Like Two Sparrows in a Hurricane

Jan11 by nebraskawheatie

I heard this song today – while on my way to the chiropractor. I’ve heard it a million times and it’s sung by a country singer that I never really liked very well. Her voice is one, though, that makes me think about being a little girl. Her first song, “Delta Dawn”, was released when I was 10. She was 13. So, I guess we’ve sort of grown up together.

When I heard Tanya singing her song on this particular day, it brought tears to my eyes. Why? I guess because I finally REALLY listened to the lyrics and it made me think of the past 30+ years of dating and being married to Jim. We’ve been through the first two stanzas of her song and are now headed into the third. I realize she talks about being 83 and I’ve got a ways before that birthday finds me but it is right around the corner. The years go so fast as we live each day, which turn to weeks, months and years way faster than it did when I was 10. Being “middle-aged’ makes a person reflect and realize just how fast life really does go. How do you make anyone going through the first or even the second stanza of this song realize that in the blink of an eye they’ll also be looking at the third?

My advice to the first and second “stanza-ers”: Carpe Diem (seize the day)! Each day you are given on this earth is being exchanged for something. Exchange your days working hard, build strong relationships, do something good, right, worth your while, and of good purpose. Above all else, keep the faith and watch how God meticulously pieces together your life puzzle as you experience each stanza of your life.

“Two Sparrows In A Hurricane”
She’s fifteen and he’s barely driving a car
She’s got his ring and he’s got the keys to her heart
It’s just matter of time
They’ll spread their wings and fly

Like two sparrows in a hurricane
Trying to find their way
With a head full of dreams
And faith that can move anything
They’ve heard it’s all uphill
But all they know is how they feel
The world says they’ll never make it, love says they will

There’s a baby crying and one more on the way
There’s a wolf at the door with a big stack of bills
They can’t pay
The clouds are dark and the wind is high
But they can see the other side

She’s eighty-three and he’s barely driving a car
She’s got his ring and he’s got the key to her heart
It’s just a matter of time
They’ll spread their wings and fly

A little biased

Dec12 by nebraskawheatie

Today I am going to brag on my daughter’s blog (Jenna aka Yensy Photos). Check out her gift of photography by clicking on the link below:

http://yensyphotos.wordpress.com/

Nov29 by nebraskawheatie

“A man’s character is like a tree and his reputation like its shadow; the shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” President Abraham Lincoln (my hero)

94 years of life

Nov21 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!

Nov11 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!

An opportunity to share our way of life.

Oct29 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!

I get by with a little help from my friends…

Oct18 by nebraskawheatie

Well, the party of the century is over and all the guests are home.

What a wonderful time we had! I had people here to help me pull this thing off and I’m so very appreciative of all of them! It took so many days to put this together and like so many events, it’s over before you know it! The evening was perfect! I can’t even think of one thing I would have changed – except to clone myself about 10 times. My brother, Matt, referred to me as a firefly. He’d see me in one spot and then look back and I’d be somewhere else. Just so many people and not enough time. I’m guessing there were at least 350 people throughout the night. Jamie and Curt should feel pretty good about the turn out. I believe it was after 2:00 a.m. before we left the building. The food was AWESOME, the band was amazing (and was local) and the crowd of people who came was unbelievable!

I can’t thank my helpers enough and won’t even attempt to thank them by name because I’d surely leave someone out. What would I do without the friends I have in my life? How could anyone get through life without them? We had people come as far away as Jordan and Billings, MT to spend the evening with us – over 1,000 miles they travelled. I honestly believe the number of friends we have is a measure of our blessings – we are truly blessed!

I will share with you the pictures I took but I’m hoping that someone else got more and got better pictures than I did. The stress of the past several weeks certainly paid off!

The meat began its tastey journey in this black bag. It was hand rubbed and marinated over night before it was placed on the smoker.

Mark & his helper, Brook.

Mark’s preparing his world-famous beans.

Brook took this picture of the guest book table.

Thanks, Matt, for helping Mark while I took off to do something else!

And the party begins…

My childhood next-door-neighbor and best buddy, Robin!! It was sooo good to see you!

