Photo Friday: Something to talk about…

/ Sarah Thomas Cleveland / 1 Comment

Last weekend I took a little road trip over to Dayton to visit a friend and to see my other friend, Bonnie Raitt. So, I’ll give you something to talk about…you can’t choose your family but you can choose who you want your family to be. Without a doubt I will always choose and want these three ladies to be my family, to be my sisters. One really is my sister but if I had to choose I would still keep her and the other two are the next thing I have to sisters. These ladies have been there for me when I have needed it most. From chaperoning birthday parties, to doing my hair and makeup for prom, going to Vegas for my 21st, road trips, campfires and nights in the basement. They have been by my side during every new chapter of my life, experiencing life, death and all the things in between. I could sit and listen to them talk forever. They make me laugh, cry, question, and understand life. They are my friends and mentors. They are my sisters.

Me, Leslie, Katherine, Amy at the Bonnie Raitt Concert.

Photo Friday: I love front porch sittin’

/ Sarah Thomas Cleveland / 3 Comments

Last night during the much needed storm, I sat on my front porch and just listened to the rain.

I love the sound that it makes on our tin roof.

I love that our yard and pastures are slowly getting back to their old green selves.

I love the company of my dog, Ellie.

I love sitting in a rocking chair with my feet up.

I love front porch sittin’.

Too busy lovin’ my life

/ Sarah Thomas Cleveland / 2 Comments

Your mission: Be so busy loving your life you have no time for hate, regret, or fear.

I have been very busy lately! So busy that I have not had very much time to myself. Surprisingly I have been alright with this (I have to have some me time). All summer I was busy working at my internship every week day and loving it.

After finishing my internship I was busy attending my county fair to watch my favorite 4-Hers show their livestock and having conversations with some of my favorite farmers.

Next thing I knew I was meeting my mentor teachers for my student teaching placement. Lucky for me my school is close to the Indiana State Fairgrounds and I was able to attend the 2012 Ham Breakfast to kick off our great Indiana State Fair. That next day I volunteered for Habitat for Humanity representing Marion County Farm Bureau. I also worked for Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom later that day. It was a long and busy day but I loved volunteering and teaching!

I made it through my first week of student teaching. I absolutely love my school, I feel so welcomed and the staff is so supportive of me and the other student teacher interns. The students are awesome! Who knew I would ever love the 6th grade again!

After my first day of student teaching I headed over to the State Fairgrounds to watch the Grand Champion Drive. I love watching 4-H kids showcase their livestock! It’s a great way to show people how the ag industry cares for their animals.

This past weekend I visited Nashville, TN for a great family friend’s wedding. I loved that city and cannot wait to visit again. Of course I purchased a pair of boots. I may have an addiction to boots, but twenty years from now I’ll be so glad I got them!

To sum it all up, I’ve been one busy gal! I’m loving every moment of my busy life and have no regrets, except maybe the shoes I wore to student teach in yesterday!

Have you been as busy as me? Are you loving it or do you need a break? Either way I hope you are loving your life!

Photo Friday: Drought 2012

/ Sarah Thomas Cleveland / 2 Comments

The picture on the left was taken at the end of May and the picture on the right was taken at the end of July. I think this shows how severe this drought has been.

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I took this picture this morning. We were lucky enough to get some rain last night and the night before. The pasture is trying to get some color back but I know it’s going to be a while before its back to its old green self.

Please continue to pray for rain and for all the farm and ranch families who are having a rough year.

Because of Farmers

/ Sarah Thomas Cleveland / 4 Comments

“Consumers should understand the importance of agriculture and that they have the safest, most abundant and affordable food supply because of farmers.”

— Michael Scuse U.S. Department of Agriculture undersecretary

I think U.S. farmers are so unappreciated today. The everyday consumer is two to three generations removed from the farm. Many of them do not personally know a farmer, so they do not know how hard a farmer works to provide them with their needs. Because of farmers you, me, consumers are provided with food, fuel, and fiber that are our essential needs. We need farmers, we will always need farmers! Farmers HAVE to be the jack of all trades. They have to be a scientist, mathematician, marketer, environmentalist, veterinarian, student and teacher. If you are a farmer connect with your consumers or if you know a farmer introduce them to a consumer. Please educate yourself or try to educate a consumer. Correct those crazy misconceptions and stereotypes about agriculture and farmers. Farmers are professionals and because of you they get to do what they do best, provide you with safe, abundant, and affordable food, fuel, and fiber.

