A Broken Vase

A story is told about a storekeeper who had a vase broken in many pieces.

The storekeeper put the vase all back together and sat it in his window.

However when people passed by all they saw were the cracks between the broken pieces of the vase.

So the storekeeper lit a candle and put it inside the cracked vase.

Everyone remarked how bright the vase looked as the light shone through the cracks.

When people watch us do they just see our scars and dark cracks or do they see Christ's light and love shining through those cracks.

When Jesus was asked if He was for real He quoted Isaiah 61 which says, The Lord has annointed me to preach good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. That's the light we are to share.

Watching Life

I think winter is finally here to stay. You know it's about time to call it a year in Iowa when your work involves diesel fuel additive, either, jumper cables, and stocking hats.

Anton likes climbing on things in the shop. He gets a kick out of Grandpa telling him to be careful all the time.

Elliott and Zach are all bundled up and dressed for the weather. They enjoy being outdoors. One small drawback of bundled up grand kids helping is when they say, I got to go potty. Grandpa usually says, are you sure? 

Years ago I told you it was a transition becoming a grandparent. Well I want you to know it's a bigger transition realizing your grand kids are growing up. Rachael is becoming a young lady.

Amelia is not far behind. I hope they don't think I'm as old as I thought my grandparents were when I was their age.

Speaking of old in a nice way we celebrated a combined Christmas/Birthday get together last Sunday. Jan's father turned 89 and is here with his three children.

Grandpa Gene has a set of twins from each of his children. His oldest, Donna has a set of granddaughters from Seth and Jenny. Kurt and Karl who most of you know are twin sons of Jan. Finally Paul has a set of granddaughters from Levi and Meagan.

Great grandpa Gene always gets the same thing for his birthday, chocolatecovered cherrys and a hitch pin. Remember about a month ago when I told you that as a young son-in-law I thought I would get him a really nice insulated coverall for Christmas and he didn't know what it was for? Well we have gotten him a hitch pin just about every year since and he loves it.

After a hard week of dozing in the cold without a cab, a delicious birthday meal, and a warm fireplace, Mike enjoys a Sunday afternoon nap.

One more thing. Happy Birthday BJ. I couldn't find an appropriate picture. I hope you guys are having fun snowmobiling and are staying warm and safe.

Transitioning Seasons

"For everything there is a season and a time for every activity under heaven." Eccl. 3:1

God has determined time and seasons for man to accomplish his purposes.

God does not condemn but approves of the use of earthly blessings. He also gives us the responsibility of being good stewards of the blessings we use.

Amidst the instability of our culture there is comfort in God's timing and purpose of our changing seasons. We are promised there will always be seed time and harvest even for future generations.

I have always enjoyed those future generations, earlier our children, and now our grandchildren, interacting, helping, and being part of our operation. 

Of course work would get monotonous and burdensome if that's all we consisted of and strived for. In farming the changing seasons give us different responsibilities and even allow us some occasional down time.

A snowfall can be a beautiful thing until you have to move it. Below Ethan is helping Grandpa clear Grandma's driveway.

We started the week with warm, dry weather. Our days were full of projects. We finished the week cold and snowy. We suddenly had more discretionary time to enjoy each others company. There are still plenty of shop jobs, grain hauling, and planning for the next crop however times are more relaxing. Thank God for changing seasons.

Taking advantage of a slower season to spend time with people you love helps affirm the next generation and lets them know they are more important than projects.

Game On

It has been an eventful winter for our family. With the older grand kids still on Christmas break last week Monday, Jan had her hands full trying to keep the bigger kids from running over the smaller ones. All the cousins love to play together. What a blessing having them all live close enough to watch them grow up. 

Since it has been such a warm, dry winter the dozers, tiler, and track hoe are still busy and late this past week we started putting on NH3 again and even leveled off some ground for spring planting. 

Last Tuesday evening we met with our neighbors in the county shop to discuss who should be our next president. I was encouraged by the 150 folks that took the time to get together. Karl wrote and read in his own words why he thought Rick Santorum would be a good candidate.

After the caucuses Jan and I, Kristin and Karl, and Becky and Brian went to Des Moines to congratulate the Santorums. Rick started his speech giving a tribute to his wife, Karen. She is an author, a nurse, and a lawyer, but chooses to say home and raise their family and be a mom to their 7 children.

