Knee High by the 4th of July?

Knee high by the 4th of July.

Just like putting something in the "ice box" or saving something to a "floppy disk," the terminology is no longer relevant today. Once upon a time, corn farmers measured the success of their corn crop, wanting it to be "knee high by the 4th of July." 

So did Rodgers and Hammerstein have a more accurate measuring stick for today's corn? In “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning” from their musical, Oklahoma!, the main characters marvel at the height of the corn, singing:

“There’s a bright golden haze on the meadow ...

The corn is as high as an elephant’s eye,

And it looks like it’s climbin’ clear up to the sky.”

Since there were no elephants around, I used my handy 6-foot-1-inch measuring stick. I'd say it looks good ... for now.  

With significant advances in agricultural technology, genetics, disease control and growth efficiency, today’s farmers can expect corn to reach far higher than the knee come Independence Day. Modern corn can flourish in conditions that might have stunted the plant in past generations. So in dry times or wet, too warm or too cool, the stalk generally keeps on growing and produces an ear. 

As you can see in the photo below, we got quite a bit of rain last week. Depending on the location, we got between 2 and 4 inches.

While our dryland corn liked the moisture, it was not so good for harvesting wheat. We cut late Monday afternoon (June 28 - after rains the weekend before kept us out of the field) and then weren't able to cut again until late evening, July 2. It gave us plenty of time for a crop update tour and other excursions.

The toadstools growing on the Stafford golf course sometimes caused some confusion with golf balls. It's not often you make a trip to the golf course when there's still wheat to be cut. But it took our minds off the uncompleted task for a little bit, I suppose.

The clouds provided a pretty backdrop for some dramatic landscape photos on the way home, too.

 

The humidity didn't allow early starts in the wheat field.

After Randy checked pastures on Saturday, he suggested a photo opportunity along U.S. Highway 50, just outside Sylvia. Someone had decorated their barbed wire fence with American flags. 

That excursion had me looking for my own medium-sized American flag for some shots in our wheat field while we waited on the sun to dry out the wheat.

Test weights suffered from the rain, but, thankfully, we didn't get hail or extreme wind, so the crop kept standing. The wheat is still yielding well. Yes, we are still cutting.

And, when you have time to play with filters and such, you make patriotic messages on photos.

The hiatus also gave me more time to practice the patriotic piano prelude I had planned for church on the 4th of July.  I played "The Star-Spangled Banner," "Battle Hymn of the Republic," "God Bless America" and "America" before church started on Sunday, July 4. And I also played during communion, so it was a lot of extra playing. These days, I think about my piano teacher, Mrs. Lighter. She'd be amazed that the Moore girl with the least natural ability on the piano spends so much time playing these days. If only I'd devoted that practice time as a kid ... Oh, the wisdom of advancing age!

Thankfully, we hired a young farmer from the area to do some custom cutting for us. So we are getting closer to completion. The finish line is hovering at the horizon (though not today).

 

We are thankful for the co-op workers who came in to weigh and dump wheat trucks at Zenith on Saturday and Monday. I did take them some cookies. (I know it's not much, but we appreciate their work when many people were celebrating the 4th at the lake or elsewhere. The custom harvesters got a cookie delivery, too.)

The hay fields liked the rains, too. As I walked to the combine through an alfalfa field last evening after delivering supper, I decided that my camera needed "smell-o-vision." Swathing and baling the second cutting will have to wait until after we are done with the wheat.

Randy is battling some mud as we continue cutting. So far, he's been able to work his way through it. We hope that trend continues.

 

Ambassadors

The tattered flag whipped in the wind as the cowgirl and her horse barreled across the rodeo arena. Surely they could have found a better flag for the pomp and circumstance of an all-American, small town rodeo than this old, threadbare flag ready for retirement, I thought to myself.

But then the rodeo announcer began reading the words to Johnny Cash's The Ragged Old Flag. Like the flag in that classic poem, the flag at the Stafford Rodeo ceremony had waved red, white and blue through years of service, beaten by the Kansas wind and baked in the summer sun. And still, it remained a symbol for those gathered with hands over hearts in small town U.S.A.

Then a new rider and a new flag entered the arena. The familiar melody of The Star-Spangled Banner played, and people joined together in singing the national anthem, most straining to reach the notes in the upper register. 

With our Independence Day celebrations this week, Americans will break out the barbecue, serve up the potato salad and light the fireworks to show our patriotism, our theme for Lovely Branches Ministry this month.

As I was thinking about patriotism, a friend posted a status update one morning as a response to Facebook's inquiry, "What's on your mind?" Lori Alvarado was a student intern at The Hutchinson News back when I was the Focus editor there. After seeing her status, I asked if I could share her thoughts, which she compiled during her personal devotional time. It made me think about "patriotism" in a new way:

What's on my mind? Well. . . . .I am an ambassador. I live in a foreign land. I represent a strong power. I carry a powerful message representing an absolute ruler. I am protected and valued. This world is not my home and the power I represent is the strongest power in the universe, Jesus Christ. The message I carry involves believing in Christ through faith. I am protected by Him, knowing I have eternal life, and I am valued enough that He gave His very life for me. Ambassadors plead with leaders of the countries in which they work to take a stand. That's what we do--we carry His message, pleading with others to take a stand for Christ.

