Thanks Giving

The fourth Thursday of November has been designated in our country to be set aside as a day for Thanksgiving. Often we think of the timeframe of Thanksgiving in other ways. Like, we better get our work done because our fall season is over. Or Friday shopping. Or Wow, it's Christmas time already.

If you think about it Thanksgiving is actually two words. Being thankful is a state of mind. It describes our attitude. It's who we are. Giving on the other hand is an action. It requires being intentional. It's what we do with who we are. 

We are down to bits and pieces on helping others finish harvesting. The weather late in the week was a gift as soybeans just barely got dry enough to combine. Thanks for the picture from the graincart Kasey.

Cold weather comes with a whole new set of jobs. Early in the week the trucks all had to be parked where they could be plugged in so they would start on early mornings. Jan and I missed the frigid week earlier in the month.

There has been more and more interest in "tankering" hog honey (manure). This lets folks get fields further away from the hog shed fertilized. It also speeds up hauling manure since the honey wagon stays in the field.

When you have a spring like our last one it's a reminder to get as much done in the previous fall as possible. NH3 is the nitrogen source for next years corn crop. Alex has been working on the custom list as weather allows. Thanks for the picture Al.

On our trip to Israel I noticed how most of the flight attendants, the pilots, our waitress and waiters at restaurants, and even our hotel help were older people. Even in agriculture many of the truck drivers are semi retired helpers. And often folks unloading the crop at the elevators and processors are middle age to older. I'm thankful this week for our younger generation. Our grandkids who are willing and able to help. Below is BJ and Cassia's 8th grader, John, who is helping fuel up the combines. And thanks for bringing Grandpa a thermos of coffee.

I'm thankful for the grandkids who love to spend time with their parents and grandparents. A blessing in the farming occupation is having kids and grandkids on the job. Below Becky and Brian's Ezra spent the day with Grandpa.

I'm also thankful for equipment these days that's large enough to accommodate riders. It's hard to see but Karl and Kristin and their young kids all combined together yesterday helping Kristin's parents finish up harvest.

I had an oops yesterday and had to scoop some shelled corn into the combine head. I'm thankful Tim who we were working for was understanding and I'm thankful it was just a small mess. Thanks for the picture Tim.

I don't think I have used this picture yet. It's the group we spent two weeks with in Israel. I'm thankful for the friendships and the time we got to have together experiencing the Biblical sights, and as a delegation letting Israel know they have friends in America.

God promised Abraham he would make his descendants into a great nation. He asked Moses to lead this nation from slavery in Egypt to a promised land flowing with milk and honey. The people had a bad attitude. They grumbled and complained so the older generation all died in the desert. Our group saw the mountain in Jordan where God took Moses to see the promised land before he died. Then God promised Joshua if he and the people were thankful and obeyed He would help them conquer this promised land.

The Israelites 3500 years ago were not just to be thankful. That's who they were, as God's chosen nation. They were to obey. That is what they were to do with who they were. And when they were obedient God helped them become a great nation. When they were ungrateful, disobedient, and forgot God he allowed them to be destroyed however He always saved a remnant.

What about us here in America on Thanksgiving week? Have we forgotten God? How long will we be allowed to survive? Let's be thankful. To God and others. Let's also be intentional about giving. To God and others with our time (helping), our talents (abilities), and our treasures (money and stuff). Have a great week. Below is Kurt and Emily's Jackson with their new puppy Rosie.