The Best Money Can't Buy

What do you want for Christmas that money can't buy? Maybe health, happiness, a lost loved one, respect, good friends, patience, reputation, self-satisfaction, or purpose?

 Maybe it's a second chance, or a new shot at a missed opportunity, or a clear conscience? Maybe it's well adjusted kids, or manners, or quality time with family, or a worry free day? Below Gavin and Derrick came to help Grandma Linda, our bookkeeper, in the office one day.

Isn't it something that the things we think about that money can't buy seem to be the important things. We all know money is necessary, but maybe not the most important. Monday Ezra (Becky and Brian's) and his cousin Elijah (Mark and Stacy's) helped me all day with a number of catch up jobs. We were the B team.

After lunch the C team wanted to help as well so Jackson (Kurt and Emily's) and Harris (Becky and Brian's) helped Grandpa put Christmas lights on the cabin.

After a good day of accomplishing catch up jobs on Monday we took Ezra and Elijah to Dalton Toys in Newton to pick out their own Christmas gifts, and then to Culvers for supper. Money can buy Christmas gifts, however it can't buy grandkids.

Another gift money can't buy is nice weather after Thanksgiving. This past week we would start our days early with field work on the frost and then when things got greasy or warmer we would tile. We are pattern tiling meaning we are putting 4 inch tile, 4 feet deep, and every 40 feet to help drain the fields of excess water in the spring.

Alex was able to get some anhydrous on this past week although we had to pick and choose where because of wet conditions. Chiseled and black soils were sealing, meaning the NH3 was not leaking out, while hills and clay soils where still too wet. Thanks for the picture Kasey.

We are still tankering and hauling hog honey. Hog manure replaces commercial fertilizer and helps grow great crops. Livestock makes manure. Manure makes corn. Corn makes livestock. And that's the farming cycle that has worked since the beginning of farming. Although concepts and tools change and are updated with mechanicalization and technology, the basics stay the same.

Money can buy help, however it can't buy work ethic, effort, loyalty, and dedication. It's been a long fall and our crew has been all of those things. We are looking forward to our crew and their significant others getting together for a post harvest supper this coming Thursday at our cabin. Our agenda is Jan's great cooking, reminiscing about our fall season, and just friendship and fellowship. 

We here in southern Iowa have a holiday between Thanksgiving and Christmas that some of you don't have. It's called the first day of shotgun season for deer. Money can buy shotguns, ammo, and orange vests. However it can't buy the things that go with the hunt. Like stories, and helping and encouraging each other, and friendships, and traditions, and great cooking. This crew of three generations of hunters is stopping for lunch. Thanks for the awesome food Carol, Heather, Molly, Hazel, and Maggie.

Karl and I stopped hauling hog honey and joined the hunters for lunch. There was an awesome variety of soups, sandwiches, and desserts. I don't know what this is called Carol but it was sure good.

This group of Osky Christian School supporters got together Tuesday evening in our shop to put together a float for the Oskaloosa Christmas Parade last evening. Which makes me think. Money can buy an education. But it can't buy wisdom. That's God-given. And it can't buy the dedication, passion, and support good folks put into a school.

Yesterday I took the time to stop and say thank you to a grandson and his friend. Ethan and his friend Andrew were chiseling a farm Mark and I farm together.

I've worn glasses since I was 7 years old. I need glasses quite badly and money can buy them to improve my eyes. However money can't buy vision. Sight is the eyes. Vision is the heart. Sight is what we see now. Vision is what we see later. I have been blessed to raise 45 crops (years). Probably just a few crops left in my lifetime. Why am I tiling? The money pattern tiling cost is around a $1000/acre. Sight says it's not worth it. Vision says it is. You see, my vision is to leave things better than I found them for the next generations. 

When I think about what I want for Christmas that money can't buy, my mind goes to what I already have. One of those things is I get to spend time with that next generation or two. With the help of my glasses I can see them and watch them grow up. Watch them become assets in society. And with the vision in my heart I can try and be a good example, a role model, help teach them, pray for them, and ask God to help them accomplish the purpose He has already planned for them.

One more thing. This painting is in the basement of a church in Magdalia. The home town in Israel where Mary Magdalene lived. It's a picture of a story in the Bible. Read about it in Matthew 9. This woman had a disease that money and doctors couldn't cure. She said to herself that if she could just touch the hem of Jesus's robe she had faith she would be cured. Many of us today have things we can't fix. Let's hang on to Jesus in faith for our answers. Thanks for stopping by and have a good week.