StillwatersIowa

Well, Iowa certainly has lived up to it's reputation concerning changing weather. Wednesday, Ottumwa reported 79 degrees, in February no less. Alex and Kurt are both tiling in tee shirts. Just 48 hours later was quite an adjustment with a 12 degree windchill and blowing snow. Last Sunday was a beautiful day for Hazel's baptism. After lunch while everyone was enjoying the outdoors, we decided to take a family picture. The Bible says God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Acres and equipment are also from Him on loan for us to use. God created family for His glory and our blessing and even the folks we love and claim are His. Even though many of us see each other and work together on a daily basis, I feel it's a blessing to get together with the gals and all the kids. At the school bazaar auction last week we bought this painting to support the artist's hard work and the school. The artist is Greg and Patti's son, Phillip who I think is a pastor. Since ...

A hundred and fifty years ago Indians would tell stories of testing stones scattered around their hunting grounds. When an Indian's son could lift one of these stones, he was considered a brave. When he could carry it, he was considered a warrior. God sometimes uses character building events in our lives as testing stones. I used to think I was strong enough to carry those stones by myself. I couldn't. After I figured out how helpless I was on my own, I asked God for help. He has been helping me ever since. Our cabin and it's location is part of remembering the testing stones God used in my life. Someday I hope my grandchildren hear the stories of how those big stones helped me grow.  Many years ago I was introduced to this gal at a church softball game where I was pitching. It was the summer after my Junior year of high school. After the game we went for ice cream on my motorcycle. I was impressed with how much she knew about farming. Of course that's about a...

Can you remember a time when you took a risk, worked at it with all your potential, and really felt good about the results? Everything worthwhile takes effort. And there is a risk involved with most things we try. Mike is putting on the finishing touches of the TW20 we refurbished. This week was construction equipment week in our shop. Our Ziegler Cat mechanic comes and checks everything out, makes a list of what he thinks needs fixed for us to have a trouble free year, and then lets us decide how much to do.  Oil leaks are a killer because in the busy season we forget about leaks. And you know what happens when heavy moving parts run out of lubrication. It gets very expensive to replace heavy moving parts. In order to replace a $10 oil seal on a rear shaft, the blade, the tracks, the side rollers, and the equalizer bar had to be removed. Its a risk if it's not fixed. It takes effort to get to the problem. The reward is a trouble free working season.  BJ's trackho...