Goodbye 2018

Dear Friends,

As today is the last day of 2018 I thought it only proper to hit on some of the great highlights I had in the past year.  I know lots of friends whom will be glad for this year to be over and a new one to start.  However life has taught me that you only get out of something what you put into it.  And yes I too have had my share of hardships and disappointment in 2018.  But more than that I have had the opportunity to be blessed with one more year with my family and friends and for the opportunity to let my lord and savior lead me.  One of my favorite songs is God Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts. And you know what he has always done exactly that.  Hardship brings us to blessings and life was never intended to be easy or you learn nothing.

2018 was my 25th anniversary with the love of my life and I am so proud of the life we have built together.  Looking forward to the next 25 years. And let me tell you I would never have believed you that time would go so fast but it has and I am very blessed that Gregg Sayer has been on this journey every step of the way with me.

Gregg and I now and 25 years ago with my parents

But now on to the good things and great highlights of 2018.  In January my son Dillon started his college career at Southeast Community College in Milford Nebraska where he is studying John Deere Diesel Technology.  He is sponsored by Landmark Imp. and his location is for coop study is Arapahoe Nebraska.  So I had many blessings and a few days of disorientation as I got used to my son not being home daily.  My first impression of the dorms and college when I helped him move in was OMG you could so easily have fit into a Military program.  The dorm room was probably last furnished and updated in 1950's and it looked like a grey prison.  3 boys were to share a room about the size of my dinning room.  But you know what he took it all in stride met some great kids and even was named the Outstanding Student of the quarter and made the Dean's List his first quarter.  His college is different than standard college layouts as it is broke into quarters and classes have finals as they finish the material.  Sometimes its only 2.5 weeks and he has a final over a subject.  And pass or fail determines if you continue the program.  So I am very proud of him.  He has just completed his 4 quarter over all and is still pulling a 3.5 GPA or a bit higher.  Dillon has matured so much and I am very blessed to have this wonderful young man as my son.

 Dillon Senior year

Dillon showing off Duelly

We had an amazing kidding season in 2018.  Yes it was very buck heavy but I'm proud to say that 4 of our bucks have found there way to herds of their own and that we had zero death loss.  I'm very proud of where our Nubian herd is going and that the hard work we have put into this herd is paying off.  I can see the advancements we have made and I am very excited to see where the future takes us.  We did try showing again for the first time in about 5 years and I'm excited to say one of our bucks Desert Diamond Duel Chances took 3 reserve legs at a 4 ring show in Iowa in early June.  We also had a great time at the Mo-Kan show in Sedalia Mo in May.  We took 2 does and some of our kids down to the show and DJ's Creek Claire Reese was the star of our program their placing first in 1 ring and 3rd in the other 2 rings.  She didn't receive a leg but she is only in her second lactation.  We had so much fun meeting people and learning more about the ADGA showing world.  Plus it was a great opportunity for Gregg, Dillon and I to go somewhere for the weekend and just enjoy being together.

 Duelly

Claire

 2018 kids

My daughter Amelia has had some very special moments in 2018.  The year started out with a broken pinky finger in Advanced PE in January.  This required several trips to and from Kearney for x rays to insure the finger was healing properly.  She attended her Junior prom with confidence to just go and hang out with a group of friends and not be stressed about having a date.  I was very proud of her and man was she beautiful.  Later in the summer she attended her last summer honors program in Holdrege with our ESU 11.  She studies art at this program and she had a blast rooming with one of her best friends Britt and making many friends from across the district.  And although art is just a hobby for her she did very well with 2 of her art pieces.  One I am proud to say hangs in my living room is and ink drawing of the city in lights.  It is three separate drawings meant to hang together of different images of NYC in old fashioned light bulbs.  I love it and she received best of show with it at our county fair in the open class.  She is currently half way thru her senior year and has decided to become a Physical Therapist.  She will be attending Wayne State next year and has received the alternate position in the RHOP program.

 Amelia Junior Prom

 Britt and Amelia

 City in Lights

Sammie

Gregg has been very busy with our auto repair shop in McCook.  Some days I think he lives there, but when you are booked 3 weeks out at all times it just shows that you have a wonderful client base and that you must be doing something right.  I'm not much help but to do the book work and I guess that's equal to being his support team.  I make sure that everything he does is billed out and the accounts payable are paid on time.  This has been a dream of his since he was a child and I am very proud to say he is doing a fantastic job of owning his own business.  And I have always known how much harder it is to be the owner than and employee, but this past year has really proved that to us.  We lost our extra mechanic in August and for the past 4 months we have maintained the business with just a few fill in employees and we are still doing fine.  You know there is a world of difference in where you sign your name on the check as to what amount of blood sweat and tears goes into that check.  Those whom sign on the back are getting what they were contracted to receive for the job they do.  Those whom sign the front must cover everything that needs done so that others may sign the back.  Its tough and some days overwhelming, but in the end its yours.

Tryston our nephew hanging at shop

I've also been blessed to have a large influence in my sisters children's lives this past year.  As she has went thru a divorce and the struggles that go with becoming a single parent.  I wish this on no one but if you marriage is bad then get that divorce and go on with your life.  No one has ever died from a divorce, but the mental stress of a bad marriage can destroy you.  So because this event took place in her life I had my nieces and nephew over to my house more and sometimes it was up to me to be the one to get them to and from important events.  I'm proud to say that the year went fairly well and that I have a very special bond with all 3 children.  I feel like I'm more than just Auntie, but that I'm the extra mom/dad support system they have needed and will continue to need for a while.  So yes its been hard but in the end the road has been blessed by God.

