StillwatersIowa

It was 4 am. This fall's weather has required long days. I'm driving our old blue van. It was our family vehicle 25 years ago when there were 8 of us. It's unreliable and only goes from farm to farm. Oskaloosa's downtown Christmas lights light up the square as I drive through town.   This particular farm I'm driving to is on the fringe of the old van's ability. It's 25 miles from home. I'm taking the van because it will be sitting in the field until we have time to retrieve it. I'm going after a tractor and chisel and moving them to another farm.   As I'm driving down dark rural roads I feel the van hesitate and lurch. The "service engine soon" light comes on. I am thinking it is going to let me down. I imagine myself stranded. I'm losing confidence in the old girl.   We have a number of pieces of equipment that need serviced. Some soon. Some over the winter months.   Some days I feel in need of a tune up. Several ...

Thanksgiving Day originated as a harvest festival. It was an expression of gratitude especially to God for provision and safety in spite of adversity. Thanksgiving has been observed in our country for the last 300 years. This picture is 4 weeks old but tells the story of the kind of fall we experienced. There is so much to be grateful for this year in spite of an extraordinary year involving an early dry summer, storms and tornados in July, high winds and hail in September, weak corn stalks and damaged soybeans, 23 inches of rain during harvest, and 3 measurable snow events in November. As we were wrapping up harvest east of Blakesburg earlier last week a gentleman stopped by and asked if we would sell him corn so Alex loaded up his wagon. In spite of past, present, and possibly future hurdles I'm grateful for our 2018 crop. The adversity of mud, down corn, damaged beans, extra breakdowns, and now snow caused everyone to step up and tackle life without a sour word...

Survivors are folks who outlast, overcome, and tackle their obstacles. As I think about those of you that tell me you are part of this visit it reminds me that many of you have been survivors this past year. Some from health issues. Some from addictions. Many of you from elements beyond your control in your work.    Surviving takes extra effort. I'm reminded of those who pumped water off of river bottoms. Of those who kept faithful at their physical therapy. Of those who had to move on after a loss. Of those who had to had to haul half loads out of the fields to keep from getting stuck. Below BJ and Karl worked late getting the technology working on the tractor hauling honey (hog manure). On Thursday evening it started to snow. In some ways it's hard to believe we are well into November already. In other ways it seems we have been working on this crop for months. I guess we have. Anyhow harvest gets postponed until the snow either melts off or blows off the c...