StillwatersIowa

As we go through life we never know what's coming down the tracks. We do know however we were all created for a purpose and are working at making a difference.   On Tuesday it snowed. Making a difference is defined as having an effect on something or someone. On Friday we had a thunderstorm and hail. Our examples outlive our achievements. Ten years ago these were young teenage friends in high school. Today they have families of their own. Friday evening they took their 4-wheelers out for a get together before a busy spring. Dr. Tim and his medical student finished their surgery schedule early so they went out for a tenderloin together and then came to see a farm. Sie(See) immigrated from Vietnam when he was eight and grew up out east where there are no farms. Being a mentor rather than just an instructor makes a difference. Last evening was the Cattleman's Banquet. Being part of an organization that promotes a cause o...

Mark Twain once said not to let school get in the way of education. Don't worry. I realize school is important. I do feel however that school is just one aspect of education. Taking the time to have kids help you affirms them and lets them know they're loved.                                      Giving kids jobs builds charecter, teaches them to see and tackle work, and prepares them to be a problem solver later in life. When kids watch their parents tackle situations it expands their world. This heifer was too small to deliver her large bull calf. Dr. Tom had to come and do a C-section. Both the mom and calf are doing well. The frost is rotten enough to start plowing in tile. Gideon is his Dad's tile stringer and John practices digging in set ins. We did seed just a few field borders an...

Anticipation is waiting eagerly for something you know is going to happen. Like a spring break trip to Colorado. Apprehension on the other hand is a fearful or uneasy feeling about the future. Like the possibility of falling between the mini bulk bags while playing on top.   Spring isn't quite here yet but we couldn't wait to get out and move some dirt. The frost is starting to rot and coalmine shale doesn't hold frost well so Mike with help from his brothers started reclaiming a coalmine project. This job brought back many memories as the boys remember riding these coalmine piles on their 4-wheelers with their friends during their school years. BJ is showing Randy and Dean some planter parts that need attention. If the weather would cooperate and the soil would warm up we would like to be ready to roll in 3 weeks.   Our old planter monitors used to have a little light for each row. If a light came on that meant you had a problem. End of sto...

Many years ago in a small farming village there lived two teenage boys.   One day these boys decided to steal a few sheep and sell them.   They thought it would be an easy way to make some money. However they got caught.   The village elders branded their foreheads with the letters "ST" in order to make them an example to others. This was to be a visible reminder of their wrongdoing and forever warn others that they were in the presence of a "Sheep Thief".   One of the boys became bitter. He made wrong choices. His life spiraled downward. And he soon died a lonely man.   The other young man was sorry for what he had done. He asked for forgiveness. He proceeded to live a life of integrity and trust. He helped and cared for others. He became very well respected in his small village.   Many years later that same now elderly man passed a father and son along the road.   The son asked his father why the old ma...