Crazy days!

Happy birday Kasey! I still can't e-mail you!

Father it is up to YOU, I am losing it! Do YOUR thing!

I did my do! During our brief break in the action I made a mad dash for Abilene. Spent the night, awoke and did my duty by going and voting. I then did a little personal improvement by getting a haircut. In early September I went in and told A.C. (my barber) I needed a good haircut as I would be gone for three months. When I walked in the door yesterday he was shocked, he said, "What are you doing here?" I replied, "Warranty!" and I took my seat in his barber chair!

I once had a barber named Kenneth. He was killed in an odd accident several years ago. Kenneth's daughter worked in a business I frequented and she would always tell me when I needed to go see her Dad to get a haircut. She was very quick to let anyone know he was the best barber in town. One day I asked her, "If he was so good why did he have to do it over and over again?"!

After that I briefly stopped by Kali's workplace to say hi, I hadn't talked with her since I went to St. Lawrence. Then I made a broad circle picking up parts and supplies we needed. I arrived back in St. Lawrence just after five and found my guys had not done all that I had left for them to do. The most pressing was fixing another forklift flat. We got it fixed just before the night crew came on. We had a few modules called in and we ginned from ten until three. I only brought in three seed trucks and one bale truck. Some of my other guys are MIA! I am concerned.

This morning I was informed to put the people and equipment in place to run the other plant. This is a good news bad news scenario. I anticipate we will only run this plant one shift instead of running around the clock. It will really make my job more difficult if we don't go around the clock with both plants. Oh well!

Thank YOU FATHER, for everything. I thank YOU for the safe quick trip home. I ask for safe travel for Krl and the hounds as they come to me today. I continue to pray for Hag, for Rene', for Lillie, for Carol, for Michelle and for Aimee. I ask YOUR gift of healing for them. I pray for those who have suffered loss. I pray for our spiritual family. I pray for those who are stumbling, especially R2D2. Stabilize and give direction to those that are wandering and searching. Please bless my day and week. YOURs is the GLORY!

One thing about living in a travel trailer for an extended period is you begin to appreciate the amenities at home! I am in Abilene for a few brief hours. I am going to early vote, pick up a few parts and supplies, and then point my pickup west one more time.

I had called the elections administrator requesting an absentee ballot be mailed to me. The young lady was very courteous but made absolutely no sense at all. She asked my location and I told her, she told me to come in and sign the request form and they would mail me a ballot. I replied that if I was in town to sign the request I would just vote. She said, "That will work!"
The girl is saving a ton on postage!

The weather finally got us yesterday. It was overcast and finally succumbed to light rain. We have ginned everything on the module yard and there is only one module tagged in that has not been hauled. I left a list of things to do for my workers remaining on the jobsite and I dispersed trucks from St. Lawrence to Midland, Roscoe, Sweetwater, Lubbock, Farwell, Brownwood and Farmington. Basically all of these drivers remain on call Thursday while expecting to return to the jobsite on Friday. All of this is subject to the weather.

I left St. Lawrence late yesterday and arrived at home just after nine. Krl had called in an order and I picked up our dinner on my way in. I quickly unloaded my truck, ran a tub of hot hot water, grabbed my book and jumped in and soaked! Ah! Krl came in and sat in the floor and visited for a few minutes and then I hopped out, put on my jogs and we ate supper. I did manage to stay awake long enough to watch the world series. I awoke early and tried to do that cat nap thing but just couldn't, so I finally got up. Now I find myself hurrying to complete my tasks before leaving for St. Lawrence again. Duty calls!

FATHER, thank you for the brief interlude. I needed that! I ask again that YOU help me seize the opportunity to surrender to YOU. Help me to reconnect. FATHER there are many ill who need YOUR healing. I lift up Hag, Rene', Carol, Michelle, Aimee and Lillie. I ask for YOUR miracle of healing for them. There are many who are hurting from loss. Comfort them. FATHER, bless all of them. I pray for the needs of our spiritual family, I pray for a lost world. I pray for R2D2. I pray for our leaders, for direction, for purpose. ALL PRAISE to YOU from whom all blessings flow!

Gray skies greeted us today. Thankfully we have not experienced anything but drizzle and light sprinkles of rain. The farmers could not harvest last Friday and Saturday due to weather conditions, Sunday was good but Monday saw the return of high humidity and light rain. We dodged the bullet last evening and didn't get the rains that locations further to the south and east have gotten. At the moment Ole' Sol is trying to peek through the clouds. Cross your fingers!

If we do not have any farmers harvest today, we will clean the yard before midnight. Then it will be casino time again I suppose. I sure hate it because it is hard to get everyone back in the groove. We have had a tremendous week to this point. The farmers are happy and the gin has run very well. The only major glitch we have had was in the wee hours this morning, we had a fire in the overhead. Apparently it was a pretty good one. I can walk in the gin and still smell the smoke. We lost about three hours from the fire.

The crops appears to be much better than anyone anticipated. One farmer reported that he stripped nineteen acres and it yielded sixty-eight bales of cotton! Very impressive, and he says this was not even his good cotton.

One of my friends out here was killed Sunday evening. Cory Hopper was a mechanic for Graves Equipment out of Stanton. He spent most of his time in the St. Lawrence area. Late Sunday he took his four wheeler atv to check on cattle, had a freak accident and broke his neck. Thankfully he did not suffer. He is survived by his wife three sons and a daughter. I will remember him for his outgoing personality and his willingness to help. All who came in contact with him were fortunate to have known him. He is mourned by a host of friends.

Eddie, one of Hag's farm employees, lost his wife in the early hours Monday morning. She had a tough time of it for the past year. It has been difficult for all involved in this situation. She donated her body to the Texas Tech medical school for research purposes. Hopefully no one else will have to endure what she has gone through.

Krl and the hound boys and girls went home yesterday. Krl reports they were elated to be at the house, they can only take so much camping! (They have it so rough!). Plans are for Krl to attend her women's Bible class today, do laundry and assorted other things tomorrow and return to St. Lawrence Thursday. Of course if the weather does not cooperate and we get caught up, there will be no reason for her to return so quickly. I do know I am going to have to make a quick dash to vote! Remember, if you do not vote you have no right to gripe!

Last week was devoted to repairs and all sorts of projects that don't normally occur. As a result, I got way behind in my data entry. In the last week I have sent out two hundred and sixteen trucks. The inbound has been only a fraction of this. We were just fixing to hit our stride when the weather started hindering us! I gotta find my groove!

FATHER, YOU are GOD. Please help me to accept YOUR will and YOUR way! Let me allow YOU to prioritize the things in my life. Give me YOUR wisdom, YOUR guidance, YOUR direction. Bring me back from the edge. I pray for Hag, for Rene', for Carol, for Michelle and for Aimee. Heal them. FATHER I pray for Cory's family and for Eddie's wife's family, comfort them. I pray for R2D2. I pray for the needs of our spiritual family. I pray for our leaders. I pray for peace. I pray for YOUR light in a world filled with darkness.

I confess. I have been envious of the one-legged man at the butt kicking contest! The way things have been going that would be a breeze!

