Category Archives: Just stuff

It’s official – I’m getting OLD!

by nebraskawheatie

No school today…ALL day. I say this because the kids usually have to go to school at least 1/2 day the day before Thanksgiving. For whatever reason, they had a full day off today so, by gosh, we’re going to take advantage of it!

Callie’s been studying and studying to take the written Nebraska driver’s test. She’s 14, so she’s eligible to drive to school. However, she’s required to have the learner’s permit first. We went to the DMV office this morning. Poor girl, I could feel the butterflies in her belly the whole way there, while waiting in line and while talking to the nice-lady-behind-the-counter. It was finally time to take the test! About half way through, the computer decides to unexpectedly stop. I happened to still be in there talking to the nice-lady-behind-the-counter when this happened and, of course, heard them saying, “this has never happened before”. Times like this seem to be reserved only for the Zeorian’s! The issue got fixed but it meant Callie had to take her picture again after learning SHE PASSED! The last one of the four girls is now legal to be behind the wheel of a car. If that doesn’t make your hair a little more gray, I’m not sure what will.

Because Jamie had the day off work too, she was also at the DMV office to get her name officially changed from Zeorian to Hermesch. Jamie will be 26 next month. Do the math…12 years between my oldest and my youngest.  When Jamie was a senior in high school, Callie was starting kindergarten. The name change on her driver’s license was the last piece of I.D. that needed to be taken care of. Jamie’s visit to the DMV wasn’t an easy one either. She started at the Douglas County DMV with her certified marriage certificate from the State of Florida.  She got there early this a.m. only to encounter a not-so-nice-lady-behind-the-counter. She was told that even though she can change her Social Security number with the certificate via the US Federal Government, it was not enough for the name change on her Nebraska driver’s license. “You must call the county office in which you were married and get more information before I can take care of this for you”, she was told by the not-so-nice-lady-behind-the-counter. She calls me because she’s frustrated beyond belief. I don’t blame her! A brief thought enters my head, “tell her to go to the Sarpy County DMV”. So, I did and she did and she encountered a nice-man-behind-the-counter who had no issue with the certified marriage certificate and took care of the issue for her. Hmmm……..interesting, huh?

Back home now. The sun is shining and two girls are a little happier than they were a few hours ago. Callie got to drive home – on the highway with rock trucks and a speed limit of 60 mph. I’ve been through it three times already so I’m convinced that I’ll make it through one more time. What I’m not so sure of, though, is Jamie being officially un-Zeorianed (the BEGINNING of a new trend in this family, I’m sure).

 

94 years of life

by nebraskawheatie

My Grandma turned 94 on Saturday. This means she was born in 1917.

1917…so many years ago and so many changes she’s experienced. I didn’t go visit her on her birthday because I assumed she would have a lot of other company there helping her celebrate. Taylor and I went to see her yesterday and found out no one was there on her special day. That was the beginning of several “twangs” I felt in my heart and my stomach. I should have been there! Grandma’s level of anxiety is so much less when there’s not so much activity in her room and in her life. Too many at one time overwhelms her because she can’t see very well and she can’t hear very well. She wants to be an active participant in the conversation and can’t focus when there’s more than one conversation happening.

Yesterday, while Taylor and I sat there with her, Grandma was in a very chatty mood. She smiled a lot and offered stories I had never heard before. I told her about going to Lincoln on Friday night to watch Taylor at All-State Choir. She asked what songs they sang and the only one I knew she would know was “My Country Tis of Thee”. She smiled from ear to ear, “Really? My Country Tis of Thee?” and then broke out in song. It was a moment that melted my heart! I really didn’t know Grandma liked to sing. She said she sang a lot as a kid and whistled all the time. Really? That’s Taylor! Whistling all the time. And in shrill notes that aggravate the heck out of me! Grandma told us the story of whistling really loud each time she had to go out and call the cows in. The cows got to know her whistle and when they heard it they’d know she and her dog were on their way. This brought tears to my eyes. My Grandma was once a little girl – someone who sang and whistled and enjoyed being with her 9 brothers and sisters. It was at this moment that I wished that I could have one of those days that I mentioned in a previous posting. A day that would take me back in time to allow me to see my Grandma as a little girl and view the simplicity of her life at that time.  Grandma can’t whistle anymore. When she got dentures, the dentist took away her whistle. When she told us that story, it was Taylor who started to cry. Whenever Taylor whistles, I will probably still get agitated with the shrillness, but it will forever take on a whole different feeling – I will think of my Grandma.

