Tag Archives: writing

OH HAPPY DAY!

by nebraskawheatie

The title of this post will only mean something to Jenna and the rest of my family. 🙂 However, we certainly HAVE celebrated a couple very happy days recently. I will attempt to keep the number of words to a minimum because I’m sure I could get long-winded. The number of pictures I’d l ike to share will make this posting long enough.

On Saturday, April 21, Taylor went to her very first prom.

img_2866She had ordered her dress online – in plenty of time –  on Thanksgiving. When she received it, it was way too big. I couldn’t send it back to the “store” as it was created in China. So, the next thing we had to do was take it in. It was a job that seemed rather overwhelming to me but I was willing to accept the challenge. I had questions, though, how to make it happen and called upon a neighbor who had done dresses like this in the past for advice. Taylor and I went to Judeen’s house for help. Judeen, bless her heart, just took over the job. I think she knew it was going to be something I really didn’t want to tackle! And, I’m so thankful for her and what she did. You would never have known that dress was taken apart and re-sewn. THANK YOU, JUDEEN – you are a miracle worker!

Continue reading →

Leaving A Mark On His World

by nebraskawheatie

WOW! I just watched a video produced for the USDA about Norman Borlaug and what he did for our world. I had no idea!

In 1923, Borlaug witnessed a demonstration in the streets of Minneapolis, MN  where starving people were chasing  a cart while men were dumping milk in protest of high prices. These starving people were just hoping to be given a portion of what was being thrown away.  “Extreme hunger had more than just the stomach in its clutches…it strongly influenced the mind”. Norman knew he HAD to do something. And he DID.

While learning how he genetically changed the way wheat was grown and produced, all I could think about was the uneducated people of this country crying out about the GMO’s of today. If Norman had lived in this time, his research would be criticized to no end. An interesting statement that I read recently on another internet site stated the wheat that’s grown today “is not real wheat”. What the heck is it? The wheat that Mr. Borlaug “engineered” must not be “real” wheat either. At what point does wheat go from “real” wheat to “unreal” wheat?

“By 2050 the world’s population will reach 9.1 billion, 34 percent higher than today. Nearly all of this population increase will occur in developing countries. Urbanization will continue at an accelerated pace, and about 70 percent of the world’s population will be urban (compared to 49 percent today). Income levels will be many multiples of what they are now. In order to feed this larger, more urban and richer population, food production (net of food used for biofuels) must increase by 70 percent. Annual cereal production will need to rise to about 3 billion tonnes from 2.1 billion today and annual meat production will need to rise by over 200 million tonnes to reach 470 million tonnes.” (How to Feed the world in 2050)

How will this happen? By itself? No, it will take the same kind of passion and caring that was displayed by Norman Borlaug after he realized what hunger was doing to the people of this great country. Hunger…is it something that we’ll be witnessing yet in our generation? What about our children’s?

In 1970, Mr. Borlaug was presented with the Nobel Peach Prize. The Committee Chairman said, while handing him his award, “More than any other single person of his age he has helped to provide bread to a hungry world”.  He left the world a better place than what he found it. What’s your story? How will YOU make a difference?

What’s this? I. Am. Honored!

by nebraskawheatie

So, I sat down this afternoon to share with you the picture that I have been so anxious to share (and I still will). However, when I logged into my WordPress account, I realized that I’d been nominated for the Versatile Blogger Award.

We have Versatile Blogger Award rules to follow:

  1. In a post on your, blog, nominate 15 fellow bloggers for The Versatile Blogger Award.

  2. In the same post, thank the blogger who nominated you in a post with a link back to their blog.

  3. In the same post, share seven completely random pieces of information about yourself.

  4. In the same post, include this set of rules.

  5. Inform each nominated blogger of their nomination by posting a comment on each of their blogs. (Or post to Twitter.)

6.  Copy this picture to your blog.

I’m a little unsure what this exactly means BUT it’s always fun to be nominated for any kind of award…right?  I’m not athletic and I wasn’t much involved in anything in High School – except FBLA. As I grew up and got married and started having babies, being awarded for anything other than “the worstest mommy I’ve ever had” award was never imagined. So I’m honored to think that I’ve “met” enough other wonderful bloggers out there who would even CONSIDER me for this award. I have been nominated by my new friend, Joy. The very first posting I read from her blog “My Universe is Still Coming Together” was “My Universe Came Together, While It Was Falling Apart” .  See, I’m still so new at this blogging thing, I don’t even know how to change the font color for my links (maybe someone can fill me in).  I related to how she felt with the death of her Grandma. My “harvest” Grandma meant the world to me and my universe fell apart when she died. I also relate to her desire to write and be a published writer. Thus began my newfound friendship with Joy. THANK YOU, JOY! for nominating me for this award! 🙂