Since we began 'round the clock, it has not been smooth. The first night I had a truck hit a deer, cracking the lower radiator tank. Gonzo took my pickup to inspect the damage. When he arrived, Alfredo the truck driver crawled in from the front and using the lights from my pickup surveyed the damage. He then rolled out the side and just as he was standing he heard the unmistakable sound of a West Texas Diamondback Rattler! He froze and glanced down to see the snake slither away from beside his foot. In retrospect he considers himself very fortunate because he is almost positive he had to roll on top of the snake as he exited from under his truck! Yuk!

Friday was consumed in Midland at the radiator shop and at a heli-arc welding shop. We started at eight in the morning Friday and finally at eleven Friday night we had Alfredo's truck ready to rock and roll! Saturday, began with a forklift flat and my backup forklift in Roscoe and the spare tires in Coyonosa. Poor Delfino fought the bales with a hand cart until I completed the removal, repair and re-installation of the tire! He probably deserves a raise and the folks at Roscoe deserve a swift kick in the but that is another story. (I barely escaped there!). My seed men finally arrived, one at four Thursday Morning and his brother finally made it at four Friday afternoon. We will probably get along well. They speak as much english as I speak spanish! Their names are Evezio and Beldezar. They we certainly a sight for sore eyes.

Krl came out Thursday afternoon. Due to all the other problems I have not really been able to see much of her. I had not bee able to keep up with my dispatch logs and so I worked from eight-thirty Sunday morning until after nine Sunday night. I am down to two employees settlements and they have not returned their W-4's. Oh, well. It hasn't been a good weekend. I am tired and anxious, frustrated and running behind. I have been short, showing no tact to anyone. Krl included. I am going to have to work on this!

Today started off with fuel problems. I had Krl pay the diesel bill Friday to prevent having a problem over the weekend. This morning we were getting an error message "exceeded allocation". They are checking on it but I don't think we burned ten-thousand dollars worth of fuel in two days! Anyway, Kristy is on it and I am taking her another check. "Big wheels (must)keep on turnin', proud Mary Keeps on burnin' ". I just would like to slow things down a couple of notches.

FATHER, I know what I need to work on. Please help me. Help me to be focused on YOU, transform me, use me. Work through me. Forgive me when I hurt those who are near and dear, and I ask their forgiveness. Expand me. I continue to pray for Rene', Carol, Michelle, Aimee and Hag. I pray for Corey's family. Bless these as they suffer from illness or loss. I pray for their healing and that YOU will comfort them. I pray for the needs of our spiritual family. Work YOUR plan FATHER!

The frustrating part of this job is trying to read the GM's mind. He had told the plant superintendent and me that we would go around the clock Thursday night. Wednesday morning he made the new proclamation that we were running Wednesday night instead. I had trucks in Harlingen Texas, Deming New Mexico and points unknown. Some of my second crew were twelve hours into Mexico. Long story short. I slept four hours last night. Equipment has been rolling in and late today the remaining crew will arrive! Krl is coming out. Everything is falling into place!

FATHER, thank YOU. Bless Rene', Carol, Michelle, Aimee and Hag with YOUR healing. Please meet the needs of our spiritual family. Renew R2D2. Let YOUR glory fill the earth!

Things are really gaining momentum. It appears Thursday may well be the first day of "around the clock". I had really hoped for next week but when the powers that be make that decision we will be ready. The hardest part for me is as I watch the weather forecast and see a chance of rain Thursday and Friday. While this week has been encouraging, we need to continue to heal from the serious out go, limited income situation of the last three weeks. I certainly don't need to put another crew on and then have production stop due to weather. I can remember a couple of years ago we had a good year going and then we were hit with wet weather. The night crew would come on and work for a while repairing equipment but when the managers left for the night the facility was transformed into a poor man's casino. They rolled dice, played poker, blackjack, pitched quarters, and I even accused them of painting a roulette wheel on the floor of the press pit and cycling the press round and round and where it stops nobody knows! Red 31! My forklift operator was devastated, he lost two dollars in one night! I offered a guaranteed eight hours a day, seven days a week and my people could stay in their trailer but they would rather go to the casino, ride the clock and get paid for eighty-four hours a week.

My brother-in-law, Hag is in the hospital. This is my sister Pat's hubbie, Steph, Chris and Kyle's dad. During the past year it was discovered that Hag has a missing gene. The way I understand it, this gene has to do with blood production and clotting. It is almost like reverse leukemia or aplastic anemia. Instead of his body not making blood, his makes to much! About every three weeks Hag goes in, usually his blood pressure is way high and they will drain off two pints and he is good to go for three more weeks. The immediate threat is blood clots. Hag went to the doctor and they discovered clots in his lower legs and also in his lungs. Needless to say he was admitted to the hospital and is restricted to bed rest while they try to deal with the clot issue. So far he remains in the local hospital and his specialist is working with a local physician but if he doesn't behave I figure Pat will haul his butt to Lubbock where his blood doctor is at. Hag has a list of don'ts and he is going to have to take the don'ts more seriously. We would like to keep him around.

FATHER, thank YOU for YOUR love, YOUR mercy and YOUR grace. Thank YOU for JESUS and for the HOPE and PROMISE we have in HIM. I hope to be eternally grateful. Thank YOU for the productive day. FATHER I lay it all at YOUR feet, allow me to pour myself out and be filled by YOU. Transform me. FATHER, this time of year I find myself put in situations that I need to call upon YOU to work me through. Soften my tone, dull my tongue, make me think before I speak. FATHER, I lift up Hag for YOUR healing, I lift up Rene', Carol, and Michelle. I ask YOUR miracle of healing for them all. I ask for continued good reports for Aimee. I pray for the needs of our spiritual family, for those with illness, for those with loss and for those with special needs. I pray for R2D2, mend his spirit and his heart. I ask YOUR blessings on KRL as she prepares to travel to me. Keep her safe. I continue to pray for the world leaders and for all the soldiers in harms way. I pray for peace. I pray for YOUR kingdom, may YOUR will be done.

I am afraid the blogs will become much more brief, if at all, for the next few days and or weeks.

We arrived monday to find lots of cotton harvested and ready for processing. We ran all day Monday, in fact Monday's production alone equaled production for the last three weeks! This morning things were really coming alive and there is talk of putting on a night crew Wednesday or Thursday.

Truck wise we are hubbing it. My South Texas carriers are still in South Texas. I can have half of them here with-in eight hours of my call. Right now it seems as though Roscoe is sending me the Tijuana Rejects. We have one truck down right now, we are hoping we are just getting this problem out of the way before the rush. Hopefully late today or tomorrow early it will be back in the rotation.

I really feel out of control. I had a long day yesterday, I left Abilene at four in the morning and I got to bed last evening at eleven forty-five.

FATHER please slow this merry-go-round down! Help me to have the patience to put all the pieces together. I pray for safety for all concerned. Let YOUR light shine through me. I pray for Rene', Carol, Michelle, and Aimee. I pray for Hag. Heal them Lord. I pray for our spiritual family's needs and issues, I pray for the leaders of Highland. I pray for renewal for R2D2. YOURS is the GLORY!

Excellent Saturday! Some time with Krl. A little yard work. Dinner out on the town. Back home with my sweetie! Yep! Life is good!

