First post of the New Year: 2011

So, umm...I have dropped the ball and missed the first 4 days of the new year, and here it is the end of the 5th day of the year.

Not too much exciting going on that's for sure.

Saturday-after ringing in 2011 watching Back to the Future Part III (which I have seen an umpteen bazillion times and Craig has NEVER seen-what's up with that?), we slept in until 9.  Then we got up and got to working around the house.  I managed to clean up one half of my 1/3 of the basement.  Craig worked on his side and rigged up some lights controlled by a remote.  He's pretty proud of himself.  The remote is held up on the pole with baling wire.  Gotta love being married to the farmer.  We use more baling wire than duct tape!  I managed to find some goodies while cleaning up and more than a few dead bugs.  Thank goodness for the shop vac! 

Now, we are on to doing our taxes for last year.  The joys of self-employment?  You have to have your taxes done by February 28th.  No rest for the weary.  So, I'm inputting all of Craig's receipts for the whole year.  It's lots of fun!

Here is my plug for an awesome way to do your taxes.  TurboTax.  I always used to have help getting my taxes done from one of my college professors.  Even after I graduated, he allowed me to come back and get them done for free.  After I got married, it was a whole different story. 

There are so many deductions, expenses, and other things that I think a person would go crazy if they didn't have some way of keeping track of them.

Needless to say, for the first time last year, I did our taxes all by my little self!  I was so excited to get them done.  Hopefully, I can get them done by the end of this month and not wait until the last week of February like last year.  tee hee.

We are considering going to a gun show this weekend.  It depends if we decide staying home and working around the house would be more fun.  I think it would be kind of fun.  After all, since I hold a Bass Pro Rewards membership-I was sent an offer to be a card carrying member of the N.R.A.  Craig didn't get it, but I did.  Figure that one out!

I hope you have had a great first couple of days to the new year.  I'm just hoping it gets better!

Psalm 27

I guess I have a little theme going here...passages of Scripture from the Psalms.  Psalms=balm (to my heart).

You know, as you read the Psalms, a lot of them were written by King David.  Talk about someone who went through a lot.  His best buddy's dad was out to kill him!  I couldn't imagine that.  That would be horrid.  But through the tests and trials, David found it in his heart to praise God over and over again.  So, that's what I am trying to do.

Psalm 27 pretty much sums up what I'm feeling.  Read it if you get a chance.  Pastor Jeremy read this Scripture Sunday morning and it just hit home.  I had read it before (a lot) but when the words were spoken aloud...wow.  I was overcome with emotion (in fact, I had to excuse myself from the sanctuary). 

Here we are, another failed month.  I weep with the sadness of knowing that we failed to get pregnant again. I hate being in this pit of despair.  I hate questioning (I know I've said that before, but I REALLY do hate questioning) why God is allowing this.  I am trying.  The only reason I am trying is because I know God still loves us.  He's never stopped loving us.  Wow...what did I do to deserve that type of love?  If I stop and listen, I can hear that loving voice saying that I am loved.  So, maybe I should just shut up some more and focus on that.  Easier said than done, that's for sure.  But, nonetheless, I will try. 

On another note: it's going to be a CRAZY busy week!  Craig is finally able to get some hay done.  He's mowing today, baling tomorrow & the next day.  He also has to replant some soybeans that got washed out with our torrential rains the last couple of weeks.  Saturday is a friend's wedding: Florina.  We all lived together before Craig & I were married.  I am one of the bridesmaids.  Thursday & Friday will be busy with decorating and all the pre-wedding stuff!  Pray for Dan & Florina as they begin their life together.  Exciting times!

Rain, rain go away!

Another day, another round of rain. The meterolgists around here are saying it's reminiscent of 1993, when it flooded MAJORLY! In fact, I remember that we didn't even think I would get out to Kansas City for college because even I-70 was covered in water in places. Hopefully it won't get that bad.
Last night, while Craig & I were outside trying to fix his tractor, he went to go get some parts down in the trailer by the old barn & house. He heard a noise and lo & behold there was a dog. We think someone must have dropped off a dog & some puppies. One puppy ended up staying here at the farm, and the others have left. Well, she is a cutie...a Brittany mix. She's about 6-8 weeks old we think. Just what we don't need...another dog since we already have 8. But, you can't just let the poor thing starve to death. She was already thin enough. So, we will just have to see if we do end up keeping her or if someone else wants her, that would be fine.
Today was a pretty good day. As I have discussed our Infertility (IF) with others, it's become liberating...I guess you would say. It is amazing how many people we have come across that have had similar problems. I appreciate them sharing with us their struggles, as I share ours. We just keep praying that God will give us patience...especially me! We know that it will be in His timing, but it is so very hard to wait! I am so thankful for the ladies that I have come to know through Hannah's Prayer. They are such an encouragement.
Well, I better run for the evening. I need to go outside and play with all of my dogs. I love them!

90 degrees and 100% humidity=sweat

Yesterday, I spent all day down at my brother-in-law & sister's (Aaron & Lori) house to get ready for our 3 day garage sale extravaganza! We have a lot of stuff to get rid of. We were going to have a sale last fall, but because Lori & I were coaching volleyball, that went out the window and we just accumulated a lot more. So, add our stuff together along with mom & dad's and our friend's...we have a virtual store. I already made $85 today in 4 hours, so I'm doing pretty well I would say. =)

Craig is finally going to get the rest of the soybeans planted tomorrow, if the rain holds off. We are hoping for it. He's been repairing and then replacing a tire on the tractor so he's been delay...AGAIN. Oh well, such are the joys of farm life, because there is always something that comes up. Once he gets done with soybeans, he will start mowing hay for all of our cows. And somewhere in there, we will have to sort cattle to take them to auction.

I'm just amazed how much God keeps working in my life, especially. Going through trials sure make you run the gamut of emotions: you're sad, then depressed, then somehow you make it through the valley and start to see the light. I'm so grateful for God's love and His mercy and strength. The more I talk to people about what is going on, the more I see God working in other's lives. It's very encouraging.

Well, I need to get with it and finish cooking supper. The life of a farmwife...we eat supper at 9:30 PM. It's wonderful when you want to watch your weight and you eat so late! Blessings to you all!

High on Cold medicine

Yep...that's what I am. Fighting allergies that have now turned into a cold. So much fun, especially in this lovely heat & humidity!

Craig hopes to finally be able to plant corn this weekend. Only a few weeks later than he had hoped. We are busy as bees in the office turning in replant claims for other farmers. Almost makes me glad that Craig DIDN'T get ours planted because he would just have to do it over anyway.

So, what's been going on since March? A lot. A lot of turmoil, a lot of sadness, a lot of (trying) to grow in grace & being patient. As I always say...Patience is NOT my middle name. Amidst a lot of other things, my Grandpa passed away at the beginning of the month, so we had to make a trip back to Illinois.

One of these days, maybe I will feel like explaining what's going on, but not today. All I can say is just please pray for us...there is a lot going on and I hate that we are having to go through it. I hope to one day look back on this time and see God's hand in it. Right now...it's just hard when you cry almost every day. But, God knows what is best and I have to remember that He IS walking through this with us.