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.

A "Pooh" Day

It was a lovely day for a picnic and since it was Memorial Day a couple friends and I headed out for a little jaunt. I felt like "Pooh" and his friends going out on an adventure. And so to be true to character, I left my watch and cell phone behind and determined to enjoy the day.

After we drove around the section and parked the car, we set off across the field toward the creek, sack lunches in hand. A shady spot was soon found and we spread our blankets, kicked off our shoes and settled down to enjoy the outdoors and a good time of fellowship. As we munched on our lunch we chatted of many and varied items of interest.

Then...it was time for a story! I pulled out my "Pooh" book and read the adventures of "Pooh" and friends searching for the North Pole. This, of course, put the adventurous spirit in our blood and we, too, set off to find the North Pole (or something of the sort).

Our exploration was temporarily delayed as we came to the bridge and decided on a game of "Pooh Stix"! (For those of you who don't know, this game consists of everyone dropping a stick into the water on one side and then racing to the other side to see whose stick comes out first.) It's great fun and you should try it! It doesn't matter if you're 5, 35 or 65, anyone can play!

It wasn't very successful as our sticks kept getting hung up, due to all the brush and debris in the creek. At last we went down the riverbank to see what was under the bridge. "Just as I thought," said Eeyore, "no better from this side. But nobody cares, what does it matter." And so we abandoned our game and sat by the water chatting. This went on for some time, till at last we returned to the road and decided to meander along the creek on the other side. It being a very warm day, that didn't last for long and soon we were headed home.

I must add this bit from our story about Eeyore - some just don't know what a tail is, he said. They don't appreciate it. They think it's just A LITTLE EXTRA on the end.

Roasting Marshmallows

There is more than one way to skin a cat...or...roast a marshmallow! We had to burn a small pile of brush and didn't want the fire to be totally wasted so I traipsed off to dig out some marshmallows. But then...where were the sticks...we burned them all and so we had to resort to the next best - a rake! It was a delightful perk to the evening. You should try it sometime.

And then there were ants...

I arrived home at 9:30 last night in a jolly mood, but as I climbed the stairs and rounded the corner, I was horrified to see a trail of ants making their way down the hall and into my bedroom. This was not just a lost sister and brother but a vast army. A very vast army!!

I thought it couldn't be! I had visions of ants in my pants... in my hair... in my bed...I was nearly dancing a jig just thinking about it. As I stood there gazing in disbelief and wringing my hands, I suddenly realized action was needed.

I bolted down the stairs and grabbed a can of Raid, rummaged in the drawer for ant traps and searched under the sink for the spray bottle of lemon juice. In a flash I was back upstairs armed to do battle.

Once again my mouth dropped open in surprise for the last of that vast army of ants was disappearing under the north door jam from whence they had come. I encouraged them in their hasty departure and then sprayed Raid to discourage their return. I went back to my bedroom to discover a lost ant on my bedspread. Not for long! I yanked back the covers and made a careful scrutiny of my sheets. No more ants were forthcoming, much to my relief.

The ants are diligent creatures and could be compared to the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31. That woman often sounds a little super human and I pass over that chapter thinking I'll never measure up. But this morning verse 25 came to mind, "...she can laugh at the days to come," and I realized that's me. I am laughing (here meaning free from anxiety and worry) because of the great God I have that is taking care of me every day. Ants or no ants - I have nothing to fear as I trust my God.

Change of Plans

I am currently cooling my toes under Ann's computer, instead of working. It wasn't in the plans when my alarm went off at 6:25 this morning. How quickly a day can change!

I was just heading out the door when my phone rang and I was informed that I didn't have to work today. In some ways I was glad and in other ways not so glad. An unexpected free day was fine but, on the other hand, I found myself choking down a feeling of panic at the thought of less pay, while even now, the bills are stacking up against me. How can this be?? And yet...God told me He would provide and I have no reason to fear.

My mind was scrambling as to what to do with my unexpected day off. I considered going back to bed but that didn't really seem like a good option since I was already up and dressed for the day. I thought of making granola, which I had been putting off for some time already, due to the fact that I didn't have coconut. I called Doris to see about borrowing some and she went the extra mile (maybe half, in this case) and offered to bring it over. And so I made my granola and then went out to sit on my deck - the first time I did so in the morning! And what a morning! The sun brightly shining, a cool breeze blowing, birds singing and rabbits hopping.

I then headed to Quality Body Shop to get an estimate on my car. My dear beloved car, which I love very much, has a cracked head (windshield) and is in need of some stitches. I have no idea when this awful thing happened but I drove it home one night in fine shape and the next day this ugly crack had appeared. I'm quite sure it wasn't a night that it hailed or I could blame it on that. I guess it doesn't matter. All I need to do is get it fixed, which they will gladly do, for the lovely sum of $265.00! So here I am spending money at an alarmingly higher rate than that in which it is coming in.

I went over to Dad and Mom's and puttered around in the garden. Dad, with an unusual burst of energy, decided to go out and till. This time Mom went along and carefully showed him her row of beets so they would not meet the same doom as the strawberries. For Dad, wise though he is in many years, yet cannot see the tender young plants residing in the garden who wish to grow tall and strong and give of the best to their master.

Speaking of Dad...he was thrilled when I said I had something for him to do but I nearly regretted telling him so early for he has asked countless times, "When do you want me to give you a ride?" "Not 'til after lunch," I replied once again. And so he was ready for lunch at 11:30. His favorite thing for lunch (or any meal) is yogurt and today he ate it first since Mom didn't have the soup quite ready. By the end of the meal he couldn't remember if he had yogurt or not and would've had another bowlful if we had not stopped him. Yogurt is a good thing and yet Mom does not relish making it twice a week. At 12:20 he asked again when I needed to go. I told him 1:00 and he immediately went to put his shoes on.

And now I must go for it is 12:51 and poor Dad is probably waiting still for his procrastinating daughter who likes to be on time but not early. And so ends the tale of my mixed up day.