Of Dreams and Wheat Harvest

Golden heads of wheat waving in the wind...Combining...
Weighing in at the scale house...

I've been doing things I've never done before, going places I've never been, driving strange vehicles, being "on call", keeping crazy hours and watching the weather with great concern. It all comes with the new job.

Earlier this year I was wondering what new/exciting/different things I should do this year before turning 40. Meanwhile in the back of my mind a well-hidden dream was waiting for fulfillment. The dream of helping with wheat harvest.



You see, as a child, I loved to go out for combine rides or play on the fully loaded grain trucks of wheat with my brother and sisters. A ride to the elevator with Dad, to dump the wheat, was extra special. Sometimes I even got a free bottle of pop - in a glass bottle!



And so with great excitement I started my first day at Miller Seed Farms. It was challenging with learning lots of new things but I had a patient instructor and by mid-afternoon I was weighing in trucks of grain.



The second day I left for Great Bend around 7 a.m. to pick up parts. Then I was sent to Hutch. It started with one stop but by the time I left the office 4 more had been added. First to Cooper Tire to drop of 2 tires for repair, then to Napa for an alternator, to Metro Automotive for a starter, to Murdock Supply for a 75' cable, to Reger Rental for a trash pump and back to Cooper for the restored tires.



The combines were slow getting started that morning so I still got in on a lot of weighing in after my other errands were done. And that's one of my favorite parts of the job. Inbetween loads you sit and chat with whoever happens to be around, catching up on local news or listen on the 2-way radios to friendly banter going on among other workers.



By the end of the second day I was really getting into things and I was only too happy to comply when the boss asked if I'd consider working Saturday. However, the rain put an end to those plans and I was honestly disappointed. It wasn't easy to switch gears from wheat harvest to mundane tasks like cleaning and laundry.



In case you haven't guessed, I love my new job! The hours aren't really that crazy. In fact, when I left at 7:30 p.m., I felt like a real slacker knowing the others were working till midnight. I have a great group of guys to work with and a good boss.



So hold on to those dreams - big or little - they may just come true when you least expect it.

Celebrate God's Goodness

Thursday morning this phrase kept running through my head, as I was lying in bed trying to clear my foggy mind from the shackles of sleep.

It wasn't a very good week. I felt especially discouraged with wanting more work but not finding any. On Tuesday I was sent home at noon due to weather. I thought to myself, WHAT is going on??!! The more work I want, the less I have! This is crazy!

Obviously, God was up to something. But He wasn't telling me! Does He have to be so secretive?? And so I fussed and fumed and tried to understand. Two words stood out in my mind. Two words I've heard often. Two words I don't really like. Two words that often make me sigh in resignation, "Oh, that again!"

I'm sure you've heard them, too. WAIT and TRUST! Even though I know it's the best way and God always comes through for me, it's still hard to do.

Well, to make a long story longer...that morning I started thanking God for what He's done and what He's going to do. I remembered the miraculous way in which He brought me my last three jobs and wondered what I was worrying about.

Thursday evening I got a call from Laverne offering me a part-time job at Miller Seed Farms. I was excited! I love wheat harvest and had wished to be more involved. It's not the same as caring for babies, I may get dirty, I may have strange hours (working till dark), but Dolores told me, "It's fun!" and somehow I believe her, so I'm going out to have a party and CELEBRATE GOD'S GOODNESS!

Peace in the Storms

Last night we had a good old-fashioned, Kansas thunderstorm. Thunder, lightning, strong winds, hail and rain (no tornadoes this time)! I don't usually get scared very quickly by storms but last night I felt nervous. Maybe it's being in my own house alone and feeling "responsible". I don't know.

I went around and checked all the windows AND the doors! The doors had been cause for some stress, early on in my renting experience. Although they were supposedly fixed, there hadn't been a good storm to give them a fair trial. I went downstairs and sighed in dismay at the water seeping under the west door and oozing into the carpet. Nope! That one definitely wasn't fixed properly.

As the wind continued to shriek and howl around the corners of my little "barn", I tried unsuccessfully to get a weather report. I thought of calling the neighbors but that didn't seem like a very good option at 11:30 p.m. And so I crawled into bed, praying for peace in spite of the storm.

And God, my faithful Father, graciously granted that request. I didn't know if I'd live to see the light of day or be blown away in my sleep but I knew that whatever happened God would be with me.

This morning I was thinking of the storms of life that rock my boat at times and thankful again for the peace God gives in those storms, as well.