Now, as part of the rules for the nomination, I’m supposed to nominate 15 more bloggers. So, here goes:

  1. My daughter, Jenna’s blog – Yensyphotos

  • The Wheat Harvest Movie

    • 3. Kuntz Harvesting

    1. icanseealotoflifeinyou

    5. farmchiclogic

    1. Lady of Ag

  • The Farmer’s Life

  • Small Nebraska Farming

  • Common Sense Agriculture

  • Agriculture Proud

  • Simple Gifts

  • Confessions of A Farm Wife

  • TALINORFALI

    • 14. suehealy

    15. My story uncensored

    The final part of the rules is to give you seven random facts about me:

    1. I procrastinate. I work better under the pressure of a deadline.

  • When I was a kid, I wanted to be an astronaut.

  • My two least enjoyed household chores are folding clothes and dusting. I think that’s because those were the two chores my mom hated…someone had to do them.

  • Some day I want to visit Alaska. Mostly because that’s a trip my grandma always wanted to take and never did.

  • New things scare me. As soon as they become familiar and I know what I’m doing – watch out!

  • Once I set my mind on doing something, it takes a lot to get me to quit. I’m very persistent.

  • The word IMPOSSIBLE does not fit in my vocabulary.

  • I know I’m only supposed to do seven but I wanted to throw #8 in because I wanted you to know (unless you’ve already got it figured out) that God is important to me. I constantly look and listen for Him each day. When you watch for Him, you can see how He fits each piece of your life puzzle together creating a beautiful picture! I hope the people I come in contact with can see Him through me.

    • And finally, the pictures I wanted to share with you (you know what this means)

    And finally, Callie made a cake for me – complete with homemade fondant frosting – while I was gone Sunday afternoon watching Taylor’s UNO honor choir. What a kid!

    Now I can start thinking SPRING!

    by nebraskawheatie

    I know we could have a lot more winter yet. As a matter of fact, March is sometimes THE WORST month for measurable snowfall in Nebraska. At least we know when it snows then, it won’t stick around very long.  Nebraska has been in a roller coaster pattern all winter with very little moisture – really nice for several days and then a blast of cold. Today, we’re headed toward another upward trend with mid 40’s in the forecast.  However, Nebraska weather also has a trend being after the warmer days…watch out! (I think that may be coming on Friday)

    I know you’re probably going to laugh but guess I’ll fill you in anyways. I took down the Christmas tree yesterday. Yes…the tree (and all the other Christmas decorations). I decided that it was time to get the living room back to normal again, regardless of just how much we have enjoyed the tree this year. As a reminder, here’s what it looked like and this is how it came to be part of our family:

    It felt good waking up this morning and walking into the living room knowing I didn’t have that job ahead of me.

    Last fall, I sold our summer home on wheels. Jim felt it was time to look for something that had more “livable” space for the rainy days (or when we find ourselves inside the trailer for longer periods of time). The other trailer house was beautiful and I loved it but it did lack in space for everyone just to hang out.

    When we knew it was going to be a long day inside, Jim would just head upstairs and lay on the bed most of the day. So…now the search has begun. Finding something that fits both of our likes and “requirements” is a little tough. Last weekend, Jim and I decided to take a quick trip to Wichita to look at a specific toy hauler that had caught my eye. He likes the idea of the 3 axles and I want something that feels like home when you come in from the field at the end of the day. Pretty hard to find that in a toy hauler. I thought the one we went to look at would be “the one”. No. We visited a couple other RV lots while we were there and found a 5th wheel we both liked. Now, we wait to hear if the salesman can do his job and make the price somewhat reasonable and maybe worth a second look. I hope he comes through because it would be PERFECT for our family. When we finally find our next “cottage on wheels”, I’m sure I’ll be sharing with pictures. Until then, the days just keep clicking away.  We need to have one in the driveway the first of May so I can start the packing process.

