A Full Quiver

What does Solomon mean in Psalms 127 by a father being blessed with a full quiver? He is valuing family as a source of strength and a blessing from God.

Last Sunday we attended Oakley's 1st birthday get-together at her parent's (Gideon and Emily) place northwest of Sully. Gideon is BJ and Cassia's oldest. BJ is our 3rd child.

This is one of the last times my father visited our farm office. In late 2020 he is enjoying two of his favorite things, coffee, and his great-grandchildren. Since I'm the oldest of 6 children, Dad was strict. However as I see the demonstrations in our cities around the country this past week, I'm blessed and thankful he taught me right from wrong.

                              

There were five things I'm thinking about this morning my father gave me; (1)Brothers and sisters. Because of all the responsibility he gave me he (2)taught me to work. When I found my boss dead of a heart attack as a 11th grader, and Walter's children offered to rent me the farm, Dad gave me the (3)opportunity to rent the farm. Dad left the next generation a (4)good reputation. He gave me the (5)love of farming.

Farmers don't get stressed out by what they do. Farmers get stressed out because they forget their passion and purpose in doing it. Farming is not a job. It's a lifestyle that requires faith in planning, in planting, in weather, in marketing. In Ecclesiastes 11:4 Solomon says, "Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud they never harvest".

I read this past week that only 12% of farms make it to the 3rd generation. And only 3% make it to the fourth generation.

Mike and Mark worked together some this past week on building a pond north of here a ways. Thanks for the picture Mark.

Kurt and Emily were invited again to serve pizzas out of their wood-fired pizza trailer at Friday after Five in the Oskaloosa square. Jan is visiting with her highschool classmates from the Class of 73.

Do any of you locally here remember the tabernacle barn that sits on the old Vernard College campus grounds? Thursday evening Jan and I attended a camp meeting service the Iowa Holiness Association was holding there.

We started this morning with Solomon valuing family as a source of strength and a blessing. We get to enjoy both. On Mondays Jan still gets as many grandkids as are available to play together and help Grandma. I've been asking for grandkid help on Saturdays. Cousins get to work together on projects. It's a joy to see the older ones showing and helping their younger siblings and cousins. Yesterday I asked that they wash each other's vehicles as an act of service and caring.

Last evening Mike and Suzanne asked Jan and I out for supper at Hu Hot. It's a Mongolian grill in West Des Moines where you go through a salad bar type of thing, pick out your ingredients, and then watch them grill your meal. Thanks Mike and Suzanne.

As an earthly father I'm a cracked pot, meaning I've fell and been broken many times. However God has and is using this broken vessel. And with His light shining in my heart, the cracks have become who I am. And God can even use cracked pots to light the way for others.

Somewhere in the Bible it talks about flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, an analogy of our lives here on earth. When we're gone there is one thing we leave, a reputation whether good or bad. And one thing we take with us, our full quiver. Somewhere else in the Bible it says, "There is no greater joy than that your children (and grandchildren) love the Lord".

Heroes Kneel

What does a hero look like? Is it someone with significance? How about status and success? Or lots of drive? Actually a hero is some who takes a risk for the greater good of others, expecting nothing in return.

I read a book earlier this year called Heroes Kneel. In it, Alex, the author, unpacks God's concept of a hero and what it takes to live like one.

Last Sunday evening we celebrated Amelia and Tysen getting engaged. Mark and Stacy are Amelia's folks. Randy and Jodi are Tysen's parents.

A little Dutch Bingo for readers my age. Ed and Judy are Jodi's parents. Bev and Dennis are Randy's. Then Tysen and Amelia. Jan and I are Mark's folks. And Sandy and Fred are Stacy's. 4 sets of grandparents. Thanks for the picture Bev.

Adi did a great job shooting at State Trap in Cedar Falls yesterday. In one of her sets she shot a perfect 25 out of 25. Adi's parents are BJ and Cassia. Claire's parents are Doug and Angie.

We are blessed to have a chiropractor that makes house calls. In the summer months Dr. Mark brings his table to our farm shop twice a month and adjusts whoever is available. Then Jan fixes lunch for the whole crew. 

In the old days my parents talked about how life was just getting faster and faster. Things haven't changed. We're busy. Our kids are busier. And now our older grandkids "burn the candle at both ends" as my folks used to say. Ethan is volunteering his time and their family's truck last Saturday evening. Thanks for the picture Ethan.

