A Little Bit about the Farmers Daughter

I know that I’ve had this blog for a while and even though I don’t need an introduction, I’d like to tell y’all something about me.

I would like to tell y’all a secret. A secret that if I wouldn’t tell, y’all may never know.

The secret is that I have a part of a chromosome that is missing. It’s called a chromosome deletion.

The deletion I have is so rare that it doesn’t have a name, it just has a number. The number is: 10q26.3 (try googling it if you don’t believe me). That means that the tip of my 10q26 chromosome is missing at 26.3 (I’m only on aware of one person in England that has it). Like I said, you would have never known my secret if I hadn’t of told you because you can’t see it with the naked eye. 

My chromosome deletion effects my cognitive and motor skills (which is why I’m not good at sports). OK, I was semi good at volleyball (for a year or two) but, that was because I had a good coach who worked with me.

A baby example that my Mom often gives is: When I was a baby, I got a spanking for coloring on the wall in the den. I learned that I was not allowed to do that but, it didn’t register that I was not supposed to color on the walls in the hall either so, I got another spanking

Math is another example … Don’t get me started on that. I can do basic stuff like adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing but when it comes to the word problems, I start struggling because I don’t understand.

My Mom is always saying “You have to give me some time to figure out a way to explain this so you can understand.” or she’ll say “You just don’t. That’s it!” or “You just do. That’s it!”. Believe me, I’d like to be able to understand things. I think I can but please, don’t give me more information than I can handle. Tell me to do stuff one thing at a time. Be patient with me when it comes to euphemisms and abstract thinking.

I was scared to write this because I thought that people would think less of me but, this is the way God made me and He doesn’t make mistakes. I’m no longer holding back with God’s grace and mercy in my life. I’m no longer holding back on the things that God wants others to see through me.

By "no longer holding back", I mean that if someone comes up to me asking me about it, I'm not going to hid it from them. I'm going to be as honest as I can.

I'm in a hurry and don't know why .....

So, I was in a room where people think the best (*wink*) and I got me to thinking. A good friend of mine (who shall remain nameless) and I were talking and this person said "Kate, why can't you just enjoy life where you are and be happy?" We were talking about happy events in my life. That got me to thinking. My sister was married in 2003 (I was 17) and I don't remember a single thing about her wedding ceremony! Sure, I remember clonking down the isle in my brand spanking new boots but, I don't remember anything else! I just don't remember. I graduated in 2005 and I don't remember anything about that either. Ok, yes, I do remember playing "Shine Jesus Shine" as my performance piece but, I don't remember anything else. I vaguely remember the reception afterwards. I definitely do remember that I did not get a single piece of my cake! I was cakeless!!

Back to my point: I was so busy preparing for things that I don't remember the moment! However, when Will (brother) got married to Amy (sister in law (and his wife), I do remember that! Maybe it is the tons of picture that was taken, that Momma took or that I took that makes it so easy. No, it's not the pictures! I was there! In the moment! I actually remember the things that lead up to that day! I remember the 4 hour drive up the mountain (They got married in New Mexico. I wrote a blog post about it here). I also remember the day I met Amy. I won't go into anymore details of what I remember but, you get my point ..... I hope, right?

This brings me to now. I want to remember this part of my life. I want to remember these days! I want to look back on these days with fond memories. I guess the reason as to why I'm in a hurry is because I'm not getting any younger. *sigh* Like this song says, 

"I'm in a hurry to get things done, 

I rush and until life's no fun. 

All I gotta do is live and die 

but, I'm in a hurry and I don't know why"

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****The following song is credited to the singing group: ALABAMA****

I'm in a hurry to get things done
Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But I'm in a hurry and don't know why.

Don't know why
I have to drive so fast
My car has nothing to prove
It's not new
But it'll do 0 to 60 in 5.2.

Oh I'm in a hurry to get things done
Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But I'm in a hurry and don't know why.