Manley neighbors and great friends! We were missing one.

The wedding party, minus one. We missed you, Bekah!

We tried gathering our out-of-town guests the next morning for a farewell breakfast before they had to take off. Jamie & Curt also opened their gifts.

Linda telling one of her many funny stories – of harvest, I’m sure!

Her audience is loving it!

And the clean up begins…

I think we wore Rich out! Sorry, Rich!

Jenna looks like she’s having way more fun than she should have been 🙂

After the building was cleaned up and the naps were taken, Mark & Candi had us all over for supper at their house.

This is the only picture I have to show you the cakes that took me so long to put together. This was one of three flavors built.

After returning home from Mark’s we hung out in the kitchen way too late!! I don’t think anyone wanted the weekend to come to an end.

Collette apparently thought the kitchen sink was fun to sit in. 🙂

The walls of this old house

Oct7 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?

Oct4 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!

Whew!

Sep21 by nebraskawheatie

Wow, is it really only Wednesday?

This has been one crazy week and it’s only midway through. It feels like my world is on a roller coaster…maybe a Farris wheel? Hmm…maybe more like the Fun House! I sort of feel like I’m running and not exactly sure where I’m headed. I’d like to think all of this will come together soon and my life will be a little more of an unchaotic state.

You know. I’ve mentioned before how I really don’t like the coming home stage of harvest. Well, it seems to be working double time on me this year. Is it because I’m getting older and slower or is it because I try to do too much at one time? I just want to get my trailer house emptied, cleaned and be done with that job. Nope…just can’t happen. I think I’m doing pretty good to get about three laundry baskets of items removed and put away in the house. Then, it’s either a phone call that I need to take, a bus route that needs driven, or volleyball game to be watched. Tonight, it was a trip to church to be with some really awesome kids!

I really didn’t want to go to church tonight because I just want to get something accomplished. However, tonight was JUST what I needed. I was included in the kids’ “chat” about what was going on in their lives, their stresses and concerns. I certainly felt the touch of Jesus tonight and it felt awesome! It was the most relaxed I have been in a great while! I honestly didn’t want it to end. Funny how Satan almost kept me from enjoying it. Those stressed out kids were just what I needed!

Speaking of kids, I need to tell you about the day I had this past Saturday. Callie had a volleyball tournament so had to be in Murdock at 7:00 a.m. (Probably one of the earliest mornings I’ve had in quite a while) Once I got her there, I turned around and came back to Manley and had a cup of coffee with my brother and then the two of us headed to town to watch Callie play. After being there for a little while, Mark and Candi brought Brooklyn and Jillian to the school for me to babysit as they were headed to a Nebraska football game. After watching Callie play her second game, we made a mad dash to the car and headed for Nebraska City to watch Taylor march in the Apple Jack parade.

Saturday was not a nice day to be standing outside. It was wet and cold. I had on my Carhart coat, gloves and a stocking hat and still felt the cold. Those two little girls didn’t have a clue it was cold. Maybe one reason was they were too concerned about catching the candy being thrown from the parade floats. We had a great afternoon watching the parade and FINALLY the band we came to watch made its way down the road. I think they were like second to last. Nice job, by the way, Elmwood/Murdock marching band! They took second place.

After the parade had marched its last band and floated its last float, we made our way down to the end of main street to view the Missouri River. All summer long I had been hearing about the flooding and wanted to see what it looked like for myself. It was still extremely high and over Highway 2 but it had dropped a good 10 – 12 feet lower than the highest point. I was impressed by what I saw and wished that I would have been able to see it at its peak height.

Matt and I decided to see what we could see at the Lewis and Clark overlook. It was such a drizzly day and so much fog, we just couldn’t see the flooded valley as I had hoped we would. We walked around the area for a little while and the girls decided they really would like to take a few pictures. I have to share these pictures with you simply because it’s fun to see what they feel is worthy of a picture. From the Lewis and Clark overlook, I took the kids to an apple orchard for a caramel apple and some apples to take home.

You know, I sort of see a pattern here – spending time with kids is just what I needed this week! And it’s only Wednesday.