Grandma also told of the time that she (as a 5 or 6-year-old girl) had to go up on stage for a school play. She could STILL remember her line. It goes something like this:

When I got up on stage, my heart went twitter pat, twitter pat.  I heard someone in the audience ask, “Who’s sweet little girl is that?”

I can picture a little blond-headed 5  year old being scared to death up on stage and Grandma said, “My heart really was going twitter pat, twitter pat”. 🙂 Grandma was once a little girl, someone’s daughter, sister, and best friend. I have always known her as Grandma.

The memories I hold near and dear to my heart include her famous fried chicken with bread and gravy, Christmas and Easter, fishing, her cookie drawer, sitting in her lap, and “fixing” her hair. When I was little, we didn’t get to go see her very often. She lived 2 1/2 hours away. But, when we did, it was the BEST! I can still remember the overwhelming feelings of sadness as I would watch her house go out of sight in the rear view mirror. I felt that same feeling yesterday.  I love you, Grandma! And I hope that one day, I’ll be a grandma just like you who unknowingly creates that sort of love in a little ones heart!

A day for heroes!

by nebraskawheatie

This is a picture of me and my two “little” brothers – Mark is on the left and that’s Matt on the other side.

Veterans Day…A day to remember the men and women who have sacrificed so much to keep me and my family free and living in the country we love so much. Thank you to all Veterans out there!

I really feel like someone who has been involved in our military should be thanked more than just today. How many of us actually walk up to someone in uniform and thank them? I witnessed this quite a few years ago when my “little” brother took me to the airport and sat with me until the flight was ready to leave.

Mark always wanted to be a pilot – ever since he was a little boy. He chased that dream after he graduated from high school. Mark joined the Air Force and entered as an officer (my memory doesn’t recollect all the details very well and Mark may tell me I’m wrong but you’ll get the jest of it). I tried to keep up with each level of advancement but unless you’re involved in the military, I don’t think it really means as much. All I know is that I missed him when he was gone to boot camp and I’ve missed him throughout much of my life! Mark has a work ethic like none other – and he’s very dedicated to his country. Therefore, when he retired a few years back, he retired as a Lt. Colonel. Awesome achievement!

Mark began his career wanting that pilot’s slot. He did everything right and passed all the tests. However, Mark decided that the pilot’s life wasn’t for him when he started flying. The confinement of the plane was more than he really felt comfortable with and he went into another line of work. Now, this may look like a failure to Mark and there’s probably been days when he wished he had fought that anxiety and continued chasing that dream. However, I see it differently. Mark’s life has been one blessing after another. He has done more for this country than I know about. He was involved in things that not even his wife knows about. I used to tease him that he’s probably pretty darn important in the Air Force but to me, he’s still just my brother. I’m proud of him and all he’s done with his life! If he had gone in a different direction, he would have missed out on everything he’s gotten to experience.

Mark met his wife while he was in Oman. They’ve been married for nearly 13 years and have two BEAUTIFUL kids – Caleb and Bekah. They decided to retire in Tampa, FL. This is one detail in his life that I wish I could change. I wish he were closer to the rest of us so we could enjoy each others family and do more together.  He is the smarter one, though, living in Florida where it doesn’t snow!

Mark and his family at Curt and Jamie’s wedding in FL.

Back to thanking a member of the armed forces. I was visiting Mark and Rowena after Caleb was born. They were living in California at that time. When it was time for me to go home, he and his family took me to the airport to see me off. Mark was dressed in his military fatigues because he was going directly to work after the plane left. While sitting there, a complete stranger came up to him, shook his hand and said, “thank you”. I was so proud of him – it literally brought tears to my eyes. It was then that I realized that he WAS more than just my brother – he was my hero!  I love you, Mark, and I thank you for all you’ve done and have sacrificed! You’ve been away from your family and done more than most of us would ever consider doing. THANK YOU!

