Resolutions For Solutions

Have you ever started a new year with a resolution promising yourself you were going to try harder? As we have traveled through January and now well into February we should know by now just how committed we are.

So what happens on the farm in the middle of February when the temps are below zero, it snows every day, and spring is looking like it's months away yet? Well we plan for solutions for the new crop year.

If you've done any cleaning up in the previous fall there are always brush piles to burn.

Believe it or not there are a number of classes to attend. This coming week there are field drainage classes, prescription farming school, and this past week we had to attend our annual commercial pesticide applicators certification since we spray for hire. A new years resolution this year is to have 6 or 7 of us with our commercial applicators license.

Loads of seed are still coming in. We also load the computer with layers of information for each of our fields for the coming season including soil maps, fertility tests, 3 years worth of previous yield maps, the seed variety we're going to use and a prescription for variable rate population. This info gets plugged into the planter's computer in a couple of months.

There is no use making resolutions to do your best at raising a crop if you don't have a solution for marketing it. Selling crops based on needing the money, needing the bin, or it smells works when prices are high however I doubt if that works this year. Marketing takes some forethought. First you need to know you're breakeven. Next you decide whether it's a homerun year or a survivor year. Then you set goals. And finally you aggressively put those goals in action trusting you will have a crop and insuring it for if you don't.

You must also take some and give others time for relaxation in the winter months because there is less time for that when it's warm. Whether it's motorcycles on the ice, snowmobiles on the snow, taking a trip, ice fishing like Mike is doing below, or just spending extra time with family the purpose is to slow down once in a while and learn to relax. By the way the ice on the pond was deeper than Mike's auger, over two feet thick. 

Jan and I enjoyed a valentines evening out with Kurt, Emily, and Jackson. Jackson's platelet count is still not right and he is scheduled to have some bone marrow removed tomorrow from his little hip. Poor guy. Wish I could help him somehow. That's got to hurt.

 Becky came yesterday and set up for a 3 generation family picture of some friends who are celebrating an anniversary at the cabin today. Make the effort to take pictures of the ones you love.They create memories, are precious, and you never know how long they will be around.

 A year ago yesterday I lost my brother. Even though I know it was his gain I still miss him. My thoughts and prayers go out to those who went through Valentines Day Friday by themselves because of losing a  spouse.

Visiting the elderly as an elder is always enjoyable. I thank my Mom for going with me on one visit. I am always intrigued by their stories. Grace told me that as a young girl she remembers losing their barn to a fire in 1938 and then losing her father to cancer two days later. It wasn't always the good old days. 

Last night was a fund raising banquet for Love INC. As a fundraiser they auctioned off desserts. Thanks to little Maggie for picking out and bidding on our table's favorite.

Earlier in the year our church passed the collection plate filled with upside down notes with a Christian characteristic printed on it. We were all to pick one out and hang it where we would see it. I got obedience. I thought this one's for kids. Then I thought I'm God's kid. My resolution this year is to be more obedient in body, mind, and spirit.

I hope to be more obedient in body by watching what and how much I eat and exercising. I hope to be more obedient in mind by how I act and think, how I treat others, have a more selfless personality, try hard to use my intellect and abilities, and give others the credit they deserve when good things happen. And finally I hope to be more obedient in spirit by taking the time to pray more, surrendering to God, and asking the Holy Spirit for guidance in the many responsibilities I'm given. God had a plan for us before we were even born. Seeking out that plan is a winning solution.