Rose In Real-Time

Simple Welcome Plaque

2012-02-03T18:30:00.000-05:00

I've been seeing all of these cute Valentine's wreaths on Pinterest, but I haven't being feeling all that motivated to try one. Nonetheless, I have been thinking our front door needs a little somethin', somethin'. I was cleaning the garage the other day, when I found these 1/8in plywood pieces I had cut down for another project. I had a pinkish colored spray paint, so I figured I could do something with them. I was right!

The best part of this project is that I had everything I needed on hand. After spray painting the plywood, I picked out a lighter pink sheet of scrapbook paper and some white cardstock. I freehanded the biggest heart, and then I traced it on the white paper and trimmed it smaller. I repeated the process with the third heart. I glued the three together and onto the plywood with a glue stick. I pulled out the white letters from my scrapbook goodies, and I glued them to the plywood with a glue stick also. I put a couple layers of Modge Podge over the whole thing. The white ribbon was in my scrap drawer, and I put it on the back with my trusty glue gun. I also glued a strip of scrap felt on the back at the bottom, so when the wind blew, the plywood didn't knock on the door.

Up went a wreath hanger on the door. On went the plaque. Project finished!

What I've Been Up To

2012-02-03T17:01:00.000-05:00

I've been super-busy at school the last two weeks. 'Tis the season for contests, award evaluations, and community service projects. These are the things that teachers outside of the ag and FFA world don't understand, but they're things I love about my job.

My week started out with some cool topics in class. I said I love all the other stuff, but the classroom is pretty cool too. Fresh out of college, one of my biggest mentors told me, "There is absolutely no substitute for good classroom instruction." I'll be honest, some days I slack more than I should, but I try to follow his advice and be prepared for my classes each day.

The first period of the day is Environmental Systems Management. Right now, we are exploring soil conservation. For my non-ag friends, there are four main factors that affect how fast soil erodes: climatic influences (rain, wind, etc.), slope and terrain of the soil, vegetative cover (grass, plants, shrubs, trees), and soil types. The students broke into groups and designed their own experiments to test one of the factors. We started by walking through the scientific method, and the rest of the week has been spent conducting trials. In my own opinion, students learn so much better when they're in control. It's fun watching them grasp the concepts and see how it can play out in real life.

After the juniors leave, I get a bunch of sophomores for Animal Science and Technology. With 16 kids, it's my biggest class of the day. Last week, we learned about different types of animal feeds. On Tuesday, thanks to my wonderful husband who collected feed samples from the farm for me while I was at a FFA contest, we did a "what the heck is it" feed challenge. We passed around 18 different feedstuffs, feeds, and minerals, and the kids made observations about them and tried to identify them. Not all of them smelled pretty, like the distiller's grain, which is a by-product of beer production, so it was fun to see some of their reactions. Nutrition is one of my favorite units to teach.

Next up are my fun seniors. I like each grade level, because they're all different. I enjoy the seniors, because they're almost adults ready to go out in the world, but they're still looking for guidance. We tend to get off task more than my other classes, but we have a lot of great conversations about life. The senior class is Ag Business Management. We're studying personal finance now, like banking accounts and paychecks. They ask some great questions. Most of these kids have jobs on their family farms, so they never see a pay stub. When discussing taxes today, they were floored that so much of their earnings go straight out in taxes. Yep, welcome to the real world.

11 squirrelly freshmen hit the door next. The first-level course I teach is Ag, Food, and Natural Resources, which is a survey of all sorts of topics in agriculture. Most of these kids don't live on a farm, which makes conversations interesting. We've been investigating basic principles of animal science, such as gender terminology. This week, as I held up a very obvious picture of a bull (an intact, male in the cattle species), I nearly lost it when a student said, "Wow! Check out the uterus on that cow!" I very delicately tried to explain that a uterus is actually internal, so you wouldn't be able to see it in a picture, and that wasn't really a female. The uterus he was referring to was a large, noticeable set of testicles. I maintained my composure to the best of my ability while suggesting that he go home and have a conversation with his parents. I'm glad he's in health class this quarter.

My students frustrate the heck out of me some times, annoy me to wits end other times, but at the end of the day, they're a good group of young men and women, and I'm glad the classroom is fun for me and hopefully for them.

Easy as 1, 2, 3

2012-01-29T17:38:00.001-05:00

1 curtain rod, mounted to the wall
2 sheets of contrasting scrapbook paper
3 frames with mats

Yarn Covered Bottles... TBD

2012-01-28T16:10:00.000-05:00

I'm calling this post "TBD," because my opinion of this latest project is to be determined. Actually, I pretty much like it, but it's just so different than anything else I have in my house, so it will take me a little while to get used to it. Here's what I'm talking about:

These babies cost me a whopping $6.17 to make. That includes three spools of yarn, which still have a bunch left on them. I had a glue gun and glue sticks, so I'm not counting that as an expense, and I just hacked the twigs off of a tree in our woods.

The project was actually pretty simple. I saw the idea on Pinterest, but I couldn't find a tutorial, so I made it up as I went. First, I started with some empty, clean beer bottles. (Disclaimer, we are not alcoholics. We just rarely empty our recycling.)

Next, I hot glued the end of the yarn to the bottom of the bottle. I did the first few this way, and they took me about 20 minutes a piece. Then, I switched to starting at the top of the bottle, and I cut my time to 10 minutes a piece. It is definitely much easier to start at the top.

As you go, wrap the yard around the bottle. Keep the yarn pulled tight, and you'll only need glue at the top and at the bottom. I used a couple of different methods. One of them was to hold the yard in place and spin the bottle around it. As I got more efficient, I started wrapping the yarn around the bottle three or four times, and then pushing it toward the yarn that was already wrapped, instead of going one row at a time.

Voila! Here are some of the finished products. These were my first few. I got better as I went.

I placed them on the top of our entertainment center and cut some twigs from a tree in our woods. I experimented with spray painting the twigs, but I liked them like this better. I may throw some polyurethane on them to make them glossy.

Most of my living room is cream and burgundy, so I'd like to tie some red into the bottles, but I haven't quite decided how yet. Perhaps some flowers.

So, there you have it. Bottles. Yarn. Hot glue. Life is good.

Hello, cute magnets.

2012-01-20T21:28:00.002-05:00

I didn’t even need Pinterest for inspiration on this one!(Though I’m sure it’s on there somewhere!) These magnets took 20 minutes topfrom the time I started until they were hanging on the fridge with dry ModgePodge.

Spray paint clothespins any color you’d like.

Place magnetic strip on the back. (I used the kind that already has adhesive, but I put a couple of drops of hot glue for extra durability.)

Place the magnet on the backside of scrapbook or other cute paper and trace. I used scraps, because it takes so little paper. Cut out the traced shape.