    Another sign that spring’s on the way is the long awaited (by my family) US Custom Harvester’s convention. This year, it’s in Grand Island, Nebraska and will begin for me the end of February. We’re talking days away now. The kids LOVE going! It’s the time when they can be around people who know what we do and don’t have to ask the question, “what’s a combine?” or “how was your VACATION?” When we get around the good folks who call themselves custom harvesters, it’s like being with family again. LOVE IT and we can’t wait. Curious about what happens at the USCHI harvester’s convention? Check out the pictures you can find at http://www.3-deerphotos.com/  You can also visit the USCHI website at www.uschi.com After the harvest convention, it seems the spring harvest preparations begin and wheat harvest is right around the corner. The Zeorian household is ready for the day when the “train” is headed south again!

    Now that February is nearly here, I will be watching and waiting for the first Robin I see. When that happens, I KNOW spring is right around the corner!

    P.S.

    by nebraskawheatie

    P.S. There were no noisemakers coming from this house last night. I think the day has come before I was ready! However, the new year still made its way into our world. Happy January 1, 2012!

    Now, for a little interesting information to pass along. I have been posting since August. Yesterday, WordPress sent a note to inform me of the top rated blogs since that very first one. I thought maybe this would be of interest to you – my dear, loyal readers:

    #5. “And I wonder why it takes me so long to get back in the groove!” – September 2011

    #4. “The visible results of the 2011 Missouri River Flood” – November 2011

    #3.” When can I breathe?” – October 2011

    #2. “My first posting on my brand new blog” – August 2011

    And the #1 read posting goes to:

    “On the road…again“-  August 2011

    So…if you’re really bored today, check them out and see why so many read these particular posts. Have fun! 🙂

    The PERFECT Tree

    by nebraskawheatie

    The above picture is the end result of an afternoon spent looking for the PERFECT tree!

    After what seemed to be an untraditional Thanksgiving weekend due to Grandma being in the hospital, it ended on a holiday note.

    Grandma is doing MUCH better! After watching her struggle for every breath for a couple of days, it appears she’s progressing well enough to be moved out of ICU tomorrow. Thank you for the prayers! Once again, I am reminded God IS in control!

    I LOVE Christmas! And will try to do all I can to enjoy it as long as I can. The tradition of getting the Christmas tree up and decorated over Thanksgiving weekend began long ago in our household. After growing up with an artificial tree for most of my childhood, I decided that when I got married, I would have a real one. My tree of choice is a cedar tree from a local farmer’s pasture. Through the years, it has been Jim’s job to find the tree. He would take the older girls along with him while I stayed home with the younger ones. As the years have gone by and the kids have grown, we all go. Our tradition is being carried on through the newly established Hermesch household.

    We headed for the pasture yesterday afternoon. The temperature was a little on the “nippy” side but the sun was shining. If you didn’t have a hat and mittens, you certainly would have been wishing for them. The brisk air definitely helped remind us that Christmas is just around the corner. Hey…at least we didn’t have to walk through snow!

     

    Curt & Jamie found their tree first.

    Some years, it takes us forever to find the PERFECT tree. There’s usually too many decisions and you never know if the one beyond will be better than the previous one spotted. By the time the PERFECT tree is found, we’ve walked further away from the pickup than you would have ever guessed.  This means that all the hills you’ve just gone up and down will have to be retraced dragging a tree. It tends to be a good workout!

    “Give me the saw, Taylor, this one’s mine”. Jenna

    We ended up finding four trees – one for us, Curt & Jamie, Jenna and Taylor. It’s just fun carrying the Christmas spirit into your own little world (bedroom).

    This is our PERFECT tree!

     The PERFECT tree is always in the eye of the beholder. And, through the years I’ve found that even the not-so-perfect tree will look beautiful once it is decorated. Our trees tend to become a part of the family (silly, I know) and are dearly loved. The Christmas music is turned on while we put on the lights and the decorations. The girls make sure their special ornaments are put on year after year – as do I. It wouldn’t be right not to put on the same ones that we’ve always put on. Once decorated and boxes are put away, we turn off all the lights and admire our newest member of the family. Magically, the tree has become more than a tree. As far as we’re concerned, it grew in that pasture specifically for the purpose of providing us the memories of searching for it and becoming a part of our Christmas traditions. It’s so hard to take it down when Christmas is over. Probably because that means one more year of Christmas tradition and memories have come and gone. For now, though, welcome to the family dear PERFECT tree!

