Pinke Post

The Pinke Post has MOVED!

2013-03-23T10:09:00.001-05:00

Find my new blog here! Please change your settings and subscribe here so you don't miss any updates.

Pin It

5 years of blogging: Things are changing around here...

2013-03-12T23:15:00.001-05:00

The looks have been many of this blog for the past five plus years. Any creativity was first created by sister using the many photos I have shared from our prairie life and family. But things are going to look different around here soon. I wanted to give you the heads up that change is coming. As we switch from Blogger to Wordpress, self-hosted. If you aren't a blogger that means nothing to you but if you are, you understand.

A look back

Basically, my blog is going from renting space from Goggle to owning my own home on the internet. Goggle even sent me an email today saying they had "released" my domain and transferred it.

With change, comes reflection. I am proud of where this blog has taken me over the past five years but it is time for a new chapter, just like I am now taking in my career. My blogging will continue. With me at home instead of commuting, you can expect more content than the past year. But the look will be different and behind the scenes for me things will be improve greatly.

As I launch into consulting work, I will share my other internet home, a business related website. But this blog will remain focused on family, food, farming, prairie life and...living 97 miles from a Starbuck's.

Thank you, loyal readers. Hang on tight for the ride. We will be back with a fresh look very, very soon!

Pin It

I am so "wifey"

2013-03-11T15:07:00.005-05:00

As my husband and I contemplated the positives and negatives of me changing my routine and career, I blurted out one night a few weeks ago to him, "I promise I will be so wifey!" He smirked and said, "Wifey? That sounds disrespectful."

And then I explained "wifey" to him.

I haven't been the traditional wife that my mother, grandma or mother-in-law probably have been. I have not been even the wife that many of you working moms and wives have been. I have been a loving, loyal, honest and trustworthy wife. I have always kept the vows we exchanged. But I am the wife that has left early in the morning and come home at night. I have been the wife that travels, calling my husband in tears when I have travel delays or am driving home through a snowstorm. My dad used to be a small business owner before he was a full time farmer. He traveled and worked like my career has been. I am very much like my father, whether I choose to admit it on a daily basis or not. I have cooked. I have picked out the kids outfits each work night or laid them out ahead of my business travel. I have started laundry and rarely finished. I can count the times on my two hands that I have gotten on my hands and knees and washed floors. I run fast and hard throughout most days. It doesn't seem very "wifey" to me.

But as I explained to my husband with my "leap of faith" career change, I am choosing to be home. I am choosing which consulting projects I take on, how many hours I want to and can work, while still having time for all our children's activities, events and doing things as a working mom I craved to do daily that seemed more "wifey" to me like make lunch for my husband when he stops home, take the girls to the lake on a weekday, play at the park with no deadlines, drive to track meets on weekdays in the spring to see Hunter compete without wearing a dress suit and high heels, spend days at the farm with the kids, my parents and grandparents and I told Nathan I will even organize, clean and possibly put away laundry. That will make me so "wifey".

I want to allow time for him to grow our business, not feel pressure about my schedule, when he needs to get the kids to one activity or if I have thawed something out for supper.

It's my turn to worry about some of the things he has been doing for me in our marriage for the past six plus years.

After my "wifey" rant/ explanation, my husband smiled and agreed I can be "wifey" now.

But the truth is, he married me as a career woman. He doesn't know me as anything else. We met on an airplane eight years ago this summer. He has never known me as a stay-at-home mom or wife. He has to be a little nervous, whether he will admit it or not, to see what I turn out to be in this new chapter of life. He is still encouraging me to expand my speaking engagements, to continue with my communications consulting while not missing the moments I have longed for at home with our family.

So today...on my first day home, I debuted my "wifey" skills, by having his favorite steak sandwiches ready to go when he came for lunch. The recipe is from The Pioneer Woman. I've made it for years, even in cast iron over a campfire. I know beef is an easy way to win a man's heart and I definitely sealed my "wifey" debut today with this lunch. Nathan was surprised, delighted and said, "You don't even have to rush off to a conference call now!"

Steak Sandwiches

While I sort out the rest of my "wifey" roles, I am taking on a couple projects, cleaning out, renewing relationships and spending more time with my kids. I scheduled Miss A for her pre-school screening today and filled out forms for all the kids to get passports. I even made our bed. How wifey of me.

Day One at home this morning on the North Dakota prairie. I showered!

I might not look like a traditional wife, but being wifey is a term I am very comfortable owning and living out in this life new chapter.

Pin It

Taking a leap of faith: Mommy quit her job

2013-03-09T11:25:00.003-06:00

Our youngest two children have been sharing their secret around the prairie, in the only two places they know to share: at daycare and pre-school. "My mommy is going to quit her job! But it is a secret...", was Miss E's version she told some friends. "No moah Bizmahck" (No more Bismarck) was Miss A's breaking news.