Cover the side of the clothespin that does not have the magnet with Modge Podge, and place your paper on it. Cover the front paper with more Modge Podge. Pardon my sausage fingers.

Allow to dry.

Marvel in their simplistic beauty and functionality.

Making a house a home... part 2

2012-01-20T19:35:00.000-05:00

Earlier this week, I blogged about making a house a home. I talked about my desire to have everything perfectly decorated and cozy.

And then I cleaned.

What a difference sprucing up the house with some elbow grease makes! I like to keep a clean house anyway, but there's nothing like the smell and feel of pristine floors and a scrubbed shower. I make an effort to spot clean every other day or so, but a good deep clean does wonders.

This week I tried some new recipes for supper, too.

It's not rocket science, but good, wholesome food is almost comforting. I love that Greg and I sit down for supper almost every night. We set the table, we have a meal (even if it's leftovers), we pray, and we talk about our day. It's just plain nice.

So, maybe having a "home" doesn't need to cost a fortune. Why not start with the simple stuff?

Three Classroom Tools That Make My Life Easier

2012-01-20T15:38:00.003-05:00

I posted these pictures on my Facebook page at the beginning of the school year, but I thought I'd add them here, too. As we start the second semester, I'm reminded how much easier these make my life!

Each student has a popsicle stick with his or her name on it. The back has a magnet, so it sticks to the dry erase board. All students are "absent" until they move their sticks to the "present" section. Craft sticks: $2.48. Button magnets: $3.97. Making my life and a sub's life easier when it comes to attendance: priceless.

Weekly objectives and homework assignments.

Behold the power of electrical tape and a dry erase board.

Happy teaching!

Making a house a home

2012-01-15T10:18:00.002-05:00

I did a quick Google search for "making a house a home." Lately, I've been almost restless. I have this innate desire to have a perfect, Leave it to Beaver type house. Of course, my current addiction to Pinterest does little to help.

We've lived in our home for a year and a half now. I'm really proud of how Greg and I have worked together to fix little things here and there and make it just what we want it to be. Yet, I feel like I should be doing more.

As I Googled, blog after blog of Do-It-Yourself and home improvements came up. However, it was the fifth website that caught my attention, from www.bible.org. It was an article titled, the Influential Woman: Making a House a Home.

While I didn't completely agree with every aspect of the article, I did agree with the timeless passage from Proverbs 31:10-12:

A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

Perhaps making a house a home isn't about having it decorated to a t, immaculately cleaned, or perfectly presented. At the end of the day, a house filled with love is a home. This year, I'm going to attempt to be more like the Proverbs 31 woman.

But, I'm still not giving up Pinterest. :)

A New Year... Time to Reflect

2012-01-02T18:47:00.001-05:00

The family gatherings have come and gone. The Christmas tree has been taken down. I'm mentally preparing myself to return to school tomorrow. Yes, the holidays have passed. Now, it's time to look ahead.

I love the start of a new year. There's so much potential. Anything can happen. We're all granted a fresh start.

I usually make resolutions, only to forget about them. I remembered earlier today that I blogged about my New Year's resolutions in 2011. I looked back at them and was pleasantly surprised to see that I'd kept most of them. Nonetheless, I decided this year to keep it simple.

Our message at church yesterday was based around three simple principles: forgive, forget, and forge ahead. (You can watch the message at www.crossroadswired.com) If I am to live a better life, I must remember this concept.

Forgive others, forget about the past, and forge ahead.

It's going to be a great year.

CHRISTmas

2011-12-24T09:14:00.000-05:00

Last night our church had the first of three Christmas Eve services. It was a packed house! As usual, the music was amazing and moving, and the message was real, practical teaching. As I reflected on the Christmas story, I was reminded that God brought a baby into this world via a virgin mother. The baby was our Savior. Imagine, an infant that was destined to save us from sin. It's pretty amazing when you think about it. God is capable of anything. He can bring us a Savior. Surely, none of the trials and tribulations I face are beyond Him.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Me, artistic?

2011-12-23T12:00:00.000-05:00

I feel like some back story is necessary for this post. To help illustrate the point, no pun intended, that I, Rose Hartschuh, am not artistic, I have included pictures of some past attempts at "art." More frightening than the rabbit below is the fact that I was able to pull these projects out of a tote in my basement to snap some photos of them a few minutes ago.

Paper mache rabbit? Circa fifth grade. It was supposed to be a hand puppet I think. Mrs. Dean, elementary art teacher, retired shortly after this. Coincidence? You be the judge.

In eighth grade, we had to select a cartoon, cut it into square, and continue the picture. While the drawing might make the cut, obviously my coloring skills leave little to be desired.

These are just two projects on a long list of mediocracy. I will admit, however, that when it comes to drawing and sketching, I don't do half bad. Three years at Ohio State gave me many opportunities to sketch my professors during lectures. I have a great sketch of Scary Larry (my welding instructor), but I wasn't able to find it. Anywho, art is not necessary my strong suit.

Nonetheless, I was looking for a personalized and meaningful Christmas gift for my sister-in-law. Upon purchasing plain wine glasses, I decided to add some flair to them. I read some online tutorials and was finally ready to take a shot at painting them. The supplies were few: glasses, oven, acrylic enamel (special acrylic paint made for glasswork), and brushes.

I went with a simple dot pattern, mostly because I didn't think I could screw it up too bad. I selected four colors that went fairly well together, and alternated the color patterns. Here's the result:

We opened presents last week, and the recipient didn't throw them on the floor to shatter them, so I must have done ok. Perhaps one day I'll paint a picture.

Or make a paper mache rabbit.

"O" is for "Organization"

2011-12-19T21:41:00.002-05:00

Here are three quick tips for organizing your home. I'll do my best to give credit where credit is due.

Problem: Plastic Grocery Sacks Reproducing and Cluttering Your Kitchen Cabinets
Solution: Fold 'Em Up
Credit: Ms. Wensink over at www.craftyenough.wordpress.com

These plastic bags are folded "paper football" style and stored in a quart mason jar. I can fit about 13 bags in one jar, and really, why do I need to keep more than that on hand?

Problem: Bobby Pins That Just Won't Stay Put

Solution: Magnetize and Organize

Credit: http://sprwmn.blogspot.com/2010/11/2-minute-bathroom-organization.html

For $1.97, I bought a package of magnetic stripping at Wal-mart. On the inside of one of my bathroom drawers, I put the strip (already has adhesive on it.) Voila! The bobby pins and barrettes stick to it like a charm.

Problem: Hair Ties Galore

Solution: The Glass is Half-Full

Credit: My Own Personal Genius

I took a glass we weren't using from the kitchen cabinet, and stacked my hair ties up the outside. I racked headbands around it and filled the inside with clips and miscellaneous thingy majigs. Where I did have a cheap plastic basket that I've had since college, I know have something that looks a little nicer and is much easier to maneuver, since I don't have to dig and dig, when all I want is a ponytail holder!