U.S. Ambassadors are denoted by our country's flag that flies at their residence or on the car in which the ambassador rides. That prompts me to ask. . . . As Christ's ambassador, would people know who I represent? By my actions? By my words? He wants to speak and act through me so that others will see who He is. Do I make the choice daily to be sanctified--set apart--for my Master's use? Am I prepared to speak His important message with my words and my actions?

Lori Alvarado

 

How do I answer those questions? Can people see Christ through my words, actions and attitudes? If not, why not? The Bible commands us to be His representatives:

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

2 Corinthians 5:20

It's great to be a patriotic American, proud of the flag and ready to support and defend her. 

I am quick to claim my love of all things K-State and patriotically wave the purple and white.

But I should just as enthusiastically demonstrate my allegiance to Jesus Christ through my thoughts, words and actions. Jesus gave me the example. He was willing to fulfill a servant's task.

Stained glass window at Youthville Chapel, Newton, Kansas

I, too, can be God's ambassador. But, like that ragged old American flag, we're called to service. We aren't supposed to hang around and "look pretty." We are to get our hands dirty and serve. We are to wear our dirty old tennis shoes and get in the mud and the muck of serving Him, day in and day out.

Some people feel called to serve and travel to foreign countries to spread God's love. Some may foster or adopt children who need a home. But we can also be Christ's representatives in small, ordinary ways in our daily lives when we send a note to a shut-in ...take a covered dish to a grieving family ... attend a ballgame in support of youth at church ... contribute to a local fundraiser ... The ways to serve are as varied as our fingerprints.

We are to be God's hands and feet on this earth - whether in far-flung mission fields or on the streets of small-town U.S.A.

Father, give me the wisdom and boldness to be Your ambassador to this world. Let me not grow weary in doing well, but through Your strength represent You through my actions and my words. In Christ's name. Amen.

Lori Alvarado

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Celebrate your patriotism with some All-American baking this 4th of July. Here are a few ideas:

 Star-Spangled Cookies

Macaroons

Clipper Bars

All-American Brownies for a Crowd
(Caveat: I didn't wait until the brownies were completely cool to frost and cut. It didn't affect the taste; just the look!

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This is my July post for Lovely Branches Ministries. Check out the website!  Read Suzanne's blog for ideas about how to celebrate America's birthday. And see how Keva is doing after 6 months of a fast from purchasing new clothing and accessories. 

I am also linked today to Hear It on Sunday, Use It on Monday on Michelle's blog. Check out what other bloggers of faith have to say today. 

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The 2013 version of the Stafford Rodeo is at 8 PM July 12 and 13 at the Stafford Rodeo Arena. We'd love to have you experience the hospitality of our small town. Join us!

Hurray for the Red, White and Blue!

It may seem like just another day. There's no national holiday. It's not like July 4th or Christmas, when folks have been counting down the days until a day off from work. Advertisers, who so readily promote chocolate-covered bunnies before Easter or the latest, greatest techno-toy for under the Christmas tree, pretty much ignore it. 

But today is a special day. June 14th is Flag Day. It was first celebrated in 1877, commemorating the adoption of the United States flag back in 1777. 

Today, I'm remembering the guys and gals from Stafford who are serving our country. Jake and Ethan are currently in Afghanistan. They played football with Brent. Two other soldiers, Jamee and Dallas, were in Brent's high school class. All of them are currently serving or have served their country. There are many others, too - names that fill a good portion of our church bulletin insert each week. Other names come to my email in-box as one of their moms asks us to pray for her son's platoon and send them letters and care packages. I don't know these other young men. I imagine how they look. I imagine where they are from. I imagine their Moms and Dads as they send their sons off into a world I can't really fathom.

"Our flag honors those who have fought to protect it, and is a reminder of the sacrifice of our nation's founders and heroes. As the ultimate icon of America's storied history, the Stars and Stripes represents the very best of this nation."

~ Joe Barton

 Around here, the guys will celebrate Flag Day by raking and baling alfalfa and disking wheat stubble. I'll be on the computer and in the kitchen, doing my normal, everyday routine. Others will go to their office buildings.

But as we go through our everyday lives today, maybe take a moment or two to realize how fortunate we are to live in the good old U.S. of A. where have the freedom to follow our dreams and pursue our livelihoods. And then remember the servicemen and women who still work today to preserve our right to fly Old Glory.  And remember their Moms and Dads, their brothers and sisters, their wives and husbands and children: All of them are sacrificing, too.

"I swing before your eyes as a bright gleam of color, a symbol of yourself, the pictured suggestion of that big thing which makes this nation.  My stars and my stripes are your dream and your labors.  They are bright with cheer, brilliant with courage, firm with faith, because you have made them so out of your heart.  For you are the makers of the flag, and it is well that you glory in the making."

~Franklin Knight Lane

If you want to celebrate with some patriotic-themed baking, here are a few ideas:

 Star-Spangled Cookies

Macaroons

Clipper Bars