When I was growing up, farm auctions were a social event held in person. The county 4-H club sold lunch as a fundraiser, always including homemade pie for dessert. Most of the crowd attending the sale were men unless household items were involved, then the wives would come along as well. When Dad came home from an auction, he knew everything that was going on in the entire county. Auctions were the male version of a hen party.
Hen Party = When a group of adult female chickens or hens get together, they cluck and sing their own little songs in conversation with each other. This is where the term hen party originates.
Times have changed, the internet now makes purchasing items nationwide readily available on the computer. My farmer husband has a passion for purchasing bargains from online auctions all over the United States. We drive either the pickup with the gooseneck trailer in tow or the semi with a flatbed trailer to haul the purchased treasures home. His focus is on picking up his purchase. However, my focus is on experiencing every aspect of local charm in whatever town we are located at the time.
My farmer husband has the mind of an engineer but pinches every penny. Purchasing older equipment, he refurbishes the item to make it better than new. Then compares the new price for the same thing he just created and is delighted at how much money he saved.
Regenerative farming is something he has studied and implemented over the last several years. A practice that truly brings all the good aspects of God and nature back into farming. He is more excited now about regenerative farming than he has been in 40 years.
Have you heard about regenerative farming? Look it up! Learn about the concept.
Growing new crops, something besides corn and beans, is a passion of his. Thus, causing the need for more seed cleaning equipment on our farm. We have traveled countless miles picking up used parts and pieces that will be refurbished to make new parts.
One of the first big trips we embarked upon was to San Antonio, Texas. Driving the pickup, we headed south to pick up a seed tender. I was thrilled to go on this trip, the river walk is one of my all-time favorite destinations. Have you ever been to the river walk? It is awesome!
The day before our trip I attended bible study. There was much discussion between the ladies regarding how God can use you if you allow Him to direct your life. God can use you to help others if you are willing. I said a little prayer asking God to use me.
Heading towards Texas, our schedule was flowing like clockwork. Arriving at the auction destination, the 12 ft. high, gray, and black, seed tender was already on its own trailer. Our big box-looking cargo was interesting, to say the least. After picking up our load, the next destination was finding a place to park our treasure to enjoy a lunch of Mexican food on the river walk.
My farmer husband tends to label some people as directionally challenged. Normally he includes me in this category as well. When he is driving, I am watching the barns, houses, horses, and anything else fabulous that I see. I trust his driving, so the last thing I am watching is what highway we are traveling on. When he asks me where we are and I can’t locate a sign quickly, I have absolutely no idea. This fact flabbergasts him! His mind cannot comprehend why I do not keep track of such information.
I knew my farmer husband was desperate for assistance when he asked me for guidance. Normally he tunes me out when I suggest how he should drive. From my phone, I was trying to help guide him with street names. He was not happy and a bit stressed driving our cargo through the tight downtown streets of my directing.
Let’s just say it wasn’t going well when we realized the one-way street we were traveling on, was Alamo Plaza. Next thing we knew there was the Alamo itself, as we were driving down the street directly in front of the building.
I laughed and told my husband we were like our own parade because everyone was staring and pointing. He didn’t seem to find it nearly as funny as I did. We must have looked like the Beverly Hill Billy’s came to town. (Beverly Hill Billy’s was an old tv show for those of you old enough to know who they are). Luckily, we found a great parking spot close to the Alamo only a couple of blocks away. The parking location provided an easy walk to the river.
After we were seated and had ordered our meals, I headed to the restroom to wash my hands. As I was walking up to the restroom sinks an elderly lady followed me. Turning on the water and finding the soap dispenser was a little bit of a challenge. Some of the new-fangled sensor faucets can be challenging to figure out.
As I was washing my hands the little lady thanked me for showing her how the faucet worked. She didn’t think she could have figured out how to turn the water on without watching me first. We chatted for a while. After she mastered how to get a paper towel, I left her to dry her hands.
Back at the table, my farmer husband and I were enjoying a wonderful lunch when these four guys holding instruments came over to our table. I was admiring the fancy, colorful, stitching on their outfits when they began talking to me. The mariachi band was going to sing songs for my birthday. I was a bit confused; my birthday was a whole month away.
Five songs later the entire restaurant not only thought it was my birthday, but our ears were ringing from the exuberant volume of the group. My farmer husband was very proud of his enlightening accomplishment of an early birthday present. After lunch, we enjoyed a lovely day in San Antonio as the early spring weather was beautiful.
The next morning at the hotel there was a group of construction workers eating breakfast in the dining area at the same time we were. Heading back up to our room, I remembered the jacket I left on the back of my chair.
As I made my way back into the dining room to grab the jacket, one of the construction workers politely beckoned my attention. He went on to explain in very broken English, how he had always wondered what the little white packets on the breakfast bar contained. Watching me open the packet and use the microwave to make oatmeal was all new to him.
He told me as soon as I had left, he tried to make some as well and loved it. He just wanted to thank me for teaching him to make oatmeal and wished me a blessed day. What a sweet man.
Dad always taught me to lean on Jesus to live life and treat others as I would want them to treat me. People watch what you do whether you are aware or not. While walking back to our room, I realized two different times on that trip God had revealed to me how I could help others. Both times I was totally unaware they needed help and that anyone was even watching me. God had answered my prayer.
Have you ever experienced someone learning something from you and you were unaware of the moment? Helping others is a great feeling. Always be kind, and live life passing along God’s light.