Happy organizing! Please share your own tricks of the trade.

Mementos

2011-12-12T18:38:00.002-05:00

Almost three years ago, as I was enjoying blessed bridal showers and wedding gifts, I decided to save a scrap of each wrapping paper. I'm not really sure what I was thinking, but I thought it would be a nice memento some day. However, they soon got shoved in a box, never to be seen again. Until now.

Last weekend, I realized I had several wedding mementos that needed a good home. I was ready to store them away, but I wanted them to be some place special. Things like unity candles and the guest book and the like were collecting dust, but they're still really special to me. So, I remembered those scraps of wrapping paper and created a memento box:

I used a paper punch to punch a circle of each scrap of paper. Then, I glued the scraps with a glue stick onto a paper mache box. Finally, I put Modge Podge over the scraps to hold them in place. I spray painted the lid to the box silver, mostly because I didn't want to mess with all of the corners. The result was this box that now holds precious memories from a wonderful day. And, every time I look at it, I can remember all of the family and friends who gave generously and celebrated with us. Life is good.

Feelin' Crafty

2011-12-06T16:54:00.001-05:00

Today, I hung up my latest craft project.

Before you get too excited, you should know that it's the key hanger, not the painted slate. I have some crafting ability, but come on, that's a pretty amazing Block O... definitely outside of my talent level.

Nonetheless, I'm still pretty excited about the key hanger. It was super-easy to make! I started with an unpainted 1x4 (this one happens to be 18in long.) I marked out where I wanted my hooks to go. This board has four hooks.

Then, I applied tile pieces mosaic style. I started with 8x10" tile sheets from Hobby Lobby (roughly $7 a sheet) and snipped them into small pieces. Two notes on this:

1. Put newspaper down before you start snipping. The tile pieces tend to make thousands of shards.
2. I like to have everything in order and in clear patterns. I started with that in mind, but I threw it out the window. I had to keep telling myself that mosaics are supposed to be asymmetrical. As soon as I got the swing of it, I did fine for my first project like this.

As I cut pieces, I laid them on my board. I got everything laid out how I wanted it, leaving my hook marks uncovered, and then I used craft glue to glue the tile down. I let the pieces dry over night, and then I mortared around them. The mortar was part of a kit I got ages ago, so I don't know how much it cost, but you could easily use plaster of paris to fill in the cracks, which is very affordable.

After the mortar dried, I scraped it off the tile pieces, leaving just the cracks filled. I put two picture hangers on the back, and voila!

Happy crafting!

Simple excitement

2011-12-03T13:48:00.001-05:00

I realized the other day that while I read other people's blogs fairly regularly, I seldom take the time to write in my own. Immediately, I came to a conclusion: I don't write as much as I should, because my life doesn't seem nearly as exciting as those around me, which of course, is entirely my fault. Then, my brain continued wandering, as it often does, and I decided that by golly, I'm pretty content with my life. I need to embrace the simple excitement that fills it. In honor of that conclusion, here are 3 things that made me smile or think this past week.

In the FFA parliamentary procedure contest, students are given motions to use to complete various abilities. Tuesday, during practice, one of the motions I gave my students was "to purchase five bred gilts for the FFA lab." Those of us in agriculture, understand that bred gilts are young, pregnant female hogs. While discussing this motion, however, one of the girls missed the memo and declared that they we should in fact purchase new bred gilts, because our old ones are broken. Apparently, she thought they were tools. I laughed a while over that one.
I turned 26 a week ago. When I think of everything that has taken place already over the span of my life, I get pretty excited to think about the future. 26 years, God willing, is just a drop in the bucket.
I caught up with my good friend Amanda this week. I love when you can not see anyone for a while (almost a year) and pick up right were you left off. I'm blessed with amazing friends.

Over the coming weeks, I'm going to look for the small joys and embrace the excitement that surrounds me.

So, let's take a second to catch our breath...

2011-10-02T08:59:00.000-04:00

I'm sitting here on a typical Sunday morning, drinking coffee, thinking about the day ahead, and enjoying the beautiful sunrise God has given us right outside my office window! I'm also listening to some of my favorite tunes, appropriately named "Jesus Music" in my iTunes. One of the first songs that played on shuffle this morning was "Sometimes" by Matt Brouwer. Here's the video:

One of my favorite lines is "Sometimes there can be so much more beyond what we see." What a great reminder! This weekend, our pastor delivered a beautiful message reminding us that God is the father. Just like earthly parents make plans that their children don't always understand, God does the same thing for us. We need to remember that He loves us, and He knows us better than we know ourselves. He, not us, has everything under control.

As a textbook Type A personality, I am focused, set goals, and work to get where I want to be. Too often, though, I neglect to understand the power of God's hand in my life. I know He's always there, but sometimes I cast aside the whole "He's in charge," part. My prayer for today is that I can let go of the challenges and tribulations that I face and hand those to God. He's my father, and He knows what's best. I pray for patience and understanding when my plans don't come to fruition, because it's His plans that matter.

"So, let's take a second to catch our breath, and realize this isn't over yet..."

The County Fair: More than Rides, French Fries, and a Midway

2011-09-18T10:03:00.000-04:00

This week, I've spent quite a bit of time at the Wyandot County Fair, where my FFA students show. This fair is a new experience for me, so I've enjoyed taking it all in. I've found there isn't anything quite like grabbing a cup of coffee, finding a nice corner, and people watching. I've observed some pretty remarkable things while sipping on a cup of joe.

I've seen the excitement as a new 4-Her shows his animal for the first time.
I've watched teenagers earnestly shake hands businessmen who have made an investment in youth and in the community by purchasing animals in the junior fair livestock sale.
I've smiled as farmers catch up with their neighbors and friends, who they don't get to see nearly enough throughout the year.
I've chuckled as gaggles of kids run around the fair, never getting into too much trouble but raising watchful eyebrows nonetheless.

I've also been reminded of how pivotal the Knox County Fair was in shaping me as a person. I often tell people that outside of FFA, junior fair activities had the most impact on my personal development. Junior fair board helped me further develop responsibility, follow-through, and a solid work ethic. More importantly, it allowed me to "network" with other like-minded youth. (Though, at the time, we didn't call it networking, we called it hanging out!) I'm glad to say that those like-minded individuals are still in my life, though like the farmers I mentioned above, I don't get to see them nearly enough.

I realize that most people will never feel the emotions and nostalgia that those of us who grew up a little more each summer at the county fair experience. If you understand what I'm saying, though, the next time you visit a fair, whether it's where you grew up or not, smile and be thankful for strong, positive experiences being such a big part of our young adulthood.

