Two Minutes Of Uncomfortable

It often takes becoming uncomfortable to move forward. To grow. To be productive. To accomplish a purpose. I thought about this while loading hog manure. Helping feed the world involves growing crops. Crops need nutrients (hog honey). In our case it takes being uncomfortable a couple of minutes of sitting in the cold wind loading a manure tanker, driving two miles and loading the honey wagon, which applies the nutrients the crop will use next year.

On other fields we are also feeding next years corn crop with commercial fertilizer. Alex, Layton, and Kurt worked on NH3 application. Late last night as I was filling in it would take about two minutes of being uncomfortable every 40 acres when I changed from an empty tank to another full one. Thanks Jim, Matt, and Brent for keeping us supplied with product.

My days kind of ran together this past week so I'm not sure which afternoon it was. We started warm and were working in 76 degrees. About mid to late afternoon you could feel the cold air coming. And in just a few minutes the weather turned to uncomfortable.

Jim and Pablo continued to haul our November soybean contracts.

Dean and Big John worked on repairing and cleaning up equipment. The combines, heads, and some augers were put away for the winter.

Kurt, Conner, and Ezra continue to work on tilling our next years corn on corn acres in their spare time. Conner did some custom disk ripping yesterday.

Karl and I used manure tankers to haul hog honey. Papa Jon also ran a manure tanker all week custom hauling for others.

I'm thankful for our grandkids and their willingness to tackle projects no matter how uncomfortable and dirty they get. Ethan and Gideon replaced a suspension airbag on one of our trailers where they work.

They can also multitask. John, Gideon, and their friend Noah helped with butchering one night.

"On loan from God" as Rush used to say about our possessions. So I feel I can say thank you and return the favor by loaning out to others when they have a need. We got a combine and 8 row head back out for some folks to use who's combine broke down.

Yesterday morning Mike borrowed the skidloader and he and Suzanne pulled out the evergreen bushes around their house getting ready for new siding and windows. Thanks for the picture Suzanne.

Freedom isn't free. It takes sacrifice. It takes becoming uncomfortable and standing up for what we believe. And at least in the past it used to be worth fighting for if necessary. Friday we remembered those that served in our armed forces. Mike was in the Marines for four years. He was invited to a get-together at our local Christian grade school. Below his picture was taken with all his namesake. Thanks for the picture.

What's normal these days? In our visit last week I mentioned Tuesday would not be normal and would not be finished by the end of the day. I figured the "silent majority" would turn out and vote for those that advocated values, freedom, and less government. It continues to happen in Iowa for which I am so thankful. It also happened in South Dakota and Florida. It did not happen nationally. Is the silent majority I've always believed in changing? Are they not informed? Or are they just comfortable and becoming used to our own dysfunction? Thanks for the picture Kristin.

As a nation we are depraved from the top down. However I still believe we are wholesome from the bottom up. And as a nation I can answer my own question. Our leadership is not just forgetting God. Or even ignoring Him. They are defying the One in charge. It takes Godly leadership to be courageous. Governor Kim has told me herself she could not lead without her faith and God's help. I've met Governor Kristi from South Dakota. I've personally heard her say she is a ranch gal that relies on God. I have not met Governor Ron from Florida. But I've heard him say on Focus on the Family that God leads him and his young family. I know, non of these folks are perfect. However it seems the ones that acknowledge God's help are the best places to live right now.

Jan and I are friends with a gal that ran for Attorney General in Arizona. She told me on election night Candidate Keri (another Godly leader) should win by 50 or 60,000 votes considering the areas that still need counted. Tuesday night we had states with 20, 30, even 40 million people know results by the end of the night. and a state with 7 million folks say it will take weeks. Please remind me later I was wrong. I do not expect this to end well.

8% of the things we worry about actually happen. Worry reveals a lack of trust in God. Jan told me this week I must not be feeling well because I was grouchy. She was right. I was stressing out about leading a crew that needs to get a lot of things finished before winter. Yesterday I snapchatted my family and told them I was sorry for being uptight. Did that make me uncomfortable? Admitting shortcomings and being vulnerable usually does. I'm not sharing this for a pat on the back. I'm just letting you know I fail and often fall short of the mark. Then I asked God to help me try harder. As an individual, as a family, as a state, and as a country, we are nothing without God. But with God's help we all can make things happen. Blessings.