Then I walked in the door on Thursday night and Miss A came running to me to, "No moah Bizmahck!" and Miss E said, "Is it not a secret anymore that you are quitting your job, Mommy?" said Miss E.
I replied, "Nope!"
Miss E piped up, "Good. Because I told my teacher today."

It is true. I quit my job this week.

Farewell as I left the Capitol after turning in my resignation

After much angst and analysis, my husband and I decided that it was time to make a leap of faith. The list is long on why I chose to make this decision now. First, I am going to address the family aspect and at a later date maybe I will dig deeper into the longer list.
First and foremost, I am a mom and wife. I have been a mother for going on 16 years. Motherhood has been apart of my entire adult life. At the end of my earthly life, I want to be remembered for the difference I made in the lives of people in my community, state, country and even around the world but I want to be remembered most importantly for the impact I had in the lives of my children and family.
Continue reading »

Call to Action: Sensible School Lunches Act

2013-03-02T12:03:00.002-06:00

You might remember that last August I blogged about our son was going to be hungry in school due to the new limits on calories, protein and dairy in the school lunch and breakfast program. I proposed School Lunch Solutions.

Within the days of schools starting across the United States, thousands rallied and contacted their elected officials that their children were not getting enough food in school. A small group of friends created Sensible School Lunches on Facebook. There was a grass roots effort that has worked tirelessly over the past 7 months to create change and sensible solutions for all children in the National School and Breakfast program, not a one size fits all approach.

In December, the USDA released some "changes" to the program but really it was a public relations splash which I again blogged about here.

I contacted elected officials along with numerous friends in other states. We wrote letters to the USDA but the best approach that seemed to be working with our Senator's offices. I sent links to the Health aide from Senator Hoeven's office that included fellow North Dakota friends input such as Val Wagner's blog posts, Annie Carlson's blog posts and again to the Sensible School Lunches Facebook page. I also spoke to the Health aide from Senator Hoeven's office on the phone and shared with her specific examples our son, Hunter was experiencing with lack of calories in his school lunch.

Part of our future, Hunter, age 15

Today I received a Facebook message from a friend in another state that has been working tirelessly to create change and sensible solutions in school lunches. This week, the Sensible School Lunches Act (see link for the bill) was introduced by North Dakota Sen. John Hoeven, Arkansas Sen. Mark Pryor, Kansas Senators Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts, Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe, South Dakota Senator John Thune and Indiana Senator Dan Coats. I included links to every Senator that introduced the bill because we need an army of people now to contact them and if you are not from their state, contact your own elected officials and ask them to support Senate Bill 427 the "Sensible School Lunch Act" which would amend the Healthy, Hunger-Free Act by eliminating the weekly maximum of grains and meat/ meat alternates. AND ask them to remove the daily one size fits all calorie restrictions.

This matters to children that are different sizes, like our son Hunter who was interviewed for this national Associated Press article. He needs nearly 5,000 calories a day to maintain his weight. We have disposable income and can adjust to afford to have him bring extra food to school.

But for the 67% of children nationwide that qualify for the free and reduced lunch program, they are going hungry because of the ONE SIZE FITS ALL calorie restrictions.

Part of our future, Miss E, age 5

Our children need to be fed to learn. They are our future. Act today. Whether you have children this impacts or not, our future generation needs you to engage and share your voice.

Contact your two Senators from your state. (Link to email addresses)
Contact your elected U.S. House of Representatives official. (Link to directory of email addresses)

Would you like to the Sensible School Lunches Act pass? Share your voice.

Pin It

When Life Hands You Double Overtime...

2013-02-27T11:00:00.005-06:00

Our Mustang senior and star, Michael Jacobson. He is a tremendous role model and leader.

When life hands you overtime, you can either dig in and work harder or quit. When give everything you have to get back to where you wanted to be, you can head to double overtime. But then you have to dig deeper than ever before to find a way to achieve your goals, to win.

The season has not been all smiles. There have been ten losses, six coming in the first seven games of the season. We have had diversity and diversions including an injury to our top player, who is a senior and late season ending injury to another senior player.

The boys learned there will always be critics, those that would rather see you fail than achieve success. But the boys never stopped believing. They never took their eyes off the goal.

Often during games, feeling helpless in the bleachers, I have recited Hebrews 12:1 in my head,
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.."

Could this team throw off everything that easily entangles? Would they run with perseverance the race marked out for them?
Continue reading »

It is not the critic who counts...

2013-02-23T06:00:00.000-06:00

This season of basketball for Hunter has been full of lessons learned, losses, disappointment, defeat and then the display of tenacity and toughness of the team to turn around and win. Last week in the semi-final game of the district tournament, they lost a very close game on free throws at the end of the game, after leading the entire game. The team that beat them went on to win the district championship.

But the next late afternoon, our team played again. It was the loser out round. They won less than 24 hours after being defeated. This coming Monday afternoon, our team will play in the regional tournament quarterfinal. It's a must win game. I feel victory coming our way.

