Reflections

Our family hosted our 22nd annual Customer Appreciation Supper this past week. What a blessing to have customers, family, and friends get together in the shop for one of Jan's home raised meals. For 22 years we have been blessed with great weather for our get together. This sunrise reflection was a promise that we were going to have another wonderful evening. For some pictures of the evening go to our daughter Becky's blog entitled "The Ochsners". Her post is named Dekalb Supper.

Being a seed dealer for the past 20 plus years has been a rewarding experiance. It has kept us on the cutting edge of crop production. We have some wonderful business relationships which have grown to friendships. The seed business has allowed me to help others be better at what they do and grow. It has been the source of revenue for Christian education.

This is a fun story. Several years ago Jan's aunt gave her this ugly plant. Her aunt told her it came from Grandma Terpstra. She told Jan it was supposed to bloom at night but she had not remembered it blooming in 40 years. She said the blooms were called "A Dutchman's Pipe" because that is how the stem looks.

Well sure enough, Thanks to Jan's green thumb it has bloomed the last couple of years. It usually only blooms once a year and only comes during the night. It starts to open up around 10 or 11 pm and is done for by morning. What a reflection of patiance and persistance.