Back to school and other fun, fall stuff

2011-09-04T10:04:00.001-04:00

I love Sunday mornings. Since Greg and I typically attend our church's Saturday night service, I have Sunday mornings to myself. Greg goes and feeds cows, and I sit at my computer, catching up on the week and drinking coffee. Sometimes, if I'm feeling really crazy, I'll even read a book. Yes, life is good.

I just finished my second week of school at Mohawk. I love it! I have a wonderful group of students. My classroom is just how I want it. It's a nice district. Etc. I miss my Bellevue kiddos, but overall, it's been a good change for me.

Outside of school, life charges on. Greg and I (well, he claims it's mostly my project) planted indian corn and pumpkins this year. Now, I don't believe in doing anything small, so we have roughly 3/4 of an acre of pumpkins and gourds and about the same of the indian corn. Yesterday, we picked our first batch of corn (600 ears) and bundled them into groups of 3. It was hard work, especially in all the heat, but it was a little bit of fun, too!

Stay tuned for pictures!

Things I've learned this summer

2011-07-20T10:00:00.008-04:00

While Greg and I were dating, I spent a lot of time with him on the farm. I vividly remember the summer before we got married, when I was taking a couple classes and working at an internship in Columbus. Most weekends, as soon as I was done on Friday, I was driving north. I camped out on a futon in his parents' basement until the crack of dawn on Monday, when I trekked back to Columbus for an early morning class. That summer, we learned a lot about each other, as Greg worked ground and planted fields, and I rode along in the buddy seat.

Fast forward three years to the summer of 2011. I'm amazed at how learning is truly a lifelong process. I'm still learning so much about myself and the world around me. This summer, because of a job switch, I've been more available to help on the farm. In addition to the remarkable farmer's tan I've acquired, I've absorbed some pretty incredible lessons, as well.

For example, I've learned that American ingenuity is not dead. One of the things I admire about Greg is his ability to look at a problem and come up with a creative solution to solve it. Point in case: the hay rake. Raking hay is on ongoing job on a dairy farm. In any given summer, each field of hay will be cut and raked an average of four times. That's a large time investment just to rake the hay! So, this spring while the rains poured down, Greg and his brother Jason fashioned up this beast:

To the naked eye, I'm not sure what it looks like. However, to someone familiar with hay equipment, it is two rakes connected together, which allows the person raking to work two rows at one time. This little contraption reminded me that there are people in this world interested in increasing productivity and problem solving. PS- Two rakes provide twice the opportunity to catch barbed wire and drag it a hundred yards, but that's a post for another time. :)

Another important lesson I've learned this summer is how intertwined family and work really are in rural America. Sure, I've known this for as long as I can remember, but now I'm actually experiencing it. Almost every day, Greg goes to work and checks in with his mom or dad. They're working side by side to build their business and to provide for their families at the same time. One of the reasons I've enjoyed helping on the farm so much this summer, is because it's given me a great opportunity to get to know his family in a different setting. One of my favorite things to do when I have some extra time is to walk to the farm in the evening and help his mom feed calves. It's such great quality time. For a girl who didn't grow up on a farm, I'm only beginning to understand the complexity of farm family bonds.

Finally, I've learned to appreciate the simple things in life. That sounds cliche', I realize, but it's oh-so-true. Greg tends to work pretty long hours, especially during the busy seasons, but there are few things I enjoy more than meeting him at the farm after a long day and riding around on the four-wheeler checking crops or than heading to the pond to watch the sunset. This summer, more than ever before, I've learned how important it is to appreciate the small blessings in life. I've always loved traveling, and I probably always will, but there are some pretty incredible things to experience right here at home with the people I love, too.

Moving on

2011-06-04T16:54:00.004-04:00

They say change isn't easy, and I would definitely agree. Nonetheless, change can bring about a wonderful opportunity to think and to reflect. That's where I am today.

Two and a half years ago, I graduated college, started a new job, and got married... all within a week! I still have the college diploma, and Greg and I are doing great, but it's time to move on to a new job. It's a bittersweet transition, but I hope it will be the right one.

People told me I was crazy for taking the job I did. I replaced a legendary teacher who had tragically passed away mid-year. He had taught at the same school for 28 years. I hadn't even been out of college 28 days! Sure, the first few months were rough, but I survived, and I adamantly believe I'm a better teacher for it.

There have been ups and downs throughout the time I've been at Bellevue, but I can honestly say that I'm thankful for the opportunity I've had to meet incredible students and parents. I'm blessed to have started my career when and where I did. I look forward to using the experiences I've gained as I shift gears and start a new part of my career.

Toward the end of the school year, my juniors and seniors read the book Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. (If you're not familiar with the book, it's one that will change your life. Check out the website here.) At the same time, senior English students were reading Tuesdays with Morrie. I approached the English teachers to do a collaborative project, since the themes of the books were very similar. The result was a day of "life lessons." We invited in guest speakers to share life lessons with the students. Around the room, we hung up posters that the students made with information about themselves and lessons that they had gained from reading the book. One component they had to include on their posters was five tribute poems to teachers that had taught them something about themselves. I was honored to be included on some of the posters. It made the past two and half years worth the sweat, tears, and frustration I experienced from time to time. Here are some of the poems the students wrote that either made me smile or cry:

As I start a new job this school year, I will cherish the opportunities I've had professionally in the last two and a half years. I will carry those with me as I meet a new group of students and attempt to impact their lives', just as my kiddos at Bellevue have impacted mine.

Resonating thoughts

2011-04-03T20:08:00.006-04:00

Today, we visited Greg's grandpa in Alliance. Since he lives about two and a half hours away, we don't get out to see him as much as we'd like. I always enjoy visiting, nonetheless, because he's a pretty smart guy. I love hearing him recount stories (some times the same ones over and over again!), and he always seems to make me think. Here's a picture of Bob with Greg at our wedding:

Somehow today we got on the topic of the public's perception of agriculture. Bob is a dairy farmer and has been all of his life (except when he served the U.S. in the Korean War.) Leading up to this conversation, Bob was sharing how growing up in the 30s, there wasn't much extravagance around. People had what they needed, and that was about it. As we talked about today and about how people don't understand agriculture, he said something that has stuck with me: "The problem is, people today have never been hungry long enough to think about where their food really comes from."

It took me a second to really grasp this concept, but after I did, I realized how true it really was. In the United States, we have the cheapest and most abundant food supply of any developed nation. For the most part, the bulk of our country never has to worry about where our next meal is coming from. (Don't get me wrong, I know that hunger is an issue in the U.S. and that there is a chunk of our population that doesn't have access to a safe and reliable food supply.) It is no wonder that people don't appreciate agriculture; as long as the food is available at the grocery store, they never have to think about the farmer that sacrificed to grow the product.