To sum it up, we need farmers and they need to be appreciated. I love farmers and I thank God for them every day. So remember if you ate today…thank a farmer, because you need them.

Our State Fair is a Great State Fair

/ Sarah Thomas Cleveland / 1 Comment

Today is the opening day for the Indiana State Fair. It’s the year of the Dairy Cow!

The state fair is a way to connect farmers to their consumers. It’s also a great way for farm families to showcase all their hard work and love for agriculture.

Please keep all those who were involved in the tragic accident last year in your thoughts and prayers.

I hope that you have the opportunity to attend the State Fair and connect with all the great people in agriculture!
Indiana State Fair dates
August 3-19, 2012

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A Teacher

/ Sarah Thomas Cleveland / 4 Comments

There’s a certain gal around these parts that might have been called that Queen of Hearts.

She’s always helpful in every way. Especially when there are bills to pay.

We are happy to know she’s on the procession and made up her mind to join a great profession. 

We know she’ll be happy and enjoy her work. As a teacher she never a duty will shirk.

The pay isn’t much. The bonus is none. But my what a feeling when each day is done.

To see each child grow from day to day is worth far more than compensation or pay. 

Remember you don’t teach math, music or art. You teach each child to better-live his part.

You may be a queen and God’s chosen Creature but it’s better by far to be called “A Teacher.” 

— Foster Thomas, a teacher

Today’s words come from my great grandfather, Foster Thomas, also known as Pap. He was a teacher for 47 years. He also liked to write poetry. This poem comes from his collection, “From Kreation to Kingdom Kome.” He wrote poems for his colleagues that retired or about teacher meetings and report cards. He was a great man and writer but most importantly he was a teacher.

Tomorrow I start my student teaching! I am “on the procession” to joining “a great profession.”  I will be teaching 6th grade at The Center for Inquiry Indianapolis Public School #84. I am nervous and excited to start this next chapter in my life.

Just as Pap wrote, I look forward to becoming a teacher so I can “teach each child to better-live his part.”

Photo Friday: Twenty years from now

/ Sarah Thomas Cleveland / 3 Comments

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

— Mark Twain

Twenty years from now I am going to be glad I bought these boots.

I’ll sum it up for you in my own words:

“So pull on those boots. Point them in the direction of the horizon. Walk away with your head held high. Scuff up your soles. Kick up some dirt. Live your life.”

Here’s to the next twenty years pulling on my new boots!

Hang on

/ Sarah Thomas Cleveland / 2 Comments

“When the road looks rough ahead, remember the man upstairs and the word hope.  Hang on to both and tough it out.” 

— John Wayne

If you know me well at all than you know John Wayne is one of my all time favorite people. I guess I have my Dad to thank for that! These words not only come from a Hollywood legend, but from a man who experienced rough times just like everyone.

These are definitely rough times and I have no doubt that there will be more to come. So during this drought and the rough times ahead I am going to continue to remember the man upstairs and have hope for my future and the future of agriculture. To sum it up, I’m going to tough it out!

Photo Friday: What is this?

/ Sarah Thomas Cleveland / 7 Comments

Tuesday night my Mom and I were sitting on the front porch and the most marvelous thing happened…

It started to RAIN!!!

Even better it was a good soaking rain! My Mom looked over at me and said, “What is this?” It had not rained like that since May. So we sat and we watched and we cried as the rain drops continued to fall. Our phone would not stop ringing and I yelled at my Mom for talking out loud about the rain because I thought talking about it would jinx it and then it would stop. But it didn’t, it kept pouring.

We got a half an inch Tuesday night. While that was certainly not enough to turn around this year’s corn crop, it was still very much welcomed. This year’s drought is starting to make history and I am beginning to think that it was sent to see what my generation is capable of in the agriculture industry. To see how we can handle all of what Mother Nature is capable of and to test our character. At some point we have to learn that there are things that we cannot control and we need to learn “that’s just part of it.”

I continued to sit there admiring the rain even as the wind started to blow it up onto the porch. I did not care to get soaked by the it. I welcomed it. I began praying to God, thanking him for this gift. I could hear the cows in the pasture begin to moo and I believe they were saying “thank moo” to God too.