Cousins And Holidays

Cousins are the friends you never knew you wanted but so glad you have. Holidays are the times you take to enjoy those friends. Specifically Memorial Day weekend is the time you remember the ones you've lost.

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned my father went to Korea right after he married. I misremembered. He went to Germany right after the Korean conflict. His cousin and best friend went to France. On November 6,1954, Roger was killed when he was caught between a grader and a dozer on an air force base. My father asked if he could escort his cousins body home. That request was denied. In 1956 I was named Steven Roger in memory of Dad's cousin.

Fast-forward 5 generations. I stopped by our shop office Thursday noon and was delighted to see a daughter-in-law, a grand-daughter, and two great-grand-daughters had stopped to visit. Little Oakley and Rosie are cousins.

Matt and Michael stopped on a wet day to visit and see how things with Becks Seed were wrapping up.

Sixty years ago our neighbor Ken helped my father-in-law build a heavy duty shed mover. In the 1960s, when Jan's family moved, they spent one winter moving portable sheds my father-in-law had built from Wright to SW of Oskaloosa. We still use the shed mover, moving a granary from Melvin's farm to Dave's farm this past week. Thanks for the picture Kasey.

Since we had an inch and a half of rain last Monday we did a fair amount of shop projects including sprayers, balers, spreaders, skidloaders, and multiple tractors.

We continue to haul loads of empty pallets and pro boxes back to Colfax. Also Jan's flowers around the yard are gorgeous as usual. She continues to share bulbs and shoots with about anyone who comes and asks.

Three generations ago Grandpa Bill and Grandma Tina got together with 10 married children every Labor Day for a family reunion. Missing was NOT an option. I remember good food, softball, and lots of cousins. 40 years ago cousin Dave and I hosted a cousins reunion here. This coming 4th of July weekend brother Doug and cousin Alan are planning another cousins reunion. Jan and I are delighted to host here. Attention cousins and families: I look forward to catching up, remembering, laughing about the old days, and sharing how God has been faithful to our family. See you Sunday, July 6.

The Bible is full of stories of Jesus spending feasts and special days with his friends, sinners, and yes, cousins. John the Baptist was Jesus's second cousin. Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, were often called His cousins. Jesus also called 12 ordinary blue collar working men to help Him with His ministry.

Two of those twelve disciples were sons of Zebedee. One day their mother, Salome, asked Jesus if her sons could sit at Jesus right and left sides in heaven, making the rest of the disciples indignant. History says Salome and Mary were sisters. They were together when Jesus was killed. That would make James and John, Sons of Thunder, Jesus's cousins.

James and John believed Jesus was their Savior. Cheerful, compassionate, servanthood is what Jesus taught and showed His cousins and others. We should do no less. Blessings.