My dad wanted a boy this time, and I came as a girl, but I always got along well with him. I could talk to him rather easily. I thought he understood me better, but the older I get, the more I can understand my Mother’s thoughts and actions. My sister listened better than I ever did. She was smarter than I was. I never liked school and never did well in school. I couldn’t wait to get out, and I haven’t regretted it. Believe me! But it is hard when you have kids, and you want them to do well in school. My kids have all done well.

I inherited the farm, and my sister got the house in town. We wanted the farm, so that worked well.

Because of that, and excluding when I went to cosmetology school in Denver and to Lincoln to work, I have lived in the same house my entire life. I met my husband in Lincoln and fell in love. He has worked his ass off on that farm. I have poultry; chickens, ducks, and last Spring I bought sixty baby guineas. That is my hobby, not gardening.

My parents came from Nebraska, and they added onto the farmhouse several times. I have tried to change it to my liking. I can do whatever I want: If I want to paint, I paint; if I want to change the floor, I do, which I have done. There is a big room above the garage which is good, especially when the kids come home.

What I like best about being on a farm is I don’t have the constant neighborhood watch. If I want to empty the trash in my housecoat, I can.  I could help farm with my dad, and I could always go to the barn and make something or do something. When I was younger, I would make rings and bracelets out of bendable wire. I helped my dad with harvest, and since he was a man of many talents, we were always building something. I once made a table out in that barn, and yes, I still have it. After we were married and started our family, we couldn’t afford to buy Christmas presents, so we started making all our gifts. We maintain the tradition even today. We can’t buy anything. It has to be something we find or create. The daughters-in-law and grandchildren also get involved.

The best thing about raising kids on the farm is if I wasn’t quite sure where my kids were I could drive around and find them.

Growing up on the farm, my kids learned to work. The three of them have jobs and good work ethics. Sending them to a small town school, I knew their friends and their dates. It helped that we all worked together on chores, harvest, and getting the cows in the corral or out to pasture. We all had to help.

Whenever I feel unloved and low, I go walking and usually find a heart rock. (a rock shaped like a heart) I know God places it there for me.

I couldn’t have gotten through my life without my faith in God. That ’s the truth. I didn’t have that forever. A cousin helped me get into the Bible and Bible studies, and it has helped me so much. There are great Christian speakers, such as Beth Moore, and Jeff Schreve. My faith helps me know God is in Control; I can go to him and talk to him. It might not turn out how I want, but he is always there to listen. If he wants something to work out, it will, but if it is not in his plan, it won’t. He is God. What’s better than that? NOTHING!

Dr J’s Comments