Sunday, July 28, 2013

we are family

Today we had a family get together. 
I love family get togethers. They just make me happy.
Perhaps it is because I believe, without a shadow of a doubt, that I have the best, most beautiful, most loving, most crazy, most amazing family ever. 
And here are a few (ok, actually a lot) of pictures to prove it.

My sister is so pretty.

I had a "better" picture of the two of them, but I just love Dad's bug eyes in this one.

There was a lot of laughing.

My broskie and his border collie.

Sisters.

Siblings. Need I say more?

Me an my Grammy.

Family group shots.

The girl pictured with me is my cousin, Jess. She was born 7.5 months after I was, and we have always been the best of friends. This spring, her graduation was a week after mine, but we never got our cap and gown pictures. Two days after her graduation, I left for 5 weeks, and before I got home, she left for 5 weeks. So finally today, with both of us in the same place and (sorta) healthy, we got our pictures done.


 My beautiful cousin Lindy was gone for a year in Germany. She just got back this past week. It was so nice to see her! I have missed her laugh. 

 Pine cones are interesting objects. 

 This little girl's curls are amazing.

My mommy and daddy.

 Happy baby!

 Matching mommy and daughter!


 Apple trees are the best for climbing. (And....strangling your sister?)

 One got home from Germany last Wednesday, one is leaving for Africa next Sunday.

 Dinner time!

 Rolling down the hill in our backyard. Seems like just yesterday I was doing that with my cousins...

 It's a happy Grandpa and grand-daughter! 

Brothers. On a mission. To eat their ice cream and homemade blackberry cobbler. A warning to anyone who might try and delay their quest: these two men have been known to inflict bodily damage on people who mess with them while eating. (Nah, just kidding. They're really just big teddy bears and will only glare a little at you if you try and interrupt their eating.....but don't tell them I said they are big teddy bears. They might try and prove me wrong.....)

Missing some of the girl cousins, but this is best we could do! 

So I know there are some poor, miss-informed, unfortunate souls out there that will disagree with me, but I seriously have the best family in the history of ever. (True story.)

Friday, July 26, 2013

Five Minute Friday: Broken

(Excuse my long winded-ness...I couldn't get it all out in 5 minutes.)

I come from a strong family. Not only physically (farmers, loggers, law enforcement, military, etc.) but also mentally. My family is the type to never say die. To just keep on going.
One of the strongest women I know is my grandmother (I talked about her here) and this last January I got to see that strength come out full force when my Grandpa was in the hospital with some health issues.
At the beginning of this month, my Grandma was put in the hospital with an incredibly nasty flu that went into several other things.
As I said before, Grandma is a strong woman. She is in her late 70's, and has more energy than I do. I don't have time or space to try and describe her, so just believe me when I say she acts like a 25 year old. So having her in the hospital was a new and frightening thing. Hearing that she couldn't be out of bed for more then 30 minutes was not exactly comforting.
Her physical strength had broken. But her mental strength was still there. Her heart strength was still there.
Now several weeks later, her physical strength is almost back up to par. And once again, I am seeing the strength come out as she cares for my Grandpa who is in the hospital again.
My Grandpa fell a few days ago. Two nights ago, my Mom and Grandma took him into the hospital. And yesterday afternoon, it was discovered that in the fall he had broken his hip.
There is a lot of breaking happening down the sidewalk from me, in my grandparents house. Breaking of physical strength. Breaking of bodies. Breaking of the un-breakable image I have always had of my grandparents. But there is also a lot of love. My grandparents have been married for a very long time, and even though their bodies may be breaking, their love stays strong.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

this is where I work

The other day I took my camera to work and got a few pictures. (Please excuse the lack of words and the words that might not be coherent...it is late and I have not been getting enough sleep!) 

 That's my broskie in there. And that is the combine he taught me how to drive. 


 When my best friend moved in between two grass seed fields, I informed her it was going to be very dusty come summer time. I don't think she really believed me. But in a recent conversation she said "you were right, it is incredibly dusty." I figure a little (ok, a lot) of dust is a small price to pay for living in the country!



And yes, I drive those trucks. 


 Sunset. 
My favorite time of the work day.




The End. 
(And this farm girl is going to bed.)

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

21 things I am thankful for


  1. my new car
  2. a beautiful sunset
  3. air conditioning
  4. my dog's happy face
  5. dinner with my sister
  6. my cousin Caleb
  7. a gorgeous moon
  8. payday
  9. running
  10. sweat
  11. my very own bed
  12. editing pictures
  13. the smell of hay
  14. hair that does what I want it to
  15. protein shakes
  16. the random man who held a door open for me in town today
  17. the nice lady at the bank
  18. a gorgeous post-sunset sky
  19. clean clothes
  20. a friend who is just a phone call away even at 10:30pm
  21. sore muscles

Saturday, July 20, 2013

a gorgeous little lady's second birthday

Today I got to attend my cousin's little girl's second birthday party. She is gorgeous, her family is gorgeous, and the party was gorgeous. 

 Look at that face!!! I just wanna kiss those chubby cheeks. 

 One of my other cousin's little girl. She is also beyond gorgeous. Come to think of it, I am just surrounded by gorgeous people. 

 My momma and the little gorgeous baby girl. Who isn't really a baby anymore...

 The parents of the birthday girly.

 Grandma and grandson.

 Supper's ready!

 This picture just makes my heart happy.

 Agh! So gorgeous!

 Kids aren't the only ones who love bubbles.

 Those fingernails make her look so grown up!

 There were a couple deer near where the party was happening and so my cousin took the kiddos on a let's-see-the-wildlife adventure. 

 His brown eyes kill me.

 I.Love.This.Picture.

 Scavenger hunt!

 "Onward, Mother!!"

 Beautiful birthday girl.

 This picture reminds me of a picture taken about 16 years ago.

 Apparently this little sweetie doesn't like her picture being taken! 

 Blowin bubbles in Grandpa's beard.

 Isn't my cousin's smile beautiful?

 "Here Daddy. Take my cupcake."

 "Mmmm frosting."

 This family is blessed with beautiful eyes!!

 Two beautiful, amazing women.

Kisses!

 A little bit blurry, but I still love it.

 The birthday girl and her family. (P.S. I love this family so much)

Cousins! (Who are clones of their daddies.)

That's all for now folks! Hope you enjoyed the pictures!