This Is Family

It seems the older you get the more you appreciate family. Family doesn't always have to mean the same DNA or even living under the same roof. Family can consist of folks who support you. Who love you. Folks you trust. Folks who care about your interest as much as their own. Thanks for the picture Karl.

Family is the second most important thing to me. Jan and I started as a family of two. After living most of our married life raising kids we are once again a family of two. However we are blessed with having extended family close. Extended family is visiting parents and siblings. Checking out the kid's garden and other projects. Taking care of younger grandkids on Mondays. Having the older grandkids around the farm either helping or playing.

Jan, Kristin, and Sydnie made salsa from tomatoes out of Karl and Kristin's garden this week.  

 We were busy with farm jobs again this week like Karl getting in new pigs. Our family is working on two different dirtwork projects. We're still mowing yards, roadsides, waterways, and hay. We are getting equipment ready for harvest. Alex and Jim wrapped up spraying jobs. Kurt has been trucking.

However I feel I'm starting to sound like a broken record about summer jobs on the farm so we're going to shift focus a little this morning. This is Kurt's finished shop apron we talked about last week. Good job Ron and crew.

August is a little slower month at our house as far as field work responsibilities. It's always fun to take the Ranger with Jan or with grandkids or just by myself on a beautiful evening. We look for big ears. We estimate yield. We go to the yellow spots in a corn field and check out the potential. Much like the USDA or the Pro Farmer tour we are trying to get a handle on the crop size. 

We had family attend the State Fair. Kurt and Emily and Karl and Kristin and families even stayed overnight. These are their kids in the camper. Thanks for the picture Kristin and Emily.

 I always like it when these gals take a pic together. Thanks for the picture Kristin. You often see pictures of grandkids on our visits. However I couldn't have a story on family without letting you know how much I love and care about our daughter, our sons, and their spouses. Below is Cassia, Emily, Kristin, Stacy, Becky, and Suzanne.

Dan and Mary came to Iowa for a visit from their home in Maryland. So my Mom's side of the family got together in Pella for coffeetime. These are some of my cousins. We hadn't seen each other in ages and had fun catching up.

Many years ago our kids would drag home toys that didn't run, get them started, and enjoy them for awhile. After a time things would happen, they would again not run, and eventually they would end up in a back corner of a machine shed. Well, we have the next generation of kids exploring, finding broken toys, and getting them running. Below Ethan couldn't find and 1 7/8 ball hitch so he just pulled it to the shop from across the road by hand.

Sure enough. It wasn't long and we had a running jet ski in our pond. They told Grandma they were aerating her pond for free. :) It's fun to see Ethan, Gideon, John, and their friends enjoying life together. It's also a blessing for Jan and I to have them here hanging out.

Folks we farm for become family. Marvin is building a cabinet to hang on my office wall. It's main purpose is to be a story to future generations of family.   

The lines between business and family and friends get less distinct when likeminded folks work together. 

Do you have folks that feel like family where you work? I have the blessing of working with a combination of guys including kids, grandkids, fulltime and partime help. Below are Alex, Andy, Kurt, John, Kasey, Jim, John, Pablo, Matt, myself, BJ, and Karl.

Pablo helps on his off days at Cargill/Eddyville. He enjoys and is very good at cleaning up vehicles. Many years ago when he lived in the southeastern part of the country he worked for a fellow keeping jet airplanes and helicopters washed. Below he is cleaning up my brother Bill and Julie's pickup.

Speaking of brother Bill and Julie, they enjoyed a week of family around. Thanks to all of you for praying for Bill. He had a cancerous prostate removed and is recovering. Thanks for the picture Julie.

I'm thankful for church family. In the early days it seemed church was about God and ourselves. I think God intends and we are working on church being about God, ourselves, each other, and others. That's what the family of God is all about. Below Pastor Paul is having a children's message up front.

 Life is not without storms on many fronts. My cell phone is active early this morning with severe thunderstorm warnings. We pray to be spared from damage and loss. We also have storms and loss in our families. Over the last three weeks brothers Leland and Kenneth have passed away from our extended community. Below Ken from our church and a friend also passed away about a week after having a stroke. I remember Ken for he and Ruth going out for breakfast. I remember him using old mini vans for a pickup. I remember Ken for being grateful. I remember Ken for loving his Lord and loving his neighbor. You are in our thoughts and prayers Ruth and family. Thanks for loaning me the picture Ruth.

 Ken's grandchildren and great grandchildren sang at his funeral. God gives us a place, a time, and a reason while we are here on earth. One of our main reasons is to teach our children how to teach their children to be useful in God's kingdom and an asset in society. I have never been to a funeral where accumulated material things were important. Or how much one knows. Or how prominent one is. It's about family. Hopefully it's also about your relationship with Christ our Savior. Thanks for the visit.