I am thankful that things are working out to be home for installment two of the spiritual transformation series at Highland. Terry is leading in our Sunday School class so it should be good as well.

Late Friday I stopped by my sister's house. We had been trying to connect this past week to get me some things I needed at St. Lawrence. As things would have it, it worked out well. They had a house full. I had forgotten it was Homecoming. I got to see my nephew Chris. I think he has grown a couple of inches since he left for school in Little Rock! I'm going to do some research. Chris says he is not receiving the e-mail I have been sending him. A couple of Chris notes. He successfully completed his assessment and is now enrolled in his small engine repair classes. The school he attends is pretty unique. While it is for the visually impaired, each program is fitted individually for the student to progress at his or her own pace. When Chris completes this portion of his education sometime after the first of the year he will move into the other related classes. He plans on graduating next June.

I believe that parents of children with physical disabilities, learning disabilities or debilitating disease are twice blessed. Not because of the challenges or frustrations they experience but because of the insight they are afforded. I believe that these parents have a better view as GOD sees things, as he wants things. In a very real sense, these parents are GOD on earth for their children. They watch over and then provide for every need, repeatedly. These parents are walking tributes to selflessness. They see the need and try to fill it, they nuture and love, and small wins are major victories! These children are some of the happiest, fun loving, GOD loving people I will ever know. If anyone ever had the right to be bitter, to be mad, it would be these children. But their love is so pure, so unqualifying. They love big, needing so much but expecting nothing in return. They don't worry. They don't fret over plans. They go with the flow. My experience with Kyle (my other nephew) is that tone speaks volumes. The worded message may not make it through but the tone always does. I often tell my sister that I am jealous of Kyle because he doesn't have a worry in the world. I sometimes have problems understanding some of these special children when they speak with me, but when they open their mouths to sing it is divine. These very special children, teachers, evangelists, counselors in their own right! The most gratifying thing for me is to know that when they go home to be with GOD they will be made whole, more than their earthly parents could ever hope for. Thank GOD for the big blessings that come in small bodies, for the lessons we can't audibly discern that are visually revealed to us! Bless these special children and their special parents.

FATHER, we complicate things on your earth! Forgive us. Teach us to lay it all at YOUR feet. Every burden, every care, every need. Purify our hearts and minds. Simplify us and our lives. Keep us centered in YOU. We don't deserve YOU or YOUR love but we are thankful YOU are faithful to our needs. Help us as we attempt to be worthy of YOUR love. We pray for strength in YOU, we pray for surrender to YOU. We pray for YOUR divine guidance and for YOUR wisdom. Allow us a brief glance at YOUR world as YOU intend, open our eyes and hearts. We pray for Rene', for Carol, for Michelle, for their healing. We ask for continued blessings for Aimee. We pray for the needs of our spiritual family, for those with loss, for those with illness, for those with special needs. Restore them, comfort them, fill them. We offer special prayers for R2D2 as he searches for YOU. We continue to pray for those who have loss from natural disasters. Bless the relief efforts. We pray for the Spiritual Transformation at Highland. Bless this series, bless the leaders. We pray for the world leaders. We ask for safety for soldiers the world over. We ask for YOUR angels!

I am home in Abilene for a brief weekend. The General Manager elected to give us Saturday and Sunday off with the admonition that we had better enjoy it because the forecast was good and this was probably the last one!

This has been a difficult week. There has been frustration and anxiousness due to the weather and inactivity. There has been eager anticipation with promising weather. Finally, we had a flurry of productivity just in time to culminate the week. My week ended on a bitter note. First of all I had a seed driver come down Wednesday and just before he arrived we lost a power inverter as the plant came on line. This driver's wife was leaving for Denver Thursday morning and he wanted to check out her vehicle, load her things and see her off. Being the considerate boss I am, I gave him my pickup to return to Lubbock (the pickup can go round-trip for about thirty-five dollars of gas compared with one hundred-fifty for the Peterbilt he drives). On Thursday the plant came on-line and I placed this driver's seed truck under the hopper to load. Near the completion of loading I noticed what I considered to be abnormally high water temperature. Julio and I moved the truck over to the maintenance area and blew the radiator core out with air to increase cooling. The driver arrived and loaded his things in his truck and I went across the compound to help a bale truck. Shortly thereafter I noticed the seed truck had embarked but had pulled over just outside the jobsite and had the hood raised. At first opportunity I went to check on it. The driver thought the thermostats were sticking because the temperature gauge would begin to sweep upward while under power. On careful inspection I discovered the serpentine belt was not turning the water pump. Remember our location is an hour any direction from any parts store. We returned to the complex and I removed the belt and found the water pump to be locked down. I retrieved a pair of large channel lock pliers and was able to turn the pump and then it would "free-wheel" and then "bind up" again. Finally I reached a gloved hand in and began working the pulley much like you would the combination on a vault or safe and I could feel the ball bearings seating themselves in the inner and outer races. Finally I could spin the pump, I replaced the belt and sent the driver to Lubbock to unload and have the water pump replaced. Thankfully he made it without further incident.

The final straw in my week was late Friday. Roscoe sent me another truck to load seed. This truck arrived with two flats side by side and the load tarp had come loose and ripped six or seven feet from the front of the trailer back. Julio and I loaded the truck and secured the tarp as best we could (insert duct tape advertisement here) and then the driver decided to ride in with me and return with the service truck Saturday morning to fix his flats before completing his load to Lubbock. The sad part is this is a man who has driven for years and he had stopped less than sixteen miles from the jobsite and didn't see any problem with his equipment. Upon arrival he was oblivious to anything that would deter him from doing what he was supposed to do. I relayed to this driver that this would be his one and only warning. Perform or perish! (I am not really that hard, just demanding). I finally got home about midnight, three hours late!

This past week has been a very sentimental week in the blog circle I read. I really appreciate the fact the Judy and Brandon Scott Thomas shared so openly the memories and emotion of losing Judy's mate and BST's Dad, Sam Thomas, thirteen years ago. It would be sad if Sam had just died. I have never heard any bad thing about Sam. Everything I have heard has been positive and good. It is evident that Sam, in dying, claimed victory over this life, this world, and the disease that consumed him because of his belief and dedication to Jesus as Lord and Savior. It is moving to see that thirteen years removed from his physical death, Sam Thomas still lives. In the hearts, in the minds, and in the memories of those he loved. Often people use loss like this to become bitter with life and with GOD, but this family has been drawn closer. I am thankful for their words, for their example and for their sharing of what they could keep private. Sam lives. Thank you!

I find myself wondering, thirteen years after I am gone will people still remember and miss me?

FATHER, I need YOU to take control. Please allow me to surrender to YOU. I am tired, I am frustrated, I am anxious for things of this world. Redirect me to YOUR higher things. I pray for Rene', for Carol, and for Michelle. I ask YOUR continued blessing on Aimee. Be with those of our family who are on the road, I ask for safe travel. I pray for R2D2, I pray for the leaders of Highland, and I pray for those of our spiritual family who have needs and issues. I ask that YOU rest me well and rest me quickly. I will not be fearful or anxious for YOU are my LORD!

