What has happened to The Farmers Daughter? (Part 1)

(WARNING: Read at your own risk. You may want to take a break in between and drink some water. This is going to be a long post!. Just giving you fair warning.)

I'm still here but, I have been so busy working and some exciting things have happened to me (this does not include the never ending search for that ever allusive man friend!).

Lets see .....

Late July, some friends and I went to Cahaba (Cawhaba), Alabama and spent some time around the first permanent State capital from 1820-1825. To learn more, click here.

From left to right: Me, Lille, Mary, Rebekah and Grace Ann

Grace Ann standing on the steps of St. Luke's Episcopal Church

St. Luke's Episcopal Church. We didn't get to go inside (they had it locked up) which means that we have to go again!

Walking back from seeing a "historic" (it was really an electrical house) building

Grace and Mary doing ....... whatever it is that Grace and Mary do

Rebekah doing what she does best. Sitting there and looking pretty! :)

 

Lillie being our guided botanist!

Sisters and best friends!

Grace and I just had to recreate some photos that we took 11 years ago ..... we were so little and we had no clue (and still don't) of what life holds!

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In August we took a family vacation to the beach. It was so fun! We were able to rent a condo (that we stayed at when my siblings and I were growing up) and we stayed for almost a week! It was so refreshing to go on vacation especially before harvest!

I also bought my very own camera and I've been having fun with it so, expect alot of pictures :D

 Liam being pulled on the boogie board

Benjamin just hanging out

Isn't he cute???

I have an amazing zoom on my camera and I was able to take a picture of the pier at pier park all the way from where our condo was

Liam had a blast!

Benjamin is so photogenic

This bird reminds me of the birds on the "Windex" commercials

My very awesome brother! I love that he has moved back home to the farm

"Aunt, Kate! Take my picture!"

Has anyone seen Liam???

Oh, there he is! I lost him for a minute!

Here is Liam with his sister, Emery Kate

Sunset at the beach!

Benjamin relaxin' in the kiddie pool

I don't know what kind of flower this is but, it was growing on the side of the sand dune

"Benjamin, look at the crab!"

 

Will, Benjamin and Liam

Emery Kate having fun in her kiddie pool

The love that Amy has for her kids is very evident in this picture! The smile that Emery Kate has is so precious! I love them both!

"Aunt Kate, look at me! I'm wearing 2 hats!"

"Look at me! I'm a turtle"

Ah, the beach! I want to go back!

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We harvested peanuts the last of August through November

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My Mom's cousin (who I call Uncle) is plowing up the green peanuts so that they can be turned over to dry

For all my Northern (Pennsylvania) friends: This is my Uncle plowing up the peanuts

For all my Northern (Pennsylvania) friends: Daddy operating the peanut picker 

Dumping in the peanut trailers so that we can haul the peanuts to town!

Well, I'm off to write part 2 of "What has happened to the Farmers Daughter??" I hope that y'all had fun reading! I'll see everyone in the other post!

This Thing Called Life

My schedule has been so busy. I did not know that I even had a thing called a schedule until these past few months!!! It's CRAZY up in here! I've been so busy with daily life.

Mom and I keep Liam while Amy teaches and Will helps Daddy on the farm. Will goes to work and Liam's Momma comes and gets him from us and takes him home. The days that we keep him (everyday of the week) this is what happens: Wake up, get dressed, play with Liam, he goes down for nap, help Momma, attempt to do school, he wakes up, plays with him, he eats lunch, plays (sometimes naps) and then his Momma comes home!

Meanwhile ......

I get up, get dressed and go to the hospital to volunteer 2 times a week! Then, when a big storm comes up, I have another job (that reminds me, I better take the test!!).

On Mondays, I schedule appointments (doctor, chiropractor, dentist, etc). On Wednesdays, I have Church. So, I go in from 12-4:30, run errands, rush home, put groceries away and hop in the car with Mom and Dad and away we go to church! I teach 1st and 2nd graders so, I'm exhausted by the time that day is over.

This month is extra crazy cause, well, I'm leaving to go out of town for a week (next month) AND I said that I'd help with VBS which is the week before I leave!! Granted it is for 3 days but, that is pushing it to close!! I must have been outta my mind!! Now, for the VBS peeps who might be reading this: I don't regret saying yes .....  I will love EVERY minute of it!! Tomorrow is training!

