My wife and I grew up in the same area: the lonely wind swept plains of rural Nebraska. We knew each other as children: attended the same school, have the same friends, her brothers were friends of my brothers. We did attend different churchs: she at the Baptist church, I at the considerably more liberal Disciples of Christ.
We have three children. We had one other who was lost to disease and awaits us in heaven. The hole in our hearts never really goes away.
In farm county every one helps every one else: its the unspoken rule. Break this rule and you are nothing here. That's what we learned growing up. Also, your word is your bond. But that's all changed now. Everyone is out for themselves.
But we live in the local town now: about 25,000 people. The farms are lost: sold to the corporations now.
Our folks didn't want us on the farm anyway. They said it was too much work for too little money. But if this is so, why to the corporations want to buy them all the time.
Hired hands work the farms now, many from Mexico. They live in our town now and are fine people.
Our children live in the near by cities of Lincoln and Omaha. This is where they can get jobs.
We have grown grand children-four-who live in different parts of the country. We don't hear from them much except for the oldest grand child who we see quite often. I guess one out of four ain't bad. She has a child--a three-year-old. You can see them in the photo I have posted.
Have to go to work now, I'll finish this post this evening.
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Lonely and wind sewpt rural Nebraska...sounds like a great place to live.
I am a city person (New York City) in love with small towns and farming states. Why? go figure.
I just like the idea of living in s small toen somewhere in a farm country or ranch...sounds really appealing. Thank you for sharing the story of your life, you write so well. -
welcome to aj
You're a Christian too? It's always pleasing to find other believers in Christ on here. I enjoyed reading your journal. Don't have any experience in the granparent area yet, but I am a single mom; I have a little boy I'm incredibly proud of. The picture by this comment is me, Johnny, & our son, Dewey. In the picture, we're at Johnny's dad's house.
As for your comment about people helping other people, it's only too true, sadly. That's why I love the south so much: they haven't completely forgotten their neighbors.
Thanks for sharing & glad you're here!
Michelle -
I read this Bob and it makes me think of my childhood, my family. We were very close too, four brothers and four sisters to a Catholic mother and Church of England father lmao My parents argued so much and loved each other so much too
The debates we had growing up, mom and dad encouraged us to form our own opinions and not be afraid to voice them 
They are gone now, my oldest sister too, I miss them soooo much as the rest of us have scattered, we see each other when we can but it is difficult to have the same closeness that we had as children. The years change so many things we just have to learn to adapt too I guess.
Your writing certainly gives me the inpression that you have
Cherry
xxx
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This is nice I enjoy the simple
way of life I love the way you share what it means to you, to value your relationships and one of the things I loved most is how you spoke of when we need others in our lives especially after losing a child the support and comfort of others. Jesus has certainly taught us to do. How many of those will stand by the widow and the fatherless to comfort and offer there hand to help in any way who are willing to go that second mile.When I had lost my child there was only one person to lean on.Today I am greatful for her she is always there for me more then those who are so close and yet far distant .I love the way you value your wife and children and grandchildren now that's beautiful. and your home land where you were raised up and learned all about farming and value of land and crops is quite different back here in the city. all though my dad was on farm but that didn't teach a whole lot I'm quite sure you know all the ropes. I hope to read more about your life back in the country.Great and simple write full of meaning and value!
Blessing to you and your beautiful family!
Sharon
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Recent Journals
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Here I am on the wind-swept plains of Nebraska at 06:15 am behind my computer screen listening to Marzart on public radio. It's grey and rainytoday all day. Our pet rabbits are looking out the windows into the yard wishing, no doubt, that they could be out running with their wild counterparts on the grass though
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