Saying Goodbye to Our Dog, Dixie

Today was a sad day at the Blair’s.  Our awesome dog, Dixie, was hit by a car.  Only a few minutes before being hit, she FINALLY caught a squirrel she’d been after all spring!  I guess you could say she went out ‘with her boots on.’

It is hard for the kids, and this afternoon we will bury her.  We even made her a card (Wyatt’s idea). In fact, it is hard for me, too.  We adopted her almost exactly 2 years ago from a good friend.  She was a great dog, and we will miss her.

 

“Let them say of me, I was one who believed, in sharing the blessings, that I received”

Happy Memorial Day.  
Thank you to those who sacrificed for our freedom.  Thank you to those who gave and continue to give their best.  Share your blessings with others, and remember those who’ve shared them with you. 

#EarthDay

Happy #EarthDay!  According to Wyatt, they were going to learn about the earth, sun, moon, Mars, and lots more today at school!  I’m not actually sure what the curriculum for today looks like in TK, but I’m sure he’ll learn a lot :)

I would love to celebrate #EarthDay by planting the trees we just purchased from the Webster County Soil and Water Conservation District, but we have a freeze warning tonight.  I’m afraid that the poor things won’t make it if I plant them now! 


Norway Spruce in the background; Sugar Maple, Norway Maple, Red Oak and Lilac in the bucket.

Our flowering pear tree and tulips are JUST starting to look nice, but again, I’m afraid this frost tonight may make them ‘wilty’ (don’t worry about these super technical terms I use…;)). 




No judging on the weeds in my tulips!

 God has some beautiful scenery this time of year! 

Happy Easter!

 

We had a beautiful day to celebrate Easter at my parents.  Unfortunately, no pictures.  Fortunately, we have lots of memories! 

Halleluiah – He Has Risen!

Quarterly Update: 2015 Resolutions

March is pretty much over.  I am 1/4 through 2015 and haven’t gained a whole lot on my resolutions!  Surprised?  I’m not.  I was pretty busy January, February, and March.  

1.    15 pounds in 2015.  Well – I’m actually tracking calories and looking at what I’m eating.  I’m using the “My Fitness Pal” app and I really like it!  It also plugs in my steps (tracked in my iPhone) and gives me some credit.  In January I actually ran/walked 13.9 miles (tracked with the “Nike +” app) and worked out on average of 3x a week (using another app “BodySpace”).  February and March I failed to work out.  At all.  As far as actual weight loss…I still have 15 lbs to go!  Is it just me, or are there a crap-ton of apps?  Each are pretty neat, though.

2.  15 books in 2015.  I am almost done with Chronicles of Narnia (does this count as 1 book or 7?!).  I’ve read this book before, but every time I read it I pick up on some cool quotes that relate to faith.  They make me smile.  I’ve started “The Antelope in the Living Room.”  I literally laugh out loud while reading this so far.  I would suggest it!  Another big deal with this book is that it is the first that I am reading on my iPad. 

3.  15 good deeds in 2015.  I’m somewhat keeping track…but need to do more!  I also need to include the kids – they can benefit from this ‘lesson’ too!   

4.  15 new friends/acquaintances in 2015.  I have made some great friends so far this year!  I am lucky. :)

5.  15 minutes for prayer every day in 2015.  I need to do better.  I have been praying, but I need to formalize it a little more.  Again, making the time is harder than it should be. I am making excuses. 

Thanks for holding me accountable for these.  I’d appreciate suggestions, love, critiques, motivation, and any other ideas if you have them! 

Spring is coming and we are preparing on the farm.  I can hear the birds chirping in the morning to help wake me up!  Enjoy the nice weather when it is here – we are!

Holiday Fun on the Farm!

I cannot believe that Christmas is here and 2014 is almost over!  We have had a busy month in December.

We started it off by making sure our Christmas lights were all set.  One of the joys of being on the farm is that we are able to put a star on top of our grain bins (about 40 feet or more high!).  The star is about 5 foot tall and looks pretty good (if I do say so myself!).  AJ welded the star together from some steel rods and and we wrapped it in lights.

                                     

                                     

AJ's brother and my brother both had babies!!!

I got the house decorated in my Christmas decor, and that always makes it feel warm and cozy.  Now, if I can keep it clean and cozy....

We got our Christmas tree at Deals Orchard in Jefferson.  We picked a beautiful tree and the kidswere a lot of help decorating this year.

I was able to have a cookie baking day with some friends, and we baked a boat load of treats!  We will be making this an annual event (at the very LEAST).

The weather has actually been somewhat mild throughout the month, so we were able to get some time in at the pasture.  I wanted to stay home but AJ told me it'd be fun.  He was right (yes, that is in writing, but please, don't take it out of context... ;)).

Charlotte had an open house for dance.