I haven't been organized enough to download the hundreds of pictures I took during the games, I found this picture of Hunter from a couple years ago. He has felt defeat before, learning to keep going and win.

Like the games I watch as a fan and mom in the stands, I feel defeat at times in my working life versus personal life balance. I struggle to find the best solutions. I am my own worst critic. As I see Hunter playing basketball, whether in defeat or in the glory of winning, I see my life flashing before me. I know I have not been defeated. I have won in the game of motherhood and it fills me with the greatest joy and earthly reward.

16 years ago, I was pregnant with Hunter. I have only known my adult life as his mother. The longer I sit bleachers this winter, the more I analyze my life as his mother it seems.

He will never remember what my job title has been. He cannot tell the difference in my paycheck from when he was five years old to today. But what he does know is that I, along with my husband, his sisters and generations of family are sitting in the stands in support of him. I have won. He has won. We have won. In the game of life.

But I think Theodore Roosevelt says it best.

Source

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. (1910)

"...the man who really counts in the world is the doer, not the mere critic-the man who actually does the work, even if roughly and imperfectly, not the man who only talks or writes about how it ought to be done." (1891)

"Criticism is necessary and useful; it is often indispensable; but it can never take the place of action, or be even a poor substitute for it. The function of the mere critic is of very subordinate usefulness. It is the doer of deeds who actually counts in the battle for life, and not the man who looks on and says how the fight ought to be fought, without himself sharing the stress and the danger." (1894)

Who is the critic you need to overcome to find your balance, victory or happiness?

Pin It

Hot Bruschetta Dip Recipe

2013-02-15T23:00:00.001-06:00

I love the opportunity to have friends and family over for conversation and fun. But low key entertaining is my style. I make a wide variety of recipes and dishes that take limited time preparation. I experiment, sometimes with great success and other times with mediocre results. Failures are not documented and rarely admitted to. I called Leah of Beyer Beware when I was hosting a large dinner party that was going to be a pasta buffet. But I wanted her ideas for an appetizer. She said "How about a hot bruschetta dip recipe?" Sometimes you need a friend to give you fresh ideas to change up your recipes a bit!

I found this recipe and have made variations of it a few times. You need:

2 chopped Roma tomatoes

1 small onion, finely chopped (this gets very strong so really, keep it small)

1-3 minced garlic cloves

1 TBSP chopped fresh basil

1 tsp chopped fresh parsley

1/4 cup olive oil

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1 8 oz. Brie cheese round

Crackers and chopped raw vegetables for dipping/ spreading

Mix tomatoes, onion, minced garlic, chopped basil, parsley, olive oil, salt and pepper to taste in medium bowl. Cover and chill for at least one hour but overnight is ideal.

Microwave Brie on serving dish for 1 minute or in oven for 4-5 minutes at 325 F, until melted. Immediately spoon tomato mixture over and serve with crackers, breads or vegetables.

This has been a big hit at our house. I had numerous requests from friends for the recipe. Now, you all have it. Go ahead, be a entertaining superstar hero with this Hot Bruschetta Dip recipe. Enjoy!

What is an easy appetizer recipe you enjoy? I always need new ideas!

Pin It

Love your choice

2013-02-14T06:30:00.000-06:00

Almost every night my husband and I have approximately 3-4 minutes that we talk to each other that doesn't involve schedules, business or some other pressing issue. Then I am so exhausted I have to go to bed. Often it is when Nathan is grinding coffee and setting the coffee maker timer to go off early the next day for me. It's a little gift he does for me daily. Earlier this week we were talking schedules, the heartbreak we have seen this week as we watched friends say good-bye to their dad, how short life is, then Valentine's Day came up and we ended up on relationships.

Now my husband has a blog rule that has stood around here for five years. You might know it. "No mushy stuff on the blog."

But it is Valentine's Day and I am a rule breaker.

Nathan said to me, "First you fall in love. Then you have to love your choice."

His simple words were profound to me.

I am so thankful this sweet little boy grew up into a man...

and fell in love with me...

A Food Choice Mom

2013-02-11T22:51:00.000-06:00

Reading headlines, articles friends share, working in both the private sector of agribusiness as well as the public sector of agriculture policy while being from a 5th generation family farm I have come to claim my space as a food choice mom.

A food choice mom? Does that mean I let my kids choose whatever foods they want to eat? While they might love the idea for a few days, my kids do not eat whatever they want, whenever they want. That's not being a food choice mom.

So God Made A Farmer, Thank you Dodge.

2013-02-03T21:40:00.000-06:00

It's Superbowl Sunday. You must be celebrating whether you love football or not. After all, it's a reason to get together with friends and...eat bacon wrapped goodies. Unfortunately, we missed the Superbowl Sunday memo and instead have received Stomach Flu Sunday at our house.

Not ideal.

First it was Miss A. Then it was Miss E.

