Words of Farewell

There are so many things we can learn in this life, from textbook lessons to matters of the heart. We cannot experience the journey without picking something up along the way, nor can we walk away without leaving something behind.

May some of these lessons go with you as you begin this new chapter of your life, and may you learn new things that will enhance and enrich the lovely person that you are.

1. No work is beneath you. Whether you're the president of a company or behind a fast-food counter, do your job with grace, a smile and the conviction that no matter what it is, it's worth doing.

2. Watch your words. The old saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me", is a great falsehood. Remember the Indian proverb: "Before you speak, think: Is it kind? Is it necessary? Is it true? Does it improve on the silence?" And ponder that before you speak. Never underestimate the power that words hold. They can be used for goodness or hurt, but either way, once said they are out there forever.

3. Forgive others, including yourself. Life is too short to harbor grudges, and resentment is like a poison. Forgiving someone doesn't necessarily let them 'off the hook' for a wrongdoing, but it allows each person to find peace and move on. Don't beat yourself up too much for making a mistake. We are human. When we falter it teaches us humility and allows us to seek guidance from above.

4. Don't judge others too harshly. We don't always know what's going on behind the scenes and often we are wrong in our assessments. Open up your hearts and leave the judging to God.

5. Be yourself and stay true to that. What you claim to be, be really. No matter where you go in life, you will always take "you" with you. Don't spend your time trying to be someone that others expect or want you to be. Simply be the best "you". You're not one in a million. You are the only 'you' there is at all.

6. Follow the Golden Rule...and beyond. Don't just treat people the way you want to be treated. Some people are more tolerant to bad behavior and expect no more for themselves. As I've always told my own kids: "You won't like everyone in this world and I don't expect you to befriend everyone. But I do expect you to be kind to them."

7. Be a true friend. Don't repeat hurtful gossip. Listen. Help. Laugh. Be trusting and trustworthy. Be kind, faithful and true. One of the best definitions I've heard for friendship is this: "A true friend is he who comes in when the rest of the world goes out."

8. Money isn't wealth. Family, friends, health, values, love and faith are. Keep material things in perspective and don't allow them to define who you are. The amount of money you have in your bank account has nothing to do with your riches.

9. Grow up, but don't grow old. At 80 years of age, my mother is the youngest person I know. Though she is responsible, level-headed and kind she is also light-hearted, fun-loving and adventurous. You can be child-like without being childish.

10. Learn how to say, "I'm sorry", for you will need those words often in life. You are never above an apology and it shows that you have both grace and wisdom. They are as important to say - and hear - as the words, "I Love You", and can be the bridge that rebuilds a broken heart.

Good Luck and God's Blessings to you! May the path we shared come together again one day.

Today

Sometimes it's hard to know which direction to look. For a long time I kept looking back, wondering if decisions I'd made were right and pondering lost 'what ifs'. There is a verse which says that oftentimes we gaze so longingly into the past that we fail to see the door that opens before us. How very true...

I am at a place in my life where I no longer look back. Beautiful memories are recalled of moments cherished, and I smile at the blessings I have been graced with. But I don't live there anymore. I am ready for time to stand still just a bit so I can relish each precious day and store them forever in my photo album.

This day is my gift. No more looking over my shoulder nor scanning the horizon for tomorrow. Today is the key note of my symphony...and how beautiful is the music!

Lazy Days

Baa Baa White Sheep

All around us new life is springing up; the wildflowers in the ditches along the roadside, baby calves in tall pasture grasses and new litters of kittens.

The latest additions to our family arrived in a trailer and were delivered to their new home in our backyard. My daughter's days will be filled with romps down dusty roads and making sure they are well-cared for before they make their appearance at the county fair in August.


They're smaller than the sheep she had last spring; each with his own identifying marks. Right now they are shy and skittish, skirting inside their hut each time we visit. But soon they'll equate her quiet appearance with daily sustenance and look forward to her gentle voice and manner. Once again she'll fall a little in love with their soft, woolly coats and unique personalities.

The sheep have arrived. Time to get on with the business of summer...

Wealth

I was talking with a friend the other day about wealth. We tend to conjure up material objects when speaking of someone who is wealthy. And yet to be truly rich is to not to have, but to experience...value...love.

This Mother's Day was not about receiving gifts so I could have more to hold, but in enjoying what is already mine. It was a day to rejoice, celebrate, dance...knowing that true wealth is not found in the pocketbook, but simply and more fittingly, in the heart.

Renaissance Man

Last night my son asked if he could use my sewing machine. He was wanting to repair his book bag that has torn in a couple of places from the heavy load it carries every day.