This past week we finished spreading treated urea (extra N) on some of our corn acres. We're finding out some seed varieties make good use of extra N, while others are fine without it. While spraying soybeans 2nd pass with Enlist and Liberty need "banker's hours" for killing weeds effectively, dry spreading N can happen anytime as long as the corn leaves are dry. So below, I'm doing 2nd shift late one evening.

Maybe you've seen a few neon green corn leaves before in knee high corn. It's called Sudden Growth Syndrome. And it happens when corn is growing fast. Sunlight and photosynthesis soon fix it.

Our last story is about a hero in the midst of grief. Below Mike and Suzanne's Cody is with his Dordt University fellow football players and roommates. About a week ago Liam, the big fellow to Cody's right, was seriously injured in a work related accident less than a month after walking across the graduation stage. It was soon evident the family had to make a tough choice since there was no earthly hope of living without a ventilator. So this past Wednesday morning there was what was called a "heroes walk", where Liam was taken from his hospital room to the surgery ward where Liam's family agreed to have their son's organs donated, saving several other recipients lives. Around 100 family and friends, including Cody, lined the hall from the hospital room to the surgery ward. Thanks for permission to share this story of a hero's family Cody. Thanks for the picture Mike.

Who is your hero? When picking this morning's title, I tried heroes earn, heroes care, heroes help, even heroes serve. But none of those adjectives described the bending of our strength before the living God, submitting that everything we do and accomplish comes from Him. Blessings. Let's visit again next week on Father's Day.

But Take Heart

We were told 2000 years ago that we would have troubles in this world. Little gnats constantly swam and bite when we're outside. There are always weeds to get out of crops, ditches, pastures, and gardens. No-till soybeans are slow with some even needing replanted. There are disagreements in schools, the workplace, and even at church. Equipment breaks down and needs repair. Folks get sick.

Seven young men helped Jan and I yesterday solve just a few troubles. We pulled out a 1946 H Farmall that had been sitting in the corner of the machine shed for 15 years. We swept and organized the shop. We changed oil in Jan's pickup. We mowed very dusty yards. Below is an IH 856, my first tractor, an International 1066, my second tractor, and BJ's International 1486. These were the "Big dogs" from 1969 to 1981.

This picture tells a dozen stories. Jan allowed our kids to get dirty and help their Dad. Equipment broke down back then too. The 1980s had plenty of troubles of it's own. Mike, Mark, BJ, and Becky are helping their father overhaul a motor in a 1979 Chevy Silverado.

Attention Cousins: Last week I told you the wrong date for our Cousin's reunion. But take heart. This week I have the correct date. It's Saturday afternoon and evening, July 5, here at our farm. I'm guessing this picture was taken in 1962 in the basement at Osky 1 CRC. It's Grandpa, Grandma, and their 10 married children and families. By the sober looks on all these faces, the 1960s must have troubles as well. 😊 I'm the little guy on the left end of the front row. Cousins and families, please join us. I have stories, and I can't wait for yours.

I enjoy seeing folks that have tree-free fences and weed-free road ditches. So I spend time every summer spraying and mowing. Back in the old days children were sent out with spades to cut sour-docks out of ditches and throw them on the road. 

On Friday afternoon I sprayed 2nd pass corn on BJs Edgren bottom. The corn rows are just closing on the early planted corn. This shades between the rows and weeds slow down their growth because of no sunlight. In farming we call this canopy.

Mike just finished a pond for Brian and Kristin southwest of Eddyville, moved his dozer to Lynnville, and is starting another one. Thanks for the picture Mike.

Kurt and Emily were invited to serve wood-fired pizzas at the Friday After Five event on the Oskaloosa square.

In a world of troubles you do your best to live a life of faith, family, and values, in a world that's focused on status, success, and self.

After lunch yesterday our helpers looked at picture books of the old days. My goal is to help them and others see their clarity of purpose (God's plan for them) in history (His-story).

On the night before He died Jesus told His helpers, "In this world you will have troubles. But take heart, I have overcome the world". John 16:33. Three days later Jesus rose from the grave and His disciples finally understood and spent the rest of their lives sharing with others how Jesus overcame this world.

So how do we take heart in a world of troubles? We rest. We spend time with the Lord. And then we become productive to the best of our abilities. Welcome to June/2025.

Cousins And Holidays

Cousins are the friends you never knew you wanted but so glad you have. Holidays are the times you take to enjoy those friends. Specifically Memorial Day weekend is the time you remember the ones you've lost.

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned my father went to Korea right after he married. I misremembered. He went to Germany right after the Korean conflict. His cousin and best friend went to France. On November 6,1954, Roger was killed when he was caught between a grader and a dozer on an air force base. My father asked if he could escort his cousins body home. That request was denied. In 1956 I was named Steven Roger in memory of Dad's cousin.

