Preparing For What's Next

Good morning friends. This past Friday evening winter finally arrived in southern Iowa. Most activities were cancelled as ice coated everything.

Just the day before on Thursday it was 61 degrees. We were busy applying NH3 for ourselves and others. Below Alex is helping Seth and Jenny's family prepare for their next crop as he works near Monroe under a full moon.

As many of you know applying anhydrous can be a dangerous job. It's a liquid that turns into a vapor gas when it hits the air. You can see the vapor as I bleed off the connection, unhooking this empty tank and rehooking to a full one. A double tank at 200 pounds of N per acre on corn on corn does about 35 acres.

 

On Friday morning Alex called and asked me to bring him parts. As he was hooking on to a tank near Romans Lake he noticed he had a wheel bearing out on a main frame. What a job on a heavy toolbar. I came with a skidloader to lift the weight off the walking tandem. Just a day or two before I helped BJ in this same field replace a hydraulic hose on a chisel.

We try and prepare for what's next by keeping parts on hand. Often my job could be described as keeping everything going as we have multiple balls juggling in the air at the same time.

Sometimes there is a sense of relief as the weather kind of pushes a reset button to our preparations. Jan and I did attend our bookkeeper Linda father's funeral visitation at Leighton church late Friday afternoon. I used to background cattle for Wilber and Jim when they ran the Oskaloosa Livestock Auction. You guys are in our thoughts and prayers Linda and family.  Thanks Tyler and crew for getting my flat tire repaired.

Although the roads were icy we had a shop full Saturday morning as BJ, grandkids, and their friends helped put the snow blade on BJ's truck, preparing for what's next winterwise.

I usually like to keep you informed about our week. However it feels like I've been a broken record. Kasey, Andy, BJ, and Kurt shared chiseling responsibilities as we finished preparing ground going back to corn next year. Thanks for the picture Kasey.

Jim and others continue to haul grain. Pablo continues to clean up machinery as his spare time allows. Both jobs are crucial as we prepare for next year. Thanks guys for your efforts and willingness.

As often happens I missed an opportunity for a picture. Our banker came out Saturday morning. We showed him where we've been. Where we're at. And where we're headed. Thanks for not just being a business partner, but also a friend Brian. It was a fun visit and I welcomed the opportunity to show him the results of our previous year and our preparations for next year.

Pella Christian has what they call Winterim at the start of the second semester. It's when kids spend two weeks job shadowing, going on a work trip, or attending a special class of their interest. Four of our grandchildren participated. Below Cody is working with John and the Iowa Barnstormers. John and I became friends when the Barnstormer team used to come to the cabin for a steakfry.

 I occasionally attend 21 Days of Prayer. It's a 6 am get-together at either The Bridge Church in Ottumwa or 3rd Reformed in Pella in January. It's just 45 minutes of praise and worship and prayer as we look forward to what's next and prepare for our new year.

All of our children are active and have responsibilities in their churches, their families' schools, and our community. Last Sunday morning in our church we had installation of office bearers and both Mark and Karl were installed as an elder and a deacon. My heart is full of thankfulness and gratitude. And just like farming responsibilities sometimes Dads need to step aside and allow God to use our children to their full potential as they prepare for what's next.

I heard a pastor at The Church of the Highlands talk about releasing and receiving. It made me think about what I needed to throw away or aside as I prepared for what's next. How about you? Maybe a bad habit. A sour attitude. Or maybe a "me" mindset. Are you being a good example to those that are watching you? Remember we are being watched closely. By some who look up to us. And others who hope we stumble or fail.

And finally, what do I need to receive or redo to be prepared for what's next? This picture is my young kids helping a much younger me pull the old dozer in for a redo some 25 years ago. So much has changed. Change is constant. Our job is not to react to, but to prepare for change. Reacting is going to where the noise and action are. Preparing is maybe hearing a whisper. A nudging. Or an opportunity of where things are headed. As you make an impact, make it an eternal on. See you next week.