I just got home from my last practice of the year as Tri Central's fifth grade cheer coach.  It was definitely a rollercoaster ride of a season. 

About a year ago I was asked if I would be interested in being the head coach for the JV cheer squad at TC.  I thought and prayed about it but ultimately ended up saying no.  Tri Central's cheerleaders don't compete and that is the part of cheerleading that I am obsessed with.  JV cheerleading would have been a huge time committment with the football and basketball season, and without the drive of competition I just knew that my heart wouldn't be in it.  I am one of the loud and proud former cheerleaders who will swear up and down that cheerleading is a sport...but only when it is competitive.  I wasn't going to put all that time in just to cheer boys on all the time and not put any skin in the game myself.   

Well low and behold, basketball season comes around and the poor little fifth graders don't have a cheer coach and there are 12 girls who want to cheer.  This was an opportunity I couldn't say no to...dang it!  I was really excited to coach the girls, I wanted them to fall in love with cheerleading as much as I had when I was a little girl.  I also figured that I could be a good influence in their lives in a fun, sort of "big sister" kind of way.

Well things didn't go exactly as planned...a parent meeting that never happened led to some mad mamas.  There was some bad communication, and comments made that led to hurt feelings all around.  There ended up being some tension and a few weeks ago things were not fun at all. 

One day I took the whole afternoon and called every single cheer mom.  This was a tedious process that made me cry on more than one occasion.  Many of the moms were very uplifting and supportive, but some of them gave me some tough love.  This was very hard, but I hate drama and I was desperate to turn things around.  The phone calls really helped because a lot of the moms gained respect for me after I took the time to talk to them one on one about their concerns.  Since calling all the moms, whenever I see them I don't feel nervous at all...I can just laugh and talk to them like any other adult in town. 

This weekend is cheer appreciation night at Tri Central and tonight we had our last practice of the year with all the cheer squads.  The fifth graders are the youngest squad at the school.  When my girls first went out, everyone was expecting them to be all little and cute (which they are), but everyone was shocked because they looked really good!  They are so loud and tight, they have an awesome little routine, great stunts,  and I personally think they looked better than the middle schoolers...but I might be a little biased =)

I promised Brady that I would never coach anything ever again...and I plan on keeping that promise.  But I have to say, now that it is all over...I am a little sad. 

Y-E-L-L EVERYBODY YELL...LETS GO TROJANS!

This is the devotional that Brady and I are reading during 2013.  I am a huge fan of the "I am Second" movement and I love watching the videos on their website. 

In 2012 Brady and I didn't read any devotional, we just read our Bibles every day.  A few weeks before Christmas as Brady and I were driving to church with JR and Dustin we asked them if they had been reading their Bibles lately...JR replied no, and he didn't even know where his BIble was at the moment.  When asked why he wasn't reading, he simply replied that he didn't even know what to read or where to start. 

I can definitely relate to the feeling.  After that conversation I really felt like we (Brady and I and the boys) needed something to supplement our Bible reading in 2013.  One day while I was traveling for work, I sneakly swung by the Christian book store and picked up three copies of this bad boy...one for Brady and I to share...and one for each of the boys.  Even though they are twins and they live together...I figured I would be nice and not make them share =)

We are really liking this devotional so far.  Since we have been on vacation we have been reading it at all different times of the day, but we are going to start reading it in the morning, which I am pumped for, because I can't think of any better way to start our day.

Through 365 daily readings, the book challenges readers to imagine what thier life would be like if they put Jesus first.  The book has some really neat features that aren't offered by any other devotionals that I know of?  It is split into 12 sections, and each of those sections is split into 4 or 5 weeks that dig deeper.  So every month there is a main topic, and every week there is a sub topic that helps you dig in deep.  I love it!  The overall topic for Janurary is Discover God and the 5 subtopics are; Perfect Ruin, Abraham, Coming Hero, Firstborn, and Death and Life.  Each day's reading is centered around a key Bible verse, but the book promts you to read the whole passage from your own Bible.  The book also leads readers through talking with God, practicing what you have learned, and even sharing what you have learned through social media.  

If you want to purchase "Live Second" you may do so by clicking on the picture of the book cover.  If you want to learn more about the I am Second movement, then click here.

Are you using a devotional to supplement your Bible reading in 2013?  If yes, what one are you reading? 

2012 was a wonderful year where Brady and I really got settled into our marriage and learned what it means to "do life" together.  Some of the 2012 highlights include...

