! Today, Taylor and I tagged along with Jamie, Eli and Nora while they waited in line (over two hours) to see Santa. I think the outcome was worth it!
the past six weeks in a nutshell – part 2
The next days of being home meant unloading the Cottage. You have to remember that when we left in June, I had basically loaded everything I would need from our house into the Cottage. The house was closed up to everyone and everything EXCEPT the spiders. They apparently went to work overtime this summer in making our home their home. The first thing I needed to do was recapture my home and send those nasty little devils on a hike (thanks to the vacuum cleaner)! Cleaning the Cottage is so much easier!
On Saturday morning, we were up early with a destination of Boone, IA – we being Curt, Jamie, Eli, Jim and me. Earlier in the summer, Jamie and I had purchased tickets to ride the train knowing how obsessed Eli is with trains. It was going to be Eli’s day of “go go’s”. I couldn’t wait to see his reaction once we got to the depot and he would see the trains. The day was gorgeous! A bit of a summery heat but it was better than too chilly!
taking a spin in the B-17 “Flying Fortress”
So being at home this long has enabled us to do a few things we don’t normally get to do. Callie has been swimming with her friends (which until this year she has never done…EVER), gone to high school baseball games, attended a College World Series game (I’ve never done that), and hang out with her friends. I’ve enjoyed pulling the weeds from my garden (hoping this will eliminate some of the mess this fall) and babysit Eli a little more often. Yesterday was Father’s Day and Jim was able to do something a little different, too. The kids pulled together and purchased a ticket for him to ride on the “Flying Fortress” – a Boeing B-17 Bomber. We all piled into Curt and Jamie’s vehicle yesterday morning and headed to the Lincoln airport. It was a BEAUTIFUL day – especially for a plane ride.
campfires, s’mores and more
Our weekend wasn’t spent on the road or in a wheat field. Instead, it was spent doing things most people who don’t leave home or their family probably do and take for granted. This doesn’t mean, though, that thoughts of being on the road or in a wheat field weren’t on my mind. The images of loaded combines which I see via Facebook make me wish Frank and I were part of that journey. But we’re not and I need to just remain faithful that that’s not where we’re supposed to be right now. Instead…this is where we are meant to be.
On Thursday evening, I received a text from Dan (Misener Family Harvesters), “So are you busy tomorrow”? “Just workin…you headed this way”?, was my reply. The Misener’s had been in South Dakota for a funeral. As you may or may not know, the farmers we “wheaties” cut for generally become more than just a customer. And, this is proof of that statement. The Misener’s have cut for Dave and his dad for quite some time. Unfortunately, Dave’s dad passed away which meant a road trip. OF COURSE they would go to South Dakota from Oklahoma for a funeral. That’s what we “wheaties” do. In December 1996, we gathered the kids and headed to a funeral in Jordan, Montana. It was the coldest funeral we’ve ever attended. There was no way we were going to miss it and I’m certain that’s exactly how the Misener’s felt. The way I see it, we’ve got family scattered from Texas to Montana!
there’s always next year
I was going back through some letters I wrote as president of the U.S. Custom Harvesters recently and came upon one that could have been written today. It was written in the Spring of 2011. Why is this worth mentioning? It was about the impending disaster the custom harvesting industry was being faced with. The letter was written to the major combine and forage manufacturers asking for an extended grace period when it came time for equipment payments. I don’t remember if there was anything accomplished with that letter but it was a “heads up” to them anyway. By the time the harvest season was over, it appeared that most custom harvesters were able to hold on, sigh a heavy sigh and mutter, “there’s always next year”.
That was three summers ago.
you’re STILL here?
Yep…still here.
That’s the question that’s asked a lot by everyone we come in contact with who knows we shouldn’t still be here. Here it comes…next question…”when are you leaving?” I just shrug my shoulders, squint my eyes and say, “I don’t know.”
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michael
This morning, I had to make a trip to the University of NE Med Center for blood work. Nothing serious, nothing to worry about, just a routine checkup. When I arrived at the diagnostic center, I was met with a full house. The place was completely full of sick and hurting people. There was one chair left so, of course, I took it. The man I sat next to began a simple conversation.
He had a friendly face but a sadness hung there. We began our conversation with just the friendly usual…weather, politics, etc. We eventually dug a little deeper and I found out he came here every week. “I have bone cancer, and hepatitis C and …” I immediately felt guilty for sitting next to this man. I was here just to have blood drawn.
He talked – I listened. He threw in the, “but it’s all a part of God’s plan”. I knew then that the chair that was left was also a part of God’s plan. I came here this morning with a heavy heart. Why? Because my “problems” seemed so large. After talking with my new friend, I realized I have NO WORRIES!
My new friend was dealing with a hole and the hole was getting larger. The medical bills had forced him to sell everything but his pickup. He has a home but he’s 3 months behind. He can’t get a job because of his medical history. He’s trying to stay on top of utilities. Obamacare would cost more than his house payment. So he was literally taking one day at a time.
He started to cry. “I understand why so many people commit suicide”, he tells me.
My heart hurt for this man. So I prayed for him. I’ll never see him again but he knows he’s in the hands of the One who can help him. For this I am thankful. God bless you, Michael! And…thank you, God, for that divine appointment this morning!
a month of celebrations
April has whizzed on past and has left me wondering where the time goes!
HAPPY MAY DAY – well, a little late.
head on over…
Traditional Easter picture – 2014
Head on over to Housewives of Rural America to read my latest post, “take time for tradition“. These days, I’m doing good to get something on this site let alone on some that were promised a while ago. So, in order to see what’s up with the Z Crew, for now, check it out.