This past week at the daycare, the kids in my class were introduced to the world of dairy agriculture. While a dairy farm is just a small part of the agriculture world, it was the first time that many of the kids had been on a operating farm. We were able to visit my grandpa's dairy farm. The farm milks around 650 cows three times a day and fills a milk truck every day.
We got there around 1:30 (later than we wanted, but kids will be kids and take their sweet time). My grandpa met us outside our fifteen passenger vans and after a not-so-quick bathroom stop, we were off. The first place we headed was the milking parlor. What we didn't know was that one of our little girls was terrified of cows. We barely got her into the parlor because she was so scared. The next place we went was the bulk tank room. There the kids saw the two bulk tanks, each big enough to fill a semi trailer.
Well, next we headed to see the calves. We went to the maternity barn and found two calves in the holding pen. My grandpa went and brought one out for the kids to pet. When one little girl asked what her name was, my grandpa looked at the ear tag and replied "5196." The little girl got a skeptical look on her face and asked, "What kind of a name is that?!" Grandpa smiled and replied, "You can name her if you want to." The little girl smiled widely and said "Betsy!" Well, then everyone wanted to see more calves, so we went around the outside of the barn and saw one that was laying right by the gate that led to the outside alleyway. This one had been born a few hours before, so there was still afterbirth nearby. Well, the kids were curious and asked about it, to which I replied that that comes when any baby creature is born. Some found more interest in that than they did in the newborn calf.
From there we headed into one of the barns. The kids saw what the cows eat and where they sleep. This was interesting, so we went outside to the open side of the barn where the kids could get really close to the cows and see into the pen without having to look through the head locks. Well, the little girl that I mentioned earlier overcame her fear at this point and didn't want to leave. It was time to go to have a snack and get some coloring books and info. packets and then we returned to the daycare.
While it was a quick trip, it was a good one. I was asked as soon as I walked into work this morning if we could go to the dairy farm again. I have to say that it made me smile to know that these kids had such a good experience and I hope that it paves the way for these kids to have a positive outlook on agriculture. In a country where the contact that kids are having with agriculture is dwindling down to nothing, I'm so glad that I get to experience this introduction firsthand and see the world of agriculture through a child's eyes.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
A Little Life Lesson
I tend to think that my life is always crazy. Well, this past week (and my boss) have kindly given me a lesson and a lot to think about next time I start signing myself up to help with stuff.
As I've said before, I work an 8hr. day in a daycare. That in and of itself usually tires me out. However, for the past five years or so, I've helped with my church's vacation Bible school. That happened last week. After getting off of work at 6:00 (or around that time) I headed twenty minutes across town to the church that was hosting my church's Bible school while my church is under major construction. Once there, I spent two more hours with kids then got home around 9:00, went to sleep and was at work at 9:30 a.m. the next morning. That went on Monday through Thursday. That week was okay, but I was thoroughly ready for a break. I didn't get that.
This past week my church's youth group hosted it's own mission project here in town. My family is very involved in the youth group: my dad is a youth leader and my mom does a lot of the food coordination for big events. Well, my dad was out of town, but my mom was in charge of breakfast and supper for this project (at the same church as VBS). I got to help with that and with worship every night and some of the activities that were planned. Breakfast was served shortly after 7 each morning, so I was leaving home as early as 6:15 with my mom in order to get there in time to make the food. From there I left to go to work. At 6 p.m. I was driving back to the church to eat and run the computer for worship. I usually didn't get home til 10:30.
Everything was going okay until Thursday morning. I finished cleaning up the breakfast stuff with my mom and I swung by a gas station to get some chap stick. (The sun has been out strong and I sunburned my lips the day before; NOT FUN!) Well, I figured it would be a quick stop so I grabbed some cash from my wallet shoved it into my bag, opened my door, locked it, climbed out, shut it, and realized that my keys were in the car on the driver seat...
My keys, my cell phone, all of my stuff were locked in my vehicle, including the code for my keypad. I was around six or seven blocks from work, but I couldn't leave my vehicle parked at a gas station for eight hours. So I went in, found my chap stick, bought in, and in a cracking voice asked if they had a phone that I could use. I called my mom, who called a towing company to come and unlock it for me, then I called work and told my boss (also in a "just finished crying voice") that I would be late. Forty five minutes later I walked into work and my boss met me at the door. We talked for a while. "Things like this happen" "You took care of the over-time you put in" she said. But I went on to explain how busy I had been lately and how I was being stretched thin and how tired I was growing. She looked me in the eye and told me "God does not call us to do everything." The more I think about that statement, the more truth I find in it.
I over-committed myself and in doing so everything I was doing suffered. I need to second think things and start doing a lot more praying before I start committing myself to so many things. While I love to be involved, I need to things God's way, not my way.
When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." ~Erma Bombeck
As I've said before, I work an 8hr. day in a daycare. That in and of itself usually tires me out. However, for the past five years or so, I've helped with my church's vacation Bible school. That happened last week. After getting off of work at 6:00 (or around that time) I headed twenty minutes across town to the church that was hosting my church's Bible school while my church is under major construction. Once there, I spent two more hours with kids then got home around 9:00, went to sleep and was at work at 9:30 a.m. the next morning. That went on Monday through Thursday. That week was okay, but I was thoroughly ready for a break. I didn't get that.
