Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Farm Wife Duties

Living on a working farm has been a huge blessing to me. I feel so needed ALL THE TIME! I have MANY duties as a farm wife other than my normal motherly duties like homeschooling, cooking, cleaning and breaking up fights.

I'm not the most mechanically inclined gal out there so I know when The Captain calls for my help, its serious OR he's desperate. The Captain called & I could hear tension in his voice. The grain truck had stopped running on the side of the road a few miles from the house. I shoved 6 popsicles at the 6 littles and had them play outside and OFF I WENT.... There the grain truck was OUT STANDING IN THE FIELD.I parked the 4 wheeler next to the grain truck and remained silent (that's what I knew I had to do-ANY EQUIPMENT BREAK DOWNS during harvest are sure to get any farmers blood boiling.)Being the dweeb that I am, I couldn't resist bringing my camera and taking a picture of this Milo as it clicked in the breeze. Isn't it lovely?
Then I got in the truck and turned it over and tried to start it while The Captain worked with some starter fluid and trying to unplug the gas line.
DANG I'M GOOD! Next thing I knew he was OFF to the elevator with his load of beans.
Living on the farm-I've learned how to drive lots of stuff. Today we "MOVED FARMS." We are all done cutting soybeans and planting wheat on our home place so it was time to move all our equipment to our other farm 9.1 miles away. I loaded the littles & a Dora video in the DVD player in the bus & started the big kids off on their homeschool math and headed out.

We moved the grain truck first. I follow The Captain while he takes each piece of equipment to our new farm all the while the 2 boys are SCREAMING their brains out that they want to be with him-OH JOY!Next was the tractor and grain cart which takes a while following at 20mph. The last thing to go was the combine & since it's last, I dont have to follow. I peeled the boys off The Captains legs gave him his carefully packed lunch with a LOVE NOTE INSIDE and came in to get started with the rest of my day. I won't see him until late but I do love harvest time and all the buzz around the community.I put the kids initials in their pot pies last night-they thought that was just the most awesome thing-another farm wife duty-THINKING UP BIZARRE STUFF TO DO WITH the 6 littles food so they will eat!I'm hoping and praying that as the 6 littles see The Captain and I working together as a team on the farm-they will learn how important it is to help when needed. I already have one little sweet one "in training" that always volunteers her help.
Thank you Lord for trusting us with these sweet ones & helping us "HARVEST THESE SWEET LITTLE HEARTS!"


Monday, September 28, 2009

WE'RE NOT GONNA TAKE IT!

September 20th was a LOT OF FUN! The Captain & I got on our Harley and headed to Kansas City for the 2009 March of Dimes BIKERS FOR BABIES ride.

Do you recognize this guy? He's an 80's ROCKER so if you listened to TWISTED SISTER you will know Dee Snider as the lead singer. He is the national spokesperson for Bikers for Babies. Bikers For Babies raises money for pre-mature babies and all the medical costs concurred with their stays in the NICU.It was my BBB's (best biker babes) birthday that day and a glorious day to ride for a wonderful cause. Over 7,000 bikes rode this year. It was SO DARN COOL!
As we were waiting in line to follow Dee Snider as he led the 115 mile journey. We got behind this guy. SEE HIS SHIRT? I asked him if that was his baby. Through tears he said "Yep, I just got the shirt printed yesterday." I said "What's his name?" He said "Henry." I said "How old is he?" He said " He was born at 24 weeks gestation and is now 4 weeks old/ 28 weeks gestation." He took time out to join & ride for his baby. It's real story's like Henry's that made it all worth while.All along the route, many people were on the side of the road holding thank you signs. Many also had their now older preemies on hand. I was teary every time I saw little ones on the side of the highways.
They were on bridges, over passes, EVERYWHERE holding up their healed babies and lots of signs. It was a BEAUTIFUL SIGHT of bikers coming together for these babies. You can't read these signs held up at this small town church but they say "GOD LOVES BIKERS", "RIDE WITH GOD", and "BIKERS ROCK!"
We witnessed so much of God's beautiful scenery. And at the end of it ALL, After over $660,000 raised...
WE DID GET TO HEAR...
WE'RE NOT GONNA TAKE IT, NO, WE AIN'T GONNA TAKE IT, WE'RE NOT GONNA TAKE IT ANY MORE!!!
A LIVE PERFORMANCE!
His voice sounded even better than in the 80's!
"Let the little children come to me, do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these" Mark 10:14

Saturday, September 26, 2009

HARVEST TIME! Homeschool Challenge..