Contrast that thought with people in developing nations. Here is a family our group met when I studied abroad in Uganda.

You better believe that these people understand agriculture. They may not be sure where their next meal is coming from, but they know that in order to eat, someone must work hard in the fields, probably themselves. They are connected to agriculture on a personal basis.

We have so many blessings living in the United States, but how much do we take for granted? Just like Bob said, people don't appreciate agriculture, because they've never been hungry. We could continue and say that people don't appreciate people working in car factories, because they've never been without a vehicle. Maybe they don't appreciate warm clothes, because they've never had to spend a night on the street. The generalizations could continue. At the end of the day, though, I know I'm counted in the "theys." How much do I take for granted, because I've never had to do without? And more pointedly, how do I express appreciation for what I've been blessed with?

Wise words from Dr. James Dobson

2011-03-10T20:30:00.002-05:00

In the process of organizing my life and sorting through papers on my desk, I found this paragraph:

"When I reach the end of my days, a moment or two from now, I must look back on something more meaningful than the pursuit of houses and land and machines and stocks and bonds. Nor is fame of lasting benefit. I consider my earthly existence to have been wasted unless I can recall.... A loving family... A consistent investment in the lives of people... An earnest attempt to serve the God who made me. And there's no better time than now to assess the values which are worthy of my time and effort."

What a great reminder of our purpose on Earth. It's not to pursue fame and fortune; it's simply to live well and serve others.

The sewing machine is not to be feared.

2011-02-06T17:02:00.006-05:00

Greg and I bought a camper the summer after we were married. It's not a fancy thing, but it's not a hell hole, either. We've used it several times, mostly at the pond in the woods at the farm, but we've taken her out in public, too. Here's a picture:

Shortly after we bought the camper, I decided that it could be cheaply and easily spruced up by adding some curtains. I could buy the fabric, sit down at the sewing machine, and voila! So, I measured the windows and picked out some fabric. Then, I remembered: I'm afraid to sew.

Well, maybe "afraid" is a strong word. Generally speaking, I don't like to do things I'm not good at, and sewing fits into that category. It all started when I was nine years old. Years, from now, when I'm in therapy, I'll blame 4-H. You see, my mom is a fantastic seamstress. So wonderful, she makes it look easy. I signed up for my first 4-H sewing project, and I was confident that I would quickly mimic her abilities. I was wrong.

Year after year, I signed up for sewing projects, and I never quite got the knack of it. Those projects inflicted much trauma. I don't think it was so much that I couldn't sew; it was more that I didn't like the deadline or constraints of a project. The final straw, and the end of my 4-H sewing career, was when I was sewing buttons on pajamas as my mom drove me to judging. Then and there she declared, "You're not taking a sewing project next year."

Fast forward nearly 10 years, and the fabric for my curtains that I bought a year and half ago, was still sitting untouched. I knew I had to do something. Since Greg and I do not have our own sewing machine, he brought home his mom's one day. (To add to my emotional complex, Greg can sew. He's not going to win any blue ribbons, but he sews more than I do, patching his chore clothes and such.) It sat on the dining room table taunting me for weeks. Finally, this week when we had a snow day, I decided I was going to do it.

I started timidly at first, but I gained power with each stitch. I realized that I am what I call a functional seamstress. My creations might not win awards, but they get the job done. I actually had quite a bit of fun, and it was even a bit relaxing. With each curtain that I sewed, more and more of my mom's lessons came back.

So I how did I do? Here are before and after pictures of our camper's kitchen window. The curtains definitely jazz the place up. I was so inspired by the project that we've decided to buy a sewing machine. I might get the hang of it yet.

Snow Days

2011-02-02T19:02:00.003-05:00

Snow days don't have quite the same appeal as a teacher as they did as a student, or at least as an ag teacher with 50 things to get done this week! Having an inservice Monday and twosnowdays has thrown a wrench in the schedule, but alas, I am enjoying being home and getting lots of projects done around the house. Look for a future blog on my adventures with the sewing machine. Today, though, I want to share with you some goodies I whipped up in the kitchen.

I love cooking and baking. I don't take nearly enough time to do, and I'm never quite as adventurous as I should be, but nonetheless, I like spending time in the kitchen. I can't say enough good things about Pampered Chef products and how easy they make my life. Today's recipe was a Pampered Chef creation, as a matter of fact, and I used tons of their products to make it. If you're not using P.C., check it out!

Mini Carrot Cake Cups

1 pkg (9 oz) yellow cake mix
1 1/2 tsp allspice
1 egg
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 medium carrots, peeled, divided
6 oz cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup thawed frozen whipped topping
Chopped walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray each well of a mini muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.

For cups, combine cake mix, allspice, egg, and oil. Stir until ingredients are moistened. (Mixture will be thick.) Grate carrots and stir 3/4 of a cup into the batter; set aside remaining carrots for garnish. Divide batter evenly among wells, filling about 2/3 full. Bake 11-13 minutes or until the cups feel firm to the touch.

Meanwhile, whisk together cream cheese and sugar until smooth; fold in whipped topping. Spoon cream cheese mixture into a resealable plastic bag; secure bag and set aside.

Remove pan from oven and set on cooling rack. Press tops of cups with a ligh

tly floured mini-tart shaper to make slight indentations. Cool in pan 3 minutes. Carefully remove cups from pan; cool 5 minutes. Trim corner of cream cheese-filled bag; pipe filling evenly into cups. Garnish with chopped walnuts and reserved grated carrots, if desired.

My notes:

Most cake mix packages are 18.5 oz. I used the full package and doubled all of the other ingredients.
Pampered Chef has awesome Cinnamon Crunch Sprinkle. I substituted that for the allspice.
Usually when I make carrot cake, I use my food processor to grate the carrots. This time I cheated and bought pre-grated carrots for the first time. They were big. The next time, I'll go back to using the food processor.

Here's the process:

Ingredients mixed. Note that the mixture will be thick.

I may have over-filled the mini-muffin pan. Try to stick to the 2/3 full that the recipe suggests.

Using the mini-tart shaper to make indentations. If you don't have a tart shaper, a spoon would also work.

Finished product, garnished with walnuts.

Making a Difference

2011-01-30T21:38:00.004-05:00

I don't use Twitter a lot, but I have it on my Blackberry, so occasionally, I catch up on news and information. For some time, I've had an article bookmarked on my phone that somebody shared. The article is titled "50 Ways to Make a Difference Without Spending a Penny." (Read the article here.)

Here were some of my favorites from the list:

4. Be positive today - with the depressing economy, bills falling behind - this can really be tough, but it will encourage those around you and in the process bring joy to yourself.

This can make such a difference! Just vowing to be in a good mood can really put you in one, and it tends to be contagious to those around you.

