It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Okay. Thanksgiving is officially over and it is now time to indulge in my favorite: Christmas!!!

Yeah, yeah, I know.   Christmas is everyone's favorite holiday. But really, Christmas is my FAVORITE holiday. My birthday is December 19th and when I was little it was so super awesome to get my birthday and Christmas so close together. Now that I'm a 'grown-up' I enjoy that warm fuzzy feeling when I hear Christmas music, smell a wood fire (Mom & Dads' house), drink hot chocolate (Grandma Betty), get bundled up to go play in the snow, and have the lights in the house dimmed with the Christmas lights on (I have an obsession with white lights and greenery! :)).

My favorite Nativity Scene in the house

So the decorating has begun! Like I said, I have a serious obsession with white lights and greenery. I LOVE IT. Another love: The Tree (yup- it is important enough to capitalize). I absolutely have to have a real tree. The smell. The sticky sap. The needles. I LOVE IT. We don't have the tree yet, but my lights are on as I sit and write. The other decorations aren't quite where they need to be, but I got like a month to get that figured out.

Enjoy your decorations, family and friends. Count your blessings...you won't believe how many there are. Christmas isn't about the decorations, the food, and is definitely NOT about the presents - those are all HUGE bonuses.  The main reason I love this holiday is because I believe in Him... :)

I Work With Manure

My title for my job is an Agronomist with The Maschhoffs.  It is okay if you have no clue about what I actually do for my job.  I'm not really sure where to start, but I will just jump in as best I can (questions are good!!). 
In Iowa, if you raise animals (depending on how many) you have to report those animals to the Iowa DNR at least once a year with a fee.  Every 4 years you are required to send in a Manure Management Plan.  This plan ensures that all manure generated from those animals is properly allocated to enough land.  I help to write these state required plans.  For my job, I mainly handle swine (pig) manure which is considered a 'liquid.'  This manure is literally applied to fields as fertilizer.  We actually help to sample the pits once a year to analyze the manure.  This helps the farmers to apply the manure on a more precise rate for the next crop growing season.  SIDE BAR:  I help to ensure that this manure is completely contained and used for this purpose.  When I visit the farms, I help maintain those plans as well as encourage good management practices (one example: mowing and making the site look nice).  I work closely with these farmers and that is one aspect of my job that I love. 

On our own farm we have pigs and cattle.  All of this manure is used as fertilizer on our farm to help reduce input costs and makes our farm 'sustainable' (when I use this word I mean:  our crop helps to feed our animals, our animals help to feed us, the animals' manure help to grow the crop). 

I work with manure, and I actually enjoy it :)  www.krfarm.com

Our Cattle Barn



Fall Day

Pictures from a beautiful fall day!!

Family Dinners

Family dinners are a big part of my family background. Now that I have a family - this picture shows a moment I live for:

Happy Dining!

Project: Semi-Homemade Bulletin Board

I will never consider myself to be a super-crafty person - but I am super excited about some of the stuff I've been seeing on other pages that inspire me to do my own projects. So, here is one of my firsts!!

My office has been in need of a bulletin board for some time. I knew it would help to organize some of the important items for work (such as fees due on certain dates). When I completely dropped the ball and missed one of these oh so important dates, I realized that NOW is the time to invest in a bulletin board. But, I wanted something a little more fun and personalized than just a plain old cork board. I believe Google and I are on the same level, because she always seems to find what I am looking for.  I Googled "how to make a bulletin board" and this appeared:

"How to Make a Personalized Corkboard {bulletin board}"

I ended up buying a cork board with no frame at Hobby Lobby and some fabric (which is why I love this project so very much!). I wrapped the cork board in the fabric and used a staple gun to fasten the fabric down. It took me about 10 minutes to make and I'm planning on making another one for AJ's side of the office.

I'm amazed at what ideas people come up with! I thank all of you creative people out there for helping the not-so-creative people like me!

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

So, apparently time goes fast. Everyone has always told me that it continues to get faster, but I tell myself that "it won't for me."  Well, I was wrong. Somehow my little baby boy has become a smart little boy, and my sweet baby girl has now learned to crawl.

I am blessed in my life to have a lot of friends and family tell me to enjoy the moments as they happen. I am sad it has taken me 27 (almost 28) years to figure this out! However, I am very thankful that I can know this as my kids grow. Some days are easier than others, (I won't sugar coat it) but I have a wonderful feeling taking some of these moments in. My moment tonight was when AJ came in early and we all read a book and held hands (by demand of Mr. Wyatt). I took that moment, and that is all that was there - that one moment.  There was no laundry to be sorted, dishes to be washed, toys to be picked up, or work to be done.  It's a challenge some days to recognize and enjoy those moments, but it makes the whole day worth it to take it. 

One if of the best quotes I've seen to help me to remember this is
"Lord, the next time I reach for the vacuum cleaner, remind me that someday this mess will be a memory"
 -- Sabra Ciancanelli, Daily Guideposts 2011

Enjoy your messes. :)

 



The first day for the rest of my life.

So like I said - today is the first day for the rest of my life.  Blogging is something new, and as some would call - a hobby.  I am attempting new and fun things that will keep me 'up to date' with this quickly moving world, as well as help me to slow down and smell the roses! 

First, I'll start off with the meaning of my "blog name" (remember, I'm new to this, and don't have the lingo down yet!).  My husband doesn't like it when my Mom and I always tell each other we are 'home again finnegan.'  So, I'll try to inform you of the meaning - TO ME.

Growing up, when ever we'd get home - my dad and mom would always announce "home again finnegan" when driving in the driveway.  And like all that I inherit from my parents, I have inherited this phrase.  But when I think of how I feel when I say it, well, I feel at HOME.  I think of the great feeling I've always had when driving in the driveway from a long day, trip, or even home from college.  That feeling of the weight being instantly lifted, looking up at the house and thinking who I'll get to see or talk to.  Loving the many memories of family events such as birthdays, Christmas, or just family dinners (mostly roast or chicken noodle and dumplings!).  The hugs I'd instantly get when walking in the door.  The smells of home.  The newness that it always brings.  There is nothing like feeling at home. 

Even though my husband doesn't like it when I say it (honey, if you read this, let me know if this helps you out in any way to understand it! <3), he should be happy that I say it.  Because, when I drive into our driveway and walk into the door, that feeling of being HOME is again in my heart.  And I'm excited for our children to carry on that same feeling and tradition of being home.