Thankful Series Continued...Freedom

Today is Veterans Day and I can't think of a better thing to be more thankful for. My freedom. Because without the sacrifices of these brave men and women we wouldn't have this freedom. The freedom to speak publicly, bear an arm, vote, worship in our chosen way and so much more. 

I don't have a ton of experience with the military. My uncle is in the Navy and has served several tours of duty and one of my other uncles served during the Vietnam war. But I never have experienced the day in and day out worries of a husband or wife, son or daughter being gone. 

This spring the realities of war were brought to life for me. A young wife and mother that I grew up showing with and was very active in FFA in high school. I had been following her blog as she and her husband were preparing for his deployment, and as she was going through the deployment with her girls. I will never forget that May afternoon when I read her sisters Facebook post in disbelief. The post simply stated that my friends' husband had been called home to be with The Lord, that he wouldn't be coming home to his wife and daughters the way they had planned. 

I had never had the privilege to meet her husband but I felt like some one had sucked the air out of my lungs. I couldn't imagine what she and her girls were going through. That night I hugged my hubs a bit tighter and realized I needed to be more thankful for him, because he was here. What I have taken away from this story is the strength of this young wife and mom I have continued to follow her thoughts and stories through Facebook and her blog, she is truly amazing. 

So thank you to all the men and women out there who sacrifice each and everyday so I can live without fear and live with freedom. And thank you to your loved ones their sacrifices are great and honorable as well.

She doesn't know I am linking this up so I hope it is ok, this is the website to my friends blog and her thoughts on Veterans Day, it is quite inspiring! Www.troopsteachingsandtots.blogspot.com

Thankful Series Continued…Two for One.

I didn’t get a chance to blog yesterday it was a little on the wild side. Work was…well let’s just say nuts, we had church pictures and I ended the evening going to bed at the same time as my kiddo. Just call me a party animal!


Today I am focusing on my parents and I know I did a whole post about them last year but they truly are two people that each and every day I am so very thankful they are in my life! My parents are not only dedicated parents but awesome grandparents. Charlot loves them so so much, last night she told the Hubs and I when we asked her where she wanted to eat supper she said “Grandma and Pap’s.” Yes the kid adores them and loves spending time at their house.

But truly I don’t think that all they do for my brother and I is what makes them so uniquely different. It is what they do for others. Both my parents are people that truly have a servant’s heart.

My mom is always going and doing for many people, from taking people to doctor’s appointments, sending numerous birthday cards, to helping with meals on wheels, to donating food to the food pantry, to just stopping by a friends’ house to say hi, she is there. And you can bet your bottom dollar that if you know my momma and you lose a love one in your life she will be there with a big batch of cinnamon rolls to help sweeten a sad occasion.

All of these things are on top of everything she does for her family. I mean our hog operation wouldn’t exist without her. She fills so many roles there are too many to count or mention! I can’t thank her enough for giving me such an awesome example to strive to be.

As for my dad he spent 30+ years working in the public school system, from being a teacher to being an administrator his top priority was always student’s education. He was the person who was at school early each morning to provide help if needed. He took time away from his family to make certain his students were prepared for the contests they were competing in. He took the extra time to explain a foreign concept to his students that may have needed extra help. As an administrator he went the extra mile to help a struggling student graduate. When a child would be sent to his office that just wanted some addition attention he gave it to them. And I would hope that most parent s who he saw would say that he was as honest and fair as possible. Now I know it was his job but he most definitely wasn’t there for the money.

Now in “retirement” he works to ensure his customers have as successful crop year as possible. Again I can’t thank him enough for all he has taught me and the example he has sat for me.

So thanks mom and dad for being you. For leading me, providing for me, for letting me succeed and fail, and most of all thank you for loving me through all of it. I am not sure where I would be today without you. You are amazing examples of what a wife or husband, a mom or dad, and grandma or pap should be. I love you and I for sure don’t say that enough.

Thankful Series continued...today is a bit hard

Today isn't really that hard just burns a bit. This person has know me since I was born, been my idol, my enemy, my roommate, and most of all my friend. He is my one and only brother! I can't say that we have always been the best of friends but we have always been there for each other. I can say what I want about him but anyone else say one cross thing about him and the wrath of the little sister is coming your way. 

Not only is he a great brother but an amazing uncle! He is always there for Charlot. That is really what inspired this post is I called the last night to see if he or my mom could pick up Charlot. And even though he wasn't feeling well he said that he would make sure someone got her! 

So to you big bro even though I don't say it real often I do love you and I am so very thankful that God made me your little sister! 

Career Mom Monday’s…Thankful Series Continued

Today I continue my thankful series for the month of November. I truly am thankful for the job that I have. It is not the job that I grew up envisioning I would have nor is it what I exactly went to college to pursue. When I started college at the ripe old age of 18 I just knew I wanted to be an Ag. Teacher just like my dad and brother. I just had to be a teacher, it is what fit, right???

Well let’s just say that once I got going in college and had a couple of internship opportunities I knew that teaching was still in my heart just maybe not teaching in a traditional classroom. Then I had the opportunity to intern with a large seed company right before my senior year of college. It totally opened me up to a side of Agriculture that I didn’t have much knowledge of and I fell in love. I loved knowing that I was making a difference in a farmer’s livelihood.

As I was in the job search during my senior year of college I was searching and searching and searching. Thinking how in the world am I going to find a career. I just broke down one day not knowing what I was going to do. Then I remembered one of my dad’s famous lines, “Tiffany, you’ve got to get your prioriotites straight.” At that point I sat down and listed honestly what my top three needs for a job were. #1 was it needed to be close to home, the Hubs (who was my boyfriend at the time) wasn’t moving and he was close to home. Next it needed to be something in Agriculture, preferably the seed side. Third I wanted it to be something I felt like I would be making a difference. At least I had a plan.

In March of 2006 when I walked in to the research center that I work at, for an interview, I would have never guessed how much that place would teach and change me. I thought if they offer me this job I'll take it because it is close to home and a great place to start. Well low and behold they did offer me a job, and nearly 8 years later I truly took a job and turned it into a career I love and am so very passionate about. The question my company posed to participants at the farm progress show this year really sums up why I love what I do. They asked "how are you making a difference today to feed the world tomorrow?" Each and every day I can honestly answer that question. 

Thank you to my boss for believing in that super young and naive girl he hired all those years ago. I sure am glad you took a chance on me!

Thankful for Five Years!!!

I like to say I have been the hubs wife for five but his date for ten. Today we celebrate our fifth wedding anniversary. When I sat down to write this post I had big plans of changing to words to a song and making it all about him. But guess what that just really isn’t our style.


This post will start my thankful series for the month of November. And I can’t think of a better place to start. I am so very thankful for the hubs. He is truly my best friend, my confidant, my tear wiper, my cheerleader, my rock, and the place my heart goes most frequently. We aren’t perfect and that is ok, we have to work at it. Because guess what whoever said that a marriage didn’t take work was lying!!! The hubs makes me laugh, drives me crazy, amazes me, and loves me unconditionally and really that is all I can ask!

Hubs- Thank you for loving me and all my flaws! You are a great person, husband, and father. So Happy Anniversary! I can’t wait to see what the next 55 or so bring! To close I will be a bit cheesy and this is one of my favorite songs… in the words of Lee Brice- Darling I love your love the most.

Happy Friday everyone!