But tonight I turned on the television to watch a few Super Bowl commercials as things were settling down finally. After getting supper ready for tomorrow in the kitchen I looked over to the television to see this playing on the television...

A big brand spent millions for a two minute television spot about farmers and to donate money to FFA. I have a fondness and appreciation to the blue jackets of FFA. Our son is learning tremendous leadership in FFA.

What is behind the blue jackets

After watching the commercial, I feel like there is more hope in the world. Hope for agriculture, for family farmers, to feed a growing population, to connect everyday Americans to where their food comes from and to build a greater connected community for agriculture in America.

I work daily and share in social media, write, speak and try to engage, listen and respond to order for there to be a sixth generation on our family farm in the future. I know more and more Americans are removed from farms. Americans that have questions about our farming practices, or how farmers are stewards of our animals and of the land that has been in our family for generations. Some might think we are hiding something. Others think we need to go back to the way our ancestors farmed.

Our family's North Dakota wheat field

But tonight I can find peace and sleep with Paul Harvey's voice in my head. It speaks to me, to our family and not only to me but to all Americans. I know that because I watched my social media feeds explode with positive responses to the commercial.

It was the best Super Bowl commercial ever many said. It was advertising at its best. As the daughter of farmers who once owned an advertising agency, I am a tough critic. But if this is the future of advertising, messaging and brand building, maybe I should not be so worried about the future of my children having a chance to farm someday. Maybe I have had too little faith in my fellow American citizens. Maybe we can come together to build an America that is still rooted in the land, in growing our food and marketing the abundance to a growing, global population.

So God made a farmer. Anything is possible. Thank you Dodge Ram for reminding me of the world of possibilities and for encouraging a community of agriculture that believes in the land, in rural and in America.

And thank you to my family, for instilling in me, the love of and appreciation for our family farm.

My 88 year old farming grandpa

What was your reaction to the Dodge Ram "Farmer" commercial?

Pin It

Miss Anika's Bedroom Makeover

2013-01-28T06:00:00.000-06:00

Post by Kirsti--Katie's favorite (and only) sister.

Earlier this month I shared Miss Elissa's bedroom makeover on my blog. Now it's time for part two; Miss Anika's restyled bedroom. Let's start with the before images:

As you can see, the nursery color scheme was yellow, red, white and black. As Anika grew and the room evolved to her bedroom, the crib was replaced with a toddler bed, which was no longer in service.

See that red and white piece of furniture on the right side of the above photo? That is a show box my grandpa won for Katie when she was a kid. It's intended purpose is to hold tack and gear for cattle or horse shows, but it works great as nursery storage. Anika wasn't getting the best use of it though so it was time to change it out.

Similar to the plan with Elissa's room, I wanted to use as much in the room as possible but bring in Anika's new color scheme of aqua, pink and yellow.

Here's where we ended up:

Pretty, yes?

We brought in new wall art, night stands, lamps, bedding, curtains, dresser, bench and desk. Basically, the only pieces that remain from the nursery are the bed, rug and rocking chair. The wall color stayed yellow--we only had a weekend to do both rooms after all. ;)

Anika loves her bed. What I mean is she loves to jump on her bed. Jumping on the bed is against the rules (because oh my goodness that wild child would end up with a broken bone if she was allowed to jump on the bed.) Naturally, after being shown the room Anika immediately began jumping on the bed. Thankfully my handy hubby helped remedy the situation...

Yeah, see that poster above the bed? You may think it says "Breakfast at Tiffany's" but it actually says "No jumping on the bed." Don't believe me? Just ask Anika. She'll even point to the words Uncle Mike showed her.

I think she may secretly want to take the poster down because of its no jumping proclamation, but she still seems pretty happy with the room otherwise.

Another favorite spot is her "new" desk and vanity. This retro desk was downstairs in the play room. I'm told it's salvaged from a school. The aqua frame made it perfect for the room.

We attached a light-up vanity mirror to the wall above the desk and voila, the workspace doubles as a place to prettify.

And this fancy girl looooves to prettify.

Like a girl after my own heart, she always keeps her (toy) revolver close.

We brought in a flashy pink bench to use as a reading spot.

The love-seat is a perfect place for Daddy and his two girlies to lounge as he reads bedtime stories.

Similar to what we did in Elissa's room, much of the "new" decor was scavenged from my home, Katie's house and even our brother Robbie's place. The love-seat, lamps, poster and bird pillow used to live with me. The black dresser was at Uncle Robbie's house. The desk, lampshades and many other accessories were found around Katie's.

I'm thinking I may change out the dresser's hardware on my next visit. Wouldn't some fun and frilly knobs be perfect? I'm also on the lookout for the perfect mirror to hang above the piece.

One of my favorite things about this corner is nearly impossible to photograph. I applied glow-in-the-dark butterfly and dragonfly stickers to the wall on the left side of the above photo. They appear to fly from the window and across the wall. During the day, they're close enough to the wall color to remain undetectable. In the darkness they become a lovely, glowing night light.