OH, and did I mention that my sweet NEPHEW IS TURNING 1?!?!?!?!?! Yep, a day of traveling to get family from airports! Seriously, this month is CRAZY!

I'm so excited for going outta town! I'm so excited to get to see a friend (maybe) that I've not seen in 3 years!! I'm ready to go!! WOOHOO!!

First though ...... is volunteering! Monday morning, I'm hittin' the ground runnin'! No holes barred! Excitement is kicking in!! Keeping my brain busy with school and everything else is just what I need!




Oh, and just in case you did not see my status on FB: I cleared out my first drain! Yep, it was clogged with gunk but, I cleared it! BOOYAH!! I DON'T NEED A MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!




I hop that y'all enjoy this post. I'm so sorry that I've not written in a loooooooooong time but, like this post is saying, I've been busy with life!


*goes to fold laundry so that I can get in bed*

Rambling??

I've been trying to rake my brain for something particular to write about but, I cant seem to find what it is that I want to right about. So, I'm just going to write about random things. They will be put into paragraphs.

For the past few days, I've been helping Mom pick up pecans in a yard across from our house. I think that I have overdone things with the picking up of the pecans. I've not felt good lately. I have figured out that the scars from my appendectomy do not stretch. I suppose that I will pick up pecans tomorrow as well!!

My brother. Alot can happen in a year. This past February had been a year since he was diagnosed with CML. In September I learned that the meds that he had been taking that kept him in remission had quit working. He now needs a bone marrow transplant. The good news is is that my sister (who lives in NC) is a perfect match!! God is good!! Yesterday (Sunday) was their (my brother and sister in laws) one year wedding anniversary. In fact, it seems just like yesterday that they were getting married in the beautiful mountains of Angel Fire, New Mexico!! Oh, it was so pretty!! I want to go back and perhaps maybe one day I will get that chance!

Since my surgery, I have not been able to participate in harvest at all. We are almost done picking cotton. I had to sit that crop out due to it being such strenuous work. I mean, with the pushing and pulling that I would have to do in order to work the cotton module builder. Next is peanuts!! I can do peanuts easy!! All I will have to do is drive a truck (that weighs 3/4 of a ton) puling a peanut trailer (that weighs about 8 tons)!! If y'all think I am scared, believe me when I tell you that I am not.

I must admit that when I started writing this blog that I felt so down and out but after to talking to a very special and dear fried, I feel a whole lot better!! Thanks, Melanie!! Such a dear friend!!

Anyway ........

My life. It is busy to say the least. Would I have it any other way? Of course not. It is hard sometimes when I think about certain persons and I wish upon every star that things could be different. Then I realize that there is no such thing as a "fairy tale" relationship Things will get better though! I just have to keep believing. Alot of tears have been shed. Especially when I see a couple who is so much in love!! My heart aches because I want that. In the Bible, it says that God gives us the desires of our hearts. God knows what I want so, I really don't have to tell him. I really do think that God is waiting on my to grow up!!

What is my schedule like? Well, it consists of me doing the following: Mondays: Volunteer at a local hospital, Tuesdays: school, Wednesdays: volunteering at a local hospital, going to church and teaching GA's, and Thursdays: going to school!! Fridays and Saturdays is my free day to do whatever. Sundays are reserved for going to church!

Speaking of church, this past Sunday was the first time that I went to a particular church for several months. I was able to hear the testimony of Siran Stacy! If you dont know who he is, I urge you to look him up!! Tomorrow (Wednesday) I will be going back to teaching GA's for the first time since my surgery!! I cant wait. I hope that I will not be disappointed!!

Thanksgiving? Will we all be here together?? Who knows! We are waiting on God's perfect timing!!

Well, I think this is every thing that I wanted to say!! Oh, sorry about the randomness of everything!! I shall write more when I am not about to conk out!!

I dont know what title to put

We had a good and enojoable trip out to Texas to visit Will and Amy. Paxton was happy to be home! We arrived home on Tuesday night around 9:00pm

On Wednesday, Grandma had triple bypass surgery and Mom, my Aunt and close church friends have been staying with Grandma around the clock. I am here at the hospital with Grandma today.

