Unlocking Your "Infinite Potential"

If you know anything about me ... you know I have a soft spot in my heart for FFA. If you're not familiar with The FFA Organization (formerly the Future Farmers of America), it is a youth career and technical organization designed to promote agricultural education and build the future leaders of America. And by the way FFA is NOT just for farm kids, it is for ANY student with an interest in food and life sciences!

Last week, all those great memories came flooding back as I attended the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis and served as a judge for the Ag Sales CDE (Career Development Event). I have served as a judge for this contest for the past four years.

I am truly inspired by some of the young people that I meet at Convention every year and I have a mad amount of respect for state and national officers. When I was a senior in high school, I seriously considered  running for state office. But in Ohio, you have to take a year off of school and I was too anxiuos to begin my freshmen year at Purdue to hold it off any longer. I would like to assume that I would've even been elected as a state officer way back when, but the competition in Ohio (like many other Midwestern states) is pretty brutal. Happily though, my BFF in high school ran for state office that year and became the first person from our chapter to serve on the state team. Couldn't have been more proud!

In fact, many of my favorite memories in FFA I share with my BFF. We used to joke that we "ran things" at our chapter, especially our senior year. We planned numerous events, encouraged our chapter to compete in as many district and state contests as possible and overall really wanted to improve our chapter in every aspect. I especially enjoyed our work in the Parliamentary Procedure competition, Ag Sales CDE, where we created and sold farm animal candies and of course the Dairy Judging Team!

I remember when we attended State Convention in Columbus and National Convention in Kansas City and Louisville ... we used to take our makeup compact (pre-Mary Kay mind you!) and use them to scope out cute boys in the rows seatedbehind us.

Or how about the year we hosted a Halloween bonfire at my house and had our good friend dress up like a gorilla and jump out of the woods to try to scare everyone. I even rocked out the boombox with scary music to build up anticipation for the scare! Bahaha!

I have great memories of the year we attended the Washington Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. together. During the event, the facilitators handed out these neat skeleton keys to each of us - the key to unlocking our potential. Honestly, at that very moment - I made a decision to stay in the agriculture industry because I believed I could make a difference.

I still have this key on my keychain. It's been on my keychain now for about 12 years.

It's an amazing thing - when someone reaches out to YOU and says YOU can do anything you set your mind to - YOU can make a difference. YOU are a leader. In some way, I hope I have been able to inspire others and for the rest of my life I hope to educate others even in the smallest way about the agriculture industry.

Ahh FFA makes me happy and it reminds me of the impact it made on my life in high school and continues to make on my life today. If you'd like to learn more about FFA, visit http://www.ffa.org/

One of those Sundays you'll never forget ...

You know when you've found a place that you just feel like you belong to instantly when you walk in the door. Or a person that you meet and instantly you know you're about to become great friends. That is exactly how I feel about becoming a mission disciple at Cross of Grace Lutheran Church.

To be honest (I'll admit it) ... to me, church has always been more of an obligation than it was something that I ever used to look forward to. That was until I moved to central Indiana and attended a service at Cross of Grace. There is something really special about the people of Cross of Grace, sometimes I feel like I'm just being wrapped up in one big hug with them. I love the music, the message of the sermons and the relaxed atmosphere. I am so excited to explore my relationship with God, grow my faith and discipleship and meet more members at our new church - our new family at Cross of Grace.

A special service for a special little girl on Oct. 17, 2010

Yesterday, our baby girl - Reagan Raye - was baptized at Cross of Grace with our family and Reagan's godparents there to support us. Reagan was such a good little girl - she slept through the entire service until .... Pastor Mark begin to place the baptismal water on her head, but even then she only let out one small peep, a squeak and then she went back to sleep for the rest of the service. Bless her little heart. She is and will always be a child of God. I can't wait til she's old enough to attend Sunday School and sing verse after verse of "Jesus Loves Me-" so precious!

A professional photographer and member at Cross of Grace volunteered his services during Reagan's baptism on Sunday to take a few photos of the event. Here are just a few!