Because, you know, the little princesses like to have a bit of light while sleeping.

There you have it, Miss Anika's big bedroom makeover. We love the transformation from a nursery to a little girls room.

And I think our little diva is quite pleased.

Pin It

Crock-Pot Pinto Bean & Ham Soup Recipe

2013-01-21T16:11:00.004-06:00

It's bitterly cold outside. Warming up inside with hearty soup is one of my winter strategies of coping with cold. I have made three soups in the last few days. One of them is a new Pinto Bean and Ham Crock-Pot recipe. I experimented and found success. Not only is this soup hearty, it's healthy.

Singing the Star Spangled Banner (2 videos)

2013-01-19T21:37:00.002-06:00

Last night, before a home game between our local team and a neighboring town on the rural North Dakota prairie, six boys basketball players stood to sing the Star Spangled Banner in our gymnasium. Thank you to their music teacher, Mrs. Wolff for making this performance happen! I knew it was coming sometime this basketball season. But Hunter failed to tell me it was last night. He is a teenage boy and I assume he did not want me taking too many pictures or recording it. But, in panic mode when it was announced I grabbed my cracked screen, broken iPhone and recorded the performance. Next time, I'll be more prepared to capture a tighter version. I promise.

For now, we have this rendition. Hunter said the boys sang straight melody this time since it was their first time performing with little practice. He hopes they can work on harmonizing for a future pre-game national anthem. Last night he came home, after a win with a smile on his face and said, "Mom, what did you think? Guys that are cool, sing!" There are some pretty cool guys...like my dad, father-in-law and husband, who don't sing with a microphone in front of them before basketball games. But...those guys that do are definitely cool.

Most importantly I think these boys set an example for many younger children sitting in our crowded home side of the bleachers that kids can participant in a multitude of activities. It showed kids that athletes aren't just sports minded. They have other interests outside of the gym. Participation in many activities within our small, rural school is critical. We won't have sports, music, drama and other programs in our school if kids don't participant in them. Variety in activities brings balance to a everyday life and builds discipline with life long skills.

The gift of music will with stay with the boys long after the days of high school basketball. For our family, we will always remember January 18, 2013 when the boys stood up to sing.

Next time we will see if we can recruit their coach (my brother, Robbie) to sing with them. He was a basketball player in college that sang in the college concert choir. And here is proof he can beautifully sing the Star Spangled Banner.

Robbie is not going to like it that his older sister just blogged his beautiful singing. But let's be clear: it is public on YouTube. Can you imagine what the boys and Robbie would sound like together?

I think it would be pretty fantastic. So maybe with a little encouraging...Robbie will join his team's players to sing in the upcoming weeks. Maybe. But it can't be my idea. Little brothers rarely listen to their older sisters, that I have learned.

Pin It

A Great Grandpa From the Greatest Generation

2013-01-18T15:48:00.001-06:00

They have been called The Greatest Generation in the best selling book by Tom Brokaw. It is a title and phrase most deserving I believe. Today I pause to honor and reflect one the greatest men from the greatest generation.

The boys and girls of a prairie winter

2013-01-16T23:33:00.000-06:00

A couple things have hit me like a whirlwind in this new year. First, I work in state government and our legislature is now in session. I love working in a state where our legislature meets every other year for only 80 days. But I am quickly learning in my first ever public role that those 80 days are hectic in a whole new way. Everyone is busy but my busy is at a new level, for me, in terms of busy. I am not complaining, just adapting, as we all do when schedules get crazy.

The second factor that is keeping me away from home and from down time in blogging is boys basketball. It is our social life and family time.

My parents have road tripped to every single game this season. In the photo above it should be noted I am 6'0'. My mom is 5'10". We look small next to the big boys of our family including my dad, husband and son. I always dreamed of being small. Now it is a strange reality in our family!

Hunter is a freshman playing varsity with my brother as his first year head coach. Robbie is a disciplined coach, implementing new systems and strategies that will lead to success. Hunter has adapted along with his team to the new program. The team has also had to adapt to injuries and unexpected early season losses. They are back on track and have some wins on their record of 4-7. If you could say a few prayers for full recovery from injuries, good health and confidence to win for them it would be appreciated.

Regardless of wins or losses, Robbie has just as many fans in the stands as Hunter.

Grandma Nola, Grandpa Sonny and Coach Robbie

The most proud fans are Grandma Nola and Grandpa Sonny. Grandpa turns 88 this week. How many grandchildren and great-grandchildren look up in the stands to see smiling, supportive grandparents and great-grandparents?

Last week at a game we had grandparents, great-grandparents, parents, great aunt, my brother-in-law's dad and Robbie's fiancee all attend to cheer on the Mustangs for a win.