I'm sick but, not contagious. My family doctor said that as long as I am NOT running a fever, I am fine.

Well, until next time I update!

Oh, please keep my grandmother in your prayers!! Love you guys!!

My Brother

As many of you know, my brother was diagnosed with CML back in February of 2010. CML is = Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. My brother has been doing really well the past year and a half. In fact, his WBC (white blood cell count) has been less than 5%! Recently, they tested him and his WBC was at 25% and then they tested him again (even more recently) and his WBC is at 39% now.

My Dad, Mom and I are going to see my brother next week end so, I will write more when I know more then.

Here is the first entry that I wrote about my brother while I was in Texas in 2010.

The Adventures of a Farmers Daughter

I really have nothing to write cause nothing very exciting is going on on the farm. I get up and it is a joy to feed my horse now. I don't know why unless my friend boy has me more interested in horses than before. Although, it could also be the fact that I have completely moved his (the horses ... not the friend boys ;p )eating trough and water trough to the bigger pasture (which is right outside my bedroom window) so that it is much easier for me to feed him. I mean, its not easier in the fact that it is outside my bedroom window but, that I moved it to a much more easier location for the horse to get to.

My GED classes are still going well. Sometimes I get discouraged and then my teacher says something to lift up my spirits.

Things between me and my friend boy are going really well. I hope that it continues to do so. If I haven't mentioned before .... I like the idea of courtship!!! I'm hoping we can hang out a lot this summer. I mean, when he is not working ...

I am bound and determined to not be like some people who forget about their friends that they have known for forever just because they have a friend boy (or boyfriend ... whatever the case may be). I hope I did not step on any toes by saying that and I hope that people are not offended.

I will hopefully get to hang out with some of my other friends this summer as well and maybe possibly go to the beach with them! WOOHOO!!!!!

I just felt like that I needed to write a blog post for some reason. I don't know why though ...

Oh, maybe I will get to do more traveling this year???? I don't know ... I guess that we will have to see!! ;)

Anyway, until next time I think of something to write... God Bless!!!

The Art of Letter Writing ~ Courting Customs in America

Imagine a young couple, very much in love and living miles apart from each other. In the era before the invention of the telephone, the only means of communication was letter writing.

Letter writing was considered a form of courtship. It was a manner in which a suitor would try to secure the respect and consideration of the person whom he corresponded with.

The rules for letter writing included proper regard for composition and naturalness of expression.

LETTER WRITING RULES:

1. Write letters often

2 Wait for a response before dashing off another correspondence

3. Keep the particulars to a minimum

4. If you are 'familiar' with the corespondent, openly but properly express the feelings

5. Pay attention to whom the recollection of the heart be garnered


** While there were certain exceptions, correspondence was to be conducted only with the consent and approval of the parents **

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As a rule, the love was to be very guardedly written. Ladies, especially, were advised to be very careful to maintain their dignity when writing them.

No man, who was declared to be a gentlemen, would ever boast of his love conquests, among companions or reveal to others the correspondence between himself and a lady

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When February birds do mate, You wed nor dread your fate

Reflection

January: of this year (2010) I had the privilege of flying with my friends Kim and her sister Kris to Erie Pennsylvania to see a friend of ours: Kayla Hughes. Read about our trip here: Erie Trip and here: Erie Trip Part 2. It was a lot of fun.

February: Two weeks after I got back from Erie, it snowed in Alabama!!! That is a rare occurrence for us!!!!! Then about a week later my brother had a appointment with a doctor b/c he found a lump on his chest. Mom wanted to be out there with him for the results. Mom and I drove to Texas. Read about it here: Texas Adventure ~ Day 1 and 2. For those of you who do not want to click on the link: My brother has been diagnosed with CML = Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. Its the good type of cancer to have!!

March: Nothing exciting really happened .... Except my brothers WBC = white blood cell count went down considerably. You can read about it if you click here.

April: I got my first ever job (besides working for Daddy during harvest) working at a vet office as a receptionists. I sometimes got to hold the animals and occasionally watch them do a surgery I loved watching them do that!!!!!

May: Read here

June: Read here

July: Click here to read

August: I was reading a book on courtship in America. Its a very interesting read. Click here to read the introduction to the book

September: My brother brought home his fiance (now wife) to meet us!!! When I first saw Amy I loved her!!!!! I really loved her!!!!! I was so happy that she was going to Marry my brother!!!!!

