StillwatersIowa

With the northwest wind blowing and nights below freezing it's evident the winter season is knocking at our door. This time of year makes one thankful for the aroma of a cup of coffee in the morning. When we finished our harvest a month ago and moved on to other jobs the pace of life dropped a notch or two. It was like moving on to the next work load season. This past week when we rebooted and started custom harvesting again we had to get back into the grove. But there is satisfaction in doing our best and helping others. Thanks family and crew. Thanks gals and spouses. I know harvest season makes heart rates go up. Thank you Lord for opportunities to be your hands and feet to others. Mike heated up his frying oil and we had a catfish fry one noon. Thanks to landlords, Eileen and Buddy, for keeping us supplied in delicious fish. Jan added a corn casserole and several blooming onions.  Tuesday morning we started working on getting combines ready for harvest next year. This is Mark...

In the 20 book series of historical fiction, Lauraine Snelling writes about her Norwegian ancestors immigrating, and farming in the Red River Valley in the Dakota territories. Her stories take place from 1880 to 1905. I'm up to reading book 18 in this series. Her stories are a record of triumph, tragedy, hard work, love, family, and God's faithfulness. After a three week break from harvesting, we have again gotten the combines out. We are helping a family in Keokuk County harvest their crops. Due to our recent rains, the fields are solid but muddy. Corn moisture has risen 2 to 4 points. Yields and stands are still good.   This past Monday was Veterans Day. Mike was invited to Pella Christian Grade School to answer questions from teachers and kids, including Kurt and Emily's Jackson, about his time as a Marine 30 years ago. They took this picture in front of a World War II memorial, where my mother's brother Germ is one of many remembered. Thanks for the picture. We fini...

Between harvest and Thanksgiving is the time of year when we think about how we have been provided for: A bountiful crop. A productive fall. Moisture for the next growing season. Additions to family with more coming. Health and ability to still work. And, a country where good citizens still value freedom. Thanks for the picture. God says trust me and I will provide. With more grain in bins this year we have been running fans. And Jim and others have been coring bins. Coring means emptying about 10% of the grain out to pull the center of the pile and level the peak that's against the bin roof.  Next year's seed has been coming in. And we have picked up Becks Seed from Nashua, Illinois, Colfax, and Beaman. However late this past week we unhooked the seed trailer and hooked up the manure tankers to try and finish hauling hog honey. We did have a small mishap hauling hog manure when the honey wagon hitch broke going over a terrace. Karl picked up parts late Friday and Karl, Kasey, ...

When we encounter situations that challenge our beliefs, change our plans, make us want to compromise, or make us uncomfortable, "life gets real". These situations sometimes require us to make difficult and immediate decisions. A set of circumstances could include a loss, financial hardship, a health crises, a career decision, or pressure in a relationship. Yesterday Ezra and Elijah chiseled 125 acres of corn stalks going to corn again next year. In fact because of how projected crop cash flows look, I'm personally not planning on raising any soybeans next year. It often seems like doing the same unsuccessful thing over and over, or looking the other way when someone disses our values, or not getting involved, or not standing up when someone needs a 2AM friend, seems to keep life simple and comfortable. However that's not "real". When we move beyond our comfort zone, test our abilities, use our God-given strength that shapes our character, and confront the r...