StillwatersIowa

A story is told about a storekeeper who had a vase broken in many pieces. The storekeeper put the vase all back together and sat it in his window. However when people passed by all they saw were the cracks between the broken pieces of the vase. So the storekeeper lit a candle and put it inside the cracked vase. Everyone remarked how bright the vase looked as the light shone through the cracks. When people watch us do they just see our scars and dark cracks or do they see Christ's light and love shining through those cracks. When Jesus was asked if He was for real He quoted Isaiah 61 which says, The Lord has annointed me to preach good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. That's the light we are to share.

I think winter is finally here to stay. You know it's about time to call it a year in Iowa when your work involves diesel fuel additive, either, jumper cables, and stocking hats. Anton likes climbing on things in the shop. He gets a kick out of Grandpa telling him to be careful all the time. Elliott and Zach are all bundled up and dressed for the weather. They enjoy being outdoors. One small drawback of bundled up grand kids helping is when they say, I got to go potty. Grandpa usually says, are you sure?  Years ago I told you it was a transition becoming a grandparent. Well I want you to know it's a bigger transition realizing your grand kids are growing up. Rachael is becoming a young lady. Amelia is not far behind. I hope they don't think I'm as old as I thought my grandparents were when I was their age. Speaking of old in a nice way we celebrated a combined Christmas/Birthday get together last Sunday. Jan's father turned 89 and is here with his three children. Gr...

"For everything there is a season and a time for every activity under heaven." Eccl. 3:1 God has determined time and seasons for man to accomplish his purposes. God does not condemn but approves of the use of earthly blessings. He also gives us the responsibility of being good stewards of the blessings we use. Amidst the instability of our culture there is comfort in God's timing and purpose of our changing seasons. We are promised there will always be seed time and harvest even for future generations. I have always enjoyed those future generations, earlier our children, and now our grandchildren, interacting, helping, and being part of our operation.  Of course work would get monotonous and burdensome if that's all we consisted of and strived for. In farming the changing seasons give us different responsibilities and even allow us some occasional down time. A snowfall can be a beautiful thing until you have to move it. Below Ethan is helping Grandpa cle...

It has been an eventful winter for our family. With the older grand kids still on Christmas break last week Monday, Jan had her hands full trying to keep the bigger kids from running over the smaller ones. All the cousins love to play together. What a blessing having them all live close enough to watch them grow up.  Since it has been such a warm, dry winter the dozers, tiler, and track hoe are still busy and late this past week we started putting on NH3 again and even leveled off some ground for spring planting.  Last Tuesday evening we met with our neighbors in the county shop to discuss who should be our next president. I was encouraged by the 150 folks that took the time to get together. Karl wrote and read in his own words why he thought Rick Santorum would be a good candidate. After the caucuses Jan and I, Kristin and Karl, and Becky and Brian went to Des Moines to congratulate the Santorums. Rick started his speech giving a tribute to his wife, Karen...

Welcome to 2012. I hope you are looking forward to facing the opportunities as well as the challenges the new year has in store.  God won't be asking us to take on projects that are bigger than we are. However He does want us to be courageous and face our new year with a purpose. God does want us to recognize the abilities and gifts He has given us. When we are given the opportunity He expects us to load up our resources and help make things happen with His guidance and help. Many of our jobs for 2012 will be as close as our own families and be the same things we did in 2011. Many of our responsibilities will involve helping and serving each other. The jobs of going to work, washing clothes, cleaning house, and making meals happen every day without people watching or sometimes even noticing. There will be days when we get up and feel like conquering every project in our path. There will also be days when our jobs look like a big pile of rocks that we are not sure how to ...