“Feliz Navidad” was ringing through the Faber household as I sat down to write our Christmas article. Christmas music in the beginning of November seems a little early. Christmas celebrations should have a firm line in being celebrated post-Thanksgiving.
However, in a house full of girls, I’ve learned to tread carefully, and I cautiously questioned the timeline of listening to a music variety that most of society would agree belongs in the month of December. The response I got from my daughter as she was “Fa, la, la-ing” down the hallway was, “We can listen to it anytime, cause it makes us happy.” From the mouth of babes.
Christmas and the end of the year is a good time to reflect on the months gone by.
It has been a good year for much of the dairy industry with record-high beef prices, high milk prices and relatively low feed inputs. We look forward to potential challenges on labor, avian flu, co-op profitability and continued inflation risk. We had a resounding red sweep across the country that I believe ought to bring about positive substantive changes for the country long-term.
However, there is some concern on exactly what RFK Jr. might be pushing for in agriculture with his very anti-GMO stance. Mass deportation seems to be around the corner, and with a very weak and cumbersome worker program in place, finding a dependable workforce may be an issue. While stemming the tide of illegal immigration is necessary for most any country, the deportation of a million people may, in the short term, be inflationary as the workforce shrinks. Elon Musk has committed to start the Department of Government Efficiency and pledges to axe $2 trillion from the annual budget. While this is absolutely necessary from a long-term perspective, it is going to provide a significant amount of short-term pain. Our country is addicted to the drug rush of printed money, and dialing that in will bring about the world's hangover.
Overall, I believe we are going to be a stronger, more resilient nation and I am excited to see how things progress and unfold.
Sorry, I was briefly interrupted by the prospect of potentially putting up a Christmas tree. While I was able to deflect on this one, it appears that this may be one of many salvos – and there is certainly the risk that I come home one day and it’s been assembled.
We are a box-tree family, and that certainly is controversial in the real-versus-fake-tree debate. My thoughts are mostly practical, as our $400 Costco faux tree is going strong on year 10. Our faux tree doesn’t leave needles everywhere and poses less of a fire risk, a la “A Christmas Tree Story.” Our faux tree doesn’t require an entire afternoon to hunt and return to home; it is swiftly assembled in 10 minutes.
One of the traditions we have is finding a Christmas ornament that celebrates a milestone of that particular year. We have one for our wedding, one for each of the children, a few from vacations we took and one from the time the Class III milk futures hit $25.
Christmas is a time to be thankful, and while there are many challenges in life, it is good for us to spend some time to reflect on the blessings and joys we do have. Our chief joy this time of year is the birth of Jesus Christ. This birth was not the complete story, as we also need a Savior to suffer for us and take on our sin and guilt. Christ’s birth is also a fulfillment of a promised arrival and gives us hope for a second coming. A second coming that will end all pain and earthly suffering. It is my prayer that you also find hope and comfort this Christmas season.
