Life In Living Color-Revised

I remember watching TV as a kid at my grandparents in the 1960s. NBC would always introduce the start of a show by showing a peacock unfold and say "brought to you in living color". Our lives today are full of living color.

Our daughter Becky had her 20 week ultrasound. The little person is holding it's umbilical cord. Amazing. Becky stopped by to pick up Zach who was helping me. She asked me to come look what she had posted on facebook on our office computer. She wrote underneath this picture, "expecting our 4th". "Cool" I said. The only problem is you accidently posted it on our bookkeeper Linda's page instead of your own. Now that would have made headlines had she not hurriedly changed it.

Karl spent most of the week entering layers of data and preparing colorful prescription maps for each of our fields for planting season.

Another colorful event. BJ and Cassia had a heifer have a set of twins that didn't have enough milk for the both of them. So Ati and Natalie are feeding the twins while Zach plays with the cat.

So what are the attributes of keeping one's life colorful? I think energy, positive attitude, willingness to take risk, caring heart, desire to share, and being happy in your own skin.

Sometimes problems aren't always that colorful unless a person has the right attitude. Our shop drain froze this winter. We had Mitch and Cody come and blow the ice out.

Dana is my boss in the seed business. He is a perfect example of living life in color. He is a good friend, great attitude, outgoing personality, and just one of those guys that's fun to work with. We were discussing over lunch about continuing to run an ethical selling business in sometimes a not so ethical culture.

Well here's Zach helping Grandpa. Sixteen grandkids but it's still hard to type Grandpa. Sounds so old. Reality I guess.

If you help the big boys you get to eat with the big boys. Zach got to order his own Beacon Burger at Anderson's. We shared a drink. I got to use a chewed on straw.

Family and friends enjoyed a sledding party and bonfire last Sunday afternoon. It was fun to have Jason, Michelle, and their three girls join us. They are leaving this coming summer to be principal in Orange City. We will miss them.

Life is always more colorful when you let kids be kids and allow them to explore and be active. While sledding the kids caught mice and moles that were disrupted from their hideouts under the snow by the sleds.

After sledding Cassia had everyone over for soup and goodies. Fellowship with loved ones is a beautiful and colorful time.

Last Friday evening was our annual fundraising auction for our local Christian school. Joel did an excellent job as the auctioneer. It's a blessing to have a vibrant Christian school that educates kids from dozens of different churches and denominations.

Remember, gray, boring, and negative don't do much to make friends and influence people. Go about your responsibilities this coming week in living color by being a person that's enjoyable to be around and doing your best to encourage others and helping them keep color in their lives as well.

Stayed tuned. Our family has a very colorful day today. If I get time tonight I might add a couple more pictures.


Good evening. Last night we went out with Karl and Kristin for Kristin's birthday tomorrow. Great food with a great couple.

 Today was a blessed day. We went to Jackson's baptism at Pella 2. It was inspiring to worship and celebrate with Kurt and Emily and their church family.

All grandchildren baptisms are special. We sometimes take for granted God put us in a Christian home. By His grace He allowed us to raise our children in a Christian home. And now we praise Him while we watch our children establish Christian homes. Below is a picture taken just 8 weeks ago when little Jackson had a couple of extended stays in Blank Hospital in Des Moines. While his blood problem isn't figured out yet we trust for a solution or that he will outgrow it.

After lunch with Brian, Becky, and family near Sully(I forgot a pic) Jan and I came home for a quiet afternoon. This evening both sides of Jackson's family got together for supper at the cabin. God gives us a name and a place in time. He then adds people and events that color our lives. Hopefully we can out of gratitude reflect his brightness and love on others.