Summer again! It is hot, sunny and clear today. We are blessed with a southerly breeze which completes the equation for perfect drying conditions! Not many people dropping by the office for coffee today. This usually indicates that everyone is in the fields. I certainly hope so. We had just a few people strip cotton yesterday, we ginned about one hundred twenty seven bales. Hopefully we have overcome the power inverter problems. This afternoon we have just a small amount of cotton that we might possibly gin later today and then we are shutting down for the weekend. This is good news bad news. The best part is that payroll will stop for two days, the bad news is that there will be no possibility of generating revenue. All in due time.

I find a battle raging within. I am frustrated, I am bored, and I am already tired.

FATHER I pray for renewal, spiritually, physically, and mentally. Transform me. Take charge of me! I pray for Rene', Carol, Michelle. I continue to pray for Aimee. I pray for the needs of our spiritual family, for R2D2, and for the victims of the natural disasters. Deliver me oh LORD!

It was another beautiful day until just before the end of the work day. West Texas weather came front and center. Rain. You could see the disappointment in everyone's eyes as they wilted just a shade. We'll get our head screwed on straight and start mental preparation again.

We were going to run yesterday but we had a power inverter go bad just as we brought the plant on-line. This is the fifth one this year and we have only done three hundred nine bales of cotton on our way to about eighty thousand. These little boogers cost twenty-eight hundred dollars each, so the plant has an expensive appetite. Electricians are coming in this morning to check for a possible problem. During the off season the plant changed from its long time electric service provider to an alternate. In ten years since the plant was built it was powered by the old service provider and we never lost an inverter. There has been some speculation that there is a electrical structural configuration difference with the new provider. We will know later this morning.

Needless to say the prospects of a profitable week went out the window with yesterdays rain. We will regroup and refocus. We are thankful for the work opportunity and take comfort in knowing that it will all take place in GOD's time.

Patience and tolerance. Teach us FATHER. Help us to keep our eye on the goal. Thank YOU for YOUR love and concern for us. Help us to accept YOUR plan. I pray for Rene', Carol, Michelle and Aimee. I pray for R2D2. I pray for the hurricane victims. I pray for those of our spiritual family who have needs. YOU are supreme.

The stars at night are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas! Out here in our part of Texas, too! Yesterday was really a summer kind of day. Lots of sunshine and excellent drying conditions. From looking outside it appears it will be crisp and clear this morning. Many of the farmers were headed to the fields late yesterday either to spray defoliant or possibly to try to harvest cotton or milo. We have six modules on the feeder and trucks, not really enough cotton to spike the electricity demand and bring this big gin up to run. They actually say that if the gin isn't going to run at least a half day it is not economical to start it.

Everyone is getting so bored out here. All the gin employees along with my people (myself included) and the other contractor's crew are bored stiff. We have done everything that can possibly be of consequence. We have been preventive to the point of being extreme. Anything that happens now shouldn't be human error, but mechanical failure instead.

I was reflecting yesterday on some of the changes here in the past ten years. Probably the most noticeable is the reduction in office personnel. A few years ago the gin went on-line with software called Eagle-sys. This allows for an unmanned scale for incoming trucks and involves simply scanning a card and bar-code for the truck and driver. The software also records the bale and seed weights as the cotton is processed and is then simply up loaded on the PCCA system. Turnout and other reports are at the touch of a finger. What this means is that the office staff has been reduced from seven people to three, not counting Marie (the office manager). Kristy and Becky work the day shift and when he is needed Charles will come in for the afternoon/evening shift. I try to help when I can, answering the phone while they try to eat lunch, running messages or just trying to keep them informed of what I know is going on. Sometimes it is delicate to determine where benefit ends and intrusion begins. That line moves a little depending on what kind of day each one of us is having. Thanks to the professionalism and personal respect of all concerned we have been able to make it work. This isn't to say that on occasion feathers don't get ruffled but we don't allow it past there. Believe me, the remaining personnel are a value buy! Their boats are loaded once the season is up and going!

FATHER, I am thankful for the good, competent people I work with. Please allow me to help when I can, to carry my own weight and to know when to back away. Help me to not be petty or small but to work to the strengths of the team. I pray to be transformed. Allow me to pour myself out, to be filled by YOU and YOUR spirit. I pray for YOUR strength, YOUR wisdom and YOUR guidance. Expand me. I pray for the healing of Rene', Carol, and Michelle. Bless and comfort them. I ask that YOU continue to care for Aimee. I pray for the needs of the hurricane victims, may help be bold and quick. I pray for the needs of our spiritual family. Bless the leaders of Highland as well as the leaders the world over. I pray for R2D2. All things work together for good for those that love YOU.

Bright golden sunshine, brilliant blue skies, wonderful weather!

I don't know why we sometimes spaz over things, GOD does just fine without our input! We are tested, we are tempted but we don't see the big picture. HIS brush is broad and multi-colored as HE paints our lives. We ask HIS forgiveness when we lack confidence in his ability to work HIS plan.

With this weather the fields are drying very well. There are a few farmers who think they will be back in the fields later today to spray. Possibly one or two more days and the cotton harvest should resume. Hopes and spirits continue to be high!

We continue to piddle. This is day two working on the primary forklift. I had to make one trip to Big Spring to pick up some pieces but hopefully we will complete this project and move on to other things late today or tomorrow.

I did locate a source for all the different varieties of wine from the St. Lawrence Winery. I passed this on to Becky and Kristy. Sad part is it is all in cardboard cases. No wooden crates. We can have all we want. There appears to be close to fifty cases. I guess I should dispose of some of it in order to enhance the rest! Ha! I get more and more of the story as each day goes by. Pretty interesting. When I get it all I will blog about it.

FATHER I pray that I might seize the opportunity to surrender this day, this week, this life to YOU. I continue to ask YOUR healing for Rene, Carol, and Michelle. I ask YOUR continued blessings for Aimee. I pray for the needs of our spiritual family and for the needs of the hurricane victims. I ask for a spiritual revival for R2D2. Do YOUR work through me, use me, transform me. May the GLORY be YOURS!

Today in history. Oct. 11. Columbus Day. No mail service. The Banks are closed. Many schools are on holiday. Leotard Kitten's birday!

I am headed back to the jobsite today. It has been a pleasant weekend. Home is my favorite place! I picked up some supplies Saturday in Abilene that are not readily available in St. Lawrence. We will be looking for things to do for the next couple of days. Delfino, Julio and I discussed some areas that needed improvement and hopefully we can adequately address these in our slow time. If our slow time extends past Tuesday we may tackle another repair of our equipment. I had sent a bale trailer in with word that it was in need of some repairs and they sent it back. Go figure. They have the parts, they have the special tools and they send it back out. Duh!

Krl and I retired very very early Sunday. We had both been toying with the idea of a nap but never got to it. I watched NASCAR and then we winterized the pool. We did left overs for an early dinner and by seven o'clock we were sacked out. By midnight I was awake and trying to throttle myself in order to endure the day. Jobsite finances were front and center when I woke up. It is pretty expensive getting this job up and going each year. This year is no different in that regard. What is different is that the job revenue is running way way behind! Being job manager I am responsible for getting this going with minimum cash infusion and normally this is not a problem. Careful coordination of work schedule and pre-work expenses can basically make it possible to launch this job and finance it through thirty day accounts. Not so this year. The September delays coupled with the October rains have tightened the finances. It is workable. I just find myself frustrated and anxious. I have set some reserve limits on cash available and thankfully we haven't had to reach into the reserves but we need some production this week.