Yes Robbie's fiancee is here. Jenn is the newest woman of the winter prairie. She must really love my brother. She grew up in a big North Dakota town and has lived in major cities throughout her career, moving directly from downtown Minneapolis to our remote North Dakota prairie town. She has taken on prairie living with open arms as big as the skyline and even braves windchill for Sunday walks with me.

Robbie and Jenn's upcoming wedding jump started me this week to shed the pounds I have been adding monthly for the last couple years. That's for another day to discuss with you. But I have a goal to lose 14 lbs. in 4 months. Eat less. Move more. Sounds a lot simpler than it is but I am quite headstrong. This might be accomplished.

Whether I reach my weight loss winter goals or not, two happy girls will be filling our lives with daily joy and be ready to the cutest flower girls in a spring wedding. For now, Miss A and Miss E are wearing their free pink hats I brought home to them from the Farm Bureau meeting I attended last weekend in Nashville.
Miss A has also taken it upon herself to be an intense cat caregiver. She gives her kitties a lot of love. As you can see Zeek is the most patience with her antics.

Whether it is work commitments or family time in the stands at basketball, the winter is already flying by despite frigid temperatures. I am thankful for the moments to cherish and remember, knowing that life won't be like this in every chapter.

But this chapter is quite lovely.

What's new in your winter routine?

To two loyal Pinke Post readers:
Happy Birthday Aunt Holly (January 16) and Grandpa Sonny (January 18)!

Pin It

Women leaders building connections and trust in food

2013-01-13T13:52:00.000-06:00

I am guest blogging today from the American Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. Follow all the blog posts here. Below is my first entry after attending a women's leadership luncheon.

Today I was honored to be a guest at the Women's Leadership Luncheon at the American Farm Bureau Annual Meeting. I sat at a table with the lovely ladies of the Florida Women's Leadership Committee. They are from different areas of their state, raising everything from dairy cows to watermelon to Caladiums. These women are diverse, different ages and active in their farms and ranches. They also take their role in agriculture seriously and are active leaders.

The Florida Women's Leadership Committee

As I listened to their backgrounds, it took me back thinking to the generations of women ahead of me that laid a foundation for me to have a role in food and agriculture today. My great-great aunt Iris, age 107, lives 25 miles from my parent's and grandparent's farm in a nursing home. Iris and I have frequent conversations of the struggles of life 100 years ago from living on the farm to pursuing an education. It was not easy for Iris to get to and from school from the farm my family still works today. But her parents were dedicated to she and her brothers getting an education. By horse and wagon her father took the kids miles to and from school because the Model T car couldn't get through North Dakota winter roads. Iris graduated from the University of North Dakota with an education degree in 1928. Her family's dedication and example to education while farming inspired next generations like my grandma and my mom, both college graduates and active farmers with my grandpa and dad.

I was the first of the fifth generation on our family farm. I gained leadership skills from women and men in my family and have been the first woman to pursue an off the farm career in agriculture. I also am gaining personal leadership skills by the examples set around me through my membership in Farm Bureau.

Julie Anna Potts, Executive Vice President and Treasurer of American Farm Bureau spoke to the Women's Leadership luncheon today about leadership development in action. She talked about women strengthening skills and developing confidence to talk to lawmakers. Julie Anna stressed the important role women play to listen to what non-agriculture audiences are saying about food and agriculture and women's unique ability to engage in authentic conversations.

100 years ago, women in agriculture had an important role like they do today. But women like my 107 year old great aunt, Iris, did not have a leadership program to follow or examples to follow. Survival on the farm was first and foremost with education as a top priority beyond the farm. Today, I am on the same prairie of North Dakota my family was 100 years ago. My parents farm the land my ancestors broke. But today, I have the leadership opportunity to help build trust in farmers, where food comes from, how it is raised and help tell the story of agriculture.

Together women from across Farm Bureau and women outside of the organization can find common connections to discuss what so many women are passionate about: feeding their families quality food. It impacts our families, our farms and our state and national policies.

As Julie Anna Potts said, "Women are credible spokespeople for agriculture." We can build on the reputation of our farms and ranches, tell the stories non-agriculture audiences are craving to hear of where and how their food is grown and strength American agriculture for generations to come.

I know generations ahead of me, like my great aunt Iris laid a foundation of leadership in agriculture and education for me. Now it is up to me to do the same for my son and daughters, community, state and country.

How have women leaders impacted your role in food and agriculture?

Pin It

Miss E's bedroom makeover

2013-01-10T01:21:00.000-06:00

Hey all! It's Katie's sister Kirsti popping in again. Over the birthday weekend I also had a chance to give my adorable nieces their Christmas gifts. What did my husband and I get them?
If the title of this post doesn't give it away, look at these photos:

Want to see what we ended up with after we made over the space? See the final reveal right here!

Pin It

A Happy Birthday Weekend

2013-01-06T22:50:00.003-06:00

Hey all! It's Kirsti, Katie's lovely sister, hijacking the blog to share our weekend of birthday festivities.

