Appreciation Verses Expectation

Happy Birthday America. 250 years ago, under God's direction, our forefathers drafted a Declaration of Independence. Then they fought for 6 years, sacrificing their time, their property, and their lives for a cause they believed in. Thanks for the picture Suzanne.

What we forget is that only about a third of those in the 13 colonies were patriots for the cause of independence. Another third were loyalist and wanted to stay with Britain. The final third was undecided. I read an article written by my friend Del that said George Washington showed appreciation to his soldiers and to the communities where they fought. While with the British, everything was expected, including the redcoats as well as the communities they often ransacked. The undecided third of the colonist were won over by how people were handled.

Are things in life expected? Absolutely! However expectations can quietly turn blessings into burdens, while appreciation brings out the best in people. Jan's Grandfather was Carl, then Elijah, then Rev John, then Ben, then this fellow John, who was a Revolutionary soldier. Our history (His-story) isn't that old folks. Our son Karl has been to this gentleman's grave twice in Boone County, Indiana. Thanks for the picture Karl.

Because of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, I was able to start farming 52 years ago and purchase this IH 856. 51 years ago last March, I was blessed to marry this gal. Before that she spent summers running the baler for her father. She still can. Although I don't always get it right, I appreciate and love her very much.

Speaking of the old days, Jan's father had wire tie bales (we still do), and insisted on tight, heavy bales. So back then he built a homemade scale to make sure the baler driver knew the bales were tight enough.

You don't come across many neatly stacked loads of small bales these days. For those that don't remember, stacking small bales was an art. These young men and their fathers and uncles did a great job of stacking 4 loads on a very hot Thursday afternoon. I hope they all know how much they are appreciated and loved.

Jan has a beautiful garden. And since our shelves and freezers are full, we have enjoyed delivering and sharing produce with others. Last Wednesday evening I was thanked for an act of kindness I've been doing for a number of years. Although not expected, the gratitude given was truly appreciated. And energizes me to continue to try and be at my best.

Does our United States have another 8 generations of life in it? If so, how will we be remembered? Yes, I expect things of folks. But will they remember those acts and deeds were appreciated? Thanks for the picture Jan.

A couple of weeks back I turned our Bethlehem star on a couple of nights. Really no reason other than I was thankful for my 70th birthday. Because we accept Christ's gift, we expect and look forward to eternal life in Heaven when our life on earth ends, as it will. However just as we earthly fathers appreciate gratitude, our Heavenly Father appreciates our thank-you to Him for everything we have been, are now, and will be.

After harvesting wheat, we had scheduled baling straw Friday, kind of a holiday. Thursday afternoon John tested moisture and the straw was 11 to 15% so we rocked and rolled with good help. Thursday evening I planted a second crop of soybeans and then got an inch of rain on them. Had we not taken advantage of weather Thursday, we would still have windrows of wheat straw on the ground. We started this morning with Suzanne's picture of a soybean field. We'll end with the same. Always appreciate and take advantage of opportunities. In your jobs, in relationships, in life.

The Long View

This past week we wrapped up spreading treated dry urea on custom acres. When driving through shoulder high corn one can't be constantly looking back wondering about mistakes. One can't even look down to see if your spreader wheels are still between the rows. One has to look forward as far ahead as possible. And have faith in the long view that your machine is going where your eyes are looking, where your arms are steering, and that your allowances for hill sides and corners are correct.

In the short view, farmers often get up before daylight with the determination and work ethic to get the jobs on the list accomplished, including the unknowns. Their goal however is the long view, looking forward to harvest, which hopefully pays the bills, provides for family, and benefits our communities and our world.

John and his father, BJ, took some time this week to finish pattern tiling one of their farms. The soybean planter is still hooked up, waiting for this project to be completed.

Karl and his daughter Brynn took some time this week to put up field signs on field edges along highways that we had just trimmed up with the batwing and skidloader mowers. Thanks for the picture Karl.