See this picture? This means its HARVEST TIME!! The soybeans are READY!
I'm just amazed by the gorgeous beans inside the pods & they taste good too! Truly God's handiwork.
There's The Captain off in the distance-bean dust rolling!
Here go the beans into our new old truck & then OFF to the elevator.Of course The Captain has his usual "appendage" WyWy.This boy prays for tractors & combines & anything John Deere daily.The only thing to break down "so far" this harvest is WyWy's 4 wheeler.
He actually rode it from our house out to the field to find The Captain about a mile away. Farming is in his blood!The only thing I find challenging this year is keeping my 4 preschoolers busy during the homeschool day. It is tiring to say the least. We try several different ways of doing things. They are very distracting to the older kids & I haven't quite found the perfect schedule or balance to keep things running smoothly. Any advice/ideas would be appreciated! AND YES-we do school in leotards & underwear at times! Whatever works right?

Friday, September 18, 2009

Show us YOUR LIFE-DINNER RECIPE!

All my kids LOVE my BBQ Chicken Pizza. This is our own original family recipe!BBQ CHICKEN PIZZA:
1 medium onion chopped
1 small green pepper chopped
2 T vegetable oil
2 boxed Jiffy pizza crust mix
1 1/2 c. honey BBQ sauce
2 c. shredded cooked chicken (I boil and shred mine)
2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

In a large skillet, saute onion and green peppers in oil until tender; set aside. Prepare pizza dough according to packaged directions. With floured hands, press onto a greased 15 inch pizza pan. Cook crust alone in oven for 2-3 minutes at 425 or per package directions. Remove from oven. Spread BBQ sauce to within 1 inch of edges. Layer with chicken, onion mixture then cover in cheese. Bake at 425 for 18-22 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is golden brown. YUMMERS!
I usually add jalepenos to the section Bean & I are eating-SUPER YUM! I make 2 15 inch pizzas which always leaves us some leftovers. Now go join KELLY for some more SHOW US YOUR LIFE DINNER RECIPES!


Tuesday, September 8, 2009

HE NEEDS YA'!

This is Isaiah. If you haven't been a reader of my blog for a long time-you can go here to get his history or HERE TO HIS BLOG. He spends most of his time here, in the hospital. He was adopted out of foster care by one of my BFF's at age 2.Isaiah with his earthly parents. My dear friends Jen and Aaron. Jen has asked for specific prayers for STRENGTH! Isaiah is in Omaha, NE because it is one of only 2 hospitals in the country to perform small bowel transplants. They are experts here. This is his 2nd transplant. His body rejected the last one.
This transplant will be hard on the family physically, mentally, spiritually and financially as Aaron will stay with Isaiah in Omaha for the minimum of 6 months until he recovers while Jen remains in KC to work as a nurse & take care of their 2 daughters. It is during these times that the enemy loves to attack.
He always dreamed of a puppy and just a couple months ago, he got his sweet "Percy." They have been separated much of the time since Percy is at his home in KS. And Isaiah is in the hospital in Omaha, NE.

Part of the surgery team that will be transplanting Isaiah's new liver, small bowel and pancreas. It is a lengthy surgery that will start this evening at 5pm CST and will end sometime tomorrow morning. Keep this team and their well skilled hands in your prayers as the work on Isaiah in shifts into the wee hours.Please pray for sweet Isaiah. Please also pray for the donor family wherever they may be. They lost their child & gave much so Isaiah could fight for his life.

If you feel led to donate. You can go HERE to donate to his cause on facebook.

"I can do EVERYTHING through him who gives me strength!" Philipians 4:13

FIGHT ISAIAH FIGHT!