March Madness

I don't know if you have noticed or not but we have had some colorful sunrises this month. Warm, dry days in Iowa in March are a gift. 

Southern Iowa has been able to take advantage of our unusual March. Karl has been taking care of our seeding jobs for folks.

BJ, Ryan, and I have been working on some cornstalk hill ground going back to corn this spring.

If a person is going to tile in the spring March is the month to do it. BJ and Alex have been working on the list.

Kurt, Brad, and Alex have been the NH3 crew this week and have been working hard with three outfits.

Farm traffic on our roads is part of the landscape during busy times. These NH3 tanks were being pulled back to town empty from one of our fields when they were hit by a semi. Fortunately no one was injured.

Congratulations to the folks that played in the state basketball tournaments these past two weeks. Community spirit and the ability to know, work, play, and care about and with each other are character traits that set the Midwest apart and make it a great place to live. In many cases like the Western and Unity girls, these kids on competing teams know and respect each other. 

Loren and Barb live in northwest Iowa and create masterpieces out of stained glass. They asked us to run up and check on the progress off a window that replicates our farm and is going above the doorway in Jan's sunroom. This ability to fire, color, and cut hundreds of pieces of glass and then solder them together amazes me.

A family friend, fellow church member, and neighbor is enjoying this March in heaven with her husband, sons, and many siblings. Dorothy was 98 years old.

Dorothy's nephew Johnny shared memories. I remember going to their house one time as a grade schooler to visit Kevin and Steve who were my age in their large families small home. I remember waking up way to early and Dorothy making me feel comfortable while she fixed breakfast.  

These five little cousins are able to play together on the porch at Grandma's house in this warm March weather. 

Most of us were able to get together last Sunday evening for supper. Family is a gift any month of the year.

Edgar loves to visit and tell stories about the old days. The original part of his current home was built as a log cabin in 1850. Another perk of our countries heartland is to know and check in on our neighbors just to see if they are doing ok.

Last Sunday was Gems Sunday at our church. Many of the young ladies are from outside our church.

Jan and I were invited to a partner day at JCA, an inner city Christian School in Des Moines. We visited class and shared chapel with the kids there. Always a fun visit.

A lot of things are happening in March. There are responsibilities that scream to be taken care of. Then there are jobs that just remind us they need attention. Finally there are responsibilities that whisper at us and we barely catch them if we are not listening. Our job is to sort through the madness and not miss the important things in life. Have a good week.