And it wasn't just anyone's birthday. It was Katie's!

Friday night found all of us together in a nearby gymnasium. One of us was pacing the sidelines.

Another defending the court.

The rest of us were in the stands cheering, chatting and taking photos...or perhaps playing phone games, I'm not quite sure.

What's more, we were all together for a win. Go mustangs!

The next day we gathered for a fancy surprise par-tay. (It feels ritzier when you pronounce it like that, no?)

It was a surf and turf meal that rivaled many steakhouses. Lobster bisque, crab legs, new york strips, specialty potatoes and more.

More kisses for the birthday girl, that is.

There were beautiful, thoughtful gifts.

Opened with assistance, of course.

And then we ate cake. Divine, pink cupcakes made especially for the occasion by none other than the birthday girl's mother.

As with all family parties, it was a group effort.

But credit for the planning, preparation and precise care goes to Katie's ever-dashing husband.

And assistants, of course.

Happy Birthday Katie!!

Pin It

Forging a new path with a favorite 2013 sunset

2013-01-01T21:01:00.000-06:00

2013 started with pizazz on the prairie tonight with the first sunset of the year. It did not disappoint. It got me thinking about a fresh start and forging a new trail.

Side note: You can see I need to clean my lens for 2013. These are a little spotty but breathtaking, none the less. Let me know which is your favorite first sunset of 2013 in the comments and I will choose 3 commenters on January 9th to be sent larger prints of your favorite. Please make sure your email address is with your comment.

A new year is fresh, clean and full of new beginnings. It gives us all an opportunity to forge a new path.

We all are followers. But in certains areas of life, you have to break away from following to step into new ground. I always love a new year to forge that new ground.

Forging new ground does not mean we will all blaze a trail with fire and brimstone. It might start with baby steps, quietly and softly.
Continue reading »

Traditional Christmas at the farm

2012-12-30T23:36:00.000-06:00

Christmas Eve

We spent the past six nights at the farm, as in GriggsDakota. It's where my parents, grandparents and uncle reside. In the planting and harvesting months, my brothers are there to farm with my parents. The rest of us get there are as often as possible. I always tell my husband, Nathan, it's my goal to farm when we are 50. I had made a deal with my two cousins, Mark and Scott, when we were really young that when we were 50 years old we would all live on the farm. Mark lives 40 minutes away and Scott is already there. I have 166 miles to go. I also happen to love our corner of the prairie in my husband's hometown. So...when I am 50 years old, he might have to build me cabin on the farm and we can travel back and forth from our prairie home to the family farm. That's 16 years away and until then, we will continue to have family gatherings and fun on the farm at my parent's home.

Hunter and cousin Logan

Family gatherings involve my mom cooking three major meals a day. It's unbelievable the variety of food, the volume of food and the tastiness of her cooking. She did not cook the traditional Norwegian lutefisk this year. That is not tasty but it is traditional. My Uncle Nathan baked instead of boiled the lutefisk. It's like white fish Jello. Smother it with butter, salt and pepper and it slides down without a problem.
Continue reading »

Snow Ice Cream, indoor activities for kids in a blizzard

2012-12-27T11:52:00.004-06:00

A blizzard has hit the central and southern parts of the United States. It has taken over my social media feeds. I just have to share how we deal with six months of snow and ice in North Dakota. We bring the snow inside the house for indoor fun!

Fill your sink with snow for serious playtime. Then go collect some snow for Snow Ice Cream. Paula Deen's recipe calls for sweetened condensed milk. I don't think Southern Belle Paula is an authority on Snow Ice Cream. I prefer real milk and sugar in Snow Ice Cream. As a lifelong North Dakotan, it might be the only recipe I am authority on over Paula Deen. Of course, I learned this fabulous trick when I was a kid from my mom and she probably learned from her parents. It's a secret of living with snow and raising kids!

I don't measure but we bring in a gallon pail of fresh clean snow, add some cold milk or cream, sugar and vanilla to taste. Stir in until a good consistency. You add flavors like chocolate syrup if you like. Eat it up and make your children absolutely love being hunkered down indoors.

Happy Family Fun in a Blizzard! Ironically, the world is still and peaceful in North Dakota. There isn't a blizzard in sight.

What's your favorite indoor activity in a blizzard?

Pin It

Big dreams as Christmas doctors

2012-12-23T18:03:00.002-06:00

Instilling big dreams in our kids is important to Nathan and me. Whether they are boys or girls, we want kids to aim high, set goals and work hard to accomplish them. I am a woman in agriculture. If you know anything about agriculture, you know it is not a field full of...women. And not a field of young women. I have goals and have worked to accomplish them, thanks to the examples and leadership of many, both men and women. The average American farmer is a 58 year old man. That is my father. But I am not the lone woman in our family working in an industry not commonly chosen as female professions.