I think I am very comfortable with the announcements from church yesterday. I really don't have problem with expanded roles for women in Church. Some of my favorite people are women. I don't think GOD ever intended for women to be considered second class Christians limiting their service opportunities. I personally think that many times women are much more effective than men. I think they are much more passionate, more expressive and just as dedicated if not more so. I know Krl is really enjoying the Tuesday women's fellowship along with their Bible study. Gayla has really been a blessing for Krl. Our hopes are to coordinate our schedule where Krl can be at the jobsite to help with payroll and settlements from Thursday afternoon through Monday morning and then head back to Abilene to regroup, do laundry, do Bible study, get supplies and then return to the jobsite again.

"...until Christ is formed in you." Yep, it's going to be a good series. The Elder's should be commended for their direction. I suppose some of the things I like about Highland is that they are deliberate, they don't mind if it is controversial as long as they feel it is scriptural, and spiritually led, and they certainly don't mind challenging the members of their flock. I suppose it is that adage if you aren't moving forward you are moving backward!

FATHER thank YOU for everything, for all the blessings, for YOUR love, YOUR mercy, YOUR grace. I pray for patience. I pray for good weather. FATHER I need to give it all over to YOU and let YOU work through me. Expand me. Fill me. Surround me with YOUR angels. I ask for safe travel. I ask YOUR blessings on Krl. Watch over and keep her. FATHER I pray for Rene', Carol, and Michelle. I ask YOUR healing for them all. I continue to ask YOUR blessings for Aimee. FATHER I pray for the needs of our Sunday School classmates and their prayer requests. I pray for the needs of our spiritual family. I pray for the church leaders. I ask YOUR blessings for the victims of the hurricanes and I ask that YOU expedite the relief efforts. I ask that "Christ be formed" in R2D2. FATHER YOU have a tough job but YOU are mighty and powerful for which I am thankful! Where YOU lead I will follow.

And the Longhorn faithful say "Wait until next year!" Adrian Peterson is an awesome running back. I doubt Oklahoma can keep him for four years.

We made the eight fifteen Church service. There had been a tremendous build up pertaining to a "BIG" announcement coming from the Elders today. Actually there were three announcements. The first involved the expanded roles of women in worship. This was no big surprise to anyone. Basically the Elders were saying this is with our blessings after much study and prayer on this matter. The next announcement was that if you want to volunteer to wait on the table see one of the communion service coordinators before services. The last announcement was introducing the new Minister for the Community-wide Ministry, with his wife and son. The complete Elder's announcement is online in Mike Cope's blog for today.

All of the Sunday School classes began a series on Spiritual Formation today. Cope will do three more weeks of sermons on this subject as well. This study series is very appealing to me. I hate that I will be gone. Realistically I will probably be able to be there next week but after that it is doubtful. Kurt taught todays Sunday School lesson, the outline was provided to all of the classes. We didn't get all of our lesson covered because of very good class participation. One of the questions for reflection asked us to compare a lifestyle focused of "getting into heaven" and one that seeks to be formed in the way of Jesus. I likened the lifestyle focused on getting into heaven as "fear factor" Christianity, and the lifestyle seeking to be formed in Jesus as "being all you can be" mentality.

FATHER thank YOU for the restful weekend. Thank YOU for allowing me to spend time with Krl. Thank YOU for allowing me the opportunity to attend Church and class as this new series starts. I pray for the needs of our classmates. I pray for the leaders of Highland. I pray for the many ministries of Highland. I continue to ask YOUR blessing of healing for Rene', Carol, and Michelle. I pray for continued good reports for Aimee. I pray for the victims of natural disasters. FATHER I pray for the spiritual healing of R2D2. Transform us FATHER, "...until Christ is formed" in us! Thank YOU FATHER!

Aaaaaaahhhhhh! Back home again in Abilene! Weather delay! The jobsite GM turned everyone loose Friday at four until seven Monday morning! It didn't take me long to gather my things and point my pickup east! I even did the dishes and made the bed before I left! I got home and enjoyed a HOT soaking bath. I enjoy any bath that involves more than six gallons of hot water!

Krl and I spent most of the evening just catching up. It is amazing how much happens when you are gone for a week. We didn't even watch (or listen to) all the debate. It is a shame the only alternative to Bush and Kerry is Nader. If they don't hurry and have this election I will not be voting for a candidate, I will consider it a vote against the others!

The hound girls and the hound boy were hilarious when I walked in last evening. They were really excited at first and then "Black Dog" decided to punish me for being gone for a week. While the other hounds were battling for hugs and affection "Black" played hard to get! She finally warmed up though.

We are looking at a number of days wait for things to dry out in St. Lawrence. I have to return Monday. We have tried to target some areas we would like to make better preparations. Since the weather has given us this lull, we hope to use it to our benefit.

I had an interesting happening yesterday. Actually it began Thursday. I was in the office visiting with Kristy and Becky. I made the comment that one of my regrets of ten years out there was that I did not purchase a bottle of wine from the St. Lawrence Winery when the convenience store was open and carrying it. The winery was closed and sold off in the early nineties, the vineyards were plowed up and all that remained was a limited supply of wine. I thought it would be really neat to have a bottle as a keepsake, a part of the community history! Kristy made the comment that she thought it would be neat too, and she even took it a step farther saying it would be so neat to have a St. Lawrence Wine crate. Friday morning when I made my rounds and went into the office, Becky reached behind her and pulled out two bottles of St. Lawrence wine and handed them to me! The former winery owner is Becky's uncle-in-law and Becky's husband had secured a limited supply for historic purposes. Becky had gone home and gone to their storage and found the bottles for Kristy and me. She says she hopes to find some crates. That would be neat but I am thrilled with the two bottles of wine! It is a 1988 St. Lawrence "Blush" table wine. I told Becky she was going to be so mad if it showed up on a wine collector's register and was worth a lot of money! She just laughed saying she didn't think that would happen. I think I will go to Joe Spano's this weekend and tell him I am looking for a 1988 St. Lawrence "Blush" and see what he says. His advertisements on television say he has the most extensive inventory in West Texas. I also think it would be neat to create an internet frenzy searching for these almost extinct wines! Krl thought it was pretty neat. Actually the very first time we heard of St. Lawrence it was because one of the outside salesmen Krl worked with was trying to find the winery in hopes of becoming a vendor for its maintenance department. For now, we have two new additions gently cradled in the wine rack in our dining room! Thanks, Becky!