P.S. I had Reagan's christening dress custom made by a sweet lady who works at my office. She did such an awesome job!

That Crazy Little Thing Called Love

Boy meets girl at a local establishment in college.

Boy gets girl's phone number.

Boy loses number.

Boy gets number from girl's friend for the second time.

Boy loses number, again.

Boy sees same girl in same bar and gets girl's number for the third time.

Boy waits seven whole days to call girl.

Girl has already moved on ... but picks up the phone anyway.

Girl has NO idea who the person talking on the other line is as it sounded like some boy named Alex. Girl meets lots of different people on campus.

Boy and Girl have very awkward conversation as a result of name confusion on girl's part.

Finally Girl asks who is on the phone ... girl hears "Dallas" and it all starts coming back to her.

Boy and Girl set up the first date. Girl is now excited.

Boy and Girl go out for dinner and have an "Ok" date. No fireworks or love at first glance for either.

Girl decides if Boy doesn't call back for second date, she won't call him. Surprisingly, Boy calls for the second date and the Girl agrees. Second date goes MUCH better. The two don't actually have a TON in common, except they're both farm kids and have big dreams and ambitions for the future.

Opposites attract.

Boy and Girl decide they LOVE each other and become exclusive. 10 months after their first date, Boy proposes with a diamond ring. Girl accepts with tears streaming down her face.

Boy and Girl make a committment in front of God and their family to love each other forever on Oct. 15, 2005.

Boy and Girl welcome first child, a baby girl to the family on July 31, 2010.

Boy and Girl celebrate 5 wonderful years of marriage today.

Boy and Girl love each other more with every day.

(Boy and Girl have had their fair share of challenges. No marriage is perfect. But it's how you conquer those challenges (with a little help from up above) that helps make the marriage stronger.)

A great love song from the legend Anne Murray ...




The first dance for Big D and Meggie by George Strait ... (this version is from one of our favorite all-time films Pure Country)

Secret Weapon For Sleep Deprived Mommys

My baby girl is now 10 weeks old and the most she sleeps at night is about five hours ... total. I can't seem to get the little munchkin to conk out until about 1 or 2 a.m. - it appears she is a night owl like her mommy was in college. By the time I have to wake up in the morning I am exhausted. It's a darn good thing she is so stinkin cute!

So ... when you get 3 to 5 hours of sleep every night - your body starts showing you the dreaded signs of sleep deprivation. Besides the actually doozing off at my desk at work, the other big sign is dark circles under my eyes ...eek!! (and no I am not posting a pic!)

However, this is one thing I can solve pretty easy with the combination of three awesome products .... The Secret Weapons for Sleep Deprived Mommys (or really anyone for that matter - except dudes - they dont' get to use this "weapon!")

Eye Revitalizer

This power-packed serum contains an exclusive blend of ingredients specifically formulated to address the multiple causes of dark circles and undereye puffiness. And plus the cooling sensation really helps "wake" me up in the morning.

Concealer

This award-winning concealer REALLY works in concealing those dark circles and imperfections in my skin. It's as if no one ever knew I had any dark circles at all!

Facial Highlighting Pen

The special light-reflecting pigments in this product optically “lift” the shadowy areas of your face. Instantly your skin looks brighter, your tone more even and your face more radiant. This easy-to-use, supersheer formula can be reapplied throughout the day to keep you looking refreshed and natural. I have to say this is one of my favorites that I use in addition to the concealer every morning so as to appear extra bright and cheery when my body says "Seriously, 3 hours of sleep, really?!"

So next time you wake up in the morning, know that you don't have to live with those icky dark circles, they can be completed concealed and no one will know except you and your secret weapons!

High Fructose Corn Syrup Getting a Bad Rap!

As I was sitting at my desk last week getting caught up on my 1,000+ unread emails (as I've just returned from a 9-week maternity leave)  ... I got the munchies for something sweet and salty. So what could be tastier than some Planters Trail Mix! As I opened the nommy snack bag, I noticed a big yellow label on the bag that said NO HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP. My first reaction ..."what on Earth is wrong with High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)?" And no ... I promise I haven't been living under a rock, I am completely aware that there has been a considerable amount of confusion on whether or not HFCS is "unhealthy" for consumption. Recently, I read that nearly 55 percent of Americans list HFCS among the top of their food safety worries right behind Mad Cow Diseease and mercury in seafood.