When you think of the average American doctor you also wouldn't think of a female oncology urologist. But we have that doctor in our family. She is Dr. Lori, also commonly known as Auntie Lori to her nephew and two nieces. Today we are celebrating Christmas with Auntie Lori. She instilled big dreams in our daughters as they opened gifts.

Since Miss E broke her arm earlier this fall, she has announced she wants to be a "bone doctor". Miss A, not to be outdone by her sister, announced she wants to be a "mommy doctor". Dr. Lori captured their dreams when they both opened boxes of scrubs that match hers that she wears in the surgical room, complete with red hats.

Dr. Elizabeth Pinke went right to work on her patients. I have already had two "pretend" broken legs.

The gifts of Christmas are not things. They are the moments with family, that are captured as memories for life. Sometimes moments are transformed into dreams and goals.

While Miss E is focusing on her medical work already, Miss A has changed into her new swimsuit attire and matching baby attire. Doctors have fun every now and then too, especially at Christmas.

Merry Christmas dear friends and family.

Pin It

Choosing to keep going after loss

2012-12-18T23:25:00.004-06:00

30 years ago, I was ready to become a big sister. I was the age of my young daughters. I remember the crib, the smell of new carpet in the bedroom that would be the nursery, the primary colored balloons on a sleeper I helped my mom hang on a hanger in his bedroom closet. There might have even been balloon wallpaper border if my memory doesn't fail me.

But I never met my much anticipated sibling. He was born, dead. A stillborn, I was told. I only remember my grandma and aunt telling me. It was my grandma's 53rd birthday. I remember my hysterics, kicking and crying and them taking me to my grandparent's farmhouse. I remember how much I wanted to see my mom. But she was very sick and I could not see her.

I cannot imagine the loss my parents went through 30 years ago or the time that followed.

I have had three children in all very different circumstances from induction to emergency c-section, natural birth to scheduled c-section. Every time I have thought of him, the brother I never knew. Every time I have thought of what my mom went through on December 19, 1982, in the loss of a child. It was a different time. There were no blogs. You didn't talk about the loss as openly. There was mourning and grieving. It was less known, less talked about socially. I remember playing "flower shop" with the many flower arrangements sent to our house. I remember my mom being sad. Then I remember seeing the balloon sleeper hang in the storage room in the basement. It was no longer awaiting my brother in the nursery. It was put away, for another day, for another chapter or maybe to remember.

There has not been a year that goes by that I don't think about him this time of year. Tonight it hit me walking into the gym when I saw my mom and she said she needed to get home to take Grandma out on her birthday tomorrow for a visit to see Great Aunt Iris, age 107. My mom has her mother, her great aunt but not the son born 30 years ago.

The life lesson in the loss is pivotal for me. I thought about it as my mom and dad sat behind my husband, daughters and me in the bleachers during our son's basketball game. My youngest brother, Joe, age 23, sat next to my dad. My brother, Robbie, age 27, is the head coach of our son's team and was on the bench tonight.

The life lesson: keep going. My parents kept going after heartache, loss and tragedy.

I don't know why I never got to meet my brother 30 years ago. But I know that after great loss came joy. My mom had three healthy babies in mid to late 1980's. Today they are my siblings.

My grandma and grandpa still live the same farmhouse. On December 19, I celebrate Grandma Nola's birthday, honor the memory of the brother I never met and cherish the example my parents set for me to keep going as best you can and "do the next thing" as my mom often says.

Burned into all of our minds right now, I, like you, do not understand the tremendous tragedy and murders of young children in the Newtown, Connecticut school shooting. There is great loss. There is great heartache. Emptiness. Horrific pain.
But we must do the next thing. We must keep going. The journey is long but the journey does bring us joy, even after loss.

Pin It

Why I choose to live 98 miles from civilization

2012-12-13T06:30:00.000-06:00

When we moved deep into the North Dakota prairie, I told my friends I would miss Starbuck's and Target the most from our metropolitan Fargo life. Don't choke on your coffee. Compared to where we were moving to Fargo is a metropolitan mecca. In Fargo I had a 15 minute commute to work from south Fargo to my downtown office. I had an array of pop culture options for shopping, dining and entertainment. Certainly it was the amenities I would miss of city life versus prairie life.

But I was wrong. I hate it when I am wrong.

In the first week of moving into our 800 square foot rental house in our small town, a woman knocked on our door. She was a stranger to me. She said, "Hi! Is your son here? I have some boys down at the park ready to meet him and play." Hunter came to the door and the woman directed him to get on his bike, take a left at the stop sign and ride straight down to the city park and to introduce himself to boys waiting to meet him. Then she got back on her bike and rode away before I even got her name.

Our son, Hunter, had never even rode his bike alone around our block in south Fargo, much less blocks away to the park by himself. He was nearly 10 years old. He never left my sight. Panicked, I called my husband. This small town was his childhood home.
Continue reading »