IT'S OFFICIAL....

Today was Meghann's "White Coat Ceremony". She has officially started Pharmacy School. I am sure it will be a hard 3 years for her, but if she and AJ will remember that "This Too Shall Pass", (one of Grandma Bills' favorite sayings) they will come out being more than ALL RIGHT and their hard work will be ohhhh so worth it. Remember, your dad and I are here to help. Congratulations Sweetie!!!

MY, HOW THE CORN DOES GROW...

Earlier in the year I mentioned that Mike and I have leased Dad's Farm. We have been excited to see his farm grow corn for the first time that Dad can remember. Boy, did it grow corn!!! There were days when dad thought he could just sit and watch it rise higher and higher. We are getting pretty close to harvest, the lush green will turn to ugly brown; but it was worth everything to see Dad so happy with his farm.

ATTENTION: ALL WHO NEED TEETH CLEANING...

As most of you know, Tara is in Dental Hygiene School. She is now to the stage where SHE NEEDS PATIENTS!!!! So anyone who really would like a good cleaning for ONLY $5.00, P L E A S E get a hold of her. I am excited to be one of her patients, but I live too far away to be there every day she needs patients. It's a really good deal for anyone needing a cleaning, the last time I went it costs me over $100 at my dentist. She is at UCDH in Orem so give me or Tara a call.

Out with the Old and In with the New...

You know it seems just like yesterday when Jake and Jared had a toy replica of a John Deere combine. OMG those two boys would combine the carpet in my house all day long. Jake could even imitate the sound of a combine pretty darn good. Well today is wheat harvest time and Jake is harvesting in the real thing. It might not be the combine of his dreams but I'm sure I can see a smile on his face with this machine. It is hard to believe that our forefathers used sickles and stacking grain in bundles all by hand. Today all we have to do is sit and listen to your favorite radio station in the air-conditioned cab and get about 40-60 acres harvested a day.

America The Beautiful...

I haven't done a lot of traveling, but I found out that you don't have to go very far to find the most beautiful wonders of the world. Right in our back yard is the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, the wonderful farms in Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and Utah. Mike and I just took a few days and did a road trip to places that I have never seen. We got to see the Bar J Wranglers in Jackson Hole (great entertainment). Believe it or not, I have never seen Yellowstone. I have seen many buffalo, elk, & deer but nothing like the way you see them in Yellowstone. I have seen rivers, but nothing like the rivers in Yellowstone. For 4 days we just relaxed and took in the sights and gabbed with good friends.

MILESTONES...

Barbara, Grandma Barbara and Mom has turned 80 years old. As with tradition, we have to have a big party bash. Barbara wasn't to hip on the idea but then she does love a party. All the kids, grandkids, and good friends made it for the special occasion. What a great life Barbara has had and better than that a really wonderful posterity. As of this year, Barbara has 23 grandchildren with 13 grandchildren in-law, she has 21 great grandchildren with 4 more in the ovens... CONGRATULATIONS,
BARBARA!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!

JUST FOR ME...

Yep, this one is for me...of course you can read it too. I just don't want to ever forget this .
Three years ago my Dad decided that he was getting to old and tired to keep up the demanding work of farming. It has been hard for him to let others take care of his farms, but he has endured. Little by little my sisters and I have seen just how hard it has been for him to let go of farming. My Dad is such a proud man and he has been a good farmer...it just runs in his blood...it's just what he knows and knows well. This year, Mike and I decided that we needed to take over Dad's farm and get it back to the kind of farm that Dad has always had. It has been interesting because Mike farms a little different than dad. Mike has no patience for canvas dams and several outlets on every dike, so we tore up Dad's ditches and put in the trusty "red gates". We put pig slats on every gate so we had a way to get across the ditch without walking clear around the ditch. Really and truly, we did it to make it convenient and easier on Dad. I am sure Dad was thinking "What in the Hell are these guys doing to my Farm". But it was funny too, because for some reason my Dad started to pick up his feet and walk a little lighter and much faster. I am sure I see more sparkle in his eyes too.
This week, we started irrigating...something both Mike and I were worried about. We wanted the fields to water straight and the ditch to hold. The first day we sent the water down the field, we tried to figure just how long it would take to water. We spent hours waiting and waiting. Jake, Mike and I were sitting at the end of the dike, trying to guess if it would finish if we turned it, when we saw dad coming up the road behind us in his truck. He pulls up to the side of us and says, "I already changed the water". No sense waiting at the end of the dike! Lo and behold, the water finished to perfection and Dad was hired. We didn't do this to give Dad work, but I think he is really enjoying being back in to action. He and his little truck can be seen going round and round that farm all day long (starting at 7:30 am). I think he is loving it!!! I can't wait for him to see his farm all green and producing again. My dad is the greatest man and I am proud to be his daughter. I Love you Dad!!!