Down Under

Good morning. Last Monday Jan's little helpers said, "Hey Grandma, we have a farm down under the table". It's interesting when kids play what they pretend to be. Thanks for the picture Jan.

Many times what's important to parents becomes important to their kids. As Kurt stops to look at a planter his boys become equally engaged observing just like their dad. Thanks for the picture Emily.

So there is not a better feeling for kids than when parents take the time and effort to be involved on their level. Last week Sunday, on Father's Day, Karl and Kristin stopped by to visit and to fish with their kids.

Last Sunday evening was the Bible School Program at Lower Grove church. Bonnie and her helpers had over 60 kids for the week.

It's hard to believe it's late June already. Our days are starting to get shorter already. We were able to get some more fencerows sprayed and check out crops at the same time. Below is a farm we are custom farming for the first year and it's fencerows haven't been sprayed for awhile. Later in the day we stopped and had coffeetime with Marvin, Jean, and Zachery. Thanks.

When BJ and John load a buffalo that was going to the locker they use a skidloader to persuade him in the loading chute.

We were able to spray second pass soybeans just one day this past week. Below Karl is spraying for Byron just north of Knoxville.

We had a 15 foot strip of unused ground the length of where our test plot usually goes along the Eddyville flats that had been fertilized and sprayed so one evening just before the rains came I went and planted 6 rows of sweetcorn. Kind of a later backup for the patch we talked about last week.

We had about a two week window of dry conditions the first part of June when we were able to finish up spring work. The rains returned this past week.

One rainy week job was to help Jan get more rocks to finish her landscaping plans around our home. Thanks to a landlord and a friend.

Another rainy season job is to finish up the seed business for the year. Both inventory returns and recording walk-in bookwork. Malaki and Sydnie are helping their dad load empty pallets and boxes.

Yesterday I was following this trailer with it's rear door open. His load, a large bull, was watching out the back and considering going for a walk. I finally got the drivers attention at a stop sign while pulling my pickup close to the rear of his trailer to keep his bull from having any exiting plans. We shared a laugh, a thanks, and shook hands. I don't know his name and he doesn't know mine.

Last evening reminded me of a work and witness trip I was part of. In February of 2000 I went down under half way around the world to Dargaville, New Zealand with the Nazarene Church for two weeks to build a church north of Auckland. Dargaville was a farming community with dairy, sheep, and forestry. It's volcanic like green hills is one of the most beautiful spots I've been to. I'd love to take our family and go back and visit someday and attend the church we helped build.

The group Zealand was in Oskaloosa last evening. The concert was moved from the square to the mall because of the weather. Phil, the lead singer for the group, was born in Auckland and adopted into a Christian family. He grew up on the north island of New Zealand. Phil sang with the News Boys for many years after that group came and did a tour down under. Below he is having his son Eden in the black shirt sign an autograph. Eden who is 15 years old played bass guitar last evening for the band. Alisa, who opened for the band watches.

Alisa has an amazing story of loss and recovery. She was a pastor's daughter and was close to her father. He died suddenly when she was 20 years old. Soon after that she contacted Lyme Disease from a tick bite. She was bedridden and on a feeding tube for 3 years. After recovering she married Jaime and two years later they had a son. However London had a fatal birth defect and lived just over an hour in his mother's arms. Her heartbreaking, heartwarming, hope filled life's story has caused her music to be filled with passion, vulnerability, and hope.

Eugene trucks for us during harvest. Our crew enjoys his company when he helps. This spring he fell and broke 4 ribs and has 6 months recovery. His wife Gloria is a very giving person always thinking of her husband and others. She has fought cancer for some time. Recently her and her family have decided no more chemo. No more blood. No more platelets. The doctors are saying she has less than a year left here on earth. Yet what a positive and giving attitude she has. Please keep Eugene and Gloria and their family in your prayers.

Tomorrow I'm turning 63 years old. As a kid I always thought June 24 was the best birth date ever. Mid summer. Exactly 6 months from Christmas Eve.We started our visit this morning about what's important to parents becomes important to our kids and their kids. I hope that during the birthdays I have left here on earth I can be as positive an example to others as others have been to me this week. Even when troubles sometimes get us down under. Thanks for the visit.