Can't be late
I leave plenty of time
Shaking hands with the clock
I can't stop
I'm on a roll and I'm ready to rock.

Oh I'm in a hurry to get things done
Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But I'm in a hurry and don't know why.

I hear a voice
That say's I'm running behind
I better pick up my pace
It's a race
And there ain't no room
For someone in second place.

I'm in a hurry to get things done
Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But I'm in a hurry and don't know why.

I'm in a hurry to get things done
Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But I'm in a hurry and don't know why.

I'm in a hurry to get things done
Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But I'm in a hurry and don't know why.

I'm in a hurry to get things done
Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But I'm in a hurry and don't know why... 

The Adventures of the Farmers Daughter ~ Part 6 (Sorry for the long post .... not really)

Sunday: I took this picture right before the rain (downpour) comes:

Sunday afternoon, I thought that I was going to have to build an ark ;) It's not as bad as it used to be since Daddy installed the drain tiles a few years back. Front yard:

Side and back yard

This is what the river looks like on any given day (when there is not a drought up stream):

** ~ Photo credits go to Wilson Oppert Photography

 ** ~ Wilson Oppert Photography

This is a bonus photo** We've had to replace this fence 3-4 times because the river has been washing away the bank.

After the rains on Sunday afternoon, this is what the river looked like (the 3rd one up) was taken in the same spot as this first photo):

The river came into the corner of the field

Daddy's irrigation pump. This is what we use to pump water 1 mile up the hill to the fields.

I don't know if it flooded since I was not able to go down there Monday morning. I hope that it didn't

Daddy created a low spot (or did it form naturally ... ) so that when the river got up out of its banks, it weaved itself through the middle of the (river bottom) field. I had to go through the field on the left to go check the pump.

I was coming back from the river and I was going by our cow catch pen and I saw this:

 *Monday enters stage left* 

My day started at 4:30am!! For those of you that know me, something really important has to be happening for me to get up that early!! :D

Smokey: "Where are you going, Mom?"

"Maybe if I sit right here, she won't leave me!" ~ Smokey

Beautiful sunrise!

Cow day!  We separated the Momma cows from the baby cows. I did not get a picture of that but, I did get other pictures:

2 separate pens (there were more behind me). Sorted cows on the left (we did keep some of the wee calves, unsorted on the right.

Nice cow!

Our donkeys!! I'm sad that I didn't get a picture of the cute baby!

They came up to sniff my hand. We hand feed them corn when they let us.

This donkey let me pet it and hug its neck! :) <3 br="">

I stood so still for this picture (below ... it was hard too)!

Cows walking in the swamp that invaded the cow catch pen

*Wednesday enter stage right*

Again, my day started at 4:30am!!

Sorry this is blurry but, coffee is what gets my day started on early mornings! :D

 Daddy was going to have to go to Georgia to get some tractor parts and since he just had knee surgery (and is not supposed to be on his knee like he is anyway), I volunteered to go for him. I was excited as this was my first time going to get parts in Georgia!  It was so much fun! I even got a free t-shirts from the tractor dealership over there. :)

Goodness! I've not written since I got my car???

Man, time flies when you are having fun! Some things that are worth mentioning happened since I last wrote. I think that in June I started working on a "massive" 2,000 piece puzzle that my wonderful boyfriend gave me for Christmas last year:

The above picture was completed by Momma and I within the last 2-3 weeks. Amy really got us going again.

In late July, the Kirkland Family went to the beach:

My niece Lia and nephew Liam

We learned (Via Facebook .... we didn't care. We are just glad that we found out)  that on August 3, my Uncle (who was living in Australia) died in a motorcycle accident. I'm not going to get into it but, it was a hard process getting his body back here for burial. Thankfully, we were able to get his body back here (2 weeks after).

That brings me to today .....