One more hero I’d like to thank is Jim’s dad. Lloyd passed away a couple of years ago but he was a hero to me too. Lloyd was a WWII veteran. He was away from home as a 19-year-old for four years. He served in the Philippines. Lloyd didn’t talk much about his time in the Army and definitely not much about the war. One story I do recall, though, was the time he contracted malaria while in the Philippines. He was nearly dead when a native found him and carried him down the mountain. I often times think about how very different my life would have been had he died. It would have meant no Jim and no beautiful girls that I so proudly call mine. Isn’t it interesting how God knows what’s supposed to happen before any of the rest of us do? Lloyd’s generation is referred to as “The Greatest Generation” and they truly are!

As quoted by our 34th President:

by nebraskawheatie

“Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you’re a thousand miles from a corn field.”                                 Dwight D. Eisenhower (9/11/1956)

Saying “see ya later” to a childhood memory.

by nebraskawheatie

Today, I sat in a church in my old “neck of the woods” with people whom I remember being so much younger. I went to the first of my childhood friend’s parent’s funeral (wow, that was a mouthful). It affected me more than I thought it would since I haven’t seen Walt in nearly 30 years. As I sat there singing the songs and listening to the Pastor speak, all I could focus on was the memories that flooded back to me. Walt always seemed like a giant of a man to me and just a little bit scary. I loved him, none the less! He was a part of my childhood and part of what made me who I am today.

The faces I saw today were different…older. Although the years have aged us all, I felt a feeling I hadn’t felt in some time. The feeling of being HOME. When I was growing up, we lived on a street that had a lot of kids the same ages as me and my brothers. We didn’t spend much time in front of the tv. We played outside and we played with the entire neighborhood of kids! We were one big family. As kids, we’d confide in each other about everything, was a part of each other’s family, and always looked out for each other. As we grew up, we went our separate ways. It was through our parents that we’d keep up with each other and know who was married, who was having babies and what each of us had done with our lives. For a couple of hours, I was really home again.

It was unfortunate that the Pastor doing the service today didn’t know Walt – he said so himself. If he had, he would have been able to tell the guests just what a wonderful guy he was, how much he loved hunting and fishing and how important his family was to him.  He could have retold stories about the good old days and how much fun our neighborhood used to have. Walt would have done anything for anyone! You know what…I didn’t need a Pastor to tell me these things, I already knew – firsthand. Although I hadn’t seen you in at least 30 years, Walt, I’ll miss you!

An opportunity to share our way of life.

by nebraskawheatie

A couple of years ago, Conrad Weaver with ConjoStudios contacted me regarding his dream of producing a documentary about the wheat harvest and the custom harvester. I LOVED the idea but “bucked” the idea of being a part of it. Mostly, because Jenna was already involved as a correspondent with the High Plains Journal and I was a member of the  U.S. Custom Harvesters board of directors. I was willing to give Conrad ideas and help him in any way I could but wasn’t comfortable with being in front of a camera. I feel EVERYONE has a story and ours isn’t any more unique than the next guy (or gal). I tried conveying this to Conrad and yet he continued saying he wanted our family involved.  I still wrestle with the fact that my involvement with USCHI and HPJ has been more than enough exposure for me and for my family and it’s someone else’s turn to share. However, last summer, we agreed to allow Conrad and his family to visit us on the road and film the harvest as it was happening at that time. Since then, Conrad has put together a “trailer” for the Wheat Harvest Movie – which I am proud to say I am a part of. It is my desire that every American know exactly where their food comes from (it’s not from the grocery store) and every step it takes to get it there. I wonder if most people realize that it takes nearly a year for that first load of wheat to be put in the bin of a combine? I wonder if they realize the process it takes from the beginning with the farmer preparing the land to planting and caring to the end with the harvest and the harvester? My hope is this documentary will educate and stir up an emotion within all who watch it. Everyone needs to understand just how precious this resource (agriculture) is to our country and to our people before it’s too late.

So, because of what I’m seeing this documentary evolving into, I can say I am proud of being involved and hope to do whatever it takes to make Conrad’s dream come true. I realize this 15 minutes of fame could quite possibly be my one and only time to vocally speak out about the lifestyle I love so very much! One day when I’m really old (and it’ll come way too soon), I’ll be able to say I tried rather than wishing I had tried! As I mentioned above, EVERYONE has a story – ours is no more unique than yours. Tell your story! Tell it loud so everyone can hear and be proud of that story! We’re here for a purpose. Discover what that purpose is and run with it!