Fast-forward 5 generations. I stopped by our shop office Thursday noon and was delighted to see a daughter-in-law, a grand-daughter, and two great-grand-daughters had stopped to visit. Little Oakley and Rosie are cousins.

Matt and Michael stopped on a wet day to visit and see how things with Becks Seed were wrapping up.

Sixty years ago our neighbor Ken helped my father-in-law build a heavy duty shed mover. In the 1960s, when Jan's family moved, they spent one winter moving portable sheds my father-in-law had built from Wright to SW of Oskaloosa. We still use the shed mover, moving a granary from Melvin's farm to Dave's farm this past week. Thanks for the picture Kasey.

Since we had an inch and a half of rain last Monday we did a fair amount of shop projects including sprayers, balers, spreaders, skidloaders, and multiple tractors.

We continue to haul loads of empty pallets and pro boxes back to Colfax. Also Jan's flowers around the yard are gorgeous as usual. She continues to share bulbs and shoots with about anyone who comes and asks.

Three generations ago Grandpa Bill and Grandma Tina got together with 10 married children every Labor Day for a family reunion. Missing was NOT an option. I remember good food, softball, and lots of cousins. 40 years ago cousin Dave and I hosted a cousins reunion here. This coming 4th of July weekend brother Doug and cousin Alan are planning another cousins reunion. Jan and I are delighted to host here. Attention cousins and families: I look forward to catching up, remembering, laughing about the old days, and sharing how God has been faithful to our family. See you Sunday, July 6.

The Bible is full of stories of Jesus spending feasts and special days with his friends, sinners, and yes, cousins. John the Baptist was Jesus's second cousin. Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, were often called His cousins. Jesus also called 12 ordinary blue collar working men to help Him with His ministry.

Two of those twelve disciples were sons of Zebedee. One day their mother, Salome, asked Jesus if her sons could sit at Jesus right and left sides in heaven, making the rest of the disciples indignant. History says Salome and Mary were sisters. They were together when Jesus was killed. That would make James and John, Sons of Thunder, Jesus's cousins.

James and John believed Jesus was their Savior. Cheerful, compassionate, servanthood is what Jesus taught and showed His cousins and others. We should do no less. Blessings.

Extracurricular

This past Wednesday morning granddaughter Rachel (BJ and Cassia) and her husband Carson welcomed Rosalynn Rae to their family. Rachel and Carson were married on our farm a year ago last April.

"Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but a person is tested by being praised"(and his response to it whether humble or proud) Proverbs 27:21 Great-grandpa holding Rosie.

After visiting little Rosie in the hospital Jan and I drove to Eddyville to watch Sydnie (Karl and Kristin) and her team at a ball game.

I enjoyed getting this picture. Allison (Mark and Stacy) is moving her 4-H pigs. It reminded me of building temporary fence and finishing fat hogs on hay ground every summer back in the old days.

This is Kurt mowing road ditches near their home west of Leighton. We started both mowing and fencerow spraying this week. Thanks for the picture.

With windy days and low humidity it was an excellent week to get hay baled. BJ and his son John mowed, raked, and baled most of the week.

I had a neighbor text and ask if we would knock down corn stalks on their food plot. It was very interesting that I didn't see an ear of corn left. The wildlife must have made good use of the grain last winter. BJ replanted it again before Alex worked on cleaning the planter.

Speaking of cleaning, we've been working on washing equipment before it gets put away for the season. Kudos to Pablo who's been helping by cleaning up the interiors of the tractors.

On Wednesday evenings Kurt often helps as a reserve deputy at the Southern Iowa Raceway. So I joined him this past week and enjoyed the evening. When I was a kid my Dad and I would take the pickup, park at Greenview across the road on the west side of the track, and watch the races by sitting up on the stock racks.

This past week was bring your tractor to school day at PCHS. So Ezra (Becky and Brian) brought the Hybrid truck-tractor we rebuilt last winter. Thanks for the picture.

As Jan and I were driving around looking at crops and weed control, some of which is waiting on rain to get activated, we stopped and visited Jean and her grown kids who were out working on the farm that we rent from her and her family. No matter what our vocations, we were created for relationships and friendships.

Our nephew Luke (Doug and Ginger) and his friend Asher had their graduation party in New Sharon last evening. Both the food and fellowship were great.

"For God is the one who provides the seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, He will provide and increase your resources, and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you" II Corinthians 9:10