StillwatersIowa

Our journey in life happens at the speed of relationships. Relationships with family. Relationships with friends. Relationships at church, school, and in community. Relationships with folks doing business together. Below BJ and Jan are catching up on that journey as mother and son. Sharing our journey involves what we do and why we do things. But when it comes down to it, it's mostly about our interactions with who we do life with. Reputation is important. However I've discovered you can't totally control reputation because it's what others think you are. You can however control character. Character is who you really are, and that creates reputation. We started adding about 40 pounds of nitrogen to the corn crop this week. Memorial Day weekend is about sharing memories. We remember those who served our country to give us the freedoms we are still hanging on to today. We remember those who are no longer with us. I'm convinced what we remember is the relationships rat...

"Listen. A farmer went out to plant his fields." Matthew 13:3 "As he planted across his fields, some seeds fell on hard ground. And the birds came and ate them." Matthew 13:4 "Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying obstacles. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun since they didn't have deep roots." Matthew 13:5-6 "Other seed fell among thorns and weeds that grew up and choked the tender plants." Matthew 13:7 "Still other seed fell on fertile soil and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted. Anyone with ears should listen and understand." Matthew 13:8-9 The disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Why do you use stories when you talk to the people?" Jesus replied, "To those who listen, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening...

Last Sunday for Mother's Day Jan and I attended Faith Church in Pella and then had lunch with Brian and Becky's family on their farm west of Peoria. Hazel, who has four older brothers and will be in kindergarten this fall, wanted to show Grandpa a nest of robin eggs in one of their fruit trees. I couldn't help but notice the life and energy of the season. Fruit tree blossoms, green growing grass, calves on that grass, the totally at home baby kittens we dropped off the week before, and Hazel. The negatives of summer are bugs and weeds. The positive is the growth of everything that came to life in the spring. And the fuel for that growth is moisture and heat. While spraying for Jay and Diane's family this week I came across this bunch of flowers in their field next to a creek. I was impressed with the unplanned volunteer flower's spunk and determination in a field planned for something else and sprayed around them. Farmers have been waiting all spring on heat for cro...