    It wasn’t supposed to be like that.

    by nebraskawheatie

    Thanksgiving…a day of family, food and memories. That’s how it’s supposed to be!

    Yesterday morning, Jim’s mom called me early to let me know she wasn’t going to be able to attend our Thanksgiving meal. She and I had talked the night before and I knew she wasn’t 100%. I could tell she was out of breath. Yesterday morning, though, she was a lot worse. Worse enough that I woke Jim up and told him he had to take her somewhere for help. He didn’t even argue with me. He got up, got dressed and called his sister. Here’s an instance of seeing how God works in our lives. Maureen (Jim’s sister) usually has a house full on Thanksgiving. Not this year. She had Thanksgiving on Sunday (a little weird, I thought) and wouldn’t be celebrating on Thursday. So, when Jim called her, she was able to drop everything and head to Omaha with him (without leaving food preparations and a house full of people). God is so good all the time!

    Our meal was supposed to be ready at 12:30. It was placed on hold until further notice. Our crowd was slim as Jamie and Curt were in Kansas with Curt’s family. Jim wasn’t there and neither was his mom. So, those of us that were here just sat around the kitchen table and in the living room watching tv. The time seemed to drag. Once in a while Jim would call with an update. Finally, at 1:00, he said he’d be home at 2:00 to eat. The cooking began, once again. At 2:00, Jim called and said he didn’t feel like he could leave the hospital and we were to go ahead and eat without him. We said our grace and began feasting. It sure didn’t taste as good as it should have. As I was staring at my plate, I got to thinking about the previous years and it hit me – this was the first time in over 30 years that I hadn’t been sitting at the table on Thanksgiving with Jim. Weird. He was where he needed to be. We all missed him. He showed up – about 3:30 – with information about Grandma. She was in ICU and was resting but had a very tiresome day. Her Thanksgiving included a lot of poking, prodding and testing. The doctor diagnosed the shortness of breath was due to fluid built up around her heart and in her lungs (as a result of congestive heart failure). She was wore out from struggling for every breath she took. How often do we take that next breath for granted? All the time. Makes me want to take a DEEP breath right now!

    (The girls in their after turkey coma state)

    God prepared us for yesterday even before we realized why. Grandma is still in ICU but is resting more comfortably. Today, she was tired but thankful for the company she had throughout the day. I hope she rests well tonight and knows that God is watching over her. Thanksgiving wasn’t supposed to be like that. We were supposed to celebrate the day just like we have every other year…

    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!

    Our little songbird

    by nebraskawheatie

    The same day we were getting ready to celebrate Jamie and Curt’s wedding (October 15), Taylor was making her way to Lincoln to audition for the 75th  NMEA All-State Choir. She stressed over that morning long before it finally rolled around. Well…all the stressing and the hard work paid off! We found out 10 days later that she made the choir. And – not only did she make it but she was rated the #2 Alto from her site. I was told the Lincoln site was one of the harder ones to audition at because of the Class A schools. I was (and still am) pretty darn proud of our little songbird.

    Tonight was the payoff for all her hard work. She’s been away from home, living in a hotel room with several of her friends (and chaperones) since Wednesday night. I’ve received text messages from her throughout her stay letting me know how things were going. My favorite text from her was the one that said the sound coming from these people’s mouths had to be what heaven would one day sound like.

    “There were moments in our final rehearsal where I couldn’t even sing. It is SO amazing…I was completely overcome with emotion haha AND I had goosebumps throughout the ENTIRE rehearsal.”  Taylor

    I have to admit, she was right! As the sound of the very first word from the very first song was made, I was tearing up. By the time the song was over, I was wanting to really sob. The hour went way too fast! I’m sure it felt like that for Taylor, as well. What an awesome experience for her and for the other 400+ singers in that ALL State choir!

    Over 3,000 kids from the state of Nebraska auditioned for this night and our little songbird was one of three from our Class C school that got to be on stage at the Lied Center in Lincoln. I’m so very proud of Taylor, Megan and Sophie! Thank you Mrs. Colbert and Mr. Hanson for all the time you’ve sacrificed and invested in these kids!

    I wish I had a picture to share and/or video but we weren’t allowed to take any. You’ll just have to take my word for just how amazing it sounded!