Security In Purpose

The year was 1961. I was five years old. We were living on a rented Schakel farm. A car pulled on the yard unexpectedly. My Mom said I was to get in with our next door neighbor kids, Keith, Dale, and many of their seven sisters. She told me they were taking me to school. I hesitated. (and probably cried) I was carried to the car and put in the backseat. So many unfamiliar folks. I was afraid. I crawled right over those kids in the back, opened the opposite door, and ran. I saw no purpose in school. I told folks my Dad needed me.

I don't remember the ride to school. I'm guessing I was probably trying to hide. I do however remember arriving in the kindergarten room of the old Oskaloosa Christian Grade School. Our teacher was the principal's wife. We were told to sit in these old desks that were bolted on runners in rows. And had ink well holes. Alvin and Dan were actually talking to girls, Jacki and Patty. Ron looked big enough to be in 5th grade. Linda and Lila looked kind of scared like me. Verlan, Dale, and Kevin didn't look that crazy about this school thing either. John smiled alot. Duane, Gary, and Wayne minded their own business. Mary looked smart. I'm forgetting a couple kindergarten classmates, dog-gone-it. The graduating 8th grade class of 1970. The last class to do all K-8th in the old school.

This past Thursday morning I picked up my grandson. He was to help me farm for the day. Poor Lane. His folks were gone for a few days. His older brothers Jackson and Jayden were getting on the school bus. And he was being picked up from his other set of grandparents. It was just about more insecurity than his little mind could handle that day. I reached in the back seat for his pillow and blanket. He told me he wanted his Mom and Dad. I didn't blame him. I've been there.

I needed to give him a reason for being with Grandpa. And I wanted to affirm him. So I told him we needed to check the cows at his house. I said I didn't know where the waterer was and asked if he would help me. That's all it took. He felt needed. He talked a mile a minute. He had a purpose. And he forgot about his insecurities.

In rural Iowa on gravel roads, everyone waves at everyone. And 90% of the time we know who we are waving to. I like that kind of living. Below Craig is bringing their 32 row planter home from town. We intend to get ours out this coming week and in the shop. We only have about 8 weeks left to get ready for this coming crop season.

Friday the guys worked on wiring and lights on BJ and Kurt's livestock trailer. They also worked on the back door.

We serviced a couple of batwing mowers. Grease zerks on hidden PTO knuckles are hard to find and harder to grease. So a winter day in the shop is the perfect time to tackle those.

Kudos to Kyle from Indianapolis who came this week and wrapped Karl and Kristin's seed trailer. Kyle travels from job to job in his F150 pulling a small camper. We put him inside across the road and had him use the bunkhouse. Alex used the new look to pick up a load of seed in Colfax Wednesday. Thanks for the picture Al.

Wednesday a number of us went to the Iowa Power Show in Des Moines. Kudos to parents who let their children skip school to experience a different kind of education. And a big thank you to teachers who realize we're a rural community where many kids do more than school and screen time. There may be a friend or two in the grandkid picture below. 😊

Staying home from school to go to farm sales with my dad, and helping him farm during school time was a huge part of overcoming my insecurities as a kindergartner. In fact, it became my security pillow and blanket having changed schools five times during my K-12 school years.

I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that new and used machinery has doubled in price in the last five years. Replacing machinery with newer is expensive. Repairing the older machinery and down time is expensive. Pick your expensive. Being a "student" of the 1980s (farm crisis and 20% interest) whenever we could trade with little to no interest rate, and the cash flow supported it, it was a no brainer in my mind. Today's higher interest rates have stopped all that.

We set a time to gather back together after the farm show. While we were waiting this gal came up to Stacy and asked if she had brought her 4-H club to the show. 😊 Nope. Just a bunch of cousins. We made our annual trip to Perkins for dinner before returning home.

Thursday around noon Barney, our purple Peterbuilt, died near the Polk County landfill. It was soo cold trying to figure out the issue with traffic flying by. We finally called Steve at Hewitts and had him pull it to the shop while Alex hooked the load of soybeans up to another semi. He delivered the soybeans to ADM in Des Moines and then headed to Iowa Falls for a load of soybean meal helping out Brent.

The next morning we found out 2 other semis had come into Outer Limits on the hook as well. Barney's transmission had given out. We were about to order a rebuilt one when Gideon, a grandson, who works there suggested we put in the transmission from a semi we parked because of a bad motor. Grandsons Gideon and Ethan started helping out Brett with truck repair as Juniors in high school and now work there fulltime.

We all need a purpose. What's yours today? This coming week? In 2023? Our purpose isn't always necessarily fun or easy. 3000 years ago Solomon asked for wisdom and God gave it to him. In Proverbs it's recorded that he wrote, "Without a vision (purpose), people perish".

Ezra and Elijah often help me when they are available. Yesterday we tackled cleaning the wash bay pit.

We also all need relationships. Feeling alone can be scary. And I'm not sure screen time and social media these days qualify for time together. It may be controversial but I think folks running our country and our media today want us to feel alone and fearful. Little Lane is all smiles with his brothers and cousins. Thanks for the picture Kristin.

Life can be a load on our own. Especially these days. Trying to navigate through counter culture, untruths, folks trying to make our country weaker, and centralizing power, can make one as insecure as starting kindergarten again. However, just like little Lane who knows his father and mother will take care of him, we have a Heavenly Father who loves us. Will He make all the bad stuff go away? Maybe not. But by giving us a purpose and relationships, He is affirming us. With His help we can determine when our purpose is to be bold and courageous, and when to be quiet.

Below are Jackson, Malaki, Jayden, Sydnie, Lane, and Brynn. Thanks for the picture Kristin.