Christmas Hope

What do you hope for Christmas? Harris said he hoped he could go to the farm toy store in Newton. So on Friday Grandma and I took him to Dalton Toys. He picked out his own present. And Jan took it home and wrapped it so he could open it next Friday at our family Christmas. Then he, I, and Jan all went to Culvers for a mid afternoon supper.

Sydnie told her Dad she hoped she could sing with him at church. So Karl and her did an awesome job last Sunday.

Jackson, Jayden, and Lane are always hoping they can help their Dad. Yesterday Kurt took them all deer hunting. Thanks for the picture BJ.

Friday was Christmas dinner at Oskaloosa Christian Grade School. Parents were invited and families sat in alphabetical order. I was asked to be a substitute parent and enjoyed dinner with Elijah, Anton, and Allison. Jan and I are blessed to have 7 grandchildren at Osky Chr. Grade, and 6 at Pella Chr Grade. Karl and Kristin's Brynn, and Kurt and Emily's Lane are still too young to go to school.

Late Thursday afternoon Jan and I drove to The Stine Barn in West Des Moines and enjoyed Christmas with The Family Leader as board and staff. We enjoyed food and fellowship, reviewed our busy year, received gifts, and sang carols together.

BJ is still busy pattern tiling in a field we farm on the north edge of Ottumwa. Thanks for the picture BJ. He is also starting to deliver alfalfa hay to the auction in Drakesville.

One night after Alex finished some custom anhydrous, he hooked up an implement that helps close tile ditches. And went to work with BJ. Thanks for the picture Al.

Jim, Dean, Karl, and I finished up the hog manure hauling. We covered 450 acres with around 2 million gallon of hog honey this year tankering much of it with semis.

On two different occasions this week I took our manure tankers to the night crew at the truck wash. And helped them get things cleaned up for the year. I enjoyed working with the four highschool boys that work the 4:30 to 11:30 shift on week nights.

We are starting to run equipment through the shop washing, greasing, and repairing. We have a list that will start in earnest after the holidays.

Jan has been baking all kinds of Christmas goodies. And I have started taking assortments to friends and businesses we work with. Thanks for the picture.

Neil was a friend and neighbor as long as I can remember. He came for coffee often. He would often stop and just watch us farm. We've been on work trips together. We served as elders together. We used to do custom work for him when he farmed. Neil passed away last Tuesday. The boys and I were privileged to sing at his funeral yesterday. Our sympathies to Betty and family. Neil knew and accepted the Hope we celebrate this Christmas season.

Shortly after Neil's funeral I headed to the Riverside Community Church in Knoxville. Which I think used to be the old Reformed Church. To attend Trevor's funeral who died young and unexpectedly. I didn't know Trevor. However I knew his mother Stephanie. And I am a cousin to his Aunts Emily and Peggy.

Jan helped at the Christmas Banquet last evening at Pella Christian High School. We have grandkids John, Rachel, Amelia, and Ezra attending there. Thanks for the picture. Gideon, Cody, and Ethan have already graduated.

So, what do I hope for this Christmas season? I hope God continues to write my story as His child, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a friend, and a farmer. I'm thankful for Jan. I'm thankful for children who deeply care about each other, and am looking forward to their Christmas visit. I'm thankful for grandkids that all know and love the Hope of Christmas. I'm thankful for the rest of our farming crew and their families.

Last Sunday evening we attended a candlelight service at Cornerstone church in Pella. We listened and sang about the Hope of Christmas.

How about you? What are you hoping for this Christmas? I know it seems like we live in a world without hope, as our country ignores and defies God. And as secularism, consumerism, and totalitarianism work to take over. However don't miss Christmas. Several missed it that first Christmas, the business community, the political community, even the church leaders who were looking and waiting for that hope missed it. Thanks Monte. Make room for Jesus to write His story on your heart. That's the hope that has purpose. And that's the hope that makes things happen.