"Do you need some help?" I asked as he headed for the basement.

"No. I took Home Ec, remember?" he called back on his way downstairs.

A few minutes later he came back up. "Well, maybe I need a refresher!" he admitted sheepishly.

I joined him at the sewing machine and proceeded to demonstrate all the switches and levers, then left him alone at the helm.

Earlier that evening I had come home to the smell of peanut butter cookies filling the kitchen, baked by my son and his friend while I was still at the school. Later on, he stood at the sink and washed the bowl and cookie sheet without giving it a second thought, regardless of the fact that his friend had told him that washing dishes was "women's work."

In our house there is no gender delegated work. My son does dishes and laundry; my daughter works outside with sheep. I mow the yard and dig in the dirt and my husband cooks a meal. We cross all kinds of lines to help each other and make our home work and that is a lesson I want my children to take with them when they're grown and on their own.

Though I've joked that my son is a 'husband in the making', I know that he will be a better - and happier - man if he is willing to step outside of what is expected of him and step up to embrace a new approach.

He bounces around the house, his 6'1" frame stretching up to touch an invisible rim in each door jam he passes. His appetite is insatiable, his energy, unmatched. Yet though he is definitely all 'boy' on the outside, I know that within him resides a gentle spirit that will serve him well in becoming not just a great man....but a wonderful person.

Mother's Day

When I think of my mother, I think of flowers. From the moment we were very small she had our hands in dirt, teaching us how things grew and showing us appreciation for all living things. I see iris and daffodils, hollyhocks and marigolds...and always her beautiful rose garden; a symbol of the peaceful spirit that resides within her.

When I think of Mother, I think of selflessness. Though she took time for the things she loved to do - her painting, sewing, gardening - it was always done without sacrificing her time with us. We always knew that with Mother, we came first and with that reassurance came the confidence that we were valued and important.

When I think of Mother, I think of Love. Unconditional, all-encompassing, never-ending. With six children, her heart must have ached numerous times, but her love and devotion never wavered. She guided our footsteps, encouraged our dreams, and when it came time to walk an independent path, gave us the freedom to make a life of our own choosing. I am so fortunate, so blessed to have this woman in my life. I can't imagine who I would have become without her and know that when I was born, it was I who was given an incredible gift.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom. I Love You so much....

Building Hope

I've always loved clouds. Their ever-changing shapes have fascinated me since I was a child lying on my back on the front yard of our farm. The puffy tops that rise up like a carnival cotton candy are beautiful from a distance; their threatening rampages miles away and disguised behind an elegant facade.
Someone, too, views these angry clouds from afar, admiring their splendor ...oblivious to their rumbling protests. It is all in the perspective: an observer in a plush balconied audience....or a participant on a live stage.

Last week 10 people lost their lives and hundreds lost their homes as a tornado ripped through our state. Ninety-five percent of Greensburg, Kansas is gone; a small town upon the prairie horizon that has been reduced to rubble and tears.
Their lives were ever-changed by a powerful, whirling tantrum that left both their town and hearts in total devastation.

I've seen firsthand the damage a tornado can do. My husband's job involves helping the people in our county and I have been with him before as we talked with those left homeless from such a storm. My heart was in my throat as I saw the shock on their faces and looked around at their former homes now in shambles. I like to think that I'm not a material person, yet I cannot imagine losing every physical possession that I own: photographs, family heirlooms, books.

There is a poem called, "It takes a Heap of Livin' in a House to Make a Home." So much living and so many memories go into a house and one day after all the sweat, tears, laughter and joy you turn around and find you've made a home. To suddenly lose all of that in a matter of minutes is incomprehensible to me.

And yet, the people of Greensburg have hope. After additional storms stomped through their town and county they were picking up possessions, clearing out debris and straightening their backbones. Like their pioneer ancestors, they are proud and resilient and will rebuild their town. Piece by piece they will begin anew and face the hard days ahead with faith and strength.They will take the high road, see the beauty in the clouds once more and choose to see life from the perspective of perseverance and hope. May we learn from their struggles, pray for their futures and glean much from their courage.

Saturday posies

Wishing you all a safe, happy and sun-filled weekend!

The Best of Both

Technically, my children are city kids. They were born in a large town and raised there until six years ago. There were malls and shops; everything super-sized and within minutes of our front door. They grew up with the sound of cars upon asphalt, lawn mowers on every corner, and neighborhood chatter across fence lines.

FFA - Future Farmers of America - was as foreign to them as the man in the moon. Classes in the city weren't geared towards entomology or creeds, swine and cattle. And when we moved to this rural community, it was the last thing they planned to be involved in. Though I had lived on a farm as a child and saw its benefits, I didn't push it.

