Good Morning from a very warm, sunny Knolltop!

I just got back in from doing chores and now I’ll run some errands before the afternoon of working outside. The boys have an away game today and since the gal that comes and milks for us is hurt, Sarah and I will stay home while Bobby heads to the game.

I heard from my parents last night and they were in the U.P. They had found another van in the paper and the guy took their van in on trade! So now they’re in a navy blue Venture and they discovered it has a DVD player in it! The grand kids will love that.

Better get going!

The bush outside my office window is budding and it’s so nice to see green!

Okay, I’ve pulled out a picture from the past. My mom sent this picture to me. It’s probably one of my most favorite pictures of me as a kid.

Yes, that’s me mixing up calf milk….some things just never change. Although I don’t mix it donning striped shorts and spike high heels with an old man’s hat, I do mix it up every morning and night.

I loved those high heels. They were my absolute favorite thing to buy at the dime store in town. They were plastic with elastic straps. They never lasted too long because I liked to wear them all over the farm, but I still loved them!

Now I’m off to the barn to bed the cows and feed the heifers….without the heels!

It’s a sunny, windy day here on the Knolltop. I’ll take it!

Did I happen to mention earlier that my parents were driving to Alberta, Canada to watch my nephew John Stene graduate? I think I did. Anyway, they drove, they watched, they enjoyed and now they called me this morning, stranded in Northern Minnesota!

Their van quit and they are making a decision on what they want to do. But that’s not the half of it!

While they were driving along US 2, talking to my brother on the phone he mentioned that one our old neighbors that lived down and around the corner had moved to Minnesota and he thought my parents were near to him.

Now, these neighbors were actually a family of six. Mom and Dad and four boys. Four big, big boys. The Grill family. The third son, Tommy, was my late brother Tim’s, good friend. They did a lot together growing up and had a great friendship. In fact so good it lasted through a gunshot wound to the arm. Tommy and Tim were out rabbit hunting and Tim’s gun accidently went off and shot Tom clean through the arm. Even after that they were good buddies.

Anyway, my other brother Rex got on the internet and looked up Tommy Grill’s address and low and behold mom and dad were practically in his backyard. So they stopped in for a visit and ended up getting a motel room across from where Tommy works as a truck mechanic.(He always was a grease monkey) After spending the evening with the Grills they were on their way back to town for the night and their van quit. Thank God it was just a few miles from Tommy’s house!

As of right now, they are trying to decide if they will have someone go get them, buy a new vehicle or wait for a new engine. Yes, you know the drill….please pray for them!

You might be wondering how Rex knew Tommy was in northern Minnesota? When Tommy sees a car drive in the motel across from his garage with Michigan plates, if he has a minute he goes over and asks where they are from. One person was from Ovid, where my brother lives now, and somehow they made the connection and that’s how Rex new where Tommy lived.

Isn’t it amazing how God can work this all out? What are the chances of my parents breaking down in a town of an old family friend? Yes, if you haven’t figured it out by now, God is in control.

The weather hasn’t made up it’s mind today. One moment it’s windy and cold, the next it’s still and sunny, we’ve had rain and yes even a few white flakes. And the baseball game is still on for this afternoon….can you say burr?

Last evening chores were finished and we sprung a leak! After wrenching and wrenching and wrenching, a trip to TSC for parts, more wrenching and lots of prayer, the cows had water and my job was done….in the barn.

Coming in at 9:40 pm I sat down at the computer to finish up my other job on Dairy Agenda Today. Getting to bed an hour later doesn’t fly when you get up four hours later! Yes, I got a nap today!

It’s raining again, I just don’t think this ball game is going to go. But I have a crock pot of sloppy joes ready to go to feed the team when they get done, just in case.

Now, more writing!

Good Monday Morning from a soggy Knolltop

It was a busy weekend and I have lots to write, but at the moment I have to head back out to the barn, when I get back in, I’ll post more news…including some a team of girls from the city who learned more about agriculture at a volleyball tournament! I have pictures an everything!

Good Morning from a sunny and warm Knolltop!