Thursday morning Lucas brought Ben over for a visit. Ben farms in Scotland. He and his wife raise hogs there. He came to America to learn about raising soybeans for a protein feed source. Thanks for the picture Lucas.

Adi and Natalie had an incredible day yesterday with their Pella Christian School clay target  shooting team at the state finals. The short view is I don't make it to enough of my grandkids sporting events. The long view will hopefully show that because of my health and abilities, I can still be an asset on the day to day activities on the farm, helping to allow my kids to be a part of their kids lives, and also to help them be an asset in their schools and churches, where they often volunteer their time. Thanks for the picture BJ.

March/2026 was an incredible warm and dry month. It was a month of opportunities. The first week we remembered and honored my mother who went to Heaven March 3. The second week we switched some soybean acres to corn last minute. A hog finishing company had 500,000 gallon of extra hog manure in 6 pits that needed lowered to make it till fall application. So we hauled and applied spring honey which worked well because of the unusually dry conditions. The third week we leveled off many acres going to corn. And the final week of March we planted corn. Some of that early corn started silking and tasseling yesterday.

The short view here on earth is that it is a blessing to spend time with family. We were invited to join BJ and Cassia's family last week on Father's Day for lunch. The big boots are mine. The little ones are great-granddaughter, Oakley's.

These Sunday morning stories are a 17 year path of events that reflect faith, family, friends, and farming. I occasionally and deservedly get questioned about my motives. I have 3 objectives. To be interesting and from the heart, to be as short as possible, and to point to the faithfulness of my Heavenly Father. I intentionally try to avoid fancy words. My intent is that the young, the simple, and the childlike can understand my thoughts. 

Homesick For Heaven, by Phil Wickham, was released Memorial Day/2025. After a cancer diagnosis last July 2, I thought Heaven might have been sooner rather than later. I'm still here and feeling well. However, unless Jesus comes soon, we will all die. We all need to be ready for the long view. I'd like to wrap up with the song's chorus: "I want to walk with Moses on streets of gold. And dance with David before your throne. To thank you face to face for the grace You've given. (Here's the family long view) I wanna see my children run into your arms, and worship the Savior who wears my scars. There's an ache in my heart. I'm homesick for Heaven".

Work And Worship

Today is Sunday. Today is Father's Day. Today is the longest day of the year. Today it's raining. Life is not about how we feel, but how we choose to act. Thinking back on our past month the two things that I've enjoyed are work and worship. The hard red winter wheat is about 2 weeks away from harvest.

Last weekend we drove to Sheldon, Iowa, met grandkids, Cody and Tori, who live in South Dakota, and attended a 2 day Christian outdoor concert called Risefest, attended by 30,000 folks. The atmosphere, music, and  message were true worship other than long lines. 53 folks gave their lives to Christ for the first time and were baptized Saturday evening. 

While looking for my 8th grade Bible, this report card showed up. I didn't care for school much. The Bs, Cs, and Ds don't bother me today. What does bother me though is that every report card, every year, by every teacher, said, "He is capable of doing better".

Speaking of 8th graders doing their best, Natalie and her older sister Adi just finished shooting at state with their Pella Christian School shooting team. Both girls did well. Natalie won State in her age group. Thanks for the picture.

Along with haying, June could be considered a "weed and feed" month. We're just about wrapped up with 2nd pass spraying. We have also been adding some nitrogen fertilizer to a few fields for ourselves and others.

Another June job is mowing road ditches, waterways, and terraces. It's not only to keep things neat, but also to keep the trashy trees from growing which are abundant in southern Iowa.

What a blessing it is to not only work with grandkids but to worship with them. Not just praying before meals. Not just sitting in church with them. Not just telling them stories of God's goodness in the pickup on the way to the field. But to be in an atmosphere where you feel God's presence, and see they do as well. To listen to little ones sing praise songs, and know every word.

