Good Company

When you are in good company the trip is never long and the job is in good hands. That was the case on our family vacation. That was also the case back on the farm. Thanks to Alex, Andy, Kasey, Jim, Pablo, Matt, Ryan, Linda, and Paula for taking care of things while we were gone.

Ezra and Elliott were good help and trimmed things up when we got back.

We had a little bean seed left which gets dumped on the market rather than returned to the plant. So I backed a wagon in the dock just to get that small job marked off the list. Well, as you can see it turned into a bigger job when I forgot to check the gravity wagon door. Fortunately Kasey was good company and helped me clean up my mess.

It has not rained in a while and the corn crop is showing that we don't have a lot of moisture reserve in our subsoil as well. With heat units ahead of schedule and the crops lack of moisture we will be having an early harvest. We have fields about two weeks from black layer which is when the kernels reach maturity.

We are often blessed with good company in our office at the beginning of our work day. Below Carl, one of our farm equipment salesman, stopped for coffee as we catch up. 

On Friday Jeff, Rogan, and Matt stopped by on their way to Pella where Matt had attended college many years ago. Jeff told us they live and farm near Holland, Michigan and we probably wouldn't remember but we had met at a Commodity Classic four years ago and they are part of our blog family so they decided to hunt us up. Now that's what I call good company!

Kristin, Sydnie, Cassia, Rachel, Atali, and Natalie came over and helped Jan do some canning. Kristin brought over cucumbers and tomatoes and the girls made salsa and pickles.

I value relationships. I love family. I love friends. However I'm perfectly happy with my own good company mowing waterways and road ditches while watching a sunset.

We farm for Marvin and Jean. Last winter Marvin got very sick in Arizona. I didn't think he would get well so it was a celebration yesterday that he and Jean were able to celebrate 61 years of marriage at the cabin. Congratulations Marvin and Jean. Thanks for being willing to have your family and ours share life together.

 These fellows are keeping good company. Ron, Marvin, Gerald, and Ed are brothers. Dale is a friend. Brother #5 Irvin had already left the get-together.

Pablo has a smile and helpful attitude for everyone he meets. He is good help, a good neighbor, a good friend, and good company.

You are invited. We are cleaning up our shop getting ready for company for our annual customer appreciation supper which will be on Wednesday evening, August 8, anytime between 4 pm and dark. Jan and the girls will be serving a home cooked meal. Our special guest this year is Maurice who is retiring from Cargill/Eddyville after buying corn from you all for as long as you can remember. Congratulations Maurice. You've been good company as well as a great friend.

We are to be good company to our spouses. We are to notice the small things they do. We are to be an encourager and an affirmer. We are to be the motivation to help them achieve their goals. We are to cherish them. We are to thank God for them daily.

Last Sunday evening Jan and I were blessed to be in good company and have supper with a group of friends. Del served in the White House for the Bush administration after 20 years in the Air Force,  as director of planning for the National Security Council. He then went to be president of Focus on the Family where he led and taught the Focus Leadership Institute which our daughter Becky attended. Del came in from Colorado Springs to speak at a LEAD conference for young leaders sponsored by TFL. Del was the author and teacher of "The Truth Project", a series of DVDs designed to communicate Christian worldview. Our worldview is what we believe and Who we serve. Del believes however that in our Christian walk, truth is not our end game. He has a second set of DVDs in the works called "The Engagement" talking about taking what we believe and engaging in our culture by loving and serving others.

While on vacation we were continually reminded of God's big and beautiful creation. You and I are part of that creation, that history (His-story), created for a purpose. Do you ever think much about what that purpose is? Thanks for the picture Melanie.

When a young lawyer asked Jesus what his purpose was Jesus asked him what the Bible said. The young lawyer quoted, "Love God with everything you've got and love your neighbor as yourself". Jesus agreed. Then the young man wanting to make himself feel good asked who his neighbor was and Jesus told him the story of The Good Samaritan in Luke 10. Folks, loving God is "truth". It's our purpose. Loving our neighbors is "engagement",  or the action part of that purpose. That my friends is being good company. Have a great week.