Watch the lightening so far in the distance that you almost have to strain.And you hope against doubt that it's comin' your way cause man we really need the rain.

Went by the neighbors fields last night and it looks like a total loss.This farming business is like those Vegas dice,it all depends on the toss.

The corns so brown its burning up right out there in the fields.And there ain't nothin' you can do but whisper a prayer and hope that the good Lord hears.

And you watch the lightening so far in the distance that you almost have to strain. Then you hope against doubt that it's comin' your way cause man we really need the rain.

I've been reading so many blogs lately and have come to the conclusion that there are ALOT of talented writers here. So many in fact I 've started to wonder if I'm in the right place or not.Do they have like Blogging for beginners sites? Or maybe one of those Blogging for Dummies books? I will be the first to admit that I am below even novice level.Since I started this for the first time 2or3 days ago I am stickly amature. So why do I want to keep doing it? I guess to me it's like therapy but much cheaper than paying a shrink. So far I've written pretty much fluff stuff but thats o.k. too. I wouldn't jump right to the core of me with a shrink either. You'd have to start with the "So tell me about yourself" things first. But anyway back to the wonderfully talented people here. I really like Bipolar Girl. She's incredibly good,plus I like the fact that she knows she is and isn't afraid to admit it. I like hearing about E.M.Diesels life down on Railroad Street.LaLePop makes me think sometimes and laugh at others and frankly sometimes just leaves me scratching my head and thinking Huh? The President just cracks me up.He's a good writer and a jokester.There are so many others I've read and enjoyed and can't remember now who they were. One thing is for sure, since I've been here I have been entertained by some and made to think by others. So I'm going to hang around here awhile and keep on looking in on the lives of you all.

She is running strong and fast.
Her head is thrown back as the wind snatches the laughter flowing out of her and tosses it towards the heavens. As if it were a beautiful offering for God.
She is running free of effort and full of grace,each stride a fluid movement from one step to the next.
She is running with the joy and excitement of a child with no set destination.
She is running and the sun illuminates her body so that she is a glowing tribute to the joy of being alive.

I come from a pretty big family.There are seven of us"kids".Ranging in age from 42 to 60. We are a close family and have all always gotten along really good with each other. Well except sometimes as children but nothing we didn't grow out of. We still love each others company and spend as much time as we can together with all our combined families. Together we have 19 kids and 24 grandkids and we're all still married so when we all do get together it's a bit of a circus. This year we've been blessed with 6 new babies, all boys. I'm hoping next year I'll get my first grandbaby. We are the odd balls of the group with only one child and no grandchildren so far. What I love best about my family is that we are always there for one another. Sometimes you need to know that you can count on someone to be there that you can talk to and who will listen to you and not judge you and think your problems are trivial. And when it's a major problem, say a cancer scare or a marriage on the rocks or whatever your going through you know the whole family is there praying for you and willing to do what ever you need them to do. You've always got friends when you have family. Even as we all get older and life gets so busy we have to remember to make time for those we love and more important make sure they know we love them. It's so easy to pick up the phone and call your sister or your brother and just ask "How are you doing? Whats new in your life? I haven't heard from you in awhile and wanted you to know I love and miss you" It's easy to do that and it's also so easy to say I'm to busy right now I'll call tomorrow. But don't. Don't put it off. You never know how much they may need to hear it,how much it might brighten their day. Or if it may be the last time you ever have the chance to tell them. Take a look around and see who needs to hear your voice today. Then take another look around and you may see life really is grand!

I like being from a small town. My husband and I and live just outside a town in Iowa with a booming population of around 300 or so. I've always lived around here and it's a nice place to raise a family. You know the kind of place where no one locks thier doors and where you can leave your car running at the gas station and know that it will still be there when you come out or where you can tell your child yes she sure can walk the three blocks to her friends house by herself because you know she'll be looked out for even when shes turned the corner out of your sight. Safe. It's the kind of town where everyone knows everyone else. O.K. maybe thats not always so great because everyone also knows who is down at the tavern drinking every weekend and who bounced a check at the grocery store or who had to call the cops because thier spouse hit them. But you also know that when you need a hand, most of time you don't even have to ask.Because you look out for each other in a small town.You care if your neighbor broke his leg and needs help getting his corn harvested and you call a friend,who calls a friend and by the time the first frost comes his corn is out of the ground. Yup small town life can be grand.