-an awesome trip to Arizona for our 1 year anniversary
-getting a young marrieds small group off the ground
-spending many fun weekends at the lake
-2 weekends in Batesville visiting Ertel Cellars
-feeling much less green and much more confident in my job as a crop insurance agent
-getting some new blood into the Tipton County Young Farmers Group
-becoming members of Rock Prairie
-even with the horrible drought, the farm had one of its most successful years ever
-a fun trip to the Smoky Mountains with some great friends
-watching JR and Dustin get baptized
-remodeling our guest bathroom
-being a guest at the Great Banquet
-joining 'The Best Book Club Ever'

2012 wasn't all sunshine and rainbows though, and this is something that I struggle with when it comes to social media.  Whether it is Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or on Blogs...it just seems like everyone has this perfect life, when in fact that just isn't true.  I am guility of painting the perfect picture on the internet also, because who wants to share the bad stuff?  That is also my number one reason for not blogging as much as I would like to...I don't want my blog to be a "brag rag", but I also don't want it to be "Debbie Downer Down on the Farm".  It is tough finding a good balance.  Some of the harder parts of 2012 have been...staying strong in my faith no matter what the circumstance, shining the love of Christ towards the boys even when I just want to give up on them, some days of our marriage definitely aren't ideal, and our dogs are constantly destroying things.

I made some resolutions in 2012 that I blogged about here.  Overall, I did a really good job keeping them.  Brady and I did read the Bible in a year, we followed a Chronological reading plan and it worked really well for us.  We would read together in bed every evening, sometimes out loud, sometimes to ourselves, or sometimes we would listen it together.  I did mail at least two cards a month...I love getting mail, therefore I like to share the love!  (and I got some really cute Vera Bradley greeting cards that just begged me to mail them).  I did not blog twice a week...so many excuses, but they are all excuses...and excuses are like buttholes...we all have  them and they all stink.  I also did not research one topic a month, I feel like I was constantly learning in 2012, but it wasn't in an organized fashion.

I do have one main goal for 2013...get more organized in our personal finances!  Ever since we have been married, Brady and I have tried lived on one income.  Right now we are DINKS (double income no kids) but it is not going to stay that way forever.  In the future when I am a stay at home mama we will have 3+ people and half the money.  We have always tried to live well below our two incomes in preparation for that day.  We did an okay job at this in 2012...there were definitely times when we were poor planners and we had to dip into our second income.  We also majorly flopped when it came to our budget.  We spent hours setting up our budget, but then we just  tracked our spending and never became disciplined about it.  Things are going to be different in 2013...I have revamped the budget and we are going to stick to it!  We operate on a "zero" budget, meaning that all the money that comes in, has a designated place to go.  The first thing that happens with our paychecks is tithe, 401k, and taxes...and after that we use the money for our monthly expenses, having allocated amounts designated for things such as; mortgage, groceries, pet supplies, clothes, entertainment, etc.  I used to have our budget on an excel spreadsheet..today I converted it onto my Google Drive so that Brady and I can both access it from any computer. 

1 goal this year...that's it.  Pray for us =)

This is my first year spending Christmas in Indiana.  Merry Christmas from the farm!

Oh my gosh...I haven't written in so long!  This is depressing, I suck, and I apologize!  I haven't written in over a month, lots happened during November.  We finished up harvest, we spent Thanksgiving spent with my side of the family in Illinois, mom and I went Black Friday shopping with all the rest of the crazies, Brady and I went to Charleston, SC with Diversified Services (where I work), and basicallytime just flew by and I have no idea how everything got away from me!  

Brady and I decided that we would drive to and from Charleston...for 3 reasons.  1 - to save money, 2 - to see the beautiful southeast up close and personal, 3 - to hopefully see a weinermobile on the move.  We did save money, the southeast is beautiful, but we didn't see a weinermobile. 

Listening to the radio gets pretty old because after you listen for a while you just start hearing the same songs again and again.  So to keep entertained on long rides Brady and I like to play Mad Libs (there is an app for that), listen to Mark Driscoll sermons (there is an app for that also, search Mars Hill), and listen to Focus on the Family Daily Broadcasts (also an app for that).  PS - I might die without my iPhone =)

One of the Focus on the Family broadcasts we listened to really spoke to us, it is titled "Teaching Kids About Christmas", you can listen to it by clicking here.  It speaks about the true meaning of Christmas.  It doesn't condemn Christmas in America, but it does speak that as Christans, we need to keep Easter as the Super Bowl of Holidays, because Jesus's death and resurrection paved the way to our salvation, not His birth.  Obviously our culture doesn't do this...and Jesus is pretty much taken out of the equation completely.  The broadcast talked about St. Nicholas and the how the tradition started with him...this is a really awesome story and worth the listen just for this.  It also gave practical ideas on how to keep Jesus at the forefront Christmas.  The broadcast is under 30 minutes long and would be for anyone to listen to on their commute.

