Blogger sure was finicky this morning!

Yesterday was a good day! Thank YOU LORD! I made the trek west to St. Lawrence and did the tour. Things are looking up out there. It is amazing how a good crop in the making improves everyone's disposition. The General Manager was there and we got to visit some. He is a different sort of a manager. He has been on the job for thirty-two years and counting. He is only the second manager this operation has ever had. A quick note, there are three employees (including the manager) whose affiliation totals ninety-six years. If they ever get you in their clutches................. . The reception was very warm and cordial. Final preparations are being made for what appears to be a record year. Thank YOU for YOUR blessings FATHER!

My mental state regarding the four month stay at St. Lawrence seems to cycle from year to year. Some years it bothers me less than others to isolate myself there. I can already tell this is not one of those, I find myself dreading the move and transition. Last year Krl spent the most time she has ever spent with me on the job site. She left after Thanksgiving and didn't return, which might have been worse than not coming at all. We were a lot like gypsies. Krl, myself, and the hound boys (2) and girls (2) crammed in my travel trailer! I wonder why Krl wouldn't want to spend more time there? This year Krl has taken a full time job which will severely limit her option of spending time there. Of course if some issues at her work are not resolved I may be able to lure her out there and of course once they get you in their clutches............ .

My sister Pat and nephew Kyle celebrated birthdays Thursday. Happy Birthday! Kyle turned eighteen and Pat is ...... his mother! Diplomacy prevails! One of nature's mysteries is how I was born before Pat but now she has passed me in age! Go figure! Actually one other family birthday was celebrated Thursday. Avery, Colby and Courtney's, daughter celebrated her first birthday as well. Happy birthday "A"!

Chris, my nephew and Pat's oldest son, who is visually impaired (read legally blind), has finally made a decision regarding his higher education! Chris will be beginning school September thirteenth in Little Rock, Arkansas.He is attending a school for the visually impaired and will be studying small engine repair. Chris has always had a love for mowers, edgers, weed eaters, all the small engine family,........ and this opportunity caught his fancy! Maybe Chris could open a Go-Kart track!

From the mouths of babes......... Earlier this week Chris was out and about. He went to the local auto parts store to pick up some items and while he was there he asked the proprietor "At some point would you consider selling this business to me?". The businessman thought for a brief moment and then replied, "I suppose we might, but we aren't ready to sell just yet." Chris replied, "That's O.K., 'cause I'm not ready to buy it just yet!" End of story. Wrong. Chris went on with his day. He didn't even think to tell his Mom or Dad about his conversation at the parts store! Thursday night the telephone rang and Chris' Dad picked it up, it was the wife of the auto parts store man. She told Chris' Dad they had discussed Chris' interest and yes they were interested in selling the business to Chris, she put a dollar value on the buildings and the inventory and they want an answer by Monday! Chris' Dad almost had heart failure! When he got off the telephone he yelled for Chris to come in there. He asked Chris "Did you go to the auto parts store today?" "Yes", Chris replied. "What happened there?", his Dad inquired. Chris relayed the conversation of the morning. His Dad said "Chris you can't go around just popping off!" Chris told his Dad, "Don't worry about it, I haven't even taken business administration!"
Oh well! Chris is going to Huntsville for a few days to visit some friends before he makes the move to Little Rock. Chris' idea has grown on me all day long. Put Chris' small engine repair in the shop side, hire a parts counter person (maybe Chris' friend Thumper) and his brother Kyle could drive the little delivery pickup with the cap on top, all that is left is to find someone to do the bookkeeping! Sounds like a match made......... in the parts store!

Milestone!
I took my Dad with me on my trek west. We had a pretty good visit. It is amazing how we classify and store information and until we spend substantial time together some of this information does not surface. It was a good day. I did have a first today, we stopped at Furr's Cafeteria in Big Spring for lunch. We went through the line and I got the ticket (much to Dad's dismay) and I put it in my pocket. When we finished our meal and were approaching the cashier I pulled the ticket out and looked at it to see what denomination of money to give the cashier, (I can't remember, it was either methodist or episcopal), when I reviewed the ticket I noticed the cashier at the end of the serving line had given us both the "Seniors discount".

Sportsfans:
One bit of conversation with my Dad was about Kirby. Of course Kirby had to return to Coral Gables, Florida about the first of July. This week the University of Miami Hurricanes had a scrimmage. Kirby had a good day, he was eight of nine passing and he rushed for forty-three yards. Scuttlebutt is that he will be red shirted this season. Good job Kirb, we can wait!

Serious note:
I would ask a favor of my blog readers to join with me in praying for Rene' Baxter. As I relayed in my previous blog she is undergoing chemo for the third time for breast cancer or its related cancers. While it is my understanding she has taken the most aggressive treatment path since her intial diagnosis several years ago, having undergone a radical double, this third recurrence the cancer has returned in some lymph nodes that the Doctor did not remove. Rene' has just recently been hospitalized due to complications from her treatment. There was some concern that the cancer had spread but the last report I had was that it had not. Thank YOU GOD! She is a brave and fierce fighter and she needs us to band together in asking GOD for her healing!

Capsule prayer!
FATHER thank YOU for a blessed day! It was framed and colored by YOUR presence. FATHER I thank YOU for the safe week and the safe travel. I continue to ask YOUR blessings on my efforts! FATHER I ask that YOU rest KRL well. Energize her, lift and boost her spirit. FATHER I continue to petition YOU for YOUR miracle of healing for Rene', Carol, Michelle, and Aimee. Bless them and comfort them. FATHER thank YOU for YOUR love, YOUR mercy and YOUR GRACE. Thank YOU for Jesus and the hope and promise we have through him!