Growing In Iowa

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 just happen to be thinking of or to check to see if they're doing ok.

Brent and Georgina's son Dean was walking his little donkey last week. I bet you all don't see that much where you live as a Sunday afternoon activity. Actually we don't either.:)

Ryder and Rylee came with their dad, Ryan, to pick up seed corn this past week. You just can't beat growing up in rural communities where kids get to help their parents. One of the most enjoyable parts of the seed business is the relationships and friendships that develop.

It was a busy week with a lot of seed leaving the shed and going in the ground. Ground conditions are excellent right now.

 Imaginations have been growing since kids aren't in school. Jan had an old set of pool balls that she gave to Brian and Becky's boys. They went home and built a pool table out of plywood and 2 by 4s.

With more staying at home and uncertainties about what our future holds, folks have been including gardens in their new schedules. Jan got our sweetcorn patch tilled. Now I just have to clean out a planter and get it planted. We use Roundup Ready seed that includes above and below ground protection from insects including rootworm and earworm. Using Roundup to kill weeds eliminates heavy spraying herbicides on the soil.

I would dare say much of the corn in our area is in. And even quite a few soybeans. Mark stopped and picked up a box of corn to plant on a farm he and I rent from Eileen and Buddy.

I've shared this story with you before. I must be getting old. 31 years ago today I was planting corn on a rented farm for Howard and Joann east of Oskaloosa on a field that is now Otter Hills. It was 1989 and it was terribly dry. Jan called on the 2-way (no cell phones) and said we could go into Ottumwa Hospital at any time. She was full term with twins. I asked if I had time to finish the field. Like a trooper she said yes. What was I thinking? That night God gave us our last of six children and two inches of rain. Today Kurt and Karl and their families are valuable partners in our operation and blessings to our family. By the way, our family will be growing again in early November. No, not Jan. :)

We do a fair amount of spraying at night in order to get ours and other's crop covered up before a rain. Rain activates the herbicides and fertilizer. The guys put blue LED lights on the booms so their spray pattern shows in the dark. It looks pretty cool going through the field.

Jesus had a disciple named Simon Peter. I can relate to Peter. He didn't always get it right the first time. Neither do I. But Peter kept growing in his faith and ended up being a bold spokesman for Christ. In his second letter to fellow Christians in the Bible, he talks about trials, troubles, and tough times. He says Christ isn't slow to act and fix things. He is patient because he desires no one perishes. Meaning he wants to have a relationship with every last one of us before we leave earth.

Toward the end of his letter he encourages us that while we are waiting, we are to make every effort to live life to our best. (II Peter 3:14) Grandsons Ezra and Elijah are cousins in the 5th and 6th grade. They are going to help Grandma on Fridays with her yard.

Simon Peter closes his letter, (3:18), by saying, "My friends, may you grow in grace, and in the knowledge of Christ our Savior. To God be the glory". Our family intends to use Peters words as our praise team doxology this morning for on-line church. What does growing in grace mean? It means to grow in showing Christ through our cracks (shortcomings) to others. To live life to our best while we wait. And to not be slow but patient in our physical, mental, and spiritual lives. You are part of God's story (His-story) folks. And you win.