Life Lived. Not Preached

Nothing beats a real live story. Telling an account of your experiences. Showing your story makes it more actual and legitimate. However living your story determines whether it is fiction or real.

What do enjoy doing in your free time? It may be reading, biking, fishing, racing, screen time, or going for coffee. Some of you enjoy destinations together on a Harley ride. Jan and I enjoy spending time together on a Ranger ride. Usually checking crops. Sometimes through trails in our timber. 

Monday, the 4th of July was a project day at our place. Ezra helped move rocks and do some cleaning in the morning. Karl mowed road ditches. Remember our old yellow skidloader that had a bad motor and was parked for 20 years? It's been coming in handy occasionally.

Then after lunch we drove to Harbor Freight (a tool store) in Ottumwa. Of course a trip to Ottumwa is not complete without stopping at Grahams for ice cream.

Then on the evening of the 4th some family came over and we enjoyed swimming and supper outside.

BJ continues to work on cattle pastures. Mark took an old farm house down for Larry and cleaned up a yard. Mike finished a pond. Karl and Kurt have been busy sorting and selling hogs. Jim hauled rock with Mark's truck. We finished a little spraying. Even planted a few soybeans yet. Alex and Pablo hauled grain.

Jim and Dean have been a big help staying on top of repairs and maintenance. We used leftover parts to mount a roll tarp on our little grandkids graincart. Jim rebuilt a skidloader bale stabber. We put new shovels on two field cultivators. Then greased and washed before we put them away. Below Mike and Matt are finishing up this project. I guess my point is we have transitioned to summertime around here.

Tuesday was really summertime. Temps were in the low 100s with a steady southwest wind. Right around here our crops are kind of hand to mouth as far as moisture goes and the corn just plain wilted during tasseling. We did receive a couple of welcoming showers this past week ranging from three tenths to an inch and a half depending on location.

Sometimes we are taught that our lives lived will be measured by our greatest moments. When in fact it's the little things we do, especially for others, that count the most.

Friday evening after stopping at North Mahaska's fun shoot with their trap shooting team we went to Becky and Brian's family for supper to help celebrate Harris's eighth birthday.

I found this story interesting. Farmers in the Netherlands are finally pushing back with protests after their government has taken away their ability to grow food with environmental rules and climate change regulations. 

Don't forget that a government that is big enough to give you everything you want, is also big enough to take away everything you need. In order to make you submit and comply.

We've probably planted a dozen trees already this year. We have another dozen to go that are patiently waiting next to the garage. We may wait with these till cooler weather. 

We can and often do enjoy the shade or beauty of a 50 or 75 year old tree. However I also think there is meaning in life in planting trees whose shade we will probably not expect to enjoy but enjoyed by others.

There are a lot of companies, hospitals, entertainment, and educational institutions today preaching the spirit of the age. However what we don't hear about as much is their are just as many that still believe in a moral standard and that God is in charge. They are living rather than preaching their values.  Thanks Harold. With God's help we still have the power of influence. Use your critical thinking skills to determine which stories are fiction and which ones are real. Blessings.