Elaborate Plans

 The year was 1848. Reverand H.P. Scholte had recently immigrated from Holland. Elaborate plans were being laid out for a new town to be built near the Des Moines River just about a mile down from the current Red Rock Dam. No, it wasn't Pella. The town was to be called Amsterdam. It was surveyed and platted in May of the same year with 60 blocks and close to 500 lots. This location was picked for the central location as a county seat in Marion County.

The planning of this location was also because this is where the Des Moines River was most easily forded and people congregated. Occasional steamboats came up the river from as far south as St Louis. Some years later the Wabash railroad built the current unused bridge with a railroad from Harvey, Iowa to Des Moines along the north side of the river. Along this railroad a depot was built, especially to load livestock. The depot was called Howell Station.

Lots were sold. A few homes went up. One of the few businesses in Amsterdam was the manufacturing of brick from the clay and limestone in the area. Then in 1851 a devastating flood washed much of the elaborate plans down the river. As a result pioneers settled in the cities of Pella and Knoxville. Why would I tell you this story? This information was found by one of our bankers in the abstract and deed (first picture) of a farm we purchased and call Howell Station just east of Red Rock Dam. Thanks Calvin. Today Kurt and Emily are growing corn on the area of the story.

Kurt, Emily, and their boys Jackson, Jayden, and Lane came by last Sunday to wish their dad and granddad a Happy Father's Day and deliver me this gift. Two sets of John Deere wrenches. This took a little planning. Thank you so much. The wrenches will be useful. However the love, caring, and thoughtfulness are what fills my tank.

On Monday Dr. Mark, our chiropractor came out for an occasional house call for all the family available. Jan brought lunch out to the office. And I was able to get a quick picture of six of our eight granddaughters.

On Tuesday BJ and I worked together on mowing road ditches.

Kurt spent some long days hauling empty proboxes for Pioneer to Hedrick.

Sometimes after dry weather it takes a storm to break the spell and that's exactly what happened this past week. Some folks get little. Some get just right. And some get a storm. That's what often happens in June. Thanks for the picture Collin.

We had about 200 acres of corn go down northwest of Pella after a strong wind and about 4 inches of rain in places. Folks to the south of us received more rain than that. Some much more. The corn plant will try and stand back up and have what we call a "gooseneck" stalk.

 

Our family has a billboard sign going up soon just north of Ottumwa that says we plan, prepare, and plant, but the Lord determines our harvest. Just like the story of Solomon last week our elaborate plans of hybrids, population, extra nitrogen, fungicide, and marketing are totally dependent on the God who planned "our story". 

Last week we visited about dry weather and building ponds. Our pond across the road is on a weather delay. After coring it and Mike decides to fill the center we will plan on using more than one dozer so the weather doesn't catch it partially finished.

Second pass soybean spraying is close to finished. The sprayers sat some this past week due to wet weather.

On Friday evening Jan and I joined some Amish folks near Moravia for a fundraiser supper for their local neighborhood school. They call their get-together supper a haystack. Jan wore a skirt and I had my hat however we were still noticeably "English". 😊

I still have a passion for Christian Education and appreciate the folks that sacrifice for it. So I wanted to contribute to their cause even though I realize they will only use it for their own children. Someday I would enjoy a conversation with Amish folks about how they view the "Love your neighbor as yourself" part of our gospel. In the story of The Good Samaritan a lawyer asked Jesus, "And just who is my neighbor?" Jesus answered well. The lumber was laying at their school for their planned expansion.

Friday evening was also the Leighton parade and Malaki and Jackson enjoyed riding in it on a firetruck. Thanks John. Thanks for the picture Stacy.

A big thank you to Roger and his son Ryan who came and helped us cut firewood. John, Malaki, and Jackson carried wood as we worked in-between rains yesterday.

Jan and I stopped at our cabin yesterday to join Phil's family and friends in celebrating his 80th birthday. In 2009 Phil built the stairway of our cabin out of logs from Edmunson Park on the south end of Oskaloosa. Phil gave his greatgrandchildren rides on his Super H tractor. Phil's kids are Steve, Mike, Deb, and Jody.

Our family also had a birthday get-together last evening as well at BJ and Cassia's home. Daughter-in-law Emily and I celebrate our birthdays on the same day. I turned 65 Thursday. In Proverbs 16 Solomon says that man makes plans (some elaborate) however God determines our steps and the outcome. In Solomon's world and in ours we can plan with information, knowledge, and understanding. But effective and elaborate planning only come through wisdom and blessing. And both of those gifts come to us only from the Lord. Blessings on your week. Lets visit again next Sunday on the 4th of July.