17. Smile at everyone you come in contact with today.

Some times I feel like a creeper smiling at strangers, but it's worth it when they smile back.

18. Offer to let someone ahead of you in line.

This is something that's so easy to do, but strangers appreciate it so much. You never know if that will make a difference in their attitude. What's another five minutes at the grocery store?

31. Visit with the elderly or someone who can no longer get out as much as they'd like.

Since we live in the middle of nowhere, a lot of our neighbors are older. I love talking with them and learning from them. I really want to do this more. They have so much wisdom, and they're willing to share it. This is another aspiration for 2011.

45. Say Please and Thank you - show sincere appreciation.

EASY!

What can you add to the list? Making a difference doesn't have to cost a ton of money. It's the simple things that make our world a better place. I know I appreciate it when people are friendly and polite, so this week, I'm going to do my best to pass it on.

Impact Communications

2011-01-23T10:43:00.005-05:00

So far, I really haven't talked too much about my new endeavor on Blogger, but here goes. In college, I took an introductory course on layout and design. The course focused on Adobe InDesign. It was very practical, and I was able to use many of the skills I gained there in college internships. After I began teaching, I decided I was ready to tackle a new challenge: web design. Thus became my quest at self-taught Dreamweaver. Fast forward two years, and I think I'm making progress. I've started doing websites on the side for a variety of small businesses, mostly farms, but I've thrown in some others for good measures.

Here's a link to my website: Impact Communications. You'll notice the name comes from a popular Dr. Gratz saying: "Don't just make an impression. Make an impact." You can see under the Clients tab that my list is growing. I hope to continue to expand. So, selfish request for the day: if you know someone looking for a website, newsletter, or any other graphic design piece, will you send them my way? Please and thanks. Look for more updates from this part of my life in the future.

On a roll

2011-01-22T15:01:00.003-05:00

This post will be short and sweet. While it's on my mind, I wanted to share a quick thought from the book our small group is reading right now. We're reading Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan. It's a wonderful book that really makes you think.

The most recent chapter was about being a lukewarm Christian. Chan describes the lukewarm Christian as one who (and I paraphrase):

Attends church because they're expected to, not because they necessarily want to.
Cares more about what people think of their actions than what God thinks of their heart.
Calls Christians who do extreme things for Christ "radical" when in fact, God expects all of his followers to be "radical."
Probably drinks less and swears less than average, but otherwise they're not that much different than unbelievers.

Talk about a reality check! The chapter really got me thinking about my own relationship with Christ. I'm the first to admit that it can be classified as lukewarm at times. There's definitely room for improvement. So, to start, Greg and I are reading the bible more and saying more genuine, authentic prayers. We're focusing on what's important and what we can to serve Him. It's not nearly enough, but hopefully it'll continue to build up our faith. Being lukewarm isn't an option.

If you haven't listened to the song "The Motions," check it out today.

New Year's Goals

2011-01-22T14:46:00.003-05:00

Yes, you really are that lucky to get two posts in the same day. I guess I just have a lot on my mind these days. I've devoting my blog today to a hodge-podge of thoughts and ideas.

New Year's Goals

My mom is in the process of moving. To bring the new followers up to speed, my parents were divorced after 24 years of marriage when I was in the first grade. (If you do the math, you'll understand that they were a bit older when they had me. My oldest sister is 13 years older than me, and there's three full siblings between the two of us. But, I digress.) After they separated, I lived with my mom, while my dad moved to North Carolina. So, late last fall, when she decided to move, it became time for me to move all of my treasures, as well. In that pile of items was 8 FFA jackets. See previous posts on "FFA nerd disorder." The one jacket I treasure the most is my chapter FFA jacket that I received when I was a freshman in high school. I won't go into the memories tied to that jacket, but I would like to talk about the wrinkled, well-loved index card I found in the pocket. It was a list of FFA goals I wrote my first year in FFA. On the list were items such as apply for a proficiency award, run for state office, receive my American Degree, etc. etc. I had to chuckle a little bit. The goals at that point on my life were focused around awards and honors. They were such a big deal to me at that time. The goals I set for myself now are of a different nature, especially since many of them now include Greg, my partner in crime and in life.

So, here are a few things we aspire to achieve in 2011.

Build our savings account to $xx,xxx. Between buying a house and a new vehicle in 2010, our savings has remained pretty stagnant. We want to continue to grow that number, so we can be ready for the future.
Give more money to the Church. The Church can do things for others that we can't do on our own, so we'd like to increase our givings in 2011.
Increase our personal health. Ok, this is probably more mine than Greg's. I look at a candy bar and gain three pounds, while Greg eats six and loses weight. (Maybe a bit of an exaggeration.) Nonetheless, EA Active for the Wii is my weapon of choice, and running a 5k is my end goal. In addition to physical fitness, I also want to work on emotional well-being. I want to work hard at my career, but I also want to leave school at school, so I can come home and spend time with my family and with my hobbies. I'm not going to let teaching consume my entire life in 2011.
Read more non-fiction books. This is definitely more mine that Greg's! I love to read. If it has words, I'll read it. From Greg's farming magazines, to textbooks, to fiction, I love it all. This year, I want to read more non-fiction so I can learn about more varied topics. I just finished Laura Bush's memoir: Spoken From the Heart, and I loved it. I learned so much and gained even more respect for a phenomenal woman.

So, the goals I have for myself at this point in my life are different than the ones I set as a teenager, but they're meaningful to me. I'll keep you posted on how they go. Writing them down is definitely the first step in reaching them.

Not Missing What Matters

2011-01-22T14:26:00.002-05:00

In my last blog (last year, no less!), I professed my love for Matthew West's song, "My Own Little World." If you haven't checked it out yet, watch the video on YouTube. I promised that I would write again about "not missing what matters," as West sings in the hit.

So, for this new year, I've been thinking about ways to really live my life for what matters. Too often I get caught up in the petty, materialistic stuff that really doesn't matter. I don't believe that's why we're on this Earth. We are here, in my humble opinion, to serve others and to serve our God. But what does that look like?

One of my biggest struggles with transplanting to an area of the state that I'm not very familiar with, is not knowing other people in the community. In high school and college, I was so involved in the community, and I haven't really stepped out of my comfort zone to do that in Bucyrus yet. So, I've come up with some ways that I want to work this year to give back to others and really start living for the important stuff. Will you add to my list?