I have no idea what is on the itinerary for today. I need to go to Abilene Lumber to pick up a few supplies before they close. I hope to watch at least a portion of the Battle of the Red River. This will be my one time this season to cheer for the Burnt Orange. Normally I am a Sooner fan but I love an underdog, even if Mac is on their sideline

FATHER, thank YOU for the opportunity to come home for the weekend! I pray that YOU will bless us with a relaxing, recharging weekend. Thank YOU for the safe travel, thank YOU for the good evening with Krl. Thank YOU for the good news for Eugene and Letha, please let them move forward and not be angry or bitter. FATHER I continue to thank YOU for the good reports for Aimee and I continue to ask YOUR healing for Rene', Carol, and Michelle. I ask YOUR spiritual healing for R2D2. I pray for the leaders of Highland as they make a major announcement this Sunday, I pray for you to guide them as they chart the direction of this body of Christ. I pray for the needs of our spiritual family and for the needs of victims of the natural disasters. Let YOUR light shine in us!

It is early morning, Thursday October 7 and we are getting our daily issue of rain. I was sleeping lightly when I heard a heavy breath of wind and a small rumble of thunder. We have completed all the modules on the yard and I have one trailer loaded and waiting for transport to the compress. We worked until seven last evening in order to get to this stopping point. There are nine bales in excess of a truckload so they are sitting on the dock. The GM and I discussed it and decided to send the samples for ALL of the remaining bales with this load so I took the government sample bag and tied it to the dollie crank under the trailer. Bad move, when the rain started I immediately jumped from bed, slipped on some clothes, hopped in my pickup and retrieved the exposed sample bag. Am I a dedicated contractor? Ha! I have the weather channel on and they have us under a severe thunderstorm watch with possible wind gusts of sixty miles per hour. I had better finish this and get back in bed so the wind can rock me back to sleep. If I only had a tape or CD of lullabies.

Onward and upward! Rian called last evening. He told me that he had two items of good news. Rian, Erica and Reid were returning home and the whole Harris clan was waiting on them when they got there. It seems that the Harris family had just returned from a trip to Disney World compliments of The Make a Wish Foundation. The Harris’s were full of news. While they took time for off this brief excursion Don and Modesta got married! Congratulations Don and Mo! But the best news was yet to come! Aimee (Don and Mo’s daughter) recently had another check up. The Human Growth Hormone regiment is working much better than Doctors had ever expected. And then the news got even better! The have located a bone marrow donor for Aimee! YES! GOD has blessed Aimee with a home run (the growth hormone success) coupled with a grand slam (a marrow donor in the wings, should a transplant be needed)! Aimee’s Doctors are thrilled with these developments and they have now extended the time frame for the hormone treatment to December and then they will make an assessment concerning a possible bone marrow transplant. Zach, the big brother is doing well and enjoying school! Reid, the cousin by choice, is totally in love with his two older cuzzes!

It appears that I will get this weekend off. We will have two seed loads and one bale load to ship today. These will involve us for about an hour or hour and a half and then we will be looking for something to do. Friday morning will be the final shipment this week due to the lull in harvest and lack of cotton for processing. If the weather cooperates we plan on sanitizing the number one seed hopper for the seed block cottonseed (seed blocks are breeding seed that is being genetically altered for future production, yeah life isn’t simple down on the farm anymore!). I have to be here to deliver payroll Friday so I can’t justify going to the house just to turn around and return immediately so I will stay until that task is competed. I am already ready for a hot bath with a good book and using ALL the hot water while I read and soak.

One quick note. For those who e-mail our home there has been a change. Krl’s and my prefix remains the same but we have left camalott. From our e-mail address please remove camalott.com and replace it with cox.net. If I get home I will probably do a blanket e-mail to notify everyone.

FATHER we have so much to thank YOU for. YOU are a mighty and powerful GOD and all things come through YOU! FATHER I thank YOU for the good news that Don and Mo gave Rian and Erica. I ask YOUR blessings on their marriage and upon their little family. I thank YOU for the good report that Aimee received from her doctors and I praise YOU for the bone marrow donor match. Thank you for working your miracle of healing in Aimee’s life and I ask that YOU continue to do so. FATHER, thank YOU for the people who become donors of all kinds, I ask YOUR blessings on them. I continue to ask YOUR healing for Rene’, Carol, and Michelle. I lift up R2D2 for YOUR spiritual healing. I pray for the needs of our spiritual family and for the needs of the hurricane victims. I pray for the leaders of Highland. I pray for the leaders of the world. I pray for peace. I pray for safety for all the soldiers the world over. FATHER, I pray for YOUR kingdom!

And I have been waiting for this?

Frankie had his crew start bringing the plant on-line about one-thirty Tuesday afternoon. As usual there were a few small problems with photo-electric cells, limit switches and the like. This was not a day filled with expectations of production records, it was simply a controlled test. What we did this afternoon would normally take one-eighth of our day. I only ordered two trucks in and both of them were late. One driver is a rookie and he had a heads up of three hours to travel one-hundred-fifty miles. This particular driver is so detail oriented that it drives me up the wall. I keep telling myself when he learns the ropes he will do fine. He has put a tremendous amount of effort into the events leading up to today. He has driven the route, he has visited in the offices of the shipper and receiver, but I am thinking he may worry himself silly. When he arrived today, an hour late, we had almost half his load waiting. Basically what a big part of today's process is, is to remove rust, and polish and make slick the material passage ways and hoppers. This is done by actually loading the load as it is processed because even the hoppers are open, this is much like sand blasting but it is using seed instead of sand. The seed is blown in by air, dis-lodging rust and or deposits present and due to the high oil content of the seed it polishes the surfaces it comes in contact with. Needless to say, much of todays efforts were futile due to the trucks being late.

We put the seed truck under the hopper and Julio began opening the doors and loading it. I was trying to give guidance and my expertise when Delfino came through the gin plant to find me. He was adjusting a hydraulic line on the squeeze on his forklift and broke a fitting. Hydraulic oil was going everywhere and bales were stacking up at the pusher conveyor. I took his machine and tried to find a neutral setting for the hydraulic control for the broken line and then I basically bulldozed the bales away from the conveyor. Thankfully this was the test day and the plant was not at full production because my other forklift is still in Brownwood. Delfino ended up with a two wheel dollie moving the bales away while I removed the squeeze to take the damaged line off. Thirty minutes later we were back up and running but it was a thrash for a brief time. We did make a couple of discoveries during this mishap, the shop had serviced this machine prior to it being moved to the jobsite and they failed to put the sealing washer or the wing-nut on the air filter. Due to the recent rains we were not in the normal high dust environment so I am hopeful we dodged the bullet there. Call me crazy, but I hate stupid, and I hate mistakes. I have a feeling that the mechanic at the shop gave this job to one of his underlings and didn't even check the work.

In retrospect it is somewhat comical. Delfino weighing one-hundred-sixty pounds and his dollie, man-handling five-hundred pound bales. It just wasn't funny at the time.

Upside of today is that we were able to get some data for future reference. We will start using it today and make some necessary adjustments. Downside is we have a limited amount of raw cotton to process due to weather, meaning we had better be dead on in our adjustments! When the weather cooperates with the farmers harvest we need to be loaded for bear!

This year is a different year out there. My good friend Milt had originally been a co-contractor with me. Our trailer houses shared the same trailer park and were located adjacent to one another for several years. Two years ago he accepted the plant superintendent position and many felt as though he was waiting in the wings for the General Manager position to come open. This past summer he was approached with a opportunity that allowed him to return to his home town and he accepted it. I am thrilled for Milt, he deserves the best!

