Local Heroes

We don't hear much about real heroes these days. My definition of a hero is someone who selflessly helps others without a thought of recognition. This week before Christmas, stories are just ordinary family and friends doing life.

On an icy Thursday evening the Pella Christian High FFA kids came out to our shop for their Christmas party. Kudos to kids who have projects and are thinking about starting businesses while still in high school. And kudos to their leaders and parents who are encouraging them.

Speaking of high school kids, Mason, Clayton, Jackson, and Nash work at the truck wash south of Oskaloosa from after school to 11:30 pm. They are all positive, can relate with adults, and are willing to work. When I asked them how many kids in their class have jobs they said only about a dozen out of a class of 150 students. This is probably controversial however I think kids miss out on part of the growing up process when they don't have to work for someone other than parents, where they learn to handle responsibility and interact with adults.

On the last warm day we had this past week I had every intention of washing the high speed disc. However other obligations kept interfering. Finally Alex went and washed it. Thanks Al.

Then the crew, headed up by Dean, got it serviced, repaired, and in top notch shape for next crop year.

Jim continues to haul our November and December grain contracts mostly going to Burlington with soybeans before the Mississippi River closes for the winter.

Yesterday 9th grader Ezra and 8th grader Elijah helped clean a bin. They as well as other grandsons have been really good help this year. I'm blessed to have the opportunity to work with them.

Kasey stopped by this week with his dump truck. So I had him run to the rock quarry and haul a load of inch and a half clean stone to freshen up our yard. Because of all the guests we have this Christmas season using our cabin and other facilities. Normally putting down new rock just before snow removal season is not that smart a move.

I got a kick out of this snapchat. Sometimes local heroes have to improvise. On the way to his dozing job Mike's pickup heater didn't work so he lit his propane torch and set it in his coffee holder. 😊 Thanks for the picture Mike.

Field work has stopped around here however Mike, Mark, BJ, Kurt, and Alex continue to doze, excavate, and tile on a number of different projects. Thanks for the picture BJ.

We so enjoyed watching the 5th through 8th graders from Oskaloosa Christian Grade School do a performance of Lion King Friday evening. Kudos to the students including five grandkids for not only knowing all their lines, but enjoying what they were doing. And a huge thank you to all the adults who helped with not only the performances but also the months of practices.

The fifth graders including Allison and Natalie were asked to individually put together a power point presentation on their laptop about someone other than parents who had an impact on their lives. Jan and I were asked to come to school and view their presentations. Thanks kiddos. And thanks Mrs. Mitchell and Keri for helping them.

Yesterday brother Doug and Ginger's oldest daughter Olivia and Josh were married. Congratulations. The new couple has purchased a home in Oskaloosa across from the Friends Church. Olivia teaches at Cardinal School near Eldon. And Josh is an engineer in Pella. The local heroes in this story are the parents of both kids who taught their children to put Jesus first in their lives. Thanks for the picture Dan. It's been 17 years ago already that I had the privilege of walking our daughter Becky down the aisle. Her husband Brian was the officiating pastor yesterday.

I needed a spouse picture and particularly of Jan but I didn't take one this week. So I'm using this picture of the wedding reception at the Pioneer Nelson Farm last evening. Spouses are local heroes. They fit the definition of selflessly helping others. Today is my wife Jan's birthday. She has had a busy week hosting company and cooking. We plan on spending the day together tomorrow driving to Rutledge, Missouri shopping at our Amish and Mennonite friends. Thanks for all you do for me and others Jan. I love you and Happy Birthday.

So how do we wrap up an ordinary week about ordinary stories on this last week before Christmas? I think we continue to light our corner of the world by being local heroes caring about and helping others. And I think the more we follow the Christ we celebrate, the more we see He would rather have our hearts than our traditions. Blessings.