I want to create a card list. The cards can be for birthdays, anniversaries, special occasions, or no reason whatsoever. I love the feeling that comes with opening a card from a friend and knowing that someone else is thinking of me, so I want to do this for others. If you want added to my list, just shoot me an email.
I also want to put together a Relay for Life team. Cancer has impacted all of us. This is a small way to honor my friends and family members who have battled the disease and provide resources to help find a cure.
I love traveling, but I've never been on a mission trip. In college, I went to Ecuador for a service project, but it wasn't tied to God. I really want to go somewhere and do good in His name. Greg and I are antsy to go to Jamaica with CSI, so hopefully this year we can make that a reality. Plus, there's a new project in Jamaica focused on developing a agricultural education center, so it's right down our alley.
Finally, this year I want to do small things to let others know I'm thinking about them. Whether it's baking cookies for my neighbors, serving a meal in the soup kitchen, or making more of an effort to stay in touch with my college friends, those are the things in the long run that will make a difference.

I'm a bit of a pack-rat. Around my desk, I post cards and quotations that mean something to mean. One is a Max Lucado card from my church when I was in college. I saved it for the phrase on the outside: "It's what we do for Christ in the here and now that will make a difference in the then and there." How true. The things we do now will have ever-lasting effects. So, it's time to start living for others and not missing what matters in this world.

My Own Little World

2010-12-22T19:37:00.003-05:00

One of my favorite songs right now is "My Own Little World" by Matthew West. Earlier this fall, I was literally brought to tears as I drove to school one day and this song came on the radio. Watch the YouTube video, then read more below.

How often do we live inside our own little worlds? I'd be interested (and probably appalled) to know how many times a day I use the words "I," "me," or "my." I'm guilty of it, and I hate it. I get so wrapped up in what I want, where I want to be, what I'm trying to accomplish, that I forget about all of those around me. And the sad thing? I know I'm not alone.

What would this world be like if we all started living for those around us? Imagine the difference we could make. There are so many people walking right around us that need to know that someone cares, that need to know that they matter and they're worth something. All it takes is us looking outside our own bubble to others, but then what? What do these actions look like? What can we physically do for others? Where do we even start? I'd love to know your ideas.

Another blog is coming soon on not missing what matters, because

"I don't want to miss what matters

I wanna be reaching out

Show me the greater purpose

So I can start living right now."

DIVE

2010-09-23T20:04:00.004-04:00

Almost five and a half years ago, I experienced the biggest moment of my life up to that point. I stood on a stage in front of 6,000 FFA members, parents, and guests and poured my heart out through my retiring address. Most people don't realize that I spent the morning crying, vomiting, and hyperventilating. Yep, it was a pretty big deal. When I look back on the day, it was such a small moment in time, though I didn't realize it then. And why was it such a big deal? Because I was making a public statement of my beliefs and ideals. I was going to be held accountable for my thoughts. And, more importantly, I hoped that my words would make a small difference in this world.

The premise of my speech was pretty basic. Using the acronym DIVE, I encouraged the audience to live four pillars in their everyday lives: Have Confidence, Take Risks, Live in the Moment, and Be Passionate. Those four principles had carried me through the most life-changing year I had experienced while serving as the Ohio FFA President and stretching myself to step out of my comfort zone more than I could imagine.

So, why do I bring this up today? Lately, I've been wondering if I'm still living those four principles. As I gave my retiring address, every thing in the world seemed to make perfect sense. Yet, now, as an "adult," I tend to get confused my different interests pulling me in 18 different directions. At times I'm so busy at work that I fail to live in the moment. I have confidence, but what if it comes across as arrogance? Am I taking risks, or am I being stuck in status quo? I'm passionate about many things, but am I pursuing my passions? Those are pretty deep rhetorical questions, but they're things I ask myself pretty frequently. As I continue to "grow up," it's imperative that I remember to DIVE, and I encourage you to do the same.

Back to Blogging... For Now

2010-09-18T15:28:00.002-04:00

Almost four months has passed since I blogged last. That's a third of a year. I hate the cliche' phrase "time flies," but it's so true. In just a couple of months, I'm going to turn 25. When did that happen? Greg and I have been married almost two years. A small drop in the bucket, I know, but still it's pretty incredible since it seems like yesterday. I'm in my third year of teaching. Never thought I'd step foot into a classroom. All those examples just go to show that time does have a tendency slip away from us. I guess that's why it's even more important that we live lives of purpose.

One of my biggest struggles with blogging is finding something valuable to write. I mean, anyone can write what they had for lunch today, but I want to write with deeper meaning. So, instead of backtracking like I have for a while, I'm going to start living in the moment. I can't promise that I'll write every week, but i am going to look for more examples of purpose, value, and meaning and my daily life and share those with you.

So, about last year...

2010-05-26T17:02:00.002-04:00

I'm noticing a pattern. It goes something like this:

Think about how I really need to blog.
Tell myself to take a few minutes to update my blog.
Put off blogging until tomorrow.
Repeat.

Tonight, I've actually made it to step five. Blogging. Big milestone in my life.

I've thought about the quickest way to summarize the past year. I decided to list adjectives to describe my life. Here goes:

Fun
Challenging
Fast-paced
Educational
Meaningful
Perplexing
Full

Ok, maybe that's not the best way to do it. After all, it doesn't paint a very clear picture. How about instead, I list some milestones?

Greg and I bought a camper and went on our first camping trip. Looking forward to lots more!
I survived my first summer at the Crawford County Fair and can't wait for another one.
Found a new church home at Crossroads Community Church in Mansfield. We love it.
Started off the school year on the first day of school. Great concept!
Have become actively involved with the dairy farm through sharing the story of agriculture through social media (find Dial Dairy on Facebook, Twitter, and Blogger!) and through feeding calves with my mother-in-law.
Traveled to Chicago for the first time and got to share the experience with 18 students.
Celebrated our first anniversary. Many more to come. :)
Launched my own small business specializing in small graphic design and webpage projects. Visit Impact Communications to learn more.
Last week I was named Teacher of the Year which reaffirmed my faith that I've chosen a career that I'm good at. This week I've taken on the role of farm wife, taking supper to the fields, and next week, we're out of school. Life is good.

I hope to update this blog more often. Stay tuned to see the new developments in our world. Thanks for reading!

Where does the time go???

2009-06-24T22:03:00.005-04:00

About 3 weeks ago, I was thinking to myself, "I really need to update my blog." Needless to say, that took a backburner to the tons of things happening and Greg's and my world lately. Here's a quick recap, just in case you were wondering:

Lots of little stuff in April and May. Nothing blog-worthy.
June 1-3: Officer retreat with my students. I could seriously write a whole post just about this, but I'll skip to the nitty gritty. We rented a house on Kelleys Island for two nights (it's an island about 20 minutes from the Lake Erie Coast by ferry.) The house had two huge rooms upstairs (one for los chicos and one for las chicas.) I had the master suite downstairs.
We spent three hard-core days planning activities for next year. I cannot begin to describe how proud I am of that group of kids. The chapter had never had a program of activities (something us FFA nerds do to plan), and they cranked out the whole thing for next year. They have such a great outlook. On the first day, one of them said, "Just because we've always done it doesn't mean we have to do it next year." How mature is that?! For those of you that understand my situation, you know how much of a relief that was for me to hear.
Don't get me wrong, it wasn't all work and no play. We had a great time toodling the island, rocking out in the school van. Plus, I don't brag too often, but I was pretty darn proud of the agenda I put together. I tried to attach it, just in case someone else can borrow it and put it to use, but I couldn't figure out how. Let me know if you're interested. Again, I can't say enough how the coolest part of my job is opening my students' eyes to new opportunities and experiences. Here are a few pictures from the trip:

After the challenging year this group has been through, they truly are united together.

