Tuesday!  July 27, 2004!  This year has gone over the hump and is picking up speed! 

I can't believe it, summer is almost over, school buses and car pools will soon be a regular sight.  I guess age affects how large a year is.  When I was young a year was huge!  Now with each passing birthday each year seems to get smaller.  I have always joked that my days only have sixteen hours in them (they are usually all working hours) and that my weeks have ten days instead of seven.  Somewhere the math gets off because each time I blink it seems to be another year.

In seventeen days Reidman will turn a year old.  It doesn't seem possible.  The Lubbock entourage's summer was even shorter than most.  Rian has been tied to summer school and Principal certification.  Who would have ever thought this kid who detested school would end up being an effective teacher and aspire to be an administrator.  One thing for sure, he should be able to relate to students who don't like school.  I am encouraging Rian to take a little time off when he completes his Masters and then to start on his Doctorate.  He thinks he has had enough!  Ollie just keeps hustling with her real estate!  If dedication and "want to" is what it takes she will go far.  We will reach a milestone next month.  Both Kat and Addie will begin kindergarten.  All of the granddaughters will be in school.  Lauren will be a sophomore at AHS and Ellen will be a sixth grader at Lincoln.  By the way, Lauren recently got her learner's permit to drive, so Abilene beware!

My "connection" is somewhat better today.  I still struggle with it.  I am glad that GOD is faithful to us or else I might have given up a long time ago.  I am currently reading the book Wild at Heart.  Rian is developing the habit of giving me these books, I read them and tell him what it is and if it is a must read!  I am beginning to think I don't have the mindset needed to read this book at this time.  I have already realized that this book is going to be one of those that is a multiple read and each time I read it something else will jump out at me.  It just seems that so much comes to the front from this book.  My childhood, my manhood, my fathering.  I suppose that one needs to read this book from a suggestive stand point, "this was my experience", or "I felt like GOD was leading me here".  I guess to a certain degree I have contracted that American disease, expecting self-realization books, self-help books to fix me after I finish reading them!  If it were only that simple!  "This book, when taken orally with a warm glass of milk will fix everything that is wrong in your life"! (Beware, difficulty in swallowing may occur!).

FATHER, thank YOU for all YOU do.  I thank YOU for YOUR love and patience with me.  Help me as I continue to read this book selection.  FATHER help me to know that this book is not the fix but allowing YOU to heal me and work in me is.  Fill me with YOUR spirit, bless me with YOUR mercy and grace.  I continue to lift up Aimee, Rene', Carol, and Michelle for YOUR gift of healing.  Bless them FATHER.  Lead on FATHER!