Farmers/Ranchers…the next endangered species?

by nebraskawheatie

I’ve been trying to keep up with the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/USFarmersandRanchers). However, every time I go see what’s being talked about, I just get mad!

The following is MY opinion and MY opinion, only!

Why does it make me mad? Because there are a few people and a few anti-ag groups who speak up and, in turn, quiet the voices who SHOULD be talking – the farmer and the rancher. The farmer/rancher’s responses to the questions about food and animal production are oftentimes met with criticism and name calling. Once in a while, there will be enough positive ag comments from the farmer/rancher group the confidence level reveals  the truth.

So, this is what scares me. These food activists and anti-Ag groups will be the ones that will be heard by our congressional leaders. In turn, the governmental agencies who are there to “protect” us will make rules and regulations from behind their desks which will affect all agricultural businesses. We’re already seeing it with the EPA, the USDA and even the DOT. The American producer and supportive businesses simply will not be able to continue to abide by all of the ridiculous rules created by people who lack common sense.

The food activists will yell and scream that farmers are growing and selling unsafe food products, raising their animals in cruel ways, creating more dust than should be breathed, receiving more subsidies than they are entitled to, etc., etc. Do these people not realize that by generalizing all farmers/ranchers into one mold and making unfair accusations they are slowly digging a hole that really shouldn’t be dug? When the backbone of this country is forced from the farm and the ranch, we will be forced to look for our food elsewhere. We will be forced to import more of our food, leaving the safety issues behind. Will we really know how our food has been grown, fertilized, or harvested? We will be at the mercy of an unknown link in our food supply that could be dangerous to our country! When it reaches that point, those anti-Ag people will have created a monster too large to be stopped – the farmer/rancher will no longer be there to put the food on our tables.

What farmer/rancher really wants to grow unsafe food? damage the land that’s been in their family for five generations? abuse animals? The farmers/ranchers I know are in love with the land and their animals. Why would they do anything that would jeopardize their way of life and the lifestyle they love? The farmers/ranchers I know take care of what they have and do it in a way that most Americans don’t understand. How many other businesses do you know put in 12-15 hours (or longer) per day, seven days a week? Get up every two hours to check for new baby calves and bring them in the house if they need warmed? Suffer from drought, lose everything and continue the process all over again in HOPE of a good crop next year? The average American would NOT put their lives on the roulette table and risk everything like the farmer does.

I wish these food activists and anti-Ag groups would make an effort to visit more farms and ranches before they make such untrue and ridiculous accusations! I wish they would think about how their food gets to the grocery store shelves and eventually their tables before it’s too late. There are quite a few agricultural groups supporting the farmer/rancher who are trying to educate the American public. Unfortunately, I think they’re preaching to the choir! We’ve all got a story to tell and I challenge you to start telling that story! Don’t be afraid of the ones criticizing agriculture – speak up now and make them aware of the truth before it’s too late!

Here are a few links that are interesting to me:

http://nebraskafarmer.com/story.aspx?s=54218&c=9

http://usfraonline.org/

http://www.findourcommonground.com/

http://www.advocatesforag.com/

https://www.facebook.com/becomeafanofagriculture?ref=ts

http://www.agchat.org/

The walls of this old house

by nebraskawheatie

I’ve spent the past week gathering details for the upcoming wedding reception for Jamie and Curt and baking cakes. Jamie had asked me if I’d make the layered cakes that I’ve made for graduations and birthdays for her party. At the time, I thought, “aw, what’s 10 cakes?” I had forgotten that each cake needs four layers, or 2/9 x 13’s. It’s been a challenge to get them all baked, cut and in the freezer but I did it. Starting Monday, I will start my creations with the goal of being done with them on Thursday. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can…

This past week has also been a time to reflect on the past 26 years of living in this house. I woke up one night and stood at the kitchen sink with only the street light providing the glow I needed to see what I was doing. I stood there looking out the window, as I have done so many times, thinking if only these walls could talk. I thought of all the times they’ve seen the quietness of a night interrupted. Interrupted by me while pregnant having to get up and go to the bathroom, with the cry of hungry babies needing fed, with screams from nightmares that needed comforted, with kids needing to crawl into bed with mom and dad, with coughs that needed attention and now with us older folks needing to get up for a random drink of water or use of the bathroom.  It’s always been that street light and its warm glow coming through the window that has helped guide the ones getting up to tend to the interruptions of the night.

