Harvest Reflections

As most of you know, we can celebrate that harvest is complete! This is definitely a bitter-sweet time for our family to know that harvest is finished.  A lot of emotions were felt as we were working hard to get the crops in.  I can't help but think back on the unusual weather and the changes that has taken place this growing and harvest season. God's provisions and grace for us as we finish this chapter in our life is worth reflection. 

There were a lot of good memories as John, Bernie, Anson, Doyle worked with the goal in sight. They really burned the candle at both ends.  Bernie enjoyed Rosa, Brandon, Rianne, Jesse, and Joshua riding along in the combine (some of them for the first time) keeping him company.  Anson even dared take the combine out while Bernie and John were at their day jobs.   I will always be full of smiles thinking of me being a "temporary farmer's wife" running for parts, testing the corn, and trying my best to have supper ready when they found a moment to eat.  Anson felt complete satisfaction when John and Bernie left him the next morning alone to fix the auger and it worked!  The weather was just perfect for harvest compared to all the delays in planting, the early summer storms, the wet and relatively cool weather we had this summer and the rains in October that delayed harvest.  We were definitely appreciating and soaking in the fall sunshine and great temperatures that God gave us for a whole week to take out the corn.  There were a lot of good times and memories and I'm going to miss not bothering the guys everyday now that harvest is over.

This year there was no more wondering if Heit was ever going to retire from farming.  I'm so glad that John and Bernie stepped in to take care of the details of getting the bins, combine and wagons ready.  The "Big Gray Dog" was getting tired too, but oh the sounds that would come from under the combine as John wiggled his way into places that no man should go and weld a piece shut forever. John has permanent marks on his chest to remind him of his last days under the combine.  Doyle would love to get him a Gleaner N5 tattoo (f/y/i it's the name of the combine) for old time sake. You will have to ask him about the time he called us from under the combine to get the hose to put the fire out.  What would we do without cell phones?  I'm sure our mechanic is ready to let the dog rest and find comfort in not having to wonder or worry if the combine will hold out another harvest.  I'm so thankful that no one was injured.  

November 1st was a beginning date for Mem & Heit.  They would have celebrated their 54th anniversary.  Instead, we celebrated the ending of 2008 Harvest with gladness and sadness.  We will have a lot of time in the next few weeks to reminisce and reflect this past growing and harvest season and thank God for this chapter in our life.