Category: Love

Dear Mom…

Dear Mom,

Just wanted to say Happy Mother’s Day! And give a big THANK YOU for all that you do! Even though your title has been upgraded in the past couple of years to “grandma” and “mimi”, don’t think that you’re still not my mom, I’m sorry but you never get to lose that title with your kiddos!

2013-03-03_18-55-18_439

I wanted to say thank you for all that you’ve done for me. Since I was a little one you were always there to teach me and guide me into who I am today. And rest assured, I got caught for every bad thing I did, so there are no skeletons in this closet. I cannot however speak for any of my siblings on that subject (haha!) Growing up I could never think of you as anything but my mom, I never believed that you ever were a teacher for instance. But it all makes perfect sense now how much I can look back and see how much you have taught me.

2013-05-13_06-47-44_741

Life has been wild this past year for me. I found the man of my dreams and now we’re getting married! Can you believe it?! We bought a house and some land. And both of these situations all came with their own challenges and new sense of adventure. And you, you were right there all along the way to be the stable one. You have always been such a rock in my life. This new life we’re starting here only a few short miles and a dirt road from my homeplace, I hope it will be that same thing for our kids. A good place to call home.

2013-05-13_06-46-44_93

You don’t need me to tell you you’re incredible mom, because you do so much with humility and love, and you would do all the same things even if people never noticed or never said a word of thank you. But I hear just about every day how awesome you are, so your secret is out mom, sorry to tell you. You’re such an amazing woman who has built a wonderful home that all of us kids love to come back to. You’re a grandma that has shown us all again what a wonderful childhood we had growing up on the farm. I can see it when those little kids pull in the driveway and they can’t wait to run around, ride on tractors, help you bake cookies, or go on a walk to the creek. Thank you for all you have done for me, and all I know you will continue to do for everyone you meet.

2013-05-13_06-46-25_763

Love you tons!

Mimi, Grandma, Aunt, Sister, Daughter…My Mom!

112612_0253_3.jpg

The Barkdust Party

Who would have thought that “Barkdust” and “Party” would be in the same sentence??  Well as the saying goes, “Many hands make light work.”  So when the semi truck pulled up and dumped a full load of barkdust onto the farm…the phone calls started.  “HELP!!!  We have wedding barkdust to spread…can you make it?”

DSC02222Then the Cousins show up, then friends, then aunts, uncles, neices, nephews, grandpas, grandmas!DSC02226Even the Dogs came to help!DSC02231We had two wheel barrow lines up and running!DSC02253DSC02236And finally…the REAL reason everyone came to help…Grandma Clara Cinnamon Rolls!!!DSC02232DSC02261Until we can finally all sit back and look at all the work we’re accomplished!

DSC02260“It’s basically the Kirsch Family Farms equivalent of a barn raising!” -DadDSC02263DSC02264And from the Bride and Groom to be….THANK YOU FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!

DSC02257

Lots of Prayers this Christmas Season…

I had a friend post a blog last week that truly struck a chord with me. She was talking about how she had gotten up that morning, started to read some negative articles toward agriculture, and set in for a morning of trying to calm fears, and change misconceptions. Then she checked her phone and found some horrible news, you can read more about it on her blog by clicking here.

The part that struck me most is when she says, “This desire to help my friends isn’t unique to Rural America or Urban America.  This is a common bond we all have.  In times of need, we as American’s come together to help our friends and neighbors.” She encouraged us to look beyond the issues sometimes and focus on the fact that we are all people, we are all human. Then just the next morning I hear of the shooting in Connecticut at an elementary school. My heart sank, and prayers ensued for all those little kiddos, all the teachers, and all the families that are suffering. On top of that, add a mall shooting in my own state of Oregon, just 40 miles away from our farm earlier in the week. It’s awful, it’s terrible, and in the words of Chris Chinn I agree, that “In times of need, we as American’s come together to help our friends and neighbors”

It makes the problems that we face in farming seem small and insignificant for a time and be humbled by those who have lost their sons, daughters, moms and dads. The prayers are flowing in from everywhere and I know they appreciate that, but I can’t imagine how much it still hurts. My heart goes out to all of those who will have a much more sad Christmas this year than they ever thought possible. But as Robbie Parker, a dad of Emilie Parker (6 year old who was killed in CT), “Let it not turn into something that defines us, but something that inspires us to be better, more compassionate and more humble people.”

I know that this may seem like a strange topic for a farming blog, but sometimes you just can’t deny things that happen in your world around you, things that don’t have to do with slugs eating your crop, the rainy weather, or what issues ag is facing in the world today; but those things that truly challenge you to do just what Emilie’s dad said, inspire us to be better, more compassionate, and more humble people.

Mourners at the Memorial set up in CT