Being An Impact

 Sydnie and Jayden are cousins. They are both middle children in the sibling order of their families. They love to come to Grandma Jan's house. Their favorite character in the "Cars" movie is Mator, a rusty, trusty, tow truck who's voice is Larry the Cable Guy. They both love Ranger rides and helping their dads. At three years old their lives are ahead of them yet. Who and what will have an impact on them as they grow into young adults?

Last Sunday morning our Family Leader group finished our retreat weekend with a worship service in this chapel at The Billy Graham Cove in Asheville, North Carolina. Thanks for the praise and worship music Darla. We shared that we would be open to what God's purpose is for us in our countries current atmosphere. And we prayed together that we would be an impact.

Last Monday was our last day for the week in the field. It started snowing about mid afternoon. Later it turned to rain and we had around two inches.

Since the tankers were soaked from the rain I decided Tuesday would be as good a day as any to clean them up. Karl and Kristin's Malaki is helping me with a garden hose while I used the power washer.

 Thanks Pablo for washing the honey wagon on Wednesday.

Last week Matt was able to get the radiant heaters working in the truck bays in the machine shed across the road. Earlier this fall he had to replace the LP boiler for us in the shop here on the yard.

Matt and his son Eli have been helping out after work and on Saturday. Eli is an 8th grader at Osky Christian.

Flames broke down in 2019 and was nothing more than a dinosaur bone. It is a 1992 T800 Kenworth with close to 3 million miles on it. It has a little too much sentimental value to park it. So Thanksgiving weekend with the help of BJ, Stix, Gideon, John, Ethan, and Andrew, they got it running. Hopefully it will once again be an impact in our operation.

After our families' Thanksgiving dinner together we had our traditional afternoon of skeet shooting. We have girls that can shoot as good as the boys. Gideon is attending William Penn University on a shooting scholarship.

My thoughts this morning come from visiting Billy Graham's simple early home and barn which is now a library near Charlotte, North Carolina. This farm boy followed God's purpose for his life as an evangelist and that faithful obedience has had and is still having an impact on millions of folks worldwide.

Last Saturday evening we toured the Biltmore home. It is our nations largest home with it's 250 rooms covering 4 acres. It took 1000 workers 6 years to build. It has 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 63 fireplaces. It was completed and welcomed guests on Christmas Eve, 1895. The Vanderbilt family lived there for less than two generations and it was opened for tourism during the depression era of the 1930s to generate income. Today it is a museum. The family is remembered for their early wealth.

Edward Winslow is an unsung hero. He came as a pilgrim on the Mayflower 400 years ago, 1620. He was the oil that kept those first residents going. He made peace with the Indians and became best friends with their chief. While most folks back then wrote long essays on culture and opinions, Edwards writings were called "fragmented" and about everyday life in the settlement. Today we would call that a blog. In a letter to an old friend which he sent to England on a returning ship he relates the loss of crops, the troubles, the deaths. And then he said, "and yet we give thanks", and invited the Indians to join them in a celebration and meal which became our nations first Thanksgiving. Edward died from yellow fever at the age of 51 on a ship. He was an impact to his family, his neighbors, and his country. Below is the home of his grandson in Massachusetts.

  Todays visit would not be complete without sharing about the impact Mr. Blankespoor was on peoples lives for four generations. Morry passed away this past Tuesday morning. He was my principal at Osky Christian when I was in the second grade. I still remember hearing his limping footsteps come up the stairs in the old school when he stopped at every classroom and told us President Kennedy had been assassinated. He was my homeroom teacher at Pella Christian when I came as a new kid after attending North Mahaska School. He pulled me aside one noon, told me I had a gift of writing, and asked if he could keep some of my stories for future classes. He was my advocate when I would get in trouble with the other teachers for staying home multiple days a week to help farm. He was my encourager as our family spent 5 construction seasons volunteering on the new Pella Christian High School campus. He was my friend when he would come to our farm for a board/staff social. I would still call him Mr. Blankespoor and his wife Rose would say, "No Steve, it's Morry now". Mr. Blankespoor's biggest impact on me was that he taught me it's alright for a guy to write and take pictures. And that one can be effective without making a lot of noise. Rose and family, you are in our thoughts and prayers.   

I took this picture of our families young folks enjoying each others company during our Thanksgiving meal. How will we be remembered? As a dinosaur bone? As a museum? Or as a rusty, trusty, helpful tow truck. Or as a peacemaker with the Indians. Or the oil that kept out the friction. Or an encourager. Or just a friend. So what was the common thread of those being an impact? They focused honoring God and blessing others rather than honoring and blessing themselves. Thanks for stopping by and have a good week.