Wyatt had a Christmas concert.

I love the Christmas season!

We thank God for giving us his Son, so that we may count our blessings and watch them grow. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Another trip around the sun!

Happy birthday to my dear Wyatt!  As my uncle would say another trip around the sun :).

Five years seems really old, yet it seems like only yesterday we were at the hospital.  I know it gets faster from here but I'm happy to say i'm in the moment!

He was able to give us a few more ideas on what he wanted for his birthday this year: 

A big black dump truck.

Taco pizza from Casey's for his favorite meal.

And Caterpillar tractor with the wagon for his cake!

All the credit for the cake go to his grandma and his dad.  I'm not that creative!

Happy birthday Wyatt.  We love you!

Charlotte is 3!

My baby girl turned 3 today!  Birthdays are way more fun when you have a little girl this excited!  I can’t believe how fast 3 years has gone. 

Some of her interests:

• Disney music.  Almost every night I am asked to sing Beauty and the Beast! 
• She likes to play ‘mommy.’  I am the sister.  If you stray from those titles, you will be in trouble.
• Her brother and her are best friends.  And best enemies.
• FRUIT SNACKS
• Her puppy Dixie
• Princess dresses.  She likes to dress up, then turn in a circle like a ‘princess.’ 
• The potty (some days).

Some of her dislikes:

• The potty (some days).
• Vegetables (any tips?  I’m thinking if I pour chocolate on them, I may have a chance of her eating them?!)
• Talking on the real phone (She’ll talk your ear off on a pretend phone)

She is my Valentine.  I love her. 

Leadership

I received a New Leader Award last night from the Iowa Soybean Association (sponsored by DuPont Pioneer). I am very honored and humbled to get it. But, I'd like to talk about everyone in my life that has made a difference and been a leader to me.

Obviously it starts at my roots: my grandparents and parents. They were the ones to teach me about hard work, humility, commitment, and faith.

I've had a lot of mentors in school along the way that have reminded me for every step back, you must start over and take that step forward again.

My friends and peers. They've taught me to believe in the good in the world and to BE the good in the world. They have taught me to use critical thinking skills. To think about the big picture to further yourself. To educate yourself.

My husband and kids. They are teaching me that all that I will ever try and work for is worth it. They are my blood, love, and life.  (Note the beginning and end are my family. Those closest to me.)

I may have the tools to be a leader in agriculture, but I can't be a leader without any of the above. This award means I have a lot of hard work ahead of me. This is only the beginning.

I am motivated to become a leader. 

Photo courtesy of Joe Murphy, Iowa Soybean Association

Letters to Santa

Christmas is getting closer.  I am excited, and the kids are too!  However, they are excited for completely different reasons.  I am excited about family time, food, and celebrating the true meaning of Christmas:  the birth of Jesus.  They are excited about PRESENTS! 

We wrote our letters to Santa tonight: 

Charlotte is kind of on track (minus the happy birthday :)).  And, look carefully, because I can definitely see Rudolph in this picture!:

Wyatt seems to know exactly what he wants (can you tell he’s a farm boy???):

I am glad that the kids are excited for Christmas!  It makes this time of year very exciting!  Now, it’s time to think about baking…mmm…

What do you do around Christmas time to keep it about others and giving?

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving! I have a lot to be thankful for. Everything I've been given and work for is worth giving thanks.

   My family: they continue to teach me life lessons and love me every day.

   My friends: they are wonderful and will always be there for me.

   My husband: my best friend.

   My children: the love of my life, forever.

   My faith: which was formed and proven by all of those above.

Another thing that I am very thankful for this holiday season is the fact that I have a safe food source to choose from every day. I live in a place where I don't have any insecurities about the food I buy.

I am for my life. Happy Thanksgiving to you all, and remember to give thanks to Him:

   "for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and    invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities -- all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." -Colossians 1:16-17

 

 

This is the Spring that Never Ends….(Name that tune!)

Okay, okay.  It will end.  I have no doubt about that.  However, it seems that planting is taking quite a while this year! 

We started planting corn on May 14th (Three Cheers for Planting).  We finished corn on May 24th and started planting soybeans that same day.  We still have quite a few soybeans left to plant. 

AJ was out today getting random acres planted to soybeans.  There are still a lot of wet areas in our fields, so we are trying to get the dry areas planted at the very least.  This mostly means more driving and turning around than actual planting! 

On the acres that are dry and planted, we are side-dressing anhydrous and spraying both corn and beans (for weeds). 

Of course we are getting in the tractor as much as we possibly can.  I have to compete with some pretty cute kids, and have only gotten to ride a couple of times this spring! 

I know that we are not the only farmers with a long, drawn out spring.  I also understand that it could be worse.  The only way to stay sane farming is to count our blessings every day.  It’s amazing and beautiful to watch them grow.