Thursday, April 11, 2013

April 11th, 2013

Today was long is some ways and short in others.  It was short since David and I spent all day driving to and from Bismarck for another committee meeting.  We had a good trip there and found out there will be at least one more meeting next Tuesday regarding cow-share regulating.

On the way home we stopped and looked at an E-250 Ford panel van south of Minot to see if it would work for deliveries.  It would, except it is a little out of our price range at the moment ($6,400).  While in Bismarck we stopped at a few dairy supply stores and some iodine teat dip and a new brush for the milking equipment.

David is a really big help in navigating the maze of roads in Bismarck/Mandan.  He's also been instrumental in changing the minds of Representative Kiefert and Headland at some of the various committee meetings recently.  Good work David!  It goes to show that no one is too young to make a difference.

What made the day seem short was having so much to think about.  There is a battle of ideas going on out there.  It is important to have an understanding of the teachings in the Bible to be able to decipher the errors in what people say and reconcile it with an understanding of the Truth.  We are thankful that the Lord has all things in His hand and will bring about His will through this legislation.

Peter 

=Sent from my PPad (paper pad)

Tuesday, April 09, 2013

April 8th, 2013

Greetings,

Last night some of us congregated in the living room just before bedtime.  David and I were able to get one round of the Farming game in while Dad cleaned up milk dishes for me.  While we were all sitting there, I noticed Mom's box of old blog posts from around 2005 sitting in the corner.  I grabbed it and we read aloud some of the adventures that Jonathan wrote about on his blog a while back.  We were talking about old times and reminiscing about all the experiences we've had.  I am grateful that we wrote what we did when we did it, because just reading some of those old posts is enough to spark my memory about those exciting times we had. 

But the excitement isn't over!  I am still living an exciting life and I know that what is written now will be useful for future edification and encouragement to others.  I'm sure we will look back and appreciate the time spent jotting a few daily happenings, even if they aren't that unusual. 

So, last night I scribbled down the following blog entry on a spare sheet of paper in my Bible.  It recounts some of yesterday's happenings.  Written with a blunt pencil in sloppy cursive, the sentences may not be as nicely put as they could have been if I had typed them on a keyboard. 

April 8th, 2013

Today was a productive day for me.  I started the day by gulping down a half gallon of water right after I got up.  It is refreshing to drink a bunch of water all at one time as long as it is not ice cold.  I filled a milk bottle up before going to bed last night so it could warm to room temperature. 
Dad and Jonathan are pouring over the egg laying chicken proforma right now, trying to refine the numbers to make it more profitable.
I copied and sent some of the contracts that have been sitting on my desk for too long.  They become a part of the scenery and I forget about them, so it's nice to get some of them taken care of finally.  I had to buy four stamps from Mom since I'm out right now.
After lunch I went upstairs to take a 20 minute nap and had been laying there for about 10 minutes when David burst into the room and called out that Doug Goehring was on the Scott Hennen radio show.  I was immediately alert and flipped my covers off to get out of bed to join David downstairs.  We tried to get the radio program number off the web, but the connection was too slow to get anywhere.  I called a different number and left my message, then we got the radio going online and heard just enough to miss the call number that the host rattled off so quickly.  Andrew went upstairs to see if he could get Dad's computer to find the phone number while Dad was on class, but David finally figured out the number and I called in.  They asked me my name, area, and what I was calling for.  Then the radio began playing and the host came on air.  After a minute or so (my heart beating) Mr. Hennen said something to the effect of, "Let's take another caller here, . . . Peter in Bottineau, what's on your mind?"  I replied that,"I was calling in regard to the discussion on Senate Bill 2072 about cow-sharing, and I just wanted to make it clear to everyone listening that we are not talking about anything to do with the sale of raw milk (which is the most common misconception regarding true cow-sharing).  It's an issue of state regulation of private cow ownership."  Another few seconds of explanation and I said what I needed.  He basically agreed and let me off the line. 
Those kind of experiences are rather fun, if I know I am doing it for the sake of the Truth.  David kept the recorder going to capture any additional comments that may be made, while I went out to do barn chores. 

I hear kittens scratching in the box behind me.  We haven't paid as much attention to them this batch.  Well, I suppose it's time to go.  Peter

Comments:
  • Doug Goehring is the ND Agriculture Commissioner.  He is responsible for encouraging the state Dairy Director to ban cow-sharing this legislative session.
  • I was interviewed on the Scott Hennen show a few days ago about SB 2072.  The conservatives in ND don't agree with the Commissioner, and we wanted to add some clarification to his take on on cow-sharing in ND.  That's why I called in.
Until next time,

Peter