Knee high by the 4th of July!

That was often a statement made in our household as I was growing up. Farmer's wanted their corn knee high by the 4th of July! My Dad was a grain elevator manager, many nights our family would pack into the pickup and take a spin in the country looking at the various crops raised in the north central part of South Dakota. We learned the different crops back then, but I can only pick out a few when driving down the highway, other than wheat, corn and of course sunflowers.  A friend and I had taken a ride not long ago heading out past the Oahe Dam and I mentioned "knee high by the 4th of July!" She laughed and said, "Only farmer's know that saying." Good to know I'm part farmer!

Independence Day, let freedom ring! We need to individually thank everyone, including bomb sniffing dogs, that has served in any capacity of the armed forces and thank them. A ceremony will soon fill a local gym to send forth local troops into a far away land. Pray for them daily and their safe return to waiting families.

July 4, 2000

Thirteen years ago, 13 dozen cookies were baked on a hot 4th of July in a tiny rental apartment with the promise of the start of a new home, a view of the world with nothing but blowing-in-the-wind  prairie. That evening, sitting in the middle of the "great room",  fireworks were large in the sky from across the river. The next day work began, strong men and women showed up early and ready to tackle a puzzle. The puzzle was putting together a log cabin, people asked to help. The hottest weekend of the Summer. Cold bottles of water, wash clothes soaked in ice water and the cool of the basement were used considerably. It was a home raising party and our day began with prayer.

1st stain  August 2000

To this day, each day begins with prayer and ends the same. We are blessed to celebrate Independence Day, see the corn that is knee high this 4th of July and thankful for home. The past many years our family has grown and no different than others, we sit in our Great Room and watch the fireworks set off from across the river. The flash as big as the sky. Blessed.

Have a great week friends. Keep your fur friends cool, help others that stray and be blessed.