StillwatersIowa

Sometimes in all the noise of life where the urgent shouts for attention, I miss the whispers. There has been an underlying whisper in our current change in life. Kind of a slowdown. Watching things come to life and grow in the warmer weather. Every year we have a mamma cat have a litter of kittens in our shop ceiling. I'm enjoying the quieter part of Sundays. Jan and I have coffee together. We watch a number of on-line church services. This morning will be a little different. We have been asked to be the praise team for our church which is First Christian Reformed in Oskaloosa at 9:30. You're welcome to join us. Last week Sunday afternoon BJ and Cassia's family, and friends, Mike and Sylvia's family, came to fish and enjoy the beautiful day. Jan and I often go on Sunday Ranger rides to check the growth and progress of the crop and to just enjoy the day. As I've told you many times Jan enjoys baking and we sometimes stop with goodies to someone we j...

Good morning friends. This past week we in Iowa were told our kids will not be going back to school this year. When school stopped a month ago it felt like a vacation to students. Now reality is hitting home. Gideon is our oldest grandson. He is a senior this year and is missing out on many senior activities. Yet his positive attitude has been a joy to be around. He is shining in a dark situation. He took a day off his truck mechanic job to help Grandpa on Monday. We had a good time. Gideon's brother John was working one on one on-line with his teacher. Jana could tell he was suddenly distracted and asked him what was up. John told her a turkey was walking by the house and he had a turkey tag to fill. His teacher told him to go shoot the turkey and then come back to his computer. Thanks for being a great teacher Jana. Below John and Devin are sharpening Jan's mower blades. In our past visits I've been describing our current situation as change and uncertain. The un...

Good evening friends. I'm posting early this week. We are hoping to focus upwards today. Jesus's resurrection helps us thrive rather than just survive.  We as a country are at a crossroads and need to decide. Are we going to look to God or government for protection and help? Many of us have read the Book. And we know who wins in the end. I thought the full moon had a peaceful and assuring presence this past week. Thank you Dr. Mark for coming out to our farm for a visit. Thank you Stacy for cutting my hair. Jan and I sitting in the sun room, listening to on line messages last Sunday morning. Holy week was troubling times for Jesus's disciples. They didn't know what to think about all the changes happening. Sound familiar? Tomorrow we celebrate the empty tomb, at home for a change, when Jesus conquered death with His resurrection. The right picture is an old cave on one of our farms. I've used it on our  Easter visits a number of times...

Greetings my friends on this Palm Sunday. I hope you are all hanging in there with grit. Grit is strength of character, perseverance, and commitment toward surviving tough challenges. Grit keeps us on our feet during risky, slippery, and unstable conditions. Gratitude and attitude are attributes that help give us grit. Malaki has plenty of grit as he washes the shop floor while his dad Karl, and I work on seed orders. Last Sunday evening was Scoop the Loop in Pella. Mike said it was multi-generational and families. Back when I was a teenager kids would drive around the square on weekends. We would meet at a parking lot called Dutchman's in Oskaloosa. Grab a can of Pringles chips from Elmer's little grocery and magazine store across the street. And fill a car with kids while cruising. For those of you outside our community this current cruising was suggested as a way of socializing during our social distancing. Thanks for the picture Suzanne. Speaking of Oskaloosa, last...