StillwatersIowa

Pause. Rejoice. Ask. Yield. These are the four things Derrick suggested we do when we are in conversation. And this past week was one of many conversations with all the get-togethers of the Christmas week. I'm thankful we live in a grounded community that celebrates the hope of the season. I'm also thankful our rural Iowa culture encourages face to face relationships with smiles, handshakes, and even hugs. Last week our kids took Jan and I out for supper celebrating Jan's birthday. What a blessing to be part of this family! Being grounded is showing grandkids by example that we have a "Rock of Ages" and we can "love living" without fear. This bunch has so much potential. Many of them are already being assets in society as well as God's kingdom. And my intentions are to do everything with the opportunities and abilities God has given me to work to allow them to raise their families in a country with the same values, freedoms, and opportunities we have...

A few days ago I jumped out of the back of my pickup rather than climbing out. A lens that was loose in the frame of my glasses fell out and broke on the shop floor. Now I'm somewhat dysfunctional without my glasses. Things in the distance get pretty blurry. I found my eyesight prescription in an old glasses case and thought I was in good shape. So I head to Pella where the broken pair came from to see Dr Ralph, Dr Wayne, Dr Jim, and associates at Eyecare Partners to find a new pair of glasses. However they told me my prescription was written in the last decade and my eyes would need to be rechecked. Dr Rachel soon had me a current prescription and two hours later my day was again clearer.  I was seven years old when my teacher shared with my parents that I couldn't read and write like the rest of the kids. Come to find out I couldn't see the blackboard where all the learning was being taught. My teacher got out a cardboard with BIG and little letters and soon figured out m...

We have seen more changes in the last year and a half than ever before. Some things have gone back to normal. Hopefully more will soon. However there are some changes here to stay. Most farm auctions are now called "timed online". The equipment is advertised and pictured on the internet by an auction company. The potential of bidders is literally worldwide. One bids from home with a phone. The bidding has a closing date and time. Items are paid for over the phone to the auction company. Weather is not a factor.  Back in the day a farm auction was quite an event. Auctioneers would take bids from the crowd of folks attending by observing a raised hand or a nod of the head. Going down the rows of equipment or the small items on a hayrack. Machinery had to be spaced in line so there was room for the crowd and bidders to gather. Lunch was often served as a fundraiser by a church, school, or organization. There had to be room for parking. Toward the end of a sale there would be a l...

Good morning. Many of you have heard me say that at times it feels we are living in a third world country. Two things. I'm exaggerating. And second, there are positives in those cultures that we will visit about at the end of this story. The similarities I'm talking about are astronomical inflation, shortages, no incentives to work, slow orders, a propaganda media, and a ruling class that promises peace, plenty, and pleasures in exchange for freedom and capitalism. Folks that have visited us from abroad all say the same thing. Everything is big in our country. And we as a culture are always in a hurry. We are not only used to same day or overnight, we have come to expect it. It's one of the reasons we are so productive. Our skid-loader is misbehaving. It has an emissions sensor putting it in limp mode every couple of minutes. Then someone has to disconnect and reconnect the battery so it forgets it's problem. The service folks say it's a common issue. However they a...