The Chosen

This blog is my annual Iowa State Fair review. We went to the State Fair on Monday with our 19-year-old granddaughter Bailey. I believe it was just one of four trips she made to the fair . I'm not sure if it was because she loves the Fair that much or if she loves being with people she cares about. We were honored to be chosen.

We visited every animal barn: swine, sheep, cattle, and horse, of course. We toured the Varied Industries Building just as it was opening, before the crowd swarmed in and the aisles became impassable. There we hit the Iowa State University booth for a free bag and got the Iowa Public Television magazine and voted on our favorite IPTV character. A cartoon character(s) were ahead that day. We walked from the Avenue of the Breeds to the Animal Learning Center. 

We visited the Heritage Village for our traditional phosphate beverage then climbed the hill to the Cultural Center to view the photography exhibit on the third floor. We found another granddaughter, Paige's three photos that were chosen for exhibit. We walked through both levels of the Agriculture Building where we got the free hard boiled egg on a stick, and purchased our favorite cinnamon nuts.

We returned to the sheep barn where we had the required lamb-burgers near the entrance. We walked through the Walnut Center, had a favorite lemonade, then back to the sheep barn where another granddaughter was working the 4-H lamb show, gathering show person's cards and noting their placings. She was on break so we got to visit with her about her photographs on display.

Eventually we ventured back to our car, parked on a neighbor's yard located south of Dean Ave. We always parked near the south border of the fairgrounds when the grandchildren were showing sheep, to be closer to the Sheep Barn, Yes, I love the Iowa State Fair but this year I experienced my age. My hips are still sore. I could barely get out of the car when we got home.

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light," (1 Peter 2:9 NIV). 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the amazing land of Iowa that we are privileged to live in, and the creative, hard-working, God-fearing people who live here. We praise You for Your Creation of differences across the United States and beyond. And we honor You as the Creator of all things. We pray in the Name of Jesus, Amen.

To God be the Glory!