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.