Game On

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. She is an author, a nurse, and a lawyer, but chooses to say home and raise their family and be a mom to their 7 children.

Elizebeth, Sarah Marie, and Sec of State, Matt Shultz are on Rick's left side. Karen and either Peter or Patrick are on his right side. Rick talked about his grandfather immigrating to Pennsylvania, working for 5 years in the coal mine, and then bringing his father here at 7 years old. He said that's why he chose that little western Pennsylvania town to announce his candidacy. I still remember where I was standing in the seed shed the first time he called and invited me to the announcement. Even though it would have been a long drive and we were busy in the field, I regret not going.

We met the Santorum family in the hotel lobby after a very late supper to say our good byes and to give them a couple of gifts that represented Rick's hard work in Iowa and God's guideance and protection to Him and his family.

We also put together some pictures of their 8 day stay in the cabin on our farm.

What a blessing it has been to get to know and become friends with such a fine Christian family. Rick has said from the beginning he doesn't know what the future holds, but he does know God has called him to be a voice in this process.

This is Allison Grace. She was born Thursday and joins her parents, Mark and Stacy, and her four brothers and sister. You might be thinking, why is Allison at the end of your story. Well, she and her cousins that began this story are some of the main reasons for this story.

Several folks have shared that it is uncharecteristic of me to be involved in the political process and I agree I've not given it much time in the past. Our forefathers made things happen. We as current generations are watching things happen. And if we continue as a country on the path we are on our grandchildren will wonder what happened. I strongly believe if we as a country don't change our course, 2012 will be our last free election. History proves it. I don't want Allison and her cousins to come to me someday and say Grandpa, why didn't you try and save our freedoms. God, please bless America.