Unexpected

If you are following someone else you will probably end up where they wanted or needed to go. You've probably seen the signs on the back of semis in a road construction zone reading not to follow them into work areas. Your best path is often unforseen. Doing the unexpected like sweeping Grandma's sidewalk while your boy cousins are riding their trikes will get your picture taken.

Have you ever noticed most of the time we remember and often appreciate the unexpected like finding your little guy outside with a dirty face and a determined look trying to accomplish something unpredictable. Thanks for the picture Emily.

We have a wonderful looking crop that has been getting just enough little showers to get by. Well on Thursday morning Northwest Iowa shared some of their many showers with us and we had an unexpected two inches of rain.

Summer rains come in the form of thunderstorms often accompanied by wind and occasionally by hail. Tall fast growing corn is the most susceptible. However the corn plant has the remarkable ability to stand back up after a wind while growing.

They say if you see a snake on the road it's a sign of rain. Also if you read last week's visit you'll remember I'm not fond of snakes so while on a Ranger ride with Jan to Alex's house we ran over one crossing the road. It was well over 5 feet long. His neck is curled up in this picture.

Jan and I were on another unexpected Ranger ride this past week. We loaded the Ranger, hauled it to Barns City, and checked out the crops we planted in that area including Andy and Amara's Deep River farms, Karl and Kristin's Coal Creek farm south of Gibson, and Bill and Kathy's two Barns City farms where Kurt was spraying and BJ was tendering. We finished up our outing by having supper at the Long Horn Saloon there in town.

On a farm north of Eddyville our neighbor's goats continually get out and spend the summer in our corn field. For the past 5 years I have visited with the neighbor, offered to give him hay, and ask that he try harder to keep his goats home. He seems to have the best of intentions however no results. I'm ready for some advice. How do I be a good neighbor without continually being taken advantage of.

A Fed Ex delivery driver had an unexpected comment this past week. While coming to make a pick up I was out spraying fence rows. BJ and Cassia's John came to get me and then proceeded to load the delivery. The driver complimented John on his ability to help as a 6th grader saying all the kids he knew spent the summer with their electronics.

Jan and I left Friday morning for Northwest Iowa. We were initially planning on just attending Risefest in Sheldon. It was a great time.

Since we were late deciding to go most motels in the area were full so we enjoyed two nights in the guest house at Dordt College in Sioux Center. Our daughter Becky and her husband Brian attended here. If you look close in the picture you will see a stained glass chandelier hanging in the building. That piece was designed and built by Brian's father Loren. I also enjoy being on an Ag advisory board here with the Ag department.

 

While in northwest Iowa we added some unexpected visits. Jim is president of the Bank Iowa Corp, a family owned corp with 24 banks in 21 communities around Iowa. While serving on a regional bank board Jim and I have become friends. We found out Jim's father-in-law had passed away and the visitation was at his in-laws home on Lake Okoboji. Visitations other than in funeral homes or churches are unexpected however it celebrates family and life. I like it.

Bob and Darla are friends of ours. We work together on The Family Leader, an organization whose goal is to strengthen our families and revive culture in our country. Well since Darla is a farm girl from Sheldon we were looking forward to meeting her father and brothers who farm together. We went out to  breakfast with Darla's father Dixon and Dave who has a freight business in Sheldon. Then Dixon took us for a ride and showed us around the Sheldon community. He and his family feed around 3000 head of cattle on the southwest edge of town. We think alot alike and I enjoyed getting to know Dixon. An unexpected visit.

At noon we met my nephew Ryan at the Pizza Ranch. Ryan has recently moved from Colorado to Sanborn. Ryan is a great kid and it was fun catching up.

If you remember last week's visit our churches youth group went on a work trip to Mississippi. Below are grandsons Ethan and Gideon, son Karl, and nieces Ki and Moriah. Well something unexpected happened. Ethan broke his arm jumping out of a stopped van on the way home. Thanks for the pic Karl.

X rays showed both bones broke right in the middle of the arm. So with pain medication they continued for home. They arrived at Blank Hospital in Des Moines around midnight where the doctors made him a splint and said they would do surgery on Monday with plates and screws. Mark, Stacy, and Ethan arrived home around 2 am this morning. Happy Birthday Stacy. What an unexpected way to ring in your 40th.

I would like to use this picture to remember today is Father's Day. About a week or ten days ago Kurt, Karl, and the guys they were friends with in school got together as families. God does the unexpected in all our lives. Who would have guessed 10 years ago this picture as even a possibility. There were over 20 little kids there. I am thankful I have a Christian father. I was the oldest of 6 children. I am thankful I was a father that gets to love 6 kids more than they will ever realize as well as loving their mother. I am thankful to have a son-in-law and 5 sons that are all great Christian fathers. Thank for the pic Emily or Kristin.

At Risefest last evening the MercyMe fellows spent some time privately with some folks having struggles. Unexpected. An act of serving. As Bart who has five children of his own was singing the song he wrote about losing his father I thought as he did what will heaven be like. We can only imagine.

As earthly fathers we value the love and relationships of our children. Our Heavenly Father far more perfectly values and wants our love and relationships with us His children more than He wants our influence and our impact even for His causes.

As you continue your season of life there will be crossroads. Struggles. The unexpected. God says, "I am not taking away the storms. But I will help you through them". Sometimes we ask God where He is at. You know what? That's ok. He is our Father, wants our attention, is by our side, and has unexpected plans for us. Have a good week.