I snapped this picture off the screen last Saturday evening. The raised hands around the stage aren't approving of the artist. Young and old alike are worshipping God. The pathway to meaningful work is sacrifice believe it or not. Surrendering our purposes and abilities to God. And surrendering the urge to be the center of every story, allowing others to succeed in both work and worship. "So when I fight, I'll fight on my knees, with my hands lifted high. Oh God, the battle belongs to you".

Storms And Promises

42 years ago this past week an F4 tornado tracked on the ground for 3 hours through northern Missouri and southeastern Iowa destroying the little town of Wright, Iowa. This past Thursday morning heavy rain, strong winds, and large hail, went through several of our communities in southern Iowa. Thanks for the picture Brad.

Damage ranged from leaning to flattened crops, to totally stripped by hail, to flooded acres.

                              

I'm going to break my own rule of last names today for you who enjoy "Dutch Bingo". Cornelius and Nellie Boender had 12 children. 2nd born William was born in Holland. At 16 years old he was to go to court for kicking a dog. He chose instead to come to America. My great-grandparents in this picture look like a storm must have went through their vegetable patch in Holland. 😊

Bill Boender married Christine DeVries. They had 10 children. 2 of their sons were Samuel and Harry. Sam married Wilma Nunnikoven. Harry married Bynie Rus. Sam had 3 children including Stanley. Harry had 6 including me (Steve). Stan married Lila Menninga and had 4 including Justin. I married Jan Ferguson and had 6 including BJ. Justin married Michelle Kuntz and had 3 boys including Noah. BJ married Cassia Leaverton and had 5 including Gideon. Noah married Samantha and have 2 including Tyson. Gideon married Emily Sytsma and have 2 including Ella.

Why the long boring genealogy? Because last week, on the same Sunday, at the same church, 7 generations later, two little Boender children, Tyson and Ella, were dedicated to God. We sang "The Blessing" where the chorus says, "May His favor be upon you....And your family and your children, and their children, and their children".

I have no idea of the status of all the offspring of Cornelius and Nellie. I do know the number is in the thousands. I do know however that God has been faithful. And in the last 125 years, His favor has been upon the 7 generations of those I mentioned today. Below grandkids ranging from kindergarten through 6th grade are taking the blades off of Grandma's mower so Grandpa can sharpen them.

Monday afternoon, after helping with jobs, the younger grandkids went swimming while Grandpa was lifeguard.

There have been plenty of storms over those last 125 years. Some downright tough. Yet through it all God is always by our side. The older grandkids all have work of their own now. Elijah is taking the JD8420 and going to mow road ditches. Ethan is heading for his dump truck to haul rock.

Wednesday evening I hurried home with the skidloader and mower before an approaching storm. As I stepped out to open the shop door a lightning strike hit the ground just behind me. The crash was deafening. The flash of light was blinding. I could still barely smell sulfur the next morning. Our electricity flashed. Jan's house windows rattled. She ran out in the rain to see if I was still moving. I thought, Wow, that was close. Then I thought that was God's presence in the storm. He was in Jan and my storm last summer when we were both diagnosed with health issues. And in our storms, He says, "I will never leave you or forsake you".

Being Salt

Salt heals, preserves, and enhances. It does everything from taking the redness out of sores to killing weeds. Salt melts ice off sidewalks and icy roads. It's purposes are almost endless. Yet it's price is insignificant. And salt does it's work unnoticed.

I went to Jamie's house this past week and bought a new tool. It's a hydraulic driven brush cutter mounted on our skidloader. Jim is modifying a brand new machine.

Jan brought out Saturday morning breakfast, took advantage of the older grandkids being there, and had them help her move some heavy rocks.

I asked Lane if he would help me replace some fuel lines on our 1971 JD 4020 which we use to spray fencerows. Lane is around 6 yrs old. Thanks for the picture Kurt.

Part of summer responsibilities is scouting crops, checking stands, weed control, and differences in hybrids. Matt and Michael joined Karl in looking at a test plot.