October: I jack-knifed a peanut trailer!!!!! We had a wedding to attend!!!!! It was so beautiful!!!!! I'm so happy that I went!!!!!

November: We had a family Thanksgiving!!!!! It was a blast!!!!!

December: We had a great month until Mom and I got sick on Christmas Eve!!! We have been sick ever since!! It is true that there have been times when we felt great but then, we had a relapse So, I guess we will be sick on New Years Day!!! Isnt that a bad omen or something???

Anyway, I hope that you had a good time recapping (proper word usage) and reading about our year of trials and triumphs!!!!! Have a Happy New Year!!!!!!!

P.S. Here's hoping that Auburn Wins the BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!! GO TIGERS!!!!!

Thanksgiving Adventures

Well, I had 3 pages (according to Microsoft word) of what I was going to put in my blog. Y'all have been spared the torture of reading that much. A couple of people (who shall remain nameless) told me that I put to much detail in my blog. Is this true???

We had 2 blow outs going up there so, what normally would take one day of travel took 2 days.

We passed President Jimmy Carter's house. A black gate was around it and Daddy said that he saw a black car (secret service?) but, I didnt see it. I was too busy looking at the house!!!!!

That's about it!! We had fun seeing family that we had not seen in ages (on my brother in laws side). I got to see my brother and sister in law and her sister.

On Sunday, we did go to a church that my sister and brother in law suggested that we go to. It was great. They had a band!!!!!

Coming home, we did not have any blow outs. All in all it was a good trip!!!

New Mexico

Thursday (October 14.): Well, it started out as me getting up at 3:30am. We Got to the Dothan airport at 5:00. We only live 5 minutes away so, we were able to get there at 5:00. We got on the airplane at 5:30 .... we taxied down the Runway and stopped ..... it was a 30 minute wait .....The captain finally came on the PA and said: "Ladies and Gentlemen, there is a delayed take off. The tower is not open and we had to call someone to come open it and turn on the runway lights."!!!!! I was like: Who in the heck heard of a airport shutdown at 5:30 in the morning?????

Anyway we finally took off (for Atlanta) and I forget what time we got to Atlanta but, we had a 2 hour layover (I think). We got to Albuquerque, New Mexico around lunch and we had a 4 (actually 3 1/2) hour drive up the mountain and we got to our condo at 5:30

After we got there, we had a few hours to change and get ready to go out to eat with the McAfee Family!! I had a blast eating with them!! The second I met them, I had a instant connection with that whole family!!

Friday (October 15): Will and Amy got together and went to a resort town (Taos) down the mountain and got the marriage liscense and while there, they ate breakfast. Dad, Mom and I went sight seeing and we to see someones ranch. We know the person that owns it and he said it was ok so, we went.

Friday night~ Rehearsal Dinner: We heard that the actor Sean Penn was filming a movie near where we were staying (at the condo) but, we had no idea that he was filming on the part of the mountain where the rehearsal and the wedding was to take place!!

We went to the rehearsal. I stood in as "Amy as "bride". I am her height and same age (well, I am older than her by 3 months) bt, anyway ..... Pictures will follow as soon as I get around to posting them. We took the wedding party out to eat at a restaurant called "Sundance Mexican Restaurant" It was very good.

Saturday ~ Day of the wedding (October 16): What a glorious day it was!!!!!!!!!! A day filled with family, friends and memories!!!!! Amy was gorgeous as always and God's presence was felt everywhere!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday (October 17) ~ Day to arrive home: It was an eventful day!!!!!

Well, I started waking up at 6:30am then I got up out of bed at 7:00. I rushed and got everything on my truck. I dont think I forgot anything except maybe for my Mucinex D (allergy medicine) and my Moms camera battery charger (maybe it has enough charge) and some cash. I might need to go back home and start from there.

My truck was 2000 miles overdue on getting serviced so, I decided to wait to the last minute (today) and get it seen about. I get here to the care dealership at 7:30 and there was already a long line. There are 3 cars ahead of me that is getting the oil changed and then it will be my turn. Momma talked to "our" service guy here and he said that it will be atleast an hour and a half before I am ready to get on the road. Then, technically, before I can get "on the road" I need to go and get my truck washed. That wont take 10 minutes though. I've a plant in the back of the truck wrapped in a plastic bag so that it does not get washed when I go through the car wash.

