Making A Difference

The start of harvest is just weeks away. Chopping season is already underway. Our summer season has had blessed times. It has also had struggles. Both situations come with responsibility. Responsibility to make a difference.

We have mowed a number of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres for others. Some choose not to take the risk of mowing. These acres often come with surprises. Like flat tires from thorn trees and sharp stumps, broken batwing mowers from unseen obstacles, and falling in holes. We choose to help with both the blessed acres and the struggling ones when when folks put their trust in us.

Our family is blessed to have different members in it with a variety of abilities to help others. Mike is working on building wetlands in a reclaimed coalmine. Mark is digging basements for new homes and demolishing old ones. BJ is here loading his trencher to help a landlord with a wide wet waterway.

Jan and I headed to Iowa City early Thursday morning. Her MRI showed no additional growth in a brain tumor above her left eye. She continues to do well. Barring unexpected symptoms, her next appointment is in 12 months.

Our first field of corn has blacklayered. That means the kernels have reached maturity and are starting to dry down in moisture. This field is a 103 day Becks hybrid planted in late March. We hope to start harvest Labor Day week. We have also recently forward sold soybeans out of the field to be delivered to the processor in 3 weeks.

So often we go through our week unaware of the impact we have on others, good or bad. Wednesday was our last chiropractor home visit/ early lunch for the summer. I'd like to thank Dr Mark for his summer visits. I'd like to thank our and others families for their grit mixed with kindness, for their leadership mixed with going the extra mile unnoticed, for their ability to get things done mixed with taking time for others.

Despite the blessed times we've had this summer, struggles continue here on earth. Farm diesel is $5/gallon. Three friends have been in the hospital with pneumonia this past week. Two others have recently been diagnosed with aggressive cancer. Yet the sun comes up every new day. And God promises seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will not cease. Genesis 8:22. Let's continue to give our best, be encouragers, be generous, inspire, and make a difference as we enter another busy season.