Once again, sorry for not writing in so long!  Happy belated Thanksgiving =)

I mentioned our laundry room in an earlier post and I promised I would share, just put the finishing touches on it today and I hope you all like it. 

This is what our laundry room used to look like...

Gross...I know.

One night last week after too much sweet tea too late at night I could NOT fall asleep.  I was just hanging out it bed, trying to get Brady to wake to keep me company, but he was having none of that.  So obviously I take out my handy dandy, can't live without it iPhone and started creepin'.  As I looked browed Pinterest and looked at all the wonderful pins before I came to the shocking realization that I had a BUTT UGLY laundry room. 

So naturally the next day Brady and I tore out the disguisting cabinet and started to brainstorm what to do.  A hundred bucks, some mudding, painting, shelf hanging, and hobby lobbying later...we have this...

Isn't it so wonderul!?  The project was easy, cheap, and I personally think that it now looks a million times better!  And my favorite little detail (in case you didn't notice) is that the vase holding the flowers has clothes pins in it!  I mean, come on...I'm not trying to trick anyone by putting water in the vase with the silk flowers, so obviously if you aren't going to fill a vase with water then you might as well fill it with clothespins!

Sorry I kind of suck at taking pictures...I feel like the pictures don't really do justice to how amazing the transformation is in real life, so you will all just have to come over and see for yourselves!  Just remember how ugly it used to be =)

This Saturday was the perfect day.  We didn't do anything extraordinary or special, but it was just completely wonderful.  Brady and I woke up early because we were signed up for a 5k.  On Friday night we were both less than excited for the 5k the following morning because it was early, it was cold, and we were lazy.  I struggled to get out of bed, but having Brady bring me my favorite breakfast (english muffin with peanut butter, honey, and banana slices) immediately put a smile on my face and was a great start to the day.

I have been running 4 days a week for the last 4 months.  Brady has not run one mile since I have known him.  I thought I would have pity on my husband and leave my running legs at home and walk the 3.2 miles with Brady.  When we toed the start line he said to me "Let's just run for a little bit until we get tired".  3.2 miles later we had run the whole way and I went way faster than I would have if I were running solo.  Brady was a great coach and he really got me to push my limit and increase my pace.  We finished the race in 32 minutes and both got 2nd place in our age group!  A wonderful couple from our church organized the 1st annual "5k to the Cross" and all the proceeds went to Samaritan's Purse and their Operation Christmas Child ministry.  Brady and I both had a blast at the race. 

We then went home and hung some shelves in our laundry room, thus finishing our impromptu laundry room redo.  Okay, when I said "we" hung shelves, I actually meant Brady hung shelves and I barked orders from the nearby master bathroom shower where I was rinsing off all my post-race grime.  Brady is such a great handyman!  I would share more about the laundry room but I'll save it for an upcoming post.

Then we took a little ride down to the library to get a couple movies. If you read this post then you will know how much I love the library and will understand why this made me so happy.  But seriously...Blockbusters are virtually no more, RedBoxes have a super limited selection and usually only have new movies.  The library has tons of movies, new and old, and best part...it is FREE!  Oh mother hell! 

The afternoon was spent watching college football and taking glorious naps!  Then for dinner I made Monica's fiesta chicken, it was delicious.  After dinner we read and discussed "The Story" together.  I am so blessed to have a husband who reads to me from God's word and teaches me so much about what it means to be a follower of Christ.  Then we had bloody marys, with tomato juice that we canned ourselves from Brady's garden.  Brady made a fire in the fireplace (first one of the year!) and we ate popcorn and watched a movie together. 

It was such a wonderful day and I hope we can have another just like it really soon!

My wonderful Granny has a condo in sunny Florida.  She bought this condo completely furnished and hasn't changed a thing in the last 20 years.  Okay, maybe a couple things are different, but the condo pretty much oozes with tropical 70's glory, right down to the olive green sinks, the plastic couch, and the hideous window treatments.  Despite all that, there was always one thing at that condo that I loved (besides my Granny of course).  It was a custom print hanging in the kitchen that was titled "How to Cook a Husband".  Last year when Brady, Mom and I were visiting Granny she must have felt sick because she gave the picture to me...and she never gets rid of anything!  I carefully packed the print for the flight home and prayed the glass didn't get cracked en route.  So I have had it at home for almost a year now and I still haven't hung it on the wall.  Want to see why...

Because it is hideous!  Sorry Grandma.  I always loved what it said though.  I just don't understand what a lady holding an umbrella wearing a body suit made of Vera Bradley look alike fabric had to do with cooking?  Also what is with the guys candy striper costume?  Freaky, freaky, freaky.  This Pati lady who made the print in 1967 must have been high or something?