Are you SERIOUS?? Click here for the full article from the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Well how about I give my two cents worth on the issue for what it's worth. And full disclosure here - I am absolutely no expert on this issue. But I am a farmer, a wife, a journalist and a new mommy, as well as a consumer of food just like you.

Here are a couple quick items about HFCS:
-It is a sweetner made from corn and used as a substitute for sugar in many processed foods and beverages including soda and fruit juice.
-It is recognized as a safe and natural product by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA recognizes it as "natural" because it is made from a vegetable product.
-It contains the same number of calories as table sugar and is very similar in composition, as both contain approximately 50% glucose and 50% fructose.

Let's talk candidly about one of the biggest claims made against HFCS ...
Obesity and diabetesThere are studies that are beginning to pop up linking HFCS as a cause for obesity and diabetes. According to the American Medical Association, "it appears unlikely that HFCS contributes more to obesity or other conditions than sucrose," but the group has called for further independent research on the subject. The reality of the matter is that there is very little scientific evidence to suggest that HFCS is responsible for people becoming obese. In my opinion, overconsumption of fast food and sodas, as well of a lack of physical activity is to blame for obesity. HFCS should be taken in moderation, as well as anything else that we put in our bodies.

In fact, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has indicated that per capita consumption of HFCS is actually on the decline, yet obesity and diabetes rates continue to rise. In fact, obesity rates are rising around the world, including in Mexico, Australia and Europe, even though the use of high fructose corn syrup outside of the United States is limited. Around the world, high fructose corn syrup accounts for about 8% of caloric sweeteners consumed.

It's not natural

Some folks claim that HFCS is not a natural product or that it contains DNA from genetically-modified corn. The reality is that HFCS is made from good old fashioned corn. The corn that my family raises on our farm. High fructose corn syrup contains no artificial or synthetic ingredients or color additives. And while the corn used to produce high fructose corn syrup may have been produced using genetically enhanced corn, existing scientific literature and current testing results indicate that corn DNA cannot be detected in measurable amounts in high fructose corn syrup.

Table sugar is betterWhile there are claims in about every direction on this front, it makes sense to me that honestly high fructose corn syrup is nearly identical in composition to table sugar — both contain approximately 50% glucose and 50% fructose. Sugar and high fructose corn syrup have the same number of calories as most carbohydrates; both have four calories per gram. Because they are nearly compositionally equivalent, the human body cannot tell the difference between high fructose corn syrup and sugar.

Again, I am of the opinion that whether you're eating a tablespoon of beet/cane sugar or a tablespoon of high fructose corn syrup, it is still a version of sugar and is NOT healthy in large quantities. For me, I'm not going to go out and eat an entire bagful of a healthy snack instead of one bite of a more sugary snack. Or I'm not to going to have one Big Mac meal at McDonald's and count that as the only caloric intake for my day. How about a nice balanced breakfast - I'm thinking a banana and SmartStart cereal with antioxidents, then a turkey sandwich on wheat with strawberry yogurt for lunch and chicken faijitas and rice for dinner.

Listen, I believe that consumers should make educated food choices based on the information that is provided. But in this case, I feel that misinformation about High Fructose Corn Syrup is spreading more rapidly than we can control. I wanted to take an opportunity to give HFCS the time of day because in the end it provides another market for the corn that we produce on our farm. And as you know, farming isn't always easy and we can't predict what the markets are going to do on a daily basis. But if America stops using HFCS in food and beverage, this is going to take a heavy, heavy toll on American farmers and I sure hope it doesn't come to that.

Remember, moderation is key - just read the labels and be aware of portion size. Keep your family healthy by providing three balanced meals a day and encourage physical activity everyday for not only your kids but for you too!

~Meggie