Guilty as charged

Clothes!!!  We have too many clothes.  I honestly do a minimum of 20 loads of laundry each week, I swear.  But, today, John was actually enjoying a little break on the recliner downstairs while I was upstairs putting away the clothes in the kids room.  Ultimately trying to take back our master bedroom from the onslaught of laundry baskets and unmatched socks.  So, here's where I am guilty.  The kids were playing in the same room as Daddy, so when they started calling for me, I froze, didn't make a sound, move, blink, etc.  I pretended I was invisible.  I thought maybe they would think I had disappeared.  Since none of them had actually seen me go upstairs, the chase ensued.  Nolan said I was in the basement, so I heard all six feet head north to the basement stairs.  Then they thought I was in the laundry room, bathroom (we all know there is no privacy in there anyway), office, and FINALLY they figured out I was upstairs.  So, as any mom enjoying a little quiet time would do, I hid in my closet with the lights turned off.  Yep, I hid from my kids, not once, but twice in one morning.  I have a large walk-in closet, so it's not like I was wedged into a closet, but I am 100%, guilty as charged.  I am a hider.  I thwarted their efforts to find me this time.  :-)

Thanks for the laughs, PETA

PETA has graciously delivered some humor to my life this week.  You know the crosses and memorials on the side of the road that you see when a person is killed in a car accident?  Well, PETA wants those where animals have been killed on the highway.  Specifically, they want a memorial set up honoring the 20 cows that were killed in two separate roll-over truck accidents in 2011.  Through IDOT, families are actually able to purchase signs for $200 "in memory" of their loved ones.  Cows do not have families.  This is PETA's argument. 

Forgive me for mocking this, it was unfortunate.  Honestly, though?  Where do you think those cows were headed, PETA?  Here is a link to the SunTimes article about it.  What do you think?  Do we as Illinois-ans owe those 20 cows a memorial?  I say "no".  Bummer, but no.

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/PETA-seeks-memorials-to-cows-killed-on-Ill-roads-136535258.html

Meeting

I had an amazing day yesterday at the IL Farm Bureau GRIT team meeting for Livestock and Dairy.  I was pleased at the discussions that we had and how we planned to move forward with them.  One of the primary issues we decided needed to be addressed is the issue of promoting our industry!  If we don't do it, someone will.  Naturally this led us into a discussion about the IL Farm Families project and the Farm Moms blog.

Please check out the website at www.watchusgrow.org  I think some of the Farm Mom's stories can illustrate how their minds were changed regarding how farmers really treat their animals, and the differences between a "family" farm and an industrial farm.

Why I am a farmer

I am a farmer because I take responsibility for putting food on YOUR families' table as well as my own.  Yep, if I don't do my job, you don't eat.  Well, that's the gist of it at least.  American farmers are farming significantly less land today than 50 years ago, but producing so much more off that same land.  We have the smallest cow herd since the mid 1900s, but we produce more beef that ever before.  We have taken the responsibility to feed the world seriously, and we have stuck to it.

By the year 2050, the world's population will reach 9 billion people.  Many of the countries that are growing in size are also increasing their demand for protein.  We export 30% of the beef produced in the US, and 25% of the pork produced in the US.  Soy and corn percentages are also high on the export side.  We are truly feeding the world.

American's can take pride in the fact that US farmers produce the most abundant and SAFEST food supply in the world.  It certainly makes me feel better about what I am feeding my kids.

10.5 months and counting

Cannot wait to get back to Disney!  We are so excited to be able to go before Christmas this time.  I want a pair of Mickey ears with a Santa Hat.  I hope I can find that.  We also will get a chance to see some close friends that live far away!  Super excited for that, too. 

Speaking of Disney, I should point out that I love vacations.  Period.  So much fun.  I was just remembering our fun two-week honeymoon vacation to Scotland, England and France.  I was checking out some amazing pictures that my cousin took on Facebook.  Couldn't believe the gorgeous sights.  Just amazing.  Want to get the kids over there for a visit someday, too.  Once we are all out of the diaper, stroller, car seat phase, hopefully that will be easier. 

What are your travel tips for plane rides with kids?  We haven't decided if we are driving or flying to Disney.  Probably driving again, but we'll see.

I'm gonna do it this year

I have to do it this year.  I am going to get organized.  There, I said it.  It has to happen now.  I am grateful to Pinterest for their help in broadening my ability to find pictures of other people's organizing ideas.  I'm gonna do it this year.  My house will look like it stepped out of a Container Store.

Enjoying the ride

So, most of you who know me well would agree that I have trouble saying "no".  I volunteer for most things when asked (sometimes even when I am not asked), and attempt to attend all the events that pertain to the kids.  So, it comes as no surprise that I volunteered to participate in the IL Farm Bureau Grassroots Issues Team (GRIT) this year.  The question I get the most is, "Why do you make yourself so involved?".  My question back to these other people is, "Why aren't you more involved?". 

Being involved with any organization is vital to continuing your lifestyle, your profession, or your livelihood.  In fact, for farmers, it's not an option anymore.  Every single farmer should be out there doing something.  Even if it is posting something positive about agriculture on facebook, we should all be doing something.  The GRIT team that I am participating on is the Livestock and Dairy Team.  We are responsible for conceptualizing resolutions for the IL Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in July.  The time committment is small, actually, only a few meetings throughout the year.  One is a conference call.  The effect is that I can be part of the change that helps move agriculture foward. 

There is so much negative publicity that ag faces, we don't have the option to sit at home and be silent any longer.  Please consider being part of that change.  Maybe all you can do is talk to a friend, family member, or coworker about how important IL agriculture is, or maybe you can volunteer to serve on a committee for the Farm Bureau, IL Soybean Assn, IL Corn Growers, etc.  Assess all the things that you have at stake, and make a decision.  Agriculture is going to move forward.  American Agricuture is at the forefront of feeding the world's growing population.  We will feed 9 billion people by 2050.  Be part of the change that helps promote this exciting industry!