 Crystal

 Jadyn helping with her new calf

Kailee after scholarship interview

As you all know I am a very spiritual person and I believe with all my heart that my lord and savoir leads my path daily.  I'm blessed to be a part of a very small church that is still here even without a paid full time minister.  My husband is one of the 2 elders that leads us in worship during the month.  And we are the church in the community that is know for feeding the people.  This might seem like its silly but I get great joy knowing each 4th of July, Halloween, and Thanksgiving/Harvest Dinner that we are able to provide the community with a place for a meal and fellowship.  God is Great and the benefit plan is out of this world.  So may each of you be blessed by his love.

My parents have been in good health for the most part this past year.  My mom had a successful knee replacement in June and they are currently off to travel again for the second winter.  2018 they spent 3.5 months on the road seeing the southern (warm) state during our harsh winter here in Nebraska and they left on the 26th to spend 4 months this coming winter staying out of the cold.  I'm glad they have the health to do this and that the lifetime they spent working our farm has allowed them the freedom to do this in their retirement.

My parents traveling

May you all look back and count your blessing of 2018.  Not all years are meant to be forgotten.  Most are meant to be lessons with great memories for your future.  After all you cant change the past or future all you can do is live in in the present.  So may your present be filled with great joy and love.

Til we meet again,
Proud to be an American Farmer's daughter

Andrea Sayer

Long Break but I'm back

Dear Friends,

Thank you for being there for me when I couldn't be here for you.  I know its been a long 18 months since I last wrote to you.  However it was never because I didn't think you cared or that I had something to share, but sometimes life just gets in our way.  For me it was healing from my surgery and learning to balance my life and health to become a great mom and wife again.

Christmas 2017 My family

My husband and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary this year.  We took a dream vacation to New York to see the changing fall leaves.  One or two days in NYC is more than enough for anyone.  We saw the Broadway musical wicked and I loved it.  Then we spent several days driving in upstate New York and in Pennsylvania. I enjoyed seeing Amish country around Intercourse PA.  We also made it to Woodstock and I really enjoyed the museum of this moment in history.  The Hudson river was also another highlight.  However I can honestly say I am a country woman at heart and will always return home to my Deer Creek roots.

Dillon Senior Prom 2017

Our son Dillon has spent the year at Southeast Community College on the Milford campus studying the John Deere diesel technology course.  By October of 2019 he should graduate with a degree and then go into his internship with Landmark Corporation.  The branch he is working thru is in the neighboring town of Arapahoe.  He hopes to complete his internship and one day return to run the family farm.  I'm excited for him and a bit scared at the same time.  Farming is currently in a major crunch and I just pray that if this is the path for him we will have a family farm for him to return to.

Kailee and Amelia summer 2018

2018 is coming to a close and I'm proud to say that I am the successful mother of a senior in high school and the aunt to a wonderful senior in high school.  This has lead me to several college visits this past month and I'm amazed at just how much college has changed in a quarter of a century.  I'm also currently in sticker shock about how much it cost to get a degree in this country.  In my opinion you want to know what is wrong with is country start with the fact that somewhere society decided that as a parent you are responsible for your child's college education expenses.  And even if you don't plan on paying for it thanks to the FSAFA your child is penalized if you have a 2 income household and have ever made strides to own anything beyond your family home.  I was unaware that being a responsible adult would mean that my child could suffer the burden of extreme financial debt to reach the career of her dreams.

Amelia Senior 2019

Amelia wants to be come a Physical Therapist and return to rural america (Nebraska) to serve the small population of people that she grew up around. Yes the farmers and their families are where her heart lies.  Guess you can take the kid out of the country but you can't take the country out of your kid.  I am very excited to see her complete her dreams and we are working very hard to make this 7 year degree a real possibility. She has a excellent high school GPA of over 97% and received a 25 on her ACT.  I know she is not the top student applying to colleges but she is way above average. She has been awarded the RHOP (rural health opportunity program) alternate position to Wayne State College in Wayne Nebraska.  What this means in a nut shell is that she is the back up quarterback for this program and if at anytime in the next 4 years the student above her changes their career path or fails to meet the requirement to maintain the award she will become the RHOP representative and receive full tuition.  I have no problem with the idea that full tuition only covers classes and books.  I mean we all live and eat even when we are not in college so room and board are what you have a part time job and savings to get thru college without debt.  However I was unaware that a family that makes less than $80,000 a year (4 in house hold) would be responsible for up to $9,000 of assistance to the student per year.  America I think you need to rethink this and make college affordable to children so we have a generation of great people in our future.

Kailee Senior 2019

My niece has been offered several scholarships and I am very proud of her.  She is currently deciding where she will go to become a chiropractor and once she knows where life will take her I will update you all.  But the coolest thing I got to do with her was go to her interview at Baker University in Kansas this last month.

2019 will be her is a few days and I'm looking forward to enjoying 2 more graduates in our family.  Praying for all their dreams to come true and looking to become the best mom/aunt I can be for them all.  Yes I'm still raising Nubian dairy goats, helping run our family farm, and helping my husband operate our automotive repair shop as well.  But the last 18 months have taught me that work will always be there and if something happens to you your job will be filled before your funeral is over.  However, your family grows up and moves forward as life is supposed to happen and if you are too busy working that you miss out on the moments in your family's life then you can never get that time back.  So my wish for all of you in the upcoming new year is simple.  Take time to enjoy the life you are living now and stop living for the life you hope to have someday.

Until we meet again....Proud to be a American Farmer's Daughter
Sincerely
Andrea Sayer