Such a cool group of kids.

I just really like this picture.

They've never had a mission statement before. They're going to make a nice poster and hang it in the ag room for everyone to see. They wrote this all on their own with just a little guidance!

From there, I headed to FFA Camp, where I came to realize that after my ninth year of chilling out at Camp Muskingum, it's still as great as ever. Such a special place!
HOT Conference (Hands-On Training) for ag teachers was a great time. It's wonderful knowing that I have such genuine colleagues in the teaching profession. It's truly a great career to have.
This week are SAE visits. My mission: visit 65 kids in one week. I'm a third of the way there. I'm seeing some pretty cool things, and the students are teaching me a lot.

That's takes me clear through my iCal, and now that I've bored you to death, allow me to direct your attention to one more interest/hobby of mine. I've began spending a lot of time promoting Greg's family's dairy farm. (It still seems weird to call it "my family farm." I mean, they're definitely my family, but I don't think it's my farm. I haven't poured years of sweat, tears, and labor into it yet. It doesn't seem right to claim it!) Anywho, check out my PR efforts thus far:

Dial Dairy Blog

Twitter

Facebook

Alrighty, folks, that's all for now. I'll do my best to stay more current. Thanks for taking the time to read. And, just in case you'd like to know more, give me a call; it's much more personal. :)

If we don't tell our story, who will?

2009-04-15T11:50:00.003-04:00

Let's face it, more and more people are disconnected with agriculture. From little kids (and adults for that matter!) thinking that brown cows make chocolate milk to consumers only buying organic, because they think it's safer for them, agriculture is up against some pretty big challenges.

Lately, I've become enthralled with the concept of using social media (Facebook, blogs, Twitter, etc.) to tell agriculture's story. As farmers (and those who grew up on farms), we are the best experts out there when it comes to how food is produced. Therefore, it is our responsibility to share that message whenever possible.

This week, I created a Facebook fan page for Dial Dairy Farm, Greg's family's farm. It's a fair-sized operation, not huge by any standards (about 150 milking cows and 150 replacement heifers). Many old-school farmers would argue that they don't need to do anything as far as neighbor relations are concerned. Well, folks, the times they are a-changing. In the olden days, maybe they wouldn't need to use public relations, but the times we live in are different. As I drive down the road, I see new houses with people who have migrated from cities. Will those people, who have never stepped foot on a farm, understand the not-so-pleasant aroma drifting across their yard when Greg cleans out the manure pond? Will those people understand the noise from equipment here in a couple of weeks when they start planting hours upon hours each day? Will those people understand that when calves cry, they're just making their voices heard, and they're not being abused? I hope so, but chances might be slim.

A Facebook page for a farm- I doubt our grandparents would have ever seen it coming. The fact of the matter is, however, that we're in a different world, and it's up to our generation to reach out to our neighbors. The future of agriculture depends upon it.

Long overdue post

2009-04-13T10:13:00.002-04:00

I'm sure you've been waiting anxiously for my latest update, so here goes!

I am officially on spring break. We had Good Friday off, then all of this week as well. It's kind of weird not being at school. Weirder yet is the fact that when we go back, there are only 6 weeks left in this school year. I don't know how I'm going to finish everything I want to get through with my students! This school year has definitely flown by. I still get questions pretty much constantly of, "How are things going?" with that concerned kind of eyebrow raise and quiet voice. I think people must believe I'm sugarcoating things when I say, "They're great!" I know that I was probably temporarily insane when I accepted the position, but it is going so much better than I could have imagined. I definitely have top-notch students. Every day, it is more and more my program. Sure, there are frustrations, but I really do enjoy it.

Easter weekend was nice. Greg and I went to my mom's for lunch on Saturday and spent some time with the family. His family had dinner yesterday, so we also hung out with them for a while. My culinary masterpieces continue to amaze me. I cooked the ham for Saturday, which wasn't that big of a deal, but yesterday I made a cheese tray (complete with the crinkle cuts, thanks to my Pampered Chef gadget), cream cheese and chocolate chip dip for graham crackers, and grasshopper pie. I was quite proud of my Better Crocker-ness. Of course, the food and fellowship bow in comparison to the real reason for Easter- Jesus dying on the cross for our sins and rising again!

Greg is getting pretty busy preparing to be in the fields. Some times I wish I understood more of what's going on. I feel like he has to explain it to be 53 times before I comprehend. Then, I think about the fact that I have an ag background. How must people who have no idea what agriculture is view planting season?

More to come later. :)

God stuff

2009-03-15T21:42:00.002-04:00

For quite some time, Greg and I have been searching for a new church home. In fact, we've only been to the church he grew up in maybe twice since we've been married. The reasons are varied, but the fact of the matter is, we are longing to be a part of something bigger than ourselves, and we have yet to find it.

In the meantime, we've been joining in a bible study every Sunday night with some others from his old church who are in the same situation. It is a great group of people, and it's been pretty rewarding thus far. Tonight was especially exciting as we all shared some experiences about what we've seen in other churches and what we're looking for in a new church family.

For the past few months, Greg and I have experienced lots of new churches. Last night was an epiphany of sorts for both of us. First of all, we went to a Saturday evening church was a little bit different. But, more importantly, we realized that going to church shouldn't be about the pomp and circumstance that we're used to in worship. Instead, it should be about celebration and joy, for Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice for us.

Introducing my new presence on the web

2009-03-12T19:30:00.003-04:00

You wouldn't believe how challenging it has been for me to start a blog. Not because of technical issues, mind you, but instead, because I haven't been able to come up with a name that I'm satisfied with! Finally, today, this one came to me, and I think I can live with it. Nonetheless, I'm not sure if it should be "Rose in Real Time" or "Rose in Real-Time." Let me know your thoughts: hyphen or no hyphen?

Alas, today, I knew it was time. I've had many blog-worthy things happen to me over the past few months, and with my growing disdain with the Humane Society of the United States, I couldn't hold back my energy any longer.

As this is an introductory post, I won't write any more, but you can count on me to update regularly on the rants, raves, joys, and challenges of this little thing called life.