StillwatersIowa

There are acquaintances. There are connections. There are relationships. Then there's kinships. Kinship is a special connection with someone. You could be related. Amish folks call their children and grandchildren "kinner". It could be the folks you work with or hang out with at school every day. Or it could just be a friendship that developed. The roads are getting wide enough from 2 week old snow drifts for semis. So Mike picked up his dozer from the field and took it to get a new undercarriage. Thanks for the picture Mike. Jan and I have been enjoying the special warmth of a woodstove in our home this winter. The problem was I didn't prepare very well. And our split wood wagon was getting empty. A special thank you to my brother-in-law Roger, who brought us a supply of dry split hard wood. Roger is also one of our county road crew who worked day and night to get our roads opened back up a couple of weeks ago. We had a stove shuffle yesterday after one of our glass ...

No journey is a straight and predictable path. January/2024 will be remembered as the snowiest and coldest event in southern Iowa in 51 years. This past week was spent digging out. A story with just the facts is as boring as a newspaper. There are many stories behind the storm of long hours of opening up rural roads, finding a way to care for livestock, making up all the extracurricular activities that happen in school, and a community just coming together. When you add heart in the story, the characters become personal.  Thanks for the picture Emily. 4th grader Jackson spent a snow day off school to pile the drifts off their yard so the cows they are taking care of could be fed. When you involve others in a story, and see things through their vantage point, you create relationships. 20 years ago Karl and Kurt wore the numbers 42 and 52 when they played football. Today their sons, Malaki and Jackson, are wearing their fathers' jersey numbers playing basketball. Thanks for the pictu...

Winter has arrived in southern Iowa. And it made up for lost time dumping 20 inches of snow along with strong winds and plummeting temps, late in the week. Schools, businesses, and churches are all closed. Travel has not been recommended. Thanks for the picture Karl. This was Karl and Kristin's week to get in early weaner pigs after emptying out and power washing the week before. Sydnie and Brynn are helping Dad unload pigs. Thanks for the picture Karl. Malaki, who usually also helps in the hog barn, is shown here taking care of his little brother Tatum. Thanks for the picture. Jan and I actually left last Sunday morning for a week of warm weather. After a stop at Kerch Cafe for breakfast in Farmington, Illinois we stopped to visit a dear friend in central Indiana. Last Monday morning we flew to Grand Cayman Island. Where we met up with farmer friends from multiple midwest states. This trip was a thank you for planting Becks Seed. Becks Seed is built on Faith, Family, and Farming. ...

Have you thought intentionally about your plans for 2024? What do you hope to get accomplished this year? The secret to getting something accomplished is to get started. Lane, Elijah, Jackson, and Ezra are getting a seed tender ready for spring planting. To think about a plan for the year you have to turn off the noise, and start with why. Jan and I have gone up on the hill on New Year's morning, prayed together, and watched the sun come up. However since it was cloudy Monday we prayed together from our home. "Commit to the Lord whatever you do. And He will establish your plans". Proverbs 16:3 Thanks for the picture FB. On New Years evening BJ and Cassia had our extended family over for a potluck including some of my siblings and their families. This past Tuesday was the last day of the grandkids' Christmas school break. So cousins got together at Grandma's house. Thanks for the picture Jan. Our children had planned a progressive dinner for a Christmas gift for Ja...