Elizebeth, Sarah Marie, and Sec of State, Matt Shultz are on Rick's left side. Karen and either Peter or Patrick are on his right side. Rick talked about his grandfather immigrating to Pennsylvania, working for 5 years in the coal mine, and then bringing his father here at 7 years old. He said that's why he chose that little western Pennsylvania town to announce his candidacy. I still remember where I was standing in the seed shed the first time he called and invited me to the announcement. Even though it would have been a long drive and we were busy in the field, I regret not going.

We met the Santorum family in the hotel lobby after a very late supper to say our good byes and to give them a couple of gifts that represented Rick's hard work in Iowa and God's guideance and protection to Him and his family.

We also put together some pictures of their 8 day stay in the cabin on our farm.

What a blessing it has been to get to know and become friends with such a fine Christian family. Rick has said from the beginning he doesn't know what the future holds, but he does know God has called him to be a voice in this process.

This is Allison Grace. She was born Thursday and joins her parents, Mark and Stacy, and her four brothers and sister. You might be thinking, why is Allison at the end of your story. Well, she and her cousins that began this story are some of the main reasons for this story.

Several folks have shared that it is uncharecteristic of me to be involved in the political process and I agree I've not given it much time in the past. Our forefathers made things happen. We as current generations are watching things happen. And if we continue as a country on the path we are on our grandchildren will wonder what happened. I strongly believe if we as a country don't change our course, 2012 will be our last free election. History proves it. I don't want Allison and her cousins to come to me someday and say Grandpa, why didn't you try and save our freedoms. God, please bless America.

For Such A Time As This

Welcome to 2012. I hope you are looking forward to facing the opportunities as well as the challenges the new year has in store.

 God won't be asking us to take on projects that are bigger than we are. However He does want us to be courageous and face our new year with a purpose.

God does want us to recognize the abilities and gifts He has given us. When we are given the opportunity He expects us to load up our resources and help make things happen with His guidance and help.

Many of our jobs for 2012 will be as close as our own families and be the same things we did in 2011.

Many of our responsibilities will involve helping and serving each other. The jobs of going to work, washing clothes, cleaning house, and making meals happen every day without people watching or sometimes even noticing.

There will be days when we get up and feel like conquering every project in our path. There will also be days when our jobs look like a big pile of rocks that we are not sure how to get over.

Many of the jobs we do this year will make us feel productive and give us a since of accomplishment. Other challenges however may make us feel trapped with no apparent way out.

When we come to the edge of those projects that are bigger than we can handle it's OK to ask for advice and sometimes even help.

Approach 2012 with the attitude that whether you are serving your country, working for others, or serving your family, God has called you to be a voice for Him. Be courageous, and face the new year God has given you with purpose for He has not given you a spirit of fear, but a spirit of love and sound mind.

Esther 3:14 says,"And who knows but that you have come for such a time as this." God has plans for all of us in 2012. Happy New Year everyone.

Celebrating Christmas With One A Chord

Merry Christmas everyone. Today we celebrate God's gift to us. We do that in a variety of ways. We give each other gifts. We enjoy watching the excitement and anticipation of our children and grandchildren as they do their programs and open their presents.

We all have our different traditions. Earlier this week we were invited for lunch at Pablo and Paula's house made by Paula's mother visiting from Jamaica. We started with a Christmas drink made from flower pedals. The main course was ox tail, curry chicken, and scampi. It was spicy enough to make you perspire. It was tasty. You just had to remember to take little bites. We finished with dessert and coffee with rum and brown sugar added.

Harmony among family and friends is one gift I am so thankful for. Working and playing together with each other's interest in mind is priceless.  

This past Friday evening we celebrated Christmas as a family. Jan had an unbelievable meal. Mike made a video of the past year in review. Kristin helped me with a gift for Jan. The girls made a photo book for Jan and I and also gave us each monogrammed jackets. As a dad, to be able to be friends with a daughter and five daughter-in-laws is a gift I will always cherish.

Of course Christmas gettogethers wouldn't be complete without watching the excitement of grandkids opening presents.

And then there is the annual pajama picture where all the kids show off their new Pj's given by Grandma Jan every year. I'm thinking this tradition might be about over for some of the older boys

Jan and I along with friends, Jay and Diane, attended Christmas Eve services at The Bridge, a church plant in Ottumwa. Wow, It was packed. As I observed the audience and listened to the message I was reminded not everyone has the gift of family and all of us experience difficult situations from time to time. 

The Gift we celebrate today is the help and comfort to our difficult situations. That Gift changes everything. How are we to respond to that Gift? I think the first thing we do is to accept the Gift and ask Christ of Christmas to help us with the difficult whys and what ifs. I think the next thing we do is to say thank you by sharing the Gift by word and example. That is the true spirit to our holiday tradition.