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the day i became a real farm wife

On the Saturday before Memorial Day weekend Joel asked me if I could help him take the combine out to the field. I was a little surprised because other than bringing food and little boys out to the field, I really don’t help out much around the farm. I am not one of those farm wives…at least not yet. So we headed over to the farm with the boys and he told me I was going to drive his pickup truck and pull the combine header (the long thing on the front of the combine that cuts the wheat) out to the field while he drove the combine. What?! That is a big responsibility for this little city girl turned farmer’s wife. I have never driven anything that big before. I mean, I’ve driven Joel’s truck but not while pulling an extra 30 feet of equipment that could take out a car…or a house if I wasn’t careful. He gave me a few turning instructions and we were off. Thankfully the field wasn’t too far. I successfully made my two turns without plowing anything over. Griffin even got to ride along and witness the day I became a true farm wife. I think he was proud of his mama. 😉
After Joel hooked up the header we all piled into the combine to test out the wheat.
This was Griffin’s first ride. He screamed when we first got in…I think he was a little scared. I sat him on the floor next to Levi to watch the action and Levi held his hand.
Melt my heart.
I hope these brothers grow up to be best friends.
Levi told Griffin all about wheat harvest and everything that was going on. I wish I would have written down some of the things he was saying. He would say things like, “That’s the wheat, Griffin!” and then  look at Griffin and laugh. Griffin just took it all in.
Both boys had their eyes glued on daddy and everything he was doing. Wheat harvest is awesome…but they really think their daddy is awesome.
That night we had a family date in the combine. They were sweet moments with my boys that I will never forget.
Griffin’s first combine experience started out a little rough, but by the end he was loving it. I have a feeling that pretty soon Joel will have two boys begging to go to work with him.
It is so funny to hear Levi talk about the farm. Sometimes I think he knows more than I do from spending time with his daddy. And I’m pretty sure before I know it he will be the one hauling the combine header out to the field. 
Just so you know…most of the farm wives around here would think it was no big deal to haul the combine header to the field. They are hardcore. But to me…big deal. The day I felt like I became a real farm wife. And I just had to brag to someone! 🙂
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  • Judy - I love the pictures of the boys holding hands! Just precious! Pretty soon they’ll be having wrestling matches 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Donna C. - I have been reading your blog for several years and I just have to tell you what a bright spot it is for me. I am also the mama of 2 farm boys (little farm and the boys are now 29 and 25) and I remember how much they used to ride on the tractor with daddy. Thanks for sharing your lives with us. I feel as if I know all of you and am delighted whenever you post. Your children are so sweet.ReplyCancel

  • Auntie EM - You really are a farm wife now. So cute with Levi holding brother’s hand. Sweeett. You do have such a darling family. I like many others have never met you but your blog, your words of wisdom, your cute family, your Cora, your faith in God…..draw me to you. You have helped me realize how important family is and I have drawn strength from your faith. Thanks for sharing a small piece of your life with us. Way to go, farm girl. Yes haw!!!ReplyCancel

  • Amanda - ahhh, I love these pictures! I think there is just something so special about life on the farm as a family! Not sure what, because I don’t get to live it. But there’s something in the stories you tell, and the pictures that is just so special! It makes my heart all warm inside – the boys holding hands, you becoming a real farm wife and a family date night in the combine. I love it!

    I have a feeling this may just be the beginning of your farm wife adventures!ReplyCancel

  • Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Oh, way to go Jess! That is amazing!ReplyCancel

  • LocalvoreFarmGirl - I am the farm wife and my husband is becoming the farm husband 🙂 He brags about his stories driving tractors and semi’s for the first time.
    My brother is the main farmer and just had his fourth daughter. While I am very thankful for his beautiful daughters… it sorta breaks my heart just a little he doesn’t have a son to just watch over him like the boys with Joel.
    The picture of the boys holding hands…. break my heart even more! cutest moment EVER!!!ReplyCancel

  • onlymehere - Awesome and the boys are so adorable! I love how Levi was telling Griffin all about what his daddy was doing with the wheat and holding his hand so he wouldn’t be scared. Precious memories.ReplyCancel

  • meg duerksen - i am SO emotional this year about harvest!! i have no farm experience at all and this year moving out to the country has just rocked my world. talking tonight with family that just finished their harvest and he said it was the best he’s ever had….EVER. and said “what a blessing” i got tears in my eyes! i am in love with harvest. 🙂 and with these pictures. good for you for driving that truck. i bet joel was pretty proud.ReplyCancel

  • Mum2twopreciousgifts - Love the pics Jess! And to this City dweller, it would be a big deal to me too. Anything beyond backing my car up the driveway is a HUGE deal. Hooray you!

    Michelle xReplyCancel

  • Sarah - These pictures are perfect.
    Those of the boys holding hands… melting my heart.
    Good grief the cuteness overload going on here.ReplyCancel

  • Sarah - PS. Yay for being an official farmer wife. I would have been scared to death pulling that huge thing!ReplyCancel

  • TimandCeri - the boys holding hands. you must frame that. soooo sweet! You rock farm girl, there is no way I could have done that!ReplyCancel

  • Carla - That’s just so sweet the way Levi is with his little brother. My girl is like that with her little bro (sometimes!) and its just so sweet to hear her teaching him her take on the world 🙂 I can’t imagine how exciting wheat harvest is for your boys. You know, your posts about the farm are even exciting for my two year old, he sits up on my knee shouting “huge tractor, huge tractor” lol. Kansas tractors seem wayyyy bigger than Irish ones. I guess that makes sense though, what with Kansas farms being bigger than Irish ones. Well done on the Combine Head Pulling feat, much kudos!ReplyCancel