With Milt's departure the GM made a decision to give Frankie a trial season as plant superintendent. Frankie has been an employee here for eleven years which means he has been here from day one with the big plant. He has worked his way through the ranks to that of head ginner and now the "acting super". In this community many of the people ( especially the older generation) are biased in their views concerning race. Therein lies a potential problem. Frankie is Hispanic. Now personally I don't give a hoot about what color or ethnic origin a person is. Frankie could be purple with green eyes and antennae, but if he gets the job done I would be his fan! He is sharp, he is knowledgeable, he can motivate his personnel and most importantly he knows the plant. If the Board of Directors will give Frankie all the tools and authority he needs, I am confident he is capable of performing his new job. My biggest fear is that they will handcuff him possibly limiting his success. I am hoping for the best for Frankie and I have offered him my help in any way possible.

I slept about three hours and woke up. Maybe I can get a brief nap before the alarm goes off. Currently it has begun to rain. After two gorgeous afternoons I was really optimistic we had slipped out of the rain cycle. Not so. It is difficult for me to maintain proper perspective. This crop year has such tremendous possibilities but it needs some dry warm weather for another three weeks. I can certainly understand the anguish these farmers are feeling as they watch a possible record crop come so close only to be reduced by nature. They have invested time and money and they have nutured the crops to the best of their ability and now rely on a friendly fall and winter to reach their goal. On the other hand, any winter moisture is a big plus for next year. In reality I would probably sacrifice the record crop for two above normal crops, I just have to adjust my head!

FATHER thank YOU for the productive day. Thank YOU for the opportunities that presented themselves. Help us to be deliberate in our selection of them. FATHER temper me, help me to get the proper mindset. Help me not to be anxious, but to be patient and receptive as YOU unfold YOUR plan for me. Allow me to surrender this day back to YOU. Use me as YOU see fit. I continue to lift up Rene', Carol, Michelle and Aimee for YOUR gift of healing. Comfort them and their families. I continue to ask YOUR intervention for R2D2. I pray for the needs of our spiritual family. I ask YOUR blessings on the victims of the hurricanes. Let YOUR glory fill the earth!

The time has come! Components have been individually tested. Frankie and his crew are ready. All systems are go and we are targeted for a two pm. ignition! We are fixing to see if this monster will come together and come to life!

It has been a dreary ten days out here but today has broken out with bright sunshine and blue sky with broken clouds! It is gorgeous! We need two to three more weeks of eighty degree weather and sunshine. Some lower to mid sixty degree nights would be great as well.

B.L. is in transit, Charles is getting ready to make another trek out here with additional equipment and hopefully to pick up the first load out to Sweetwater. B.L. will get the first load to Lubbock. These will be the first of many! I think it will probably take five days to a week for the ground to dry. It is saturated! It is not what we need for this year's crops but an excellent start for next year.

FATHER thank YOU for the wonderful warm sunshine. Help us to know that all things happen in YOUR time! I continue to ask for a safe and successful fall. Bless Rene', Carol, Michelle, and Aimee with YOUR healing. I pray for the needs of our spiritual family as well as the needs of the victims of the natural disasters. I continue to ask YOUR blessings for R2D2. May this day, this week, this season bring glory and honor to YOU!

Busy busy! The contract didn't begin today but I have stayed busy all day! We finally were able to get to the dock and unload the trailer that had been sitting for the last week. Regardless of what happens now we are in a position to rock and roll. Julio showed up today and I put him to work. I was able to call Delfino and hold him up for a few days of R & R. Julio helped unload and move equipment and then he started painting boundary warnings stripes. We actually enjoyed some sunshine late today and if the sun peeks out in the morning before ten we are going to plug this monster in and give it a test run! Charles made another run out and brought the conastoga! Slowly but surely, step by step......... it is coming together!

FATHER thank YOU so much for giving us the patience and tolerance we need to do this job. Keep YOUR thumb on us. Thank YOU for the success of the Marriage retreat, LTH and the Fall Festival. May these ministries have a long term effect and may it be contagious to all who come in contact with them. I continue to pray for Rene', Carol, Michelle, and Aimee. I pray for the needs of our spiritual family. I pray for the victims of the natural disasters. FATHER I pray for R2D2 and his restoration. FATHER work YOUR plan for all of us!

I am on the jobsite. There are heavy skies and occasional mist, but thankfully it hasn't rained yet. I came out yesterday, made the end of the sausage making (they made nine-thousand-three-hundred pounds) which was timed just right for visiting and eating ribs. This is twice in ten past seasons that we haven't been working during the festival. Most years it is just a quick run down and back. The turn out appears to be a little light. I went through the gymnasium and it just seemed a little slow. I did buy chances on a gorgeous homemade quilt and also on a 270 Ruger rifle. Don't ask me why. I have a Ruger 30.06 that is twenty-seven years old and I have fired it three times. Currently it is on loan to Lubbock. I guess I need Rian to take a picture of it and send it to me so I can check on it! Back to the festival report. I have twenty pounds of authentic St. Lawrence sausage in my fridge. I couldn't resist so I fired up my grill and cooked a link just to snack on. It's a welcome change from the store bought varieties. The sausage haus is rapidly being depleted of inventory, usually they are out by lunch. I may run back to the festival later today.

I came back to my trailer last evening and did a little more work. I did get my DSS up and going last evening. I got to watch Northwestern beat Ohio State. Today we finally got the ISP service up and going as well. I tried last evening but their tech support was already gone. Things are coming together!

I had one visitor this morning. Mondo came by and told me that Julio had been on site Friday looking for me. He will be back tomorrow. Julio is the only employee from last year that I have not spoken with directly. Last year was his first year and he is an excellent employee, the lone drawback is his command of (or lack of command of) the english language.

We will find out tomorrow if we are going to begin work Monday Tuesday or whenever.

FATHER thank YOU for the friendships I have made out here. Thank YOU for the working relationships that I have developed both with my superiors and my underlings. Help me to be fair and honest in my dealings, help me to be a value buy. Quantity, quality, value! I pray that this working relationship will be a long and beneficial one for all parties. FATHER, bless Krl as we are apart. Watch over and keep her. I pray that the participants in the marriage retreat and LTH will take valuable, beneficial lessons and insights from the weekend and use them in their daily lives, daily relationships. I continue to pray for the success of the Fall Festival. I continue to ask YOUR healing of Rene', Carol, Michelle, and Aimee. I ask that YOU fill the needs of our spiritual family and I continue to ask YOUR blessing for those suffering from natural disasters. Send YOUR angels, surround us with YOU!

I am headed back to the jobsite. No, the work is not starting. This is a P.R., hobnob trip. We will try to accomplish something other than just burning fuel, we are taking another trailer out. Charles is going to take it with one of the trucks. We will see if we can get the forklifts and other supplies off the trailer we took the other day, currently it is sitting loaded. It had rained so much the other day we didn't dare try to get to the dock to unload! The GM has told us it will be at least Monday or Tuesday (the slide continues) before work begins.

