Balanced Life

Good morning. I'm at a bit of a loss as what to visit about today. It seems if I talk about our week it's a little self focused. On the other hand if I say nothing of our week it's being evasive.

You see, our family was given a trip as a thank you for doing business. Since Jan and I have been on this trip before I thought it might not be our turn this year. However our kids were generous and Jan and I spent last week in Grand Cayman resting, visiting, and just enjoying the warm weather and beautiful area.

Last week Saturday morning we boarded the plane, backed out of the hanger, and followed the snow plow down the runway.

Three hours later we landed, showed our passports, got in our rental car, and drove to Fosters to buy groceries for the week. I snapped a picture of the spice isle where just a year ago we met Dave as we were heading home. Dave told us about how he and Carol had come down for Carol's back disc replacement surgery which is not allowed in the USA. Being given the trip, coming to Cayman, meeting Dave, and finding out about an alternative to spinal fusion for BJ's lower back was our miracle in 2018.

Jan and I fixed breakfast together each morning. Actually all I did was operate the toaster and dry the dishes. We shared a condo with Tom and Patty and were with 24 other farm couples from all over the Midwest.

Most mornings we would walk Seven Mile Beach which was right out our back door.

Some days as many as five cruise ships would stop and drop off 15000 folks. On the less busy days we enjoyed walking around the many shops and places of interest in town.

BJ's team of back doctors were on the island with four back patients. What a good time we had meeting up with them after their surgery for the day. They have practices in Tennessee, Alaska, and elsewhere but come together to Cayman once a month for disc replacements. Their business is called "BalancedBack" if anyone is interested in an alternative to disc fusion. They are all truly a bunch of great folks.

They even reversed a spinal disc fusion the day we met with them and are soon going to be able to help out in the neck area as well. When Jan and I visited the small 18 bed German hospital a kind old gentleman insisted we go and see the room BJ was in a year ago. What a difference from the states having a personal relationship with a team of doctors and a hospital that considers their patients as lifelong friends.

In the evenings we would go out and try the different restaurants on the island. Below, joining Jan and I, are Jason, and Ken and Sherri, our hosts. Ken and I had early coffee and conversation every morning.

While I'm gone I always enjoy snapchats from the crew back home. I usually don't interfere. I do however like it when they send pictures of what's going on. BJ is calving.

I saw and appreciated a number of snaps where the crew was cleaning up trucks.

I was surprised and delighted to see them pattern tiling on our home farm.

It looks like they spent a couple of nights helping folks deliver feed ingredients to a local feed mill.

One morning they helped Kasey pour concrete. No, they are not pouring sidewalls. This picture refused to turn straight.

Last week I told you how my father gave me all the responsibility I could handle and more. I love my work and I love who I work with. However I don't want to be the kind of dad that keeps his thumb on every kid and every decision. My goal is to teach my kids how to teach their kids how to make things happen, not just watch things happen, or wonder what happened. I don't want to be measured by how much our business needs me. I want to be measured by how well that business runs when I'm not there. Below my dad is sitting in our office with Malaki, his great-grandson.

Life is a balancing act. Between work and leisure. Between ourselves and others. Between family and farming. Between marriage and management. Between giving and receiving. Between teaching and learning. God intends us to lead fulfilling, purpose-driven, and productive lives. We must find balance in our work, our health, our marriages, our families, our community service. And we must remember in all those areas, what we are and what we have belong to our faithful Lord and Savior. Thanks for the visit.