When scouting, I use a Ranger, up until the corn is knee high. I put notes on my phone or I forget.

We had a left front wheel assist hub disintegrate after a snap ring failed on our 2004 JD 8420 with 7500 hours on it. This tractor is on the batwing mower all summer. The expensive parts should be in to fix it tomorrow.

I went to Pleasant Hill Tuesday evening. Adam started and ended his governor campaign with a praise and worship service. Worshipping our Lord with Adam, Casey, Maverick, Ryker, and a church full of ordinary folks was unforgettable.

About 75 generations ago Jesus told an audience of people that we are the salt of the earth. We are to help heal folks troubles. We are to be 2AM friends that preserves others faith walk. We are to enhance those around us by encouraging them, affirming them, and not talking negative about them. Being the salt of the earth is an intentional decision, not an outcome. And it usually works best when efforts go unnoticed.

In Jesus's message 2000 yrs ago, the emphasis was not on being salt, but losing our saltiness. We live in a decaying world. If Christians don't stand up with a backbone and work at preserving our culture, who will? The evil one can't take away our salvation. But he works hard to take away our significance.

Leave The Rest To Him

Memorial Day is past. The crop is growing. The weather is warm. Our 2nd full moon of the month welcomed me up this morning. It's called a blue moon. And it's wedding season. Amelia and Tysen were married Monday. I snagged a picture of them with their parents, Randy and Jodi, and Stacy and Mark.

"Direct your children on the right path. And when they get older, they will not leave it". Proverbs 22:6. As parents we raise our kids with love, boundaries, responsibilities, and a care for others. When they become adults and become their own family, we promise them support, we respect their independence, we pray for them, we bless them like these parents are doing at Monday's wedding, and we leave the rest to God.

"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him... How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them". Psalm 127: 3,5. What is a man with a full quiver to do? Serve others. Finish strong. Be teachable. Be generous. Walk humbly. And leave the rest to the Lord.

"It is good for people to make a living, to enjoy their work, and to accept their destiny in life... God keeps people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to worry over the past". Ecclesiastes 5:18,20. We felt behind early in the week killing weeds. However we were able to catch up on 2nd pass spraying for ourselves and others this past week.

BJ and John spent the week haying, both alfalfa and grass, both large round and large square, both for themselves and others.

Kurt and his friend Matt moved some bred heifers from dry lot to grass. Kurt and Emily also had a number of wood fired pizza venues to serve at.

While the crew is working on spraying weeds in crops, I'm busy spraying them in fencerows, waterways, and road ditches. We're on our 3rd load of product.

"We plan, prepare, plant, and pray, but it is ultimately the Lord who guides our paths and determines the outcome of our efforts". Proverbs 16:9 paraphrased. The crop is growing and finally finding the fertilizer. It's not perfect. Nothing is on earth. We leave the rest to Him. I went around and replanted 10 acres of flooded holes in four soybean fields.

Farming is rooted in faith. Much of what we do is out of our control. God tells us to be fruitful and multiply. That's more than just having kids. It's to be productive. We are also to care the best we can for our land. Some of that care to the land comes after planting season. We've a half a dozen projects for ourselves and others we're still working on. We will replant the affected areas up until the end of June. Thanks for the picture BJ and Kurt. They are putting in a new 8" main tile around Kurt and Emily's buildings.

"Whoever is kind to others lends to the Lord. And He will reward them for what they have done". Proverbs 19:17 paraphrased. This was the week we had time to till and plant a food plot for an elderly widower in our neighborhood.

Jan's Clematis vine has quite the story. It reminds me of Jesus message, "And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't He surely care for you". Matthew 6:30.

Tuesday is primary voting day here in Iowa. There are folks speculating. There are folks cutting last minute deals. There are folks that feel the weight of this election totally on their shoulders and are trying to turn in the middle of the stream. My advice to you is stick with your plan A when voting Tuesday. And then leave the rest to "Him". This just may be the season of "Once in a blue moon".