Working For A Cause

School has started. Summer will soon be over. I had a goal earlier this year that I would hire and keep busy as many grandkids as wanted to and were willing to work for Grandpa. Those that helped out ranged in age from 5 to 16.

Not only did they do the fun jobs, they had to precede or follow up with the tougher and dirtier jobs as well. I've always believed giving kids responsibility, teaching them to enjoy work, and showing them to care about each other, gives them confidence and helps them prepare for being assets in society and honoring God.

Well, hopefully it doesn't give them too much confidence. 😊 Kurt and Emily's five year old Lane is sitting at the desk with his cup of black coffee hanging out with the grownups. Thanks for the picture Mike.

Last Sunday we got together as an extended family for lunch. Many of the smaller kids went swimming.

Cassia, Rachel, Adi, and Natalie worked together with Jan to can salsa one morning. Thanks for the tomatoes Kristin.

We were blessed with a visit from a group of farmers and Ag businessmen from Paraguay yesterday. Many of their questions centered around the cost of crop production. Thanks for hosting Jason.

After our guests left I drove to where our oldest, Mike, was building a pond to get a picture since it's his 47th birthday today. Well, he had parked his dozer already. However our third, BJ, was still pushing dirt. So I jumped in Mike's dozer and helped BJ yesterday afternoon. The conversations of the day got me thinking about working for a cause as a parent. First raising and providing for family. Then watching children establish their own families. And now working with them as adults. Happy Birthday Mike. As a father I have not always gotten it right. However I love you, your brothers, and your sister dearly.

Thursday morning Jan and I left early for Indiana. We stopped for Becknology Days at Becks headquarters a little while on Thursday afternoon and again on Friday morning.

Ken and Cheri have been friends for years, and we wanted to see them again in Indiana and catch up. Cheri is in assisted living. Thanks for the friendship and hospitality Ken.

I would like to remind you about the Concert On The Square this coming Saturday evening. It will be our community's 9th year. Last year around 9000 folks came. We're blessed to be able to get together and worship in the heart of our community. As a title sponsor we again get to visit with the recording artist. If you or your kids would like to meet Cochren and Co. or Ben Fuller, talk to our granddaughters.

Next weekend we also celebrate Labor Day. This is a weekend when we recognize who we are as a country. And how we were built and blessed. "Working" for a cause as a country isn't much different than teaching grandkids. Honor God. Enjoy work. Take responsibility. And care about and help others.