Imagine how it will feel if it was expected a nice rain shower and it got a full fledged soap bath instead!!!!!

Why is it that every time I go up to the Godin's house that I have to get my truck serviced, get a tire changed, install windshield wipers, ect. ..... I mean, its like I jinxed ..... LOL, JK-ing!!!!!

In the showroom now listening to 2 people (possibly farmers) talking about chicken houses. They were talking about how you are always in debt to the chicken company. Meaning that if they say "hey, if you build 2 chicken houses we will get you signed onto a contract". By the time you get those to paid off and you tell them that you don't want anymore they take the contract with you somewhere else.

After I got through with the car dealership, I went to get my truck washed. Then I went back home to get some last minute stuff and I came on up here to my home away from home. I think that I arrived here at 1:00.

In Texas ~ 8/7

Will had off all day today (well, except for this mornings shift at UPS) Deanna had to be at work until 5:00. While Deanna was at work, will took me to a place (I forgot that name) where you can go watch airplanes take off at the Dallas/Fort Worth airport. It was so much fun to watch them land and take off. Will took me to the Grapevine Mills mall but, my back was hurting and I didnt want to go walking in the mall so, we got back in the car and went to Deanna's work instead. she works at a place called Lakeshore and it has all sorts of cool things like, Charts, playdough (not edible, dern it) and modeling clay.

Deanna came home about 5:15 and we went to a place called Dave and Busters. We had so much fun!!!!! There is a game there called "Big Bass fishing" and I got a score of 500 and so, I got 500 tickets!!!! Tomorrow is the circus and I cant wait!!!!!

Paxton and me!!! Just wanted to post a picture!!!!!

We hung out here at the apt. We had sandwiches for lunch and then I hung out with Deanna until she went to work and then I hung out with Will until he went to work. All and all a good day.

8/4/09 ~ Tuesday

I woke up at 7:30, did my morning routine, changed clothes and got my bags in the car all by 8:30. We left at 9:00 to meet Will and Deanna (brother and sister in law) in Tyler (we were at Grandma's friends house in Henderson) at the Cracker Barrel. Will and Deanna got there before we did so, they went looking in an antique store (which was next door to the cracker barrel) . We got my stuff in their car and we started off for Dallas. It was a fun trip and then we arrived at their aptartment at 12:00 and then we had sandwiches and watched a show called "The Closer". It was a very good show.

Then Deanna and I watched an episode of "Gilmore Girl" girls (we are such "Gilmore Girls' fan. Then we went to run an errand over to a friend of Deanna's and then we stopped at Sonic (Deanna had a root beer float and I had a coke float with vanilla ice cream) and then we came home and watched another "Gilmore Girls" then "The Cosby Show" and then at 9:00, I watched "18 Kids and Counting" and then I helped Deanna with Supper.

I'm tired and I'm going to bed cause I'm going to try and be awake when my brother gets home.

The Day before we left for Texas ~ 8/2/09

well, last night, Mom dropped me off at Grandma's house and I was fine until she started to leave. I went outside to see her go and I started to cry. Mom told me that everything will be O.K. She went home and Dad asked her if everything was alright and she said yes but, that I was crying. Dad felt sorry for me and told mom to come and get me. Mom came and I got home at 11:00 (I think). I read and fell asleep at 12:30

We are in Stone Mountain!!!!!

We got up here on Sunday afternoon about 3:30 or 4:00 Georgia time. then just as we (mom and I) had finished setting up the trailer ..... My aunt with her 2 daughters came. We chilled last night and and rested then we went to go see the laser light show in the park and that was so awesome!!!!! Though I must say, that I liked the one at Mount Rushmore better!!!!!

This morning (Tuesday), we went to the Coca-Cola bottling museum thing and also to the Atlanta aquarium. fun was had by all but, we had quite an adventure finding the car!! We forgot where we parked it. We found it and we missed our turn coming to the camp ground but, we corrected it, thanks to the GPS that Mom bought Dad for Father's Day!!!!!

Well, I plan to write more about my trip so, until then .....