When my daughter entered high school, she signed up for her first class in agriculture. I was shocked, to say the least, but encouraged that she would step out of her comfort zone and enter a new box with different sizes and shapes than what she was used to. She found that she did well on her tests and became enchanted with her Vo-Ag instructor and his clever ways of drawing what was outside, in. Two years later, her younger brother followed her footsteps. He'd watched as she raised, showed then sold two sheep last summer and decided he too, would put his feet into country soil.

He has excelled as well, winning the creed speaking contest in the freshman Greenhand division and scoring high on his tests. He is on the fence whether or not to have livestock in the future, but his mind has been opened and his city life-style, altered.

Though we now live in the country where trucks and tractors travel upon gravel and neighbors are few and far between, the world has suddenly become larger with new things to see, learn and do. Because they've experienced two different worlds, their lives are enriched. And as they've learned the importance of diversity, their choices are many.

The roads are now open. How fortunate they know the directions for each.

New Life

Last evening while on his way home from work, my husband noticed that one of our neighbor's cows was ready to give birth. She was just a quarter of a mile down the road in the dusk-filled meadow, so we hopped in the pick-up to watch a new life come into the world.

She was lying by the fence row, but wandered out farther into the pasture when she saw us approach. We watched for awhile as she meandered about. She seemed peaceful and in control, so much so that we wondered if she'd already had her calf.

Then suddenly she laid down and we knew her time had come. Within minutes she was back on her feet with her new baby lying in the soft spring grass. It seemed fast and effortless, and though a commonplace occurrence on a farm, still a miracle of life.

The natural maternal instincts of animals always amazes me. They know just what to do for their babies to survive and thrive. They are protective yet strong and from the beginning, teach their young how to get along in the world.

Within minutes she was encouraging the calf to his feet, knowing that he couldn't simply lie in the pasture where he'd be prey to bobcats and coyotes. He slipped and stumbled more than once in getting his footing, and I was tempted to climb the fence and help them both.

But finally he was standing; four shaky legs unfolded from his gestational sleep, holding him up in the new world of breezes and sunlight and sounds.

Babies are sweet, no matter what form they take and it was a treat to observe this new life out in the pasture. Soon I'll see him prancing around the tall grasses, sniffing the air and making friends with the little calves that came before him.

Life in the country at its best.

Farming Faith

It's raining again. The clouds are rallying with their spring-storm war cry to test our patience. The creeks are rising and little rivers trickle through the fields as I watch the relentless patter against the window.

It's been a tough spring. Though we are not farmers, our neighbors and friends are, and we've watched as the April freeze damaged their wheat and the torrential rains flooded roads and fields.

Our pastor spoke at church about the faith of a farmer. He said that it is one of the only occupations where your livelihood depends completely on nature's mercy. And it's true. The farmer sows his seeds believing they will grow into a crop that will be the source to feed his family. He has faith that there will be enough - but not too much - rain and sun. He trusts that the tractors and combines will make it through the planting and harvesting, and that the gas prices will fall and the crop prices rise to meet his needs. And whether the season is a success or failure, he rises each morning with new hope to do it all over again with the faith that only a farmer has.

When you shop for your groceries this week, stop and pray for the farmer. They request the least accolades, but in their quiet work, deserve it most.

Prom

Pink satin and billowy chiffon....roses and ribbons, photographs and smiles, dancing and dinner. There is 'much ado' about prom in a little town, when sons and daughters shed jeans and T's and turn into ladies and gentleman for an evening.

I think what makes a small town prom special is that it is of the students' making. There are no reservations at fancy restaurants nor decorated galas at a local country club. Instead, the gymnasium is transformed with white lights and black curtains, fountains and bridges, lamp posts and greenery. Cafeteria tables are elegantly dressed in black linens with candles and center pieces and all the hurrah. The Junior class and their sponsors work hard to turn the usual sports arena into a classy, sophisticated setting where they share a meal cooked by parents and dance beneath a makeshift moon. I'm glad to see that this tradition is still alive and that kids can make it real with a little imagination, and yet still keep it all in perspective.

Wind Passing

When I was a little girl, my mother and I would sit across my bed upstairs in our farmhouse, reading these words from a book she bought me called, Little Bits of Wisdom. This verse and picture are from that very book, purchased in 1967 when I was six years old. I often think of those days and these words when the wind is howling around me, as it is today.

If Chicago is the 'windy city', then Kansas must surely be the 'windy state'. The days filled with bluster and blow are more common than not here, and there are times when it can be wearing. Many times we can barely get out our south door as it pushes in a backwards tug-of-war, and the hedgerows are bent in a permanent northeasterly direction from its unrelenting force. It howls at us on wintry days, swirling snow in drifts at our doorstep, and races across our prairie in a fury of tantrums during spring thunderstorms.

