Mothers Day

In 1954 Mother's Day was observed on May 9. My mother was married on May 7 of that year only to tell her new husband good-bye the following week when the Army sent him to Korea for 14 months. Yesterday, May 10, was her 92 birthday. Elliot and Ezra, her great-grandsons, and myself brought her some flowers Jan had picked from her yard.

My father returned home from Korea in the summer of 1955. A year later I was born. In 1961 my parents sent me to kindergarten at Oskaloosa Christian School, and I used a desk like this. The hole in the desk is an ink well, which we didn't use. I'm old but not that old.

Fast-forward a couple of decades. On Mother's Day 1989 this was the family God gave Jan and I to raise and care for. Jan was and is an amazing wife and mother.

This recent first week of May was different than most I can remember in a long time. With the crop in and emerged, we kept busy with other projects. Kurt is folding up his planter after washing it and pulling out the speed tubes.

BJ finished a pond and built a couple of terraces above it on a rented farm. He also pattern tiled the last farm we saved for that reason south of Oskaloosa along Hwy 163. We call it the Vos farm since we rented it off of Cres and Evelyn a generation ago when they raised their four kids there.

Kasey spent the week spraying rowed corn with the wide tires on. Since the ground is dry, running over the new young corn plants does not effect the stand. With planting happening so early and fast we also switched about half our corn acres from two pass to one pass spraying for controlling weeds.

Exact Apply speeds up the spraying operation. So on many of our acres we tendered one sprayer with two semi tenders. On good going, a sprayer can spray over 100 acres/hour including filling. Below Justin and Matt from Oskaloosa/Nutrien are loading us. Ryan, Andrew, and Kathy also kept us going from the New Sharon location.

These gals are the heartbeat of our family. In reality, with all their busy schedules, they are the heartbeat of our communities as well. They are also Moms to 29 children. I love you all and Happy Mother's Day to Jan, Emily, Stacy, Suzanne, Kristin, Cassia, and Becky.

On Friday the Pella Christian FFA chapter held an Agventure Day at school. And invited the younger gradeschool kids to come enjoy and learn about farming. Elijah brought our Ford 801 Select-O-Speed. This 1960 model 44 hp tractor is permanently on our 2 row sweetcorn planter. Ezra brought Karl's J and M 390 seed tender.

Friday was also graduation at Dordt University in Sioux Center. Mike and Suzanne's Cody and his fiancé Tori both graduated. Tori will practice nursing in Mitchell, SD. And Cody will work at Fareway in Sioux Falls, SD and attending Augustana in the fall for physical therapy training. In July, we look forward to Cody and Tori getting married. Thanks for the picture.

I heard a statement recently I agree with. Often folks misremember the past. When they do that, they resent the present, and fear the future. Misremembering, resenting, and fearing, lead to discontent and negativity. Which can't coincide with gratitude. As I think back about graduations, birthdays, and past Mother's Days, I'm reminded of something Solomon said 3000 years ago that's still true today: "We seldom look back at the days of our lives, because God keeps us occupied with the gladness of our heart". Ecclesiastes 5:20

So does that mean our future will be trouble free? Not a chance. However struggles often lead to personal growth and opportunities. And as we have experienced in the past, help with character building and contentment. God made you for a purpose. Actually, His purpose. That makes us look forward to future birthdays, graduations, and Mother's Days. Grandson Gideon and Emily's, little Oakley, is the 5th generation gal in this morning's story. And is already busy being part of their Sully Meat Market and Locker business. Blessings and Happy Mother's Day.