We spent the day doing house things. We are making a change in our ISP provider. We had been with one for about seven years and their service has been surpassed with new technology, they have failed to keep up. Our initial choice of change didn't get the change right and wanted us to wait over a week for them to fix it. Finally Krl made the call and changed to a broadband service that had been flirting with us for several years. It should be simple because our computers are already equipped with ethernet cards. (I used to really confuse them, they would call telling me that they would waive the 139.99 ethernet network card if I would sign up. I told them I already had the 139.99 ethernet network capability and I would take that money in cash. I think I am still waiting for a "call back" from lots of supervisors!). I didn't even ask Krl when the new service will be up and running but I am confident it will be less than a week. Hopefully the jobsite ISP is up and running. That is the word they have given me. We did the yard, it is a lot more fun when Krl and I do it together.

This stop and go contract year is really straining Krl and I. It hasn't been vocalized by either of us but you can cut the suspended anxiety with a knife! The tears have been shed, and now it seems as though we are just torturing ourselves! It has been good getting the reprieve for a few days, but that won't make it any easier leaving this morning. I will be glad when things align themselves enabling Krl to join me at the jobsite. I think she is going to have dual citizenship this year, Abilene and St. Lawrence. I need her especially at the very end of the week when settlements are generated and she wants to be back in Abilene by Monday nights. She is currently very excited about a Tuesday women's Bible study she went to with Gayla last week. I am going to do all I can to let her do it all!

Chris called me from Little Rock last evening (he is attending a school for the visually impaired). He talked for an hour. It was hillarious! I glanced at my phone and saw it was Chris and when I answered, his first words were "call me back, I have free incoming calls"! I knew his Mom and Dad were on their way to Canyon for Hag's brother-in-law's funeral this morning. I suppose Chris felt a little vulnerable and lonesome being away at school when the rest of his immediate family was gathering in Canyon. Pat (his mother) let him make the decision about coming in or staying. He finally decided if he was coming in he would wait for homecoming. I quote, "Homecoming would probably be a lot more fun than funeral". I am going to remember that one! We had a good visit.

FATHER thank YOU for it all! YOU are so good to us. Help us to be ever-mindful that all things come from YOU. I continue to ask YOUR blessings upon the marriage retreat, LTH, and the Fall Festival. I pray for receptive minds, caring hearts, and for YOUR presence. I ask for good weather for the Fall Festival. I continue to pray for Rene', Carol, Michelle, and Aimee, for the members of our spiritual family that have needs, and also for the special needs of the hurricane victims. I ask that YOU let YOUR blessings flow for them. FATHER, nature is so volatile this year, hurricanes to the east, earth quakes to the west and a volcano in the northwest, and that is just on our continent! FATHER, I ask for relief for all. I continue to pray for R2D2 and ask that YOU work YOUR plan for him. I ask special blessings for Chris, Kirb, and Shelby as they are away at school. I pray for our church leaders, guide and direct them. I pray for peace, I pray for the world leaders. I ask YOUR protection for those in harms way. FATHER, YOUR job is a big one but YOU are a mighty and powerful GOD through whom all things are and will be. I need YOU and I need YOU to continue to draw me to YOUR side! Thank YOU LORD.

I am up at at 'em! I have done my do in the "round the clock" prayer vigil for the marriage enrichment retreat in Floydada.

Rian sent a prayer list with specific requests and a listing of all the participants and sponsors and attendees. Twenty-five and a half couples participating, seventeen couples working, cooking, presenting! It appears eighty-five people are taking part in this first "Marriage Made in God's Image Retreat". I felt compelled to make the half couple a priority in my prayer vigil. If this retreat is anything close to the reports I have gotten from the "Higher Ground Retreat" it will be a very moving, fulfilling weekend for all! Many of those taking part in this retreat I have met, some I have not. On the prayer lists I see Elders and their wives from both Greenlawn and South Plains, I see pulpit ministers and their wives and I see an abundance of people giving their best effort to serve GOD and their fellow Christians. May GOD's richest blessings flow!

On the other front I feel abandoned. I haven't ventured out but I must be the only person left in Abilene. Apparently all the rest went to Nashville for LTH. I am not finding anyone who is blogging. I pray for LTH's success.

A lot of blog going on about trends and projections for churches. The demise of the megachurch, the onslaught of home churches. I can't really get comfortable with either concept. I probably think there is a happy medium that takes the strength of each and blesses the other. I have a bundle of questions but will refrain at this time.

Yesterday was a very blessed day in our home. I spent the morning on the phone. I talked with the jobsite and it was raining (of course). No speculation on when we might start. It is getting so close to Fall Festival that I am willing to bet on next week.

This weekend's St. Lawrence Fall Festival is the primary means that the community funds their church for the coming year. Preparations have been going on for days and weeks. Set up will really begin to take place today and in the morning the annual sausage making will commence. The men will meet at church and they will make about ten thousand pounds of authentic St. Lawrence sausage. Each Parish has their special blend of herb and spices for seasoning their sausage. The sausage making will begin about five in the morning and by noon clean-up will be complete. It is an interesting process to watch and over the years I have seen it come of age. From the old "crank" extruders filling the sausage casings to those propelled by air! Once the sausage is done it is hung in the sausage house and the men give way to the women and kids to transform the gymnasium into a bevy of booths selling games of chance or home baked goodies! Move through the complex and you will find quilts and rifles being raffled along with a rural carnival atmosphere. The center piece of this fund raiser is the Sunday afternoon auction, items are on display and a list of contributors cover the wall. After the Saturday morning sausage making, if you slip behind the Hall you will find the men gathered around giant barbecue pits and kegs of beer. They will reward themselves on a job well done by eating ribs and imbibing in spirits. These large pits will do double duty through the day, as then men will eat and then following Saturday Mass everyone will converge. Brisket is the mainstay of the Sunday meal and they will go on Saturday night. Sunday morning will find the air permeated with the aroma of meal preparations. Sunday afternoon after the auction, barbecue sandwiches will be sold and most years a dance will end the festivities late Sunday night. This year however, ther will be no dance. Then recuperation and preparations for the 2005 Festival will begin! FYI, the St. Lawrence community is located on FM2401 between Highway 137 and Highway 33 and can be accessed from State Highway 137 (going south from Highway 158) or from Highway 33 traveling south from Highway 87, 42 miles southwest of Big Spring, 43 miles southeast of Midland, 44 miles north of Big Lake.

FATHER, I ask YOUR blessing on the marriage retreat, on the LTH conference, and on the Fall Festival. I pray for their success. Bless the efforts being made in each endeavor. I pray for safe travel for those working and those patronizing these activities. I ask special blessings on those who are called to serve others. FATHER, I would ask that YOU keep us centered in YOU, help us to work toward a higher goal. Bless us, surround us, fill us with YOU and YOUR spirit. I pray for the healing of Rene', Carol, Michelle and Aimee. I continue to ask YOUR intervention for R2D2, work YOUR plan FATHER. I pray for the special needs of our spiritual family. I pray for Kathy and ask YOUR comfort for her in the loss of her husband. I pray for those suffering loss from the hurricane season. Bless the relief efforts, speed them. FATHER, help us to realize how frail and delicate this life is, help us to use each day to its maximum and help us to use this life as a stepping stone to pursue life everlasting with YOU. Thank YOU FATHER, for YOUR love, for YOUR mercy and YOUR grace! To YOU be the GLORY!