I remember the first time I heard those fateful words; “I am your father.” I was a small boy and the intense fighting, sparks flying, and great heights already had me on edge. Then when the “dark lord” proclaimed his identity, Luke’s response fit the feelings well with his excruciating “Noooo!!” No one would want the evil Darth Vader to be their father. What is a father? Did … [Read more...]

The month of June can be a busy one.  The new growth in the fields affects our workloads.  For many farmers who raise cattle, it is time to harvest and bale food for the animals.  June is also a time of paying special attention to people, occasions and occupations.  In our area of the world, June is known as Dairy Month.  We highlight those who make a living at producing … [Read more...]

What if life was a raft?  What if the waterline rose with every addition? Would we keep piling things on as the water rushed over the edge? Would we invite more into the raft if it was already taking on water? How foolish would we look if our raft was sitting on the bottom of the ocean but we were still accepting “passengers”? At some point, we’d have to realize there is no … [Read more...]

Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day, is a U.S. federal holiday honoring and mourning the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Military. This day of commemoration started in the years that followed the Civil War. It became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many people observe the day by visiting cemeteries and memorials on Memorial Day. I came from a … [Read more...]

See – I have this thing called a comfort zone. She’s my favorite place to be – at least if I’m not thinking beyond today. She knows just what I like and she keeps me far away from what I don’t like. If something sounds like it might fall outside of her, we just avoid that. She and I are pretty tight. This week, I told my comfort zone to take a hike and we launched our silo … [Read more...]

Have you ever thrown a rock into a perfectly clear lake? Well, you’re also probably the one who unnecessarily walks through the yard after a fresh blanket of snow. Hey, stop talking about the snow! That’s a touchy subject this time of year. I’m trying to plant corn! I’m always impressed by the impact of one tiny rock on so much water. If you haven’t done this before, maybe … [Read more...]

She sang so sweetly. This young lady smiled as she uttered the melodious love song at a Christian wedding today. The audience gave her their rapt attention. Her voice flooded the auditorium with melody. What a joy to see and hear her serving the Lord, the bride and groom and others with her voice. “I am glad you asked me to do this,” she offered as she spoke to the groom at … [Read more...]

My eyes jolted open, only to see what I shouldn’t see through my windshield: tall grass whipping by as I drove somewhere I knew I shouldn’t be. Confused and panicked, my foggy brain picked my foot off the accelerator. What in the world had I done? Where was I? My breath escaped me as I realized what I was doing: I had fallen asleep at the wheel – crossed oncoming traffic, and … [Read more...]

Now is not the time to mention the “s” word.  Nobody wants to hear it!  We have received and read the garden catalogs.  We have ordered new plants for the garden.  We ARE SO READY! Now I remember my grampa’s advice.  Don’t plant anything before Memorial Day or you will be sorry.  Patience is not one of my virtues. What to do now that my green thumb is itching?  I guess I can … [Read more...]

I’ve gotten pretty good at stumbling through the darkness. In one of our machine sheds, there’s a door on both ends but a light switch on only one end. If I happen to come from the switchless end of the farm, I will always choose to blind squirrel my way through the tetris-like machinery rather than take the long way around to the light switch. Some days it works better than … [Read more...]

In the valley Times can turn out to surprise us. They can lead us to broad meadows, a flowered beauty, or raise us to the top of mountainous splendor. Yet there are days that unexpectedly reach out to us and guide us into a valley shadowed by uncertainty, frailty, or sorrow. One just never knows what the morrow will bring. A common comment I have heard this winter season … [Read more...]

You might want to sit down for this. What if your kids asked to get out of bed early to happily clean and organize the house? I’m fully aware I sound crazy. I never thought my kids would do it. But they are (some days) and it’s rocking my world! “How does this work?!!!” Thanks for asking - I’d love to share. Recently, I was introduced to Paul Akers’ “2 Second Lean” book … [Read more...]

I am a Godlilocks weather person.  Winter is too cold and snowy.  Summer is too hot and humid.  Spring and fall are just right.  The moderate temperatures plus the scents of the seasons and the colors make me happy and more productive.  The smell of mud and fresh green grass is intoxicating while the color of fall leaves and smell of bonfires makes me sigh with joy.  Since … [Read more...]

With a big yawn, I exclaimed, “I dreamt I could fly!” I remember the weightless feeling of levitating like Superman into the air. From the time I was young, I have dreamed of flying both nocturnally and in conscious thought.  My brother and I would always see how much air we could get. I remember packing snow up over the old stump in the middle of our sledding hill to make a … [Read more...]

February, though a short month, has signaled some important dates of the year.  Birthdays for important individuals, such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, my brother, two of our daughters and one grandson, are remembered this time of year.  Some Februarys make for snowy, frigid days.  Others flirt with springtime temperatures.  With Christmas in the rear-view mirror, it … [Read more...]