Life lessons learned from Leontien

The power of one...

It is not every day that someone like Leontien enters one's life; however, I'm sure the impact she had on many of our lives will never be forgotten and her legacy will live on through everyone that knew her.

Before I met Leontien a few years ago, her reputation preceded her.  I had heard stories of her passion, zest for life, and determination to chase, meet, and exceed her goals and dreams and I was not disappointed once I met her.  There was just something about her that made you want to smile and fight harder for your own convictions.  She knew what she wanted and was willing to make it happen until that nasty C word entered her life not once, but twice, but even then she remained true to herself.  I never will forget the last time I visited with Leontien with my dear friend Cris from GOODEness Gracious.  Leontien would not sit down to visit with us until she made sure she had offered us something to drink and eat and also made sure we took home plenty of yummy chocolates to our loved ones.  She had a heart of gold.

In the spirit of her heart of gold and in honor of her 34th birthday today, many of her friends are doing a random act of kindness.

Now if I was truly being random, I wouldn't have put any thought into this, but since Leontien will always remind of the importance of hard work and planning, I wanted to make sure there was meaning behind my act of kindness.

Leontien came into my life as we shared a joint passion for agriculture.  Her love for her cows and her dairy could not be missed.  So tomorrow morning after I drop Big Sissy and Bubby off at school, Little Sissy and I will be delivering 34 gallons of milk to our local food pantry in memory of Leontien.

Miss you!

I'm back... at least I hope so

It's been a long time since I sat down to write.  I thought my summer funk was over, but then I realized today it has been more than a few weeks since my last post.  So I'm back and I hope it is for good this time. 

There hasn't been one specific reason that has kept me away, it just been a case of life with both ups and downs. 

My fellow farmwife and friend, Miss Leontien, was diagnosed with cancer again which is something no one should have to deal with once let alone more than once in a lifetime.

Today our church celebrated the life of our amazing priest who lost his battle with colon cancer last week. 

And My Aunt S who was diagnosed with leukemia this summer had a bone marrow transplant two weeks ago this Friday.  Although her recovery is going as planned, she has a long road ahead of her. 

So we've been distracting ourselves with several different activities. 

We've been busy with Big Sissy's fall soccer season

Bubby's first flag football season

Big Sissy's fall piano recital

trying out some new Pioneer Woman and Gooseberry Patch recipes

and the start of our family farm's harvest season.

Aunts ... a valuable treasure

I was blessed with 4 amazing Aunts as my mom had 2 sisters (Aunt S and Aunt B) and my dad had 2 sisters (Aunt T and Aunt D) and as the only niece or nephew on both sides of the family for 4 years I had a great time with those Aunts that only got better as I gained siblings (2 sisters and a brother to be exact).

I have fond memories with each Aunt as a child and continue to build new ones to this day.

I was the flower girl in both Aunt T and Aunt D's weddings.  The Farmer and I carried on this tradition as both of their daughters were the flower girls in our wedding.

Aunt D and I on her wedding day

I remember when Aunt D would take me to the farm after church to visit Uncle N in the milking parlor.  I can distinctly remember him putting down paper towels so I could sit on the steps to watch the cows.  (I couldn't have much more than 3 or 4.)  I also remember when Aunt D shrunk her most favorite wool Ralph Lauren sweater with a mallard duck on it.  It no longer fit her, but it amazingly fit me.  I remember when Aunt D bought back my first 4-H lamb from the auction.  (My dad wasn't too happy.)

I remember after Uncle C and Aunt T got back from their honeymoon.  They loaded up their tiny car in our front yard and drove off for Tucson, Arizona and have lived their ever since.  I remember riding the water slides at Indiana Beach with Aunt T when she came back to visit one summer.  When I started at Purdue University, I couldn't wait to buy Uncle C and Aunt T sweatshirts that said alumni and aunt/uncle and hand deliver them on my first visit to Tucson over Spring Break my freshman year.

Aunt T and I on her visit to Purdue

I remember when Aunt B bought me my first camera at age 5.  It was a Kodak disk camera, but I couldn't have been happier.  She taught me to love photography.  (This may be why I couldn't find any pictures of her and I for this post.  I know they exist, but they aren't in my possession.)  I remember when Aunt B used to take us shopping one-on-one for our birthdays and let us pick where we would eat in addition to shopping to our heart's content.  Aunt B inspired me to be a Martha Stewart.  Aunt B also taught me the importance of saving money and being wise with my money.  She used to love to play the stock market.  Aunt B left us almost 9 years ago.  Two weeks before my sister got married and a month before Big Sissy was born.  There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about her.

I do remember Aunt B taking this picture.

I attended preschool across the street from the elementary school where Aunt S taught.  On spaghetti days, I got to go across the street at eat lunch with Aunt S in the cafeteria at the big school.  Aunt S taught me how to play the flute.  She made me practice with coke bottles filled with water first and finally one day I actually got to play her flute and have played it ever since.  Aunt S taught me to love M&Ms and Fannie May chocolate.

Aunt S and I with the Bishop at my Confirmation in the fall of 1991.

I learned a lot from my Aunts and am still learning from all of them which I guess is what makes it even harder to know that Aunt S was diagnosed with leukemia last week.  She will visit with her doctor in Chicago tomorrow to develop her treatment plan, but it sounds like it will be intense.  She is a survivor as she has already beat breast cancer, but I would ask for extra prayers as we'll take all that we can get.  

The Reasons Why We Relay at this pig pen

Gramps.  Grandma Florie.  PaPau.  Aunt Barb.  Grandma H.

These are just a few of the people in our family that we have lost to cancer and one of the reasons our family participates in Relay for Life. 

Aunt San is another reason why we Relay.  She is a survivor of breast cancer and we Relay to celebrate her beating cancer.

Relay for Life is an American Cancer Society fundraiser that allows whole communities to work together to raise money to fight cancer and hopefully eliminate cancer one day soon by walking (or running laps in Bubby's case) laps around a track.  It truly gives those involved an opportunity to "celebrate, remember, and fight back."  Businesses, community organizations, survivors, and families that have lost loved ones to cancer form teams to participate in the event.  The event usually lasts for 24 hours and it is the goal that each team will have a representative on the track at all times.  Our family does not have our own team, but we are proud members of Cory's Crew. 

Cory is another reason our family participates in Relay for Life.  Cory was the son and grandson of family friends that was taken from all of our lives way too early.  In his few short years, he left quite an impact on the lives he touched.  Our oldest daughter was quite fond of Cory.  At age 5, she told us she was going to marry Cory one day and they would work with the pigs together.  When Cory got his angel wings, Big Sissy said it was hard for us, but good for him as he was now in heaven. 

Ultimately, our three children are the real reason we Relay.  As we can only hope that they will be able to live the rest of their lives without having any more people in their lives diagnosed with cancer.