StillwatersIowa

Do you remember a country song years ago that said, "You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything. You've got to be your own man. Not a puppet on a string. Never compromise what's right and uphold your family name. You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything". Even though it's against the "rules", sometimes you just need to give or receive a hug. Our mother was moved from our local hospital to a care facility in Montezuma this past week recovering from a broken leg. The nurses all said she was a joy to take care of. Seems ironic since she spent her life taking care of others. This virus we're all dealing with seems to compromise the health of our elderly. A good thing is it has very little or no effect on our kids and those with healthy immune systems. Kurt and Emily's Jackson and Jayden are enjoying their summer growing up together as brothers. We were blessed as a community this pa...

 Good morning. When our kids were small they were asked to get up early on Monday mornings and help sell hogs. We would sort 35 head, load and deliver them to Ottumwa, stop at McDonalds on the way home as a reward for helping, come home and shower, and be in time to get on the school bus for school. Today the pieces of the puzzle look different however the picture is the same and it warms my heart to see our children teaching their children. In our culture today we need children following the examples of their parents. We need parents leading as roles models. And we need families carrying on the tradition of being a family. Thanks for the picture Kurt. I realize the puzzle pieces and the picture are much different in other areas. Yesterday morning I was looking for a cup of coffee in downtown Des Moines early. The streets were empty. Until I came to an intersection where a young gal was hollering at a police officer. This girl was definitely not respecting authority. And as I wa...

Back in March our son-in-law Brian shared in a message in Sully about stopping at a rest area as a kid and looking at the big map on the wall with an arrow pointing to one's current location with the heading, "You are here". Where's here at for you today? For Kurt and Emily and many others of you it's raising a young family. Below Kurt was getting ready to go back roofing one evening and his boys all wanted to help. Thanks for the picture Emily. For others of you, your "here" is having a birthday that ends in a zero. Whenever that happens in one of these gals lives they get together and celebrate as sister-in-laws. I am so blessed to have these gals in our family. Thanks for the picture girls.  Last weekend the camping group got together at Mike and Sylvia's house to celebrate the July 4th holiday. Even though it doesn't feel like it right now our "here" is still living in the greatest country on earth.   A few months ago Mi...

 Courage for such a time as this. America is good. Actually it's great. Yesterday was 4th of July. The holiday when we celebrate our independence. We who still love this country and what it stands for are still a majority even though it doesn't sound like it or even feel like it these days. It's going to take uncommon courage from the common majority of us to do our part to keep our freedoms, opportunities, and values for our children and grandchildren. Below cousins John and Jackson are looking at on-line machinery auctions together. Courage is not passive. However courage is contagious. And it feels good when we hear or see a story about uncommon courage. Folks watch what you do and why you do it. Karl is mowing road ditches on the 4th. Courage is not the absence of concern. And there are often risks involved in doing something. Courage is getting things done in the presence of risks. We work with risks every day. Mike is building a pond for Tim and Shannon and famil...