Yet... looking skyward one can see clouds in syncopation as the wind choreographs their dance, and the tall grass, wheat and wildflowers dip and sway in rippling response. A sea of green flows across the prairie as far as the eye can see; at one time carrying covered wagons upon its rolling waves.

And when the driving rains stop, the wind blows its gusty breath across muddy roads, bringing a warmth that transforms it back into a passable lane, and new leaves rustle together in whispered chatter, anxious to share their words after a long winter of barren boughs.

The wind and I have a love/hate relationship. But when I think back on the days when I was a child sitting on the bed with my mother, I remember those words we once read together. ...and regardless of the situation, the memory makes me smile.

"Who has seen the wind? Neither you nor I. But when the trees bow down their heads, the wind is passing by."

The Thoughtful Blogger

Some days ago I was notified by two fellow bloggers that I had been included among their picks for the Thinking Blogger Award. I so appreciate this inclusion and take my turn in paying forward to five places I visit that also inspire me.

Though Bonnie has already been tagged (as she is one of those who tagged me), I cannot help but put her at the top of my list of thoughtful bloggers. Her posts at Macro Moments are always inspiring and uplifting, leaving me feeling refreshed and renewed. Her recent addition includes Photo Buffet which is a beautiful palette of her nature photography which I find breathtaking. She has become a personal friend as well, helping me when I have questions and encouraging me in my writing. When someone transcends the written word and enters our hearts, we know we have met someone special. Bonnie is such a person.

Melange is a place where I find a canvas of words and pictures that tell a story. Perusing through her posts is like seeing part of myself and things yet to be. I love her optimism and look on life and the touching photographs and words about her lovely daughter, Nyssa. I never know what I'm going to find when I open her blog, and am never disappointed. When I am feeling a little out of sorts, this is where I go to feel right again. (Though I was also tagged by this blogger, there is no way I couldn't include her in my own).

There are many poignant stories shared at Networkchic's blog. She is intelligent, loving, guarded, seeking. Living in Chicago with her beautiful family, she weaves her writing around past hurts and future hopes. She writes with such grace and depth and in a manner that I could never imitate as it is solely her own. Her words are honest and poetic and she always makes me think and be thankful for my blessings.She is a woman of great strength and conviction and though her life - past and present - seems very far from my own, I think that if we were ever to meet we would find a common thread that would bond us for life.

The Farmers Wife comes from rural Illinois where she posts photographs of the history of her community. I find her blog so fascinating because she has captured my own backyard and put it into a format that makes me see if from a different perspective. Looking at her pictures and reading her writing reminds me of my past as a child living on a farm and the wonders of rural life. Captured through her lens are remnants of a lifestyle that is slowly dwindling, and her words and photographs are golden threads, breathing it back to life.

A Walk Through Durham Township, Pennsylvania is all about photography. Though her only words are captions, Kathleen Connally's blog is stunning. There are times when I don't have time to read as much as I'd like but visiting Durham Township is like taking a much needed mental hiatus. Her pictures are spectacular and remind me of the human spirit behind it all. I see my neighbors and friends reflected in her blog and am humbled to be living among the salt of the Earth.

Around the corner

Sometimes it seems like the rain will never stop. Spring teases us with its yellow daffodils and brilliant tulips and whispers through the new leaves of roadside cottonwoods. The sun lies warmly on our shoulders and wraps us in a long awaited embrace.

And then the clouds gather and the bitter north winds dash our hopes as they drive a cold rain against our windowpanes. It feels like we will never be warm again nor see strands of wispy white against a summer blue sky.

But hope awaits around the corner.... and on the horizon. There is promise of brighter days of beauty, joy, song. The darkened clouds become sunlit then fade away as prismatic rays replace them, lighting our lives and scattering any ill moments to the wind.

There will always be darkness, but without it we would never fully appreciate the light that inevitably comes. When the clouds gather, tuck yourself beneath a cover of comfort and be patient. The new bloom awaits.

Out of Commission

I've been under the weather for the past few days. An unrelenting fever took up residence in my body last Thursday and has refused to give up its grip. In its hip pocket it brought intense headaches and weakness, and I've had little interest or energy for much since.

But, the good news is......the sun is shining in Kansas! After a cold and rainy week, the welcome glow of spring has finally arrived and this time, I think it's here to stay.

I'm planning on going to the doctor tomorrow and am hopeful he'll have the perfect fix for what ails me.

Here's to chicken soup, sunshine and 70 degrees!