Have you ever wished you could go back in time? I don’t know if it’s my age, or the changing season, or too much time on my hands. I’ve thought about how wonderful it would be if when we were born, we were given at least a week of random days that we could go back and hold those babies again, or visit grandparents, or go to a favorite place or smell a comforting smell. Would a week be long enough?

The leaves are falling and a new season is upon us – one that I don’t like so very well. I don’t like the winter and its bleakness and most of all the cold. The only good thing about winter is its necessary to appreciate the spring – the season of new life and hope. I think our lives are a little like seasons. I’m seeing a new season just around the corner. One that I’m not so sure that I’m going to like so very well. That winterish season will show its colors when the last of our four girls graduate and leave the house. The walls will not see the usual activity and chaos that has been here and a part of most of my life. The winter is necessary to appreciate the spring – the colors, the smells, the beauty and the new life. I think it’s the realization that my kids are growing up and moving on that has started these thoughts. I get so caught up with the activities of life and what must happen that I sometimes wonder if I’m enjoying and appreciating each and every day to its fullest. Today will one day be one that I’ll wish I could go back to. Today I feel so much older but one day in the future I’ll think about this day and realize just how young I was. Does this make any sense? I think I probably should get busy and stop thinking about things so hard!

One week from today, friends and family will be starting to come to celebrate and rejoice in Curt and Jamie’s marriage – the beginning of their new life together. A new season is about to come in full view for the two of them – one that they’ll look back on one day and wish they could revisit. Life happens in the blink of an eye and I can only hope that theirs is lived to the fullest! The walls in their house have so much to look forward to!

P.S. the camera caught the typical Jamie I-don’t-know-why-she’s-crying facial expression. Jamie was always whooping on her little sister. But, Jenna took it well and now they’re the best of buddies!

When can I breathe?

by nebraskawheatie

We’ve been home from Montana just a little more than three weeks. Wow…seriously? Seems like it’s been three months!

Every single day has been a day full of something to do or somewhere to go. I feel like I’ve been running a race going about 100 mph with not a lot of time to stop and rest. It started with the cleaning of the dead bugs and spiders from the house, to unloading the trailer house, to cleaning the yard of ginormous weeds, back to the trailer house and completely unloading and cleaning it (because it was moving to Oklahoma with a new family), to more cleaning of the gardens, and now to reception planning and doing (as well as volleyball games and driving bus for activities and routes).

Some days, I seriously don’t hardly have enough time to stop and take a breath before the next thing on my daily schedule starts. Oh, how I miss the kick-back-way-of-life summer wheat harvest has to offer! This busy schedule that I’m trying to stay on top of is beginning to wear me down and I feel like I’m not accomplishing anything. One week from tonight, I will have baked 20 cakes (which will eventually be turned into 10 layered cakes), food prepared and my house ready to welcome guests. Want to make any bets on whether or not I get it done? I continually try to work it all together in my head reassuring myself it’ll all get done. There will be late nights and early mornings but it’ll get done.

Once the reception is over,  it will be back to the field with my truck trying to keep the household and the kids’ schedules running as smoothly as they can with my limited amount of time. It’s times like this that I really have to remember “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” Philippians 4:13.   There is absolutely NO WAY I could do all that needs to get done if I didn’t have my faith and my God to look to. I sometimes have to just throw my hands up in the air and scream out, “I can’t do this on my own anymore!” Once I do that, I can feel the wheel being taken from my hands and watch it move on its own. Things begin to fall into place and I begin to meet my schedules and goals a whole lot easier when I step back and remember I don’t control ANYTHING. I’d like to think I have it all in control but I can guarantee you that I don’t.  Everything that’s on my plate attempts to bring me down; however, once I remember, “when God brings you to it, He’ll bring you through it” it all starts to fall into place. And…if my house isn’t clean, so be it! I think my friends will understand.

One of these days, I will stop and catch my breath – when the snow flies!

A test

by nebraskawheatie

I’m working against time this morning and have 1,000,000 and one things to get done before 1:00. Bus duty calls, once again. One of the things that I’m trying to fix is the connection between this blog and Facebook. This is a post to see if I’ve correctly followed the steps to make that happen.