This past week my church's youth group hosted it's own mission project here in town. My family is very involved in the youth group: my dad is a youth leader and my mom does a lot of the food coordination for big events. Well, my dad was out of town, but my mom was in charge of breakfast and supper for this project (at the same church as VBS). I got to help with that and with worship every night and some of the activities that were planned. Breakfast was served shortly after 7 each morning, so I was leaving home as early as 6:15 with my mom in order to get there in time to make the food. From there I left to go to work. At 6 p.m. I was driving back to the church to eat and run the computer for worship. I usually didn't get home til 10:30.
Everything was going okay until Thursday morning. I finished cleaning up the breakfast stuff with my mom and I swung by a gas station to get some chap stick. (The sun has been out strong and I sunburned my lips the day before; NOT FUN!) Well, I figured it would be a quick stop so I grabbed some cash from my wallet shoved it into my bag, opened my door, locked it, climbed out, shut it, and realized that my keys were in the car on the driver seat...
My keys, my cell phone, all of my stuff were locked in my vehicle, including the code for my keypad. I was around six or seven blocks from work, but I couldn't leave my vehicle parked at a gas station for eight hours. So I went in, found my chap stick, bought in, and in a cracking voice asked if they had a phone that I could use. I called my mom, who called a towing company to come and unlock it for me, then I called work and told my boss (also in a "just finished crying voice") that I would be late. Forty five minutes later I walked into work and my boss met me at the door. We talked for a while. "Things like this happen" "You took care of the over-time you put in" she said. But I went on to explain how busy I had been lately and how I was being stretched thin and how tired I was growing. She looked me in the eye and told me "God does not call us to do everything." The more I think about that statement, the more truth I find in it.
I over-committed myself and in doing so everything I was doing suffered. I need to second think things and start doing a lot more praying before I start committing myself to so many things. While I love to be involved, I need to things God's way, not my way.
When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." ~Erma Bombeck
Thursday, June 03, 2010
It's Summertime!!
Today feels like it was mixed up. My brothers got to go out to the farm to work heifers and I was watching 6-7 year olds all day! I have to say that I would have gladly switched places :) Oh well, I do love my current job.
I'm working in a day care this summer. I work with two other "teachers" and we have up to 25 kids in our class any given day. Since we've just started last week, the most we've had is 23, but still, it's a lot! They are crazy but I love all of them. They are all bright spots in my day, so I guess most of my days should be pretty good.
It's really crazy how fast some days go and how slowly others go. Man, I can't even remember what I did this morning because it went to fast! Oh yes, we had a field trip to Falls Park, which is Sioux Fall's Central Park. We had a lot of fun seeing the river and the cool scenery!
So how did a farm girl end up working in a daycare in the city? Well, the summer after my senior year, my grandpa decided that it was time that I worked in the 'real world,' aka working for someone who wasn't family. So, I set out on a job hunt! It wasn't something I enjoyed, but I needed a job. I wanted something that would give me experience in my area of interest: agriculture. Well, I asked around but nothing panned out.
One day I was talking to one of my friend's mom and she mentioned that the place where she taught preschool also had a school-age children's summer care ministry that was looking for one more person for the summer.I wasn't really enthused about 'babysitting' all summer, but I was in for a surprise! I interviewed with them and got the job. I experienced a lot of growth that summer and decided to go back if I was offered the job again. I was, so here I am today
Watching those munchkins may be exhausting, but I'm thankful for the opportunity and everything that I am learning while I am there. Hopefully I'll have a farm story soon!
P.S. My grandpa's horse had a colt last week! Now we just need a name!
I'm working in a day care this summer. I work with two other "teachers" and we have up to 25 kids in our class any given day. Since we've just started last week, the most we've had is 23, but still, it's a lot! They are crazy but I love all of them. They are all bright spots in my day, so I guess most of my days should be pretty good.
It's really crazy how fast some days go and how slowly others go. Man, I can't even remember what I did this morning because it went to fast! Oh yes, we had a field trip to Falls Park, which is Sioux Fall's Central Park. We had a lot of fun seeing the river and the cool scenery!
So how did a farm girl end up working in a daycare in the city? Well, the summer after my senior year, my grandpa decided that it was time that I worked in the 'real world,' aka working for someone who wasn't family. So, I set out on a job hunt! It wasn't something I enjoyed, but I needed a job. I wanted something that would give me experience in my area of interest: agriculture. Well, I asked around but nothing panned out.
One day I was talking to one of my friend's mom and she mentioned that the place where she taught preschool also had a school-age children's summer care ministry that was looking for one more person for the summer.I wasn't really enthused about 'babysitting' all summer, but I was in for a surprise! I interviewed with them and got the job. I experienced a lot of growth that summer and decided to go back if I was offered the job again. I was, so here I am today
Watching those munchkins may be exhausting, but I'm thankful for the opportunity and everything that I am learning while I am there. Hopefully I'll have a farm story soon!
P.S. My grandpa's horse had a colt last week! Now we just need a name!
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