  • Brooke - I just love this. The pictures are so sweet and what a way to kick off your farm wife status.ReplyCancel

  • Nancy - SO precious! What a great role model these boys have in both of you! They will grow up to be hard workers & good boys 🙂ReplyCancel

  • flower power momma - good job farm-wife-mommy.ReplyCancel

  • Jenna - My hubby’s dream is to have a farm someday. Adorable pictures!!!!ReplyCancel

  • meg - Those pictures of them holding hands is too sweet!!ReplyCancel

  • Lauri - OMG, melt my heart! These pics are way to cute!!!!ReplyCancel

  • Suzanne - Way to go, Jess! And Levi holding Griffin’s hand is the sweetest thing, oh my goodness!!!ReplyCancel

  • anne - Love this so much. Those boys are so precious! My boys are 7 & almost 4 and they are best friends (who do fight as well!) 🙂 Nothing makes me happier than seeing them love each other so much. I have no doubt your boys will do the same!!ReplyCancel

  • Creole Wisdom - That WOULD be intimidating to drive. I can hardly handle my stepdad’s pickup truck. Whew!

    The photos are perfect. I love that you capture farm life for the stuck-in-the-city people like me.

    Love the boys holding hands 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Emily - those pictures are simply precious! you definitely need to frame some of those!ReplyCancel

  • Natalie - Love all the photos! And congratulations to becoming official….however, I already thought you were!!ReplyCancel

  • Claudia - All I can say is “YOU ARE AWESOME”. I work at a desk and so does my husband but his dad and brother are the farmers, I’ve seen how much work it takes and I’m scared of tractors!! 🙂

    So on my side of the woods this is a big deal … Congratulations!!!ReplyCancel

  • My name is Amee - You did an awesome job!! 🙂
    The pic of Levi holding Griffin’s hand is a Kodak Moment & you captured it!! So so sweet!
    Keep up the good work before you know it you might be driving the combine! 😉ReplyCancel

  • Michelle - You really can capture the most precious moments with your boys! 🙂ReplyCancel

  • The Moffats - oh my goodness. possibly one of my favorite posts ever. seriously. the pictures are so great and the memory is so precious. levi holding griffins hand is just too much. and you…a REAL FARM WIFE!!!!ReplyCancel

  • Dana at StrawberryTart! - Ahhh…Those boys are so sweet. What precious pictures to have forever.ReplyCancel

  • Amy - Corey tells me that I’ll be able to drive the wheat truck next year. I’m not so sure. I think I’m allowed a couple years to ease my way into this whole “farm wife” thing. 🙂ReplyCancel

  • chrissiwithab - Love your pictures. Love that your husband makes time with the boys. My hubby still remembers doing farm chores with his dad. His mom packed a lunch and drove him out to the fields just as you do. You are making such great memories for you and yours. …enjoy your boys.ReplyCancel

  • Faith - what a sweet sweet post right here. those boys are so precious! and how adorable that they were holding hands and levi was giving griffin lessons on farming 101! gahh loved it!ReplyCancel

  • Cathy - I totally relate to you being something for years, yet still not feeling “official” until something happens… I’ve been the Mom to a boy for almost 3 years… and it didn’t feel like it until we had to take him to the ER for stitches this past weekend… Many people told me I was “officially” the Mother to a Boy 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Christina - The pics of the boys holding hands? So precious! I think this is one of the most beautiful posts you’ve written…very sweet moments with your boys, indeed!ReplyCancel

  • Arianne - Love it! I hauled the header trailer this harvest also along with fixing lots of food!! Your boys will be begging to go!! It’s such an awesome time.
    Love the pic of Levi holding Griffin’s hand (and arm). Very precious!
    Don’t feel too bad about not doing much. The more you know, the more you get to do!! A few years ago I drove our combine for the first time in our 15 yrs of marriage (at the time). I loved it! Now my boys are trying to drive it.
    Blessings!ReplyCancel

  • Anonymous - Just wait til you get to drive the combine 🙂 Its always fun seeing fellow farm kids riding in the combine with Daddy. We farm in southern Kansas, too, and finished harvest last Thursday!ReplyCancel

  • Anonymous - I love rhe picture of Levi holding Griffin’s hand..PRECIOUS! :)…….Paula from NYReplyCancel

  • Kara - Just think, next you’ll be firing up the tractor to pull a neighbor out of a snow drift. I love helping my husband on the farm. I was 18 when I became “farm wife material”. I went to visit my now husband on wheat harvest in Oklahoma. Nothing like trial by fire. I was expected to drive a header trailer that held 2 headers with a stick shift! No clue how to drive one of those. Of course I made it look like I did, but secretly the semi driver was coaching me over the 2 way radio and my hubs had no clue.ReplyCancel

  • Kristen {a little ditty} - Love all the pics. The one of Levi holding Griffin’s hand is beyond precious. So sweet!ReplyCancel

  • Bethany - Holy moly, yes you should brag! That is just too awesome!ReplyCancel

  • Kristin - Super sweet post, love Levi holding Griffin’s hand! And, from someone who has never really been on a farm like yours, I think it’s a totally big deal to take on that huge thing…I didn’t even know what it was called if that says anything! Way to go!ReplyCancel

  • Nicole - I don’t know why but these farm posts are making me tear up. What a precious family you have and your boys are blessed to have parents that love them so much. And like others said, that holding hands pic…love it! That’s a framer for sure!ReplyCancel

  • Alex and Jill - Love this. The pics of your boys holding hands is beyond precious!! And you should brag…I remember bragging my first time parking an SUV without hitting anyone in the parking lot! Your story is way cooler. LOLReplyCancel