Hasekamps, 2020 version

 While there are so many things that could be said about 2020, I will refrain as I believe that its all been over said, over hyped and I am more or less over it. There's been many wild and crazy, sad and frustrating things happen this year. But one of the most exciting things in our lives has happened. We are going to be grandparents. I have sort of a 'top ten' kind of list in my mind, that I sometimes refer to as Highlights in Hasekamp History. The day my Farmer proposed, the day I became his wife, when our kids were born are mostly the things that make up that list. I was kind 'star of the show' on those entries. Well outside of being so proud and excited, this latest entry doesn't have much to do with me, 'cept for the fact I gotta figure out what my grandma name will be. 

Since this blog has been stagnant for several years, I am going to do a short recap of life at H&K.

Our oldest son, fell in love, got engaged, graduated from college, got married, got his first teaching and coaching job, bought a house. Then two years later, got his second teaching and coaching job in the middle of a pandemic, sold house, bought house, moved home-ish. And his beautiful bride who has yet to be named, so I will introduce the mother of my first grand child. Cassie Jo Keller Hasekamp came into our lives actually not long after my earlier posts stopped. She is from Green City, went to NWMSU with Cody. She's two years younger than him and is just absolutely amazing. She's got a rockstar job at Veteran's United. They have a sweet dog named Ryker and two cats, Bucky and Hazel. And I am so thrilled that they are about a half hour away instead of 3.5 hours which they were the first two years they were married. 

Middle son graduated from high school, went to tech school, graduated a week after his brother and sister in law. He's had work experience in the construction industry, but now works for local water utility. Currently he's at home while he remodels an old home on our farm. He has an awesome pup, Willie Earl Hasekamp that he may have to fight his dad for whenever he moves out. He's doing a lot of the adulting things, bought his first truck, has an awesome girlfriend Courtney who is about done with college. 

Jenna Claire is a senior, which kinda blows my mind. She's still undecided where specifically, but is college bound. Hoping to do some collegiate level Livestock Judging as she goes through. She's quite the young cattle woman. She's growing her own herd of Maine Anjou cattle, has gotten her certification to AI her own cows and hopefully to do so for others as a side hustle. All of this while remaining active in both 4-H and FFA, manager to the football and wrestling teams..............and she makes good grades, that girl is something! 

The baby turned 16 yesterday, and got his drivers license, so maybe that's why I am blogging, feeling nostalgic, have free time since I am not hauling him all over or maybe I am looking for a way to earn some money blogging, to pay for the gas of two teenagers driving. I think I will be the Pioneer Woman when I grow up. She does okay with her blog, right? But I digress...........back to news of the youngest. He's a busy kid too. Two sports, football and wrestling. Has started all season on Varsity as the Center. I think he's likely got a starting spot on the wrestling team this winter as well. He does all that Hasekamp kids do, shows cattle, 4-H, FFA, hauls hay, helps on the farm, along with being busy at school, keeps good grades and he has a sweet girlfriend, Annie as well. 

Now for the parents. We've have eventful last few years. We had cancer. (Well technically the Farmer actually had it) We did the treatment. We got cured going on two years. We've had some odds and ends getting older health issues and some of us found herself spending the better part of the summer before last in the hosp. But all is good now. We lost loved ones. Most notably my Grandmother, her best friend, a neighbor and our sweet very much beloved dog, Macy. The context of time when I last posted in 2015, I was a substitute teacher. Since then I spent three years working fulltime at school, I job I loved. About a year ago, I took a job with University Extension, which I really LOVE. 

Things are mostly the same on the farm. Still farming the same acres. Still raising cattle. Still custom baling hay. Crop years have been good and bad. This year in particular is amazing. My Farmer and Uncle Honey still do the lionshare of the farming, which help sprinkled in as the kids are able to help them. We would like to have Sam at the farm fulltime, but as of now, he has an awesome town job that is hard to compete with, hopefully soon. 

So that's where we are at. Hoping to do more indepth blog updates on the kids coming up. They've done some amazing things that I would like to share. 

But until then on this beautiful fall Election Day in November, 

From Tulip~

KH 

Farmer friends who are like extended Family

Before starting this post, I looked back at my blog. I haven't posted a new message for four and a half years. Time has marched on. Our farm and family have changed. Maybe that update post is coming, but in the age of social media, most of my readers are only as behind as my last status, so I may spare you that much.
Today my heart is heavy and it inspired me to share a new post. In our local ag community, we've recently lost two very notable members. One was 86 and lived an amazing life. The other was 48 and lived an amazing life. Hmmm one was almost twice as old as the other but yet the same could be said about each. Both were great examples of hard work, family, love of life and too many friends to count.
Saturday morning, Luther got his wish. He had many health issue in recent years, and this last one was his stopping point. He knew he had enjoyed and lived an abundant life. He was ready to leave this world and check out the next one. As Jed said at church, during his sermon, "To be 86, get a diagnosis on Monday, pass in your sleep at home 'on the hill' five days later. Who of us wouldn't sign up for that?"
As our hearts hurt for our dear friends, another was to go on to the next life about a day later.
Brian, although half Luther's age had also suffered with many health issues over the last few years. I'm guessing he was less ready than Luther, but certainly lived and enjoyed an abundant life as well.
I can't think of either of them and not smile. I may not have as many stories as some, but I have a few. They are cherished ones.
When I was expecting Cody, in the summer of 1994, I was still working at the furniture store in downtown Centralia. As was the case in that time, if Saturday afternoon was slow, chances are, we would see Luther. He would come down, lounge on one of our sofas in the showroom and hold court, with all of us sitting around and enjoyed some of his stories. I am not sure I recall any specific story by detail. But I can tell you the theme of all of them, hard work and the crazy things that happened along the way. They were always entertaining.
Luther always had something to say. I can only think of one time when I think he was speechless. When he showed up one Saturday afternoon, late in July, John (my boss) decided to pull a trick on him. Someone saw him coming and he told me to sit on the sofa and put my feet up. When Luther came in, he said, "Glad you're here, we need help, Kathy's going to have the baby!" Doubting I kept a straight face, but it didn't matter. Luther's reaction was classic, when he tried to speak, it was jarbled up Lutherspeak that cracked us all up. We had to admit that we were teasing him." He laughed and said we definitely got him.
My Brian stories would either center around when I first knew him, 30 years ago, or anything to do with farming, which technically was any story I have. When we were first married, DH's sisters still showed cattle. At that time the Flatt kids did as well. I can remember many good times at local and state fair and most generally Brian was in the middle of the mischief and fun. Part of Brian's charm, was something that most people find 'charming' in others. It absolutely never mattered where you were, what was going on at the time, Brian never ever hesitated to take time and say hello, check in and see how things were going with you and yours. You got the same guy no matter where our paths crossed. One of the most genuine people I've ever met. We should all aspire to be more like him.
In the Ag community, we are kinda the minority. Not everyone gets us, so we stick together. Luther was a cornerstone of our local ag community and Brian one of its most active moving parts of it.
We were blessed to live in their worlds, and our world won't be the same without them. Sincerest condolences to their families in this time of grieving. I am glad that my memories of them make me smile.
From Tulip~
KH