Thank you for your prayer, the last I heard Aaron is doing much better and continues to show improvement. But continue to pray for them as they figure out how to get home once he is released, how they will get to John’s graduation and keep the cows milked!

As I think about this whole situation, I could’ve been out there in the mix of these events. My sister, Ginny asked if I would come speak at a womens event out there. I would’ve been scheduled to speak last night. Can you imagine having your son being flown to Denver with a head injury, your other son preparing to graduate in Alberta, Canada, your parents driving half way across the country to watch the graduation, your sister due to arrive in Billings and a herd of cows to milk and 70 gallons of milk to deliver to waiting customers in town and not being able to see anyone!? What a mess! But, I guess that’s why it’s a good thing God is in control!

Just keep praying!

Farm news: I had the chance to use my tractor this morning and boy was it fun! I love driving that thing for more than parades!

The boys lost their game last night…boohoo.

That’s it for now!

Good Morning from another rainy Knolltop. It’s supposed to clear off so the boys can play baseball today, but I’m not counting on it.

I have an urgent prayer request. My nephew in Montana, Aaron, hit his head and after an evaluation at the local hospital they flew him to Denver for more evaluating. That’s all I know right now and I will keep you posted. Of course you know the timing couldn’t be worse. My other nephew is graduating from college in Canada on Sunday, my sister has to be in Denver with Aaron and my brother-in-law has to be home to milk the cows! What a mess! Hopefully Pryorvu will keep us posted as to the goings on…he will have to take up some slack at the ranch as well, I’m sure. But what is family for?

I forgot to mention, last Saturday, Sarah and I left the farm for the day and went to see the Lion King on stage at Michigan State with my mom and sister-in-law. We had a wonderful time together not only seeing the musical but then at dinner afterward. We don’t do nearly enough of this girl thing! I think an all day shopping extravaganza needs to be on the schedule!

Please pray for my parents safety too. They are headed west to watch my nephew graduate! They will be on the road for 4 days!

Thanks!

Good Morning from a rainy knolltop where there probably won’t be a baseball game today. But they are promising Spring weather for tomorrow!

How could I complain with the beautiful Easter weather we had on Sunday. It was sunny and in the 50s! I loved it. It was like the Easter Sundays I remember as a kid. Of course I put one big basket of candy out on the breakfast table on Sunday and by the time we headed to church, I heard complaints that the chocolate stuff was all gone. Oh, but no worries here, I hid my own stash of Cadbury chocolate so Bobby and I are still enjoying the smooth creamy premium stuff that my children haven’t learned to appreciate yet.

Not that I haven’t tried to teach them to appreciate the good stuff. On the way home from church one Sunday, I attempted to instruct them in Chocolate Appreciation 101. I had purchased a Cadbury candy bar and they wanted some. I told them I would give them a piece but they had to keep it in their mouths for 2 minutes, without biting it. If they did that then I would give them another piece. Everyone but Jake complied, no surprises there!

You just can’t take good chocolate for granted. That’s one of life’s most valuable lessons!

How did we get on this subject anyway?

Let’s cover the barn news: We had another heifer calf the other day, JW’s friend named her Jasmine. She is a cute little thing with lots of vim and vigor! She’s been out exploring the barn every morning. She greeted me this morning in the cow stable, laying with the big cows. She’s such a hoot!

Well, it’s time to head back out…later!

Good Good Friday from the Knolltop.

The kids have the day off, yes, more work for them!

The boys had their baseball game last night and they lost both of them to Camden. The first game wasn’t pretty, but the second game was a bit better. JW had like four hits! He was a hitting maniac…Luke…not so much. I guess he had an off night with the bat.

Today is more writing, the boys will work for Mr. Kyser, Jake and Sarah will work for me and I’ve got to prepare for Easter. One thing I love to do is bake the admonition cake that I make every year. It’s sooooooo good. And of course I have to get some Easter candy too…I love that part. Tomorrow Sarah and I get to see the Lion King with Grandma and Aunt Amy….just a girl thing! We are looking forward to that!

Make sure you check out my blog on Dairy Agenda Today. It has the PETA report from the forum at MSU last evening. It was a great turn out!