Being A Shock Absorber

A shock absorber is a device that's designed to help cushion folk's ride on a rough road. It also gives stability when steering around obstacles and potholes. We need to be a stable force in a world of obstacles, potholes, and rough roads. Below Jackson is smoothing and compacting fill material.

As we live in the situation we're in and are concerned about the future, don't forget to stay focused on Who supplies our needs. He says ask, and it will be given. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and doors will be opened. There are those right now who want us socially distanced from each other, for reasons other than our well being. But remember, we are never alone or without hope.

Kudos to the businessmen in our communities who are doing everything in their power to be shock absorbers to others. Some small businesses are just trying to figure out how to get restarted with employees that may be scared after being told by our government we are to isolate. Other businesses are working hard to serve folks in our new normal.

Although it may have started for the right reasons, science, statistics, and other countries have shown our current rules are no longer about saving lives. It's about changing our way of life. We are being treated like children. And the reality is most of us already know this. We just don't know what to do about it. Why? Because we're not sure who the grownups (leadership we can trust) are. We had a seed pro box breaking down party the other morning. That's when you take the top half of the seed box off and flip it upside down over itself so it's only half size for returning to the seed plant.

Thanks Alex and Pablo for trucking this past week. We took some seedbeans we raised and the seed company didn't need to ADM in Des Moines. Thanks for the picture Alex.

BJ, his son John, and I think Kasey did some pattern tiling southwest of Lovila on a bottom early last week. Thanks for the picture BJ.

Once again, Kudos to Governor Kim for doing everything she can to get Iowa moving again. Other states are dragging their feet. It's going to be a rough road trying to get this economic train moving again. Government printing and handing out money, deciding who gets it and who doesn't is not the solution here. Folks, we were created to be productive. We were also created to be relational. Both have been taken away. Below Malaki is trying to get a seed pro box moving.

Midweek my father called and asked me to take him to the hospital. He was having trouble breathing. Kudos to the folks who take care of us when we are really sick. Dad was able to return home from the hospital yesterday after getting help with removing some fluid from around his lungs and heart. Hospitals in our area are slow. It was quite a feat and procedure getting in. Earlier it was reported Mayo Clinic had laid off 30,000 folks. While we are told we are trying to save lives, what about folks like Dad, who don't dare or can't go get checked out. What about toothaches that turn into full blown infections? What about cancer folks who don't get checked out and their disease turns into stage 4? What about people with mental health concerns who are scared, depressed, and contemplating suicide? What about the weak who have nothing to do but go back to their habits? What about the locked up lonely old folks who are asking themselves why am I still here and who cares? What about those who have lost loved ones during this time and don't have a shoulder to cry on?

Since Dad was in the hospital during my parents 66th anniversary I picked up Mom and took her to her home town of Pella for a ride to see the tulips during what would have been Tulip Time in a normal year. We also drove by the house she grew up in with her parents and seven brothers and sisters. As a kid I always remember it being referred to as 202 Morningside.

Mom is slowly getting forgetful and usually asks me the same questions dozens of times. However in her day she was one of the most giving persons ever, raising six children including my handicap brother, Dan, having many foster kids live with us, and taking care of multiple aged parents. Happy Anniversary, Birthday, and Mothers Day Mom.

Jan is staying busy cooking, baking, quilting, yardwork, and helping with the smaller grandkids. Happy Mothers Day Jan. God was and still is good when he gave me you. I love you. Also kudos and Happy Mothers Day to my daughter Becky, and five daughter-in-laws, Suzanne, Stacy, Cassia, Emily, and Kristin. You have all been outstanding wives and mothers. I love you all and appreciate you.

 Well, Saturday morning we woke up to 29 degrees. Our yard was white with frost that stayed around 4 hours. Karl and family did an initial scouting trip checking out our young crops. Many of our emerged soybeans look like they might be down to a 40 to 70 thousand population stand which isn't adequate for mid May. We'll do another evaluation on damaged crops tomorrow. Thanks for the picture Karl.

We are looking into getting soybean plates for our precision meters on our 24 row corn planter to assist our soybean planter in getting some beans replanted.

The taller corn plants were also frozen off in areas. The plants in this picture were in the 4 leaf stage. The corn growing point is still underground and will regrow. The problem in the past has been the new young growing point trying to emerge through the frosted dead leaves.

Last Sunday on a Ranger ride Jan and I checked out Linda's eagle nest. If you look close you can see an eagle sitting just above the "ten foot across" nest.

Last Sunday was a beautiful morning. After on-line church I went out to sit by our pond. Talking and listening to God during these times gives me peace and confidence. Have others of you noticed we haven't as a country gone to God in prayer? Remember 9/11. The media and leaders all over the country were asking citizens to pray. "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from the evil ways, I will listen, and forgive their sins, and restore their land." II Chronicles 7:14. Look for ways to be a stable force while we navigate unstable times. Thanks for the visit friends.