Handling Cloudy Days

How do you handle cloudy days as you go through your week? The first part of last week started out pretty grey.

 As you wait for more productive days you look for that promise in the horizon that there are brighter days coming.

In my experiences this past week there were three attributes that stood out on how we handle life. The first one is to stay positive in all circumstances. No one likes to be around negative folks and negativity is non productive. At Ezra's ball game the coach is always positive and encouraging no matter how ugly the game gets.

 While waiting to get back to the field we mowed our yards and sprayed roundup on our farms away from home.

 We also treated soybean seed so they will be ready when customer's come to pick them up.

 Part of our crew helped BJ move mama cows and their babies to the big pasture.

A positive attitude leads to the second attribute. That's to have gratitude in all circumstances. No matter how cloudy it gets there are always things to be thankful for. This past week I was especially grateful for all our help and especially the crew I get to work with. Pablo is helping Karl rinse out the sprayer that's switching from corn to soybeans. 

 Some of our helpers have had previous cloudy days of their own yet they always have a positive attitude. Since we are finished hauling seed for the year Jim parked Karl's seed trailer for the summer.

 Gideon and John like to build things in a forge. Gideon lost one of his home forged hammers in their house fire. A friend picked them up Saturday and helped them build some new tools.

As the week improved and dried out some Mike was able to go back to building terraces. Since the field he is working on goes to corn he's trying to get finished up.

 One of the things holding Mike up was BJ was not finished putting in the tile. One of the many things holding BJ up was that his tiling machine was in the shop getting new rear end parts. Well BJ got his trencher back and was able to finish the tile lines mid week.

By late in the week the sprayers were busy. Kurt is running the John Deere and spraying corn. Karl is in the Ro Gator all spring and has switched to spraying beans.

As it gets later in the season and as it warms up weeds start to become an issue in unworked fields. Below Casey is working some ground. An Excellorator is a vertical tillage machine that stirs the ground, cuts up the residue, but leaves it on top of the surface for help with erosion. 

 Matt is cultivating some of the ground that Mike built terraces on. Spring dozing can make it tough on the crop being planted due to compaction and clods.

Positivity and gratitude lead to the third attribute and that's contentment. Contentment doesn't mean you settle for how things are. However it does mean you are always ok with where God has put you in any situation. Contentment also gives you a self confidence that means you don't need to constantly measure yourself with others. 

 Remember I visited with you about Jan washing the girl's blankets after the fire. Well they started to smell like fire again after a couple of days. So Jan made three new cuddle blankets for Rachael, Adalie, and Natalie. (I got to remember to ask Cassia about name spelling)

 Caring and response from church, friends, and community continues to be humbling. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all your calls, well wishes, and prayers after BJ and Cassia and family's house fire.

 By the end of the week the sun had started to shine and things looked brighter in many ways. It doesn't matter whether it's a crop, a house, or a relationship, moving forward can be uncertain and scary. It can also be exciting and rewarding. God didn't create us to sit on our hands and be comfortable. Thanks for the visit and stay tuned.