Wordless Wednesday: End of the Day Happiness

I've said numerous times how much I love my job. I feel truly blessed to have a career that is so much fun and provides me an opportunity to be creative and tell a very different story of Indiana agriculture. But at the end of the day, what really brings me joy are these three little smiles and the love they provide.

RFOA: The Cycle of Life of a 7 Year Old Farmgirl

I'm having one of those days where I just feel sad. I feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders but I'm not really sure why. I think a news story that broke in our state this morning about a school shooting really sent me in a tailspin. I don't live in the community where the shooting happened but news like this always makes me sad. And it makes me want to hover over my kids! I'm not a "helicopter" mom, but on days like today I think I should never let them leave my side.

Ok, so I'm a bit dramatic as well. But all day I've been thinking about my Panda. She's 7 years old and almost ready to put 1st grade in the rearview mirror. She is smart, outgoing and loyal. Her memory is better than mine and some of the prayers she prays moves me to tears. My Panda is someone I look forward to having as a friend when she gets to be a grownup, but in the meantime I just enjoy being her Mom.

Her Cycle of Life revolves around our hog farm.  She's done a lot of growing up on the farm. Her first experience with a baby pig was when she was 4 months old.

She started driving a tractor at a fairly young age.

And once she mastered the pedal tractor, it was on to the combine with Daddy.

After you combine all of that corn, it has to be hauled somewhere. So she and Daddy spend a lot of time in the semi together.

And there will be some chilly evenings while doing fieldwork. Wearing Daddy's workcoat is somewhat equivalent to wanting to walk in his footsteps.

Sometime when I wasn't paying attention, my baby girl has grown up. Turning into a beautiful 7 year old.

But she still likes the pig barn!!

Wordless Wednesday: A Last Look at Winter

Taken during our so-called "blizzard" a month ago. Snowmobiles, Carhart's and food coloring to paint snow equaled a great afternoon.  I do hope this is the last of the snow for the season.

Soup Makes the Body Feel Better

The past few weeks have brought about some sickness in our house. And while I did my best to fend off any of my three little people's germs, they finally found me. So I spent the weekend feeling like I had been run over by a semi. And when I feel bad one of the things I most desire is some comfort food.

This time my comfort food of choice is a Vegetable Soup that I have been making for years. It is a soup my Mom made on cold, rainy fall nights to warm the chill off of you. It is a soup my family loves and can include anything that might be in your pantry.

My soup fits a great Iron Chef Challenge this month being sponsored by the great folks at Red Gold and my friend, Amy, at a Latte' with Ott, A.

In full disclosure, I love Red Gold!! For years, their salsa has been the only salsa I can eat. My stomach doesn't enjoy spicy food and their mild salsa is mild enough to compliment my chip cravings!

I've had the opportunity to tour their processing plant in Orestos, IN and was incredibly impressed by the volume of tomoatoes that goes through the factory.  I also know quite a few of their tomato growers and see many fields around northern Indiana that raise their product.

I was thrilled when this great box of goodies showed up at my office!

The Lion Cub really wanted to play with the car.

And then his sisters decided the car needed a Barbie doll. And that every picture I take should include them in it as well!  The Lion Cub wasn't as excited by the Barbie driving his car as they were.

My Veggie Soup is really easy to make.  I first take a hunk of beef and cook it in the crock pot until done.  Yep, my Veggie Soup has beef.  I'm married to a farmer. I'm not going to get away with vegetarian dishes in this house. Plus it just tastes better with beef.

Shred the beef.  Take the beef juice from the crockpot and pour into a big pan.  Add another container of beef broth.  I use a 32 ounce box.  Chop half a head of cabbage and add veggie of choice.  I added lima beans, a bag of mixed veggies, a few cans of cannellini beans and a can of Red Gold whole tomatoes!

Then just let it simmer.  My Mom would let this simmer all day. But I don't have quite that much time. So it simmered for an hour.

When it's done your whole house will smell heavenly and you end up with some goodness in a bowl! And it's almost guaranteed to cure any illness you might have!

Wordless Wednesday: Early School Lessons

In our house reading is fundemental. And it begins early.

BIG Questions, No Answers?

My mind normally moves faster than I can keep up. Lately, my brain has been racing with the questions that come with raising a houseful of kids. I love my children completely. I think about them when I'm not with them and hate that they are growing up so fast.

I started worrying about the issue they will face as they get older long before they were ever born. My parents used to tell me they started praying for my future spouse when they found out they were pregnant with me! And now that I have kids, I understand what they were talking about.

Recently I've been struggling with some of the big questions that I know are coming down the road. Our Panda is seven years old and I know there are questions coming that will require some prayerful answers. While we hopefully have a handful of years before some of the big questions get asked, I know The Farmer and I have to be ready when those questions come out of her mouth.  The one I can't wrap my brain around deals with boyfriends and what is appropriate and what isn't. I think it's all completely inappropriate!!  No boy better lay a hand on my girls and my Lion Cub better never touch a girl!! 

Now, you are likely rolling your eyes. And this is my struggle. Is it so wrong to teach our kids that they are to keep their hands, and all other parts of themselves, to themselves until they get married? Every time I listen to the radio, read an article or watch something on television, I constantly hear the message that "kids will be kids," "everyone is doing it," and society basically telling parents we are stupid if we think kids aren't going to be a bit free in their relations.

I will admit I'm very conservative. My parents always told me that there was one guy for me and that I should wait for that person. And I don't understand why it's such a strange concept in today's society.  Why are we, as parents, admitting that our kids will do something instead of teaching them to use some self-control?

Call me a prude. It's OK. I've heard it before. Or tell me I'm wearing blinders and don't want to see what's coming. But know that my kids will be raised the same way my parents raised me. I don't need society to tell me that everyone is doing it. But for now, thankfully, she still thinks boys have cooties and we have a few years before we have to address this question!