Day 1: 30 Days and 30 Reasons Why I Love Being my Farmer's Wife

In case you haven't heard me say it or seen my Facebook posts, my friend Holly rocks.  She's a mom, farm wife, writer, photog, believer, agriculture advocate, and friend.  Personally and professionally, she is one of my role models.  I wish I had half her talent, grace, style and faith.

For the past couple years, Holly has blogged to a theme during the month of November.  Last year, she featured farm families.  In 2010 she blogged about ag things to be thankful for. 

This year, she wants others to join in on her thirty day blogging adventure!  So...my theme, for my very limited readership, is 30 Days and 30 Reasons Why I Love Being my Farmer's Wife.

To kick the month off, I give you the first reason I love being my farmer's wife: Grandma Millie.  She's the tiny blond below.  My husband's Grandma Millie grew up on a farm in central Illinois, fell in love at 4-H camp, and married a farmer.  When she moved to our small town, her new mother-in-law told her she wasn't to be sitting around playing cards and drinking pop.

Instead, she worked in the fields and at home.  She often talks about tilling fields with an open tractor, taking care of lambs in her kitchen, going door-to-door collecting for the American Heart Association, and cooking huge hot meals for the "men."  She makes a great kuchen and an even better pie.  Grape pie is my favorite.

The changes she has seen in agriculture are mind boggling.  When I read or hear idealized views of the past, I think of her.  I can't imagine she would give up a heated seat or auto-steer for that open cab.  Nor would she give up the tools we use to manage the physical and financial risk we take each time we plant a crop.  She is our link to the past and a reminder of why our modern tools were developed in the first place.

My kids are lucky.  For most of their lives, they've lived a quarter mile away from their great grandma.  They've gone to church with her on Sundays.  They've gotten off the bus at her house every school day.  They've heard her stories, laughed at her jokes, eaten her cookies, and felt her love.

Our Grandma Millie - One of the 30 reasons why I love being my farmer's wife.

Stay tuned for the 29 other things I love about my life on the farm and 29 more things that converted this Sycamore girl into a small town girl:).

And, check out my friend Holly's blog and the list of the other 30 day bloggers at 30 Days on a Prairie Farm. 

Day One: Grandma Millie
Day Two: My Clean Car
Day Three: He's helped me be more flexible
Day Four: Our little church
Day Five: His Servant Heart
Day Six: Farmer Humor