But guess what?  Never fear Etsy is here!  I sent an email to my favorite Etsy graphic designer, explained the situation, and she totally came through for me.  I told her that we have a country kitchen, yellow is the prominent color and there is a mild sunflower theme.  A couple days and $15 later I had this gorgeous file in my email.

Sorry I had to post it as a screen shot from my iPhone...the actualy file is way top big to upload to my Weebly.  Maybe if I ever get serious about this blogging thing then I will purchase the professional version of Weebly?  Anyways, just imagine a more crisp photo without the iPhone border...isn't it gorgeous?!

I just sent the file to Mpix to get it printed as a 16 by 20.  I paid $`15 for the custom artwork, $20 for a frame, and $23 for the printing.  Less than $60 for a piece of custom artwork for our kitchen that no one else will ever have...AWESOME!

A few weeks ago our church held a challenge that people could participate in to spread the love of Jesus.  30 people from the church each got an envelope with $40 in it from the church general fund.  They were supposed to take this money and bless someone else with it to show them the love of Christ.  Many more people in the church pledged to do the same thing, only not with Rock Prairie's money but with their own.

Brady and I took that challenge almost a month ago and at the beginning of this week we still hadn't spent our $40.  We prayed and looked for opportunities to bless someone with this money but nothing ever came up.  On Monday I was traveling for work and I stopped at Panera for lunch.  There were a couple of elderly ladies in line behind me, I overhead them talking and I could tell from their conversation that they were having a hard time reading the menu. 

I felt the Holy Spirit tugging on my heart and I knew I was supposed to buy lunch for these ladies.  My heart started beating really fast and I got really nervous!  When I got done ordering my meal, I handed my credit card to the cashier and told her that I would like to purchase lunch for those two women.  It made me sad to watch the one lady order, the cashier had to repeat herself about three times when she asked "would you like a pastry item for 99 cents?"  Then she told the lady her total but told her that I had already paid for it.  The woman looked at me and gave me a big hug.  I told her that my husband and I feel so blessed and we just want to share that blessing with others.

I then got my food and proceeded to sit down by myself with a smile on my face.  One of the ladies then came to my table and asked if I was eating all alone, when I told her yes, she insisted that I come over and eat lunch with them. 

Turns out their names are Fiona and Wanda, they are both over 80 years old, and they are both widows.  We had a wonderful lunch together.  They told me all about their children and their church.  They asked me about my job, faith, and family.  We also prayed before sharing our meal together. 

When it was obvious to me that they were Christians, I felt like I kind of failed the challenge because it was supposed to shine the light of Christ to unbelievers.  But Brady reminded me of all the Bible verses where we are called as Christians to take special care of widows! 

I am not writing this post to toot my own horn; in fact I rarely ever do things like this.  But I am going to start.  I have witnessed a great example in Billy and Vonda of blessing others in monetary ways and I wish I would have started earlier.  As Americans we are so attached to our money, but it's just money!  Also it isn't even ours, everything belongs to our Father in heaven, He has just blessed us with certain things and we are giving the responsibility to be good stewards.  The $22 I spent on their lunch was worth so much more than that. 

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. - James 1:27

Any time Brady and I are around my friends we have to watch ourselves, because if we ever kiss, hug, or bascially even touch then one of my friends yells, "Take a shot!"  Yep...this is a game that my girlfriends made up as revenge for our "annoying love".  When we gross them out with our PDA they think it is only fair that we should get hammered as a result of it. 

The big difference between Brady's friends and my friends is that most of Brady's friends are married, engaged, or in serious relationships.  Most of my friends are single and ready to mingle...which explains why our old married folk PDA utterly grosses them out. 

Sidenote - I personally don't think that Brady and I PDA very much at all...if it were up to me we would be all smoochy smoochy in public a lot more!  One thing I still can't figure out is why is it okay for Brady to stick his hand down his pants and scratch his balls in public but I can't touch them at all?  Just kidding he doesn't do that!

Anyways back to the story...a couple of weekends ago I went to U of I for Salute to Ag Day with some of my favorite ACES ladies!  On Friday night we were out and as we were walking from Jupiters to Quality I called Brady to tell him goodnight...this phone call alone made Krista yell "Take a shot!" on the streets of downtown Champaign. 

That night Krista and I slept at Casa de Erica, and good thing the girls didn't find out about what Brady had hidden in my suitcase.  There was a love letter folded neatly inside one of my folded shirts.  It said things such as...I love you so much, have a great time visiting your girlfriends, I can't wait to be the daddy to our babies, etc =)  Oh and the cutest part of the note...at the bottom he wrote "happy one year, one month, and one day."  How freaking cute is my husband?!

I am so happy my friends didn't find this note because they probably would have forced me to drink a fifth of whiskey!

Loving my crazy girlfriends and my sexy hubby!