One More

Well once more our Iowa seasons have changed and winter is here. All fieldwork has stopped with the exception of the dozers.

BJ received and excellent report from the doctors in Iowa City this week. His eyes are healing. God is good.

I've had folks tell me life isn't about feelings however it felt good to have BJ stop by the office with his dark glasses for coffee his first morning visit back.

Karl and Kristin have loaded out around 1000 head of hogs over the past week. I remember the old days when we would chase a fat hog all over the lot trying to get one more on the 14 foot truck bed.

Kurt was telling me he was reminded of the good old days as he hauled manure for BJ this past week.

He said he remembered helping haul manure when he was a kid and remembered me constantly telling him the spreader would hold one more bucket.

It was fun watching Ezra taking his part so seriously in their school Christmas program. He is a kindergartner at Sully.

It's once again deer hunting season south of Hwy 92. A neighborhood group of friends go deer hunting every year.

This was the first year deer hunting without big Steve who lost his battle to cancer earlier this past year. It was heartwarming to see someone decorated his grave appropriately for the season.

Kids will remember the good times and traditions spent with parents way longer than they will remember the things we leave. Our time is in God's hands and someday we may not get that one more chance. So spend time and create traditions with your loved ones.

Mike and I were dozing together Thursday. Kurt calls midafternoon and tells me he and Emily have a new baby boy. Jackson Daniel weighed 6 1/2 pounds. God is good. So after Jan got off work and brought us a sandwich she went to meet her new grandbaby. Kurt called Jan around 1:30 am Friday morning and said Des Moines was coming to Pella by ambulance to pick up Jackson.

So I first met our new grandson in the neonatal unit in Des Moines. As of this morning I'm still not sure what's bugging him. His breathing is fast and his blood platelet count is low.

 Once again we made an unexpected trip through the night. However just as you can see in the picture below the love of a Grandma who can't wait to hold her grandson, God looks forward to holding us and giving us comfort and joy during tough times.

So often today people view their Christianity as theological rather than experiential. They correctly see the Bible as God's Truth and read it like an owners manual. However just like an owners manual points us to the real experience of operating in the field. The Bible gives us directions and examples of how we are to experience and share Christmas in real life.

So is your life half empty or half full this season? So often winter looks cold and gray. We can say life stinks. Or we can look forward to friends, and recuperating, and less busy, and planning, and yes, once more, the real reason for the season, a relationship with the One who came to earth on Christmas.