In August, Mom, Lia and I went to the mall for Momma to buy and return a few things and so while she did that, Lia and I walked around the mall. Well, Lia and I saw this kiosk for people to sign up for auditioning for stuff like modeling and extras and stuff like that. Well, I did it for kicks and giggles and told Lia that they would never call me. Well, they called me today and they want me to go to a location and look "cute and casual". I do not want to go by myself (Chris wont want me to either) so, Amy is going with me. :) I was shocked when they called me because I was not expecting them to. So, please say a prayer for me :)


I will try to be more faithful to write in here ........ I'm sure I said that last time though :/

Getting my new (used) car

As y'all may not know, I totaled my 2011 Chevy Cruze on May 14. The post that I posted about buying the car can be read here.



The short story is that I was not paying attention.

The longer story is that I was coming home from my boyfriends house in Troy and I got to Ozark and I saw a light was red and I took my foot off the gas and so, I was coasting (during which time the light turns green). I was speak to text-ing into my phone (to tell him that I was going to stop at a gas station less than a mile up the road *kicks self*) and then I looked up from my phone and BAM! This is what happened:

 I went to the Chevy dealership (where I take my car to get serviced) the next day and took the following pictures. It looked even worse in the daylight *sniffles*

All I can say is that through my stupidity (and yes, I did know better), God protected me and I'm so thankful for that! Like my SIL (sister in law) would say: "I'm sorry it happened but, I'm glad no one got hurt. Like Chris would say: "The car did what it was designed to do and that was to protect my baby" Like my Mom would say: "Kate, you hit the best thing you could hit. If you had did something like hydroplane (it was raining), we could be having a completely different story.

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This is where today (May 28) comes in.

This morning, Mom and I got in the rental car (that we rented yesterday (May 27). We decided to rent one because the mere thought of me driving in Birmingham traffic in one car while Mom was in another was horrifying to me) and drove up to Huntsville (we left at 6:30am). Of course, going down the road I took a picture when we started down the road from home ....

 

...and then I took another when we were driving by the US Space and Rocket Center!

 

This is the car (below) that I BOUGHT with the money that the insurance gave me. Daddy and Momma DID NOT help me purchase the car. The only thing that Mom will do (IF she needs to) is pay for my tag and title to get transferred (and I will reimburse her when I get the money because, I'm broke). I have the remaining balance on my extended warranty (that I did not use) coming soon though. Here is the picture:

It has all the bells and whistles that my car had (well, give or take a few) and it is a newer year (2012) and model (2LT). I feel like I'm cheating on my car! I feel guilty because I feel like I should downgrade, not upgrade. I'm incredibly blessed that I was able to buy the car with the insurance money with just a smidgin left over!

On the way back, stopped at of Mooresville, Alabama. You can also visit this site. It is a quaint little town that dates back to the 1800's. You can read more about it at the above link! We toured the area and it was all nice and pretty. I took some pictures:

If you can't read that, you will have to zoom in! :)

 Mom took a picture of me with my new purchase in front of the church! 

 

This is a yard with what looks like an enclosed gazebo. I'm not sure what it's purpose was. Maybe a greenhouse?? It is not attached to the house.

The town also boasts of the oldest working post office in the state! I got a picture of the old fashioned mailbox:

This place was getting ready for a wedding so, I could not take a picture of it. I could only take a picture of the sign. The sign alone is gorgeous and the property is gorgeous also.

Coming home, Momma drove. I'm still squeamish about driving through Birmingham but, I will have to get used to it now ;) Anyway, Momma drove until we were on 231 South of Montgomery and she pulled over and let me drive. That is when I saw this cloud:

I drove through the torrential downpour. I had to face my fears of driving in rain. I just had to! You know the saying that if you fall off a horse you have to get back on or else you will be scared to get on a horse again? Well, it is the same principle! 

I drove until Troy and we stopped to see Chris. It's awful hard for me to drive through there and not see him! Afterward, I was gonna drive home but, I started yawning so, I pulled over so that Momma could drive the rest of the way! We got home at 9:30 Wednesday night! Driving all day sure makes for a long day! I am/was glad to be home with my new car!

The End!