Summer, Summer, where oh where have you gone?!

My last post was over 2 months ago, and it feels like it was last week!  Remember when you were younger, and people continually advised you about how time speeds up as you get older and you were *sure* you knew what they meant because, really, time had been flying by and, really, how much different could it be?  Different.  Like you can't quite wrap your brain around something and pOOf, it's already gone.  Done.  Not always in a sad way - these are exciting times in our life.  Oldest two so close to beginning their next big adventure.  College!  Next one beginning her Senior year.  My baby starting Junior High.  This Mom loving how absolutely neat these kids are and shedding tears of EXCITEMENT for who they are and where they are going... and maybe a few because I know our days of being a "unit" are so, so numbered.  So I am hyper-aware of each minute we have to spend together and reminding them to be nice to each other for the millionth time because I know, as they can only guess, that these sibling bonds are so important, so necessary,  and they will rely heavily on them as they go on their way.

So, what made our summer POof?  Let's see....  parades, show calves, hay, some illness, volunteering at Church and with the Cattlemen and for the Bremer County Fair.  Not weeding the flowers, or the veggies.  Not painting those fences we swore up and down would finally get a much needed face lift this summer.  You see how it goes?  poOF.

Min loves, loves, loves her calves!                         Beef Queen Alecia waves to parade goers                

Erica & Jordan - Bremer County Fair Queen Contest

Rosie and her babies getting ready for fair.

And now, here we are.  Next week is Bremer County Fair and also marks the arrival of my sister, BIL and niece (SOOO EXCITED) the following week is college bound prep, and two days at State Fair.  Week after that is more State Fair and one college move in.  And the week after that school starts for all.  Game Over.  But before I anticipate summer's end, there are some amazing memories to be made!

AREN'T THEY PRETTY?!

Table decorations for the graduation party that is *3 weeks away*.  I. will. not. panic.  Will.  NOT.  :-) Today was M'Lynn and Erica's LAST Friday of High School.  How is that possible, exactly?  Did the calendar go into hyper drive and not tell me??

While I've definitely been pre-occupied with graduation preparations, there have been some other fun things going on.  Brody's final 6th grade band concert - with jazz band also - and, brace yourself - his JUNIOR HIGH physical.   Again with the hyper-drive, calendar.  No breaks for this Momma.

There's Brody and his good buddy Russ.  They are *the bomb* at tuba.  Honestly!

Erica had Senior Recognition night for Track... and I didn't even cry.  Aren't you proud?  I am!!

I'm soooo glad we decided to have the party at the 4-H building instead of our home AND so glad that I took the week between graduation and the party as vaction.  I know that week will be crazy, but knowing I have that week is keeping me sane right now - and allowing me to enjoy all these fun (but time consuming) year-end activities!

The count down has begun

May will mark the final days of M'Lynn & Erica's High School career and then, of course, there is the celebration.  June 4, 5- ? pm at the 4-H building.  I'm sooooo glad we decided to do it later.  Spring is such a busy time on the farm - 11 calves on the ground so far, corn is all planted, soybeans are almost all in - that it would have been just insanity to do their party in the next couple of weeks.

We have decided on cupcake recipe and frosting recipe (white chocolate, and it's seriously yummy).  I have tried my hand at potato salad... that still makes me nervous.  Chris is in charge of the burgers and coordinating all that with the Cattlemen.  Next for taste testing at home is choosing the punch recipe.  Think we'll go for simple there, though I have gotten some fabulous recipes from friends.  Final piece of the puzzle will be a giant Sam's Club run and then it will be down to actual execution.

So, I'm a bit distracted at the moment.  Random preparation thoughts popping into my head at odd times.  But, we are having a great time planning and preparing.  And we're managing to get all the important stuff done too - attending to the cows, calves, pigs, chickens and the soil!  :-)

A Sweet Walk...

Down Memory Lane!

I am nearing 1,000 more photos scanned in this week.  Graduation photo slide show is just a great excuse to finish my project of having ALL our photos stored digitally and then labeled, tagged, un-red-eyed and enhanced.  So excited to be nearing completion of at least stage one!

Here are a few of my favorites from the last few day's work.

Really, just an amazingly beautiful day in our life....

Wasn't Sunday beautiful?  I put aside all my "to-do" lists that included ANYTHING indoors and went outside to work and play alongside my family.  What an ordinary, extraordinarily wonderful day.

I worked with M'Lynn & Alecia to build a new fence to create a pasture for the bull....

and helped (and then watched) my kids work together with M'Lynn's new orphan calves

such patience they showed with these bewildered little sweethearts

I rode with my 12 year old son as he operated our biggest tractor and plowed to be ready for Grandpa to plant the corn

We all - humans and animals alike - enjoyed the beauty and promise of the day.  God has blessed us well.

Just Down the Road...

I'm not very good at estimating distance, but it's not very far down the road from our driveway.
A new roadside cross.

 

M'Lynn & Erica's senior classmate's life cut short.  Silence throughout the High School on Monday.  The strange site of cars lined up and down our gravel road as the Senior class came to stand vigil on Monday evening.  Class schedules adjusted for grief, teachers and students unable to think, and a funeral so devastating classes are cancelled at the Senior High.  Our hearts ache for all the kids, and they break thinking about the grief of the parents.  We pray for understanding and for the right words as we talk with our children.  This one moment will speak so loudly in its silence.  The programs, the officers, the parents, the teachers - they were not lying.  Wear your seatbelt.  If you drink, don't drive.  It's as simple and as important as that.

May God hold us all in the palm of his hand.

Lists

It is a time of lists for me.  That's my geeky way of handling life's stresses.  I've always been a list person, and at this time in my life, I find I'm waking up thinking in lists.  So, I think I'll share a list or two... aren't you excited?!


Excitement:
1.  Twin Hereford heifers.  Healthy.  Adorable.
2.  District FFA contest accomplishments for Erica and Alecia
3.  College found for M'Lynn.  We were sweating this one.  Iowa State it will be!
4.  Erica and Dustin begin dating.  After years and years of friendship.  
5.  Brody's "Highly Superior" mark for his Tuba solo at 6th grade contest. 
6.  Stacy & Kai & Raelynn hoping to move back to the U.S. yet this year!
7.  Two of three prom dresses purchased and girl's happy!


Challenges:
1.  Chris' sprained/torn (?) MCL and coming Mayo check on his R leg.
2.  Complacency in my good habits has set me back several pounds.  Time to start anew.
3.  That graduation thing.  Planning, paying, letting go.
4.  Keeping Brody focused on *school* when he wants to *work* (on the farm)


There, see, listing is good for me.  Much longer excitement list than challenge list.  And less than half of the challenge list items that my actions can affect.  All of it can be addressed in prayer.  I'm odd in this, I know, but listing has always been good for my soul, and my perspective.  

Beautify babies

Experience the Action

and 

Parliamentary Procedure

... and signs of SPRING make me giddy