Countdown at twenty days and all systems are not go!

My Monday was spent primarily on the telephone. For the most part it was a good day. I picked up lunch and shared it with Krl at her desk so that was a highlight. Things are slowly coming together. The biggest hurdle right now is updating a forklift. For several years I have been working with the same supplier and the same salesman. I have bought equipment from them and I have leased equipment from them. Use to be the benefits were to own the equipment. I would buy a new machine every year and rotate them down the work chain. Then my salesman wanted me to look at their new leasing program. Fully deductible, no maintenance and twenty-four hour emergency service. Sounded good didn't it. When it came to maintenance they put it all off on me. They would send any parts I needed but the technician never showed up. Of course sometimes it took the parts three days to make the trek from Houston. Last year they increased their leasing fee by forty-one per cent. This year my salesman was not very prompt in getting their pricing to me. When I told him it was getting to a critical point in the time frame he sent their pricing along with his apologies. The reason he was not prompt was that he had been arguing about their new pricing with his superiors. They have increased their lease fee by two-hundred per cent (on top of the forty-one per cent last year)! Hello! Why not just buy and pay cash! One of the things I really liked was that this manufacturer was a domestic company! Hello imports! It seems the old company's management has been restructured and now the West Texas locations are under the umbrella of Houston and Dallas. It would appear either the populated areas are not competitive or they are all greedy. Business is good!

Today I will concentrate on sub-contractors! Wish me luck!

FATHER, thank YOU for bringing it all together. FATHER I pray that YOU will always keep me fair in my dealings. Help me to be fair in my offering of compensation, help me to never ask anyone to do something I cannot do or that I am not willing to do. Help me to be effective in my staffing. Please give me new direction as I fill the equipment needs. FATHER, the weather has been so volatile in some areas the last few days, I ask that YOU keep the beautiful crops from harm and allow the farmers to bring them to harvest. I continue to ask YOUR blessing on Rene', Carol, Michelle and Aimee. Bless those in our church family who have needs and issues. May this day be blessed and may it bring glory to YOU!

My eye lids wanted to get a jump on the day! I suppose my brain did not tell my internal alarm clock that we didn't need to get up at three. I am trainable. Give me two or three days of the same scheduling and I can get in a groove! Doing the can can thing is behind me, at least for a while. My friend tells me that as soon as I finish at St. Lawrence he wants me back. This tells me either (a) I did a good job or (b) I worked cheap or (c) a combination of a and b. My friend has a lot on his plate this coming fall. He is a seasonal manager for a local cooperative, he has his can contract, he has the contract for moving seed, bales, and burrs at the coop gin, and also the ever present move of coke products. We talked for a while yesterday and it makes me wonder how happy he is with where his life and his business have gone. He told me that this isn't what he really wants to do but with a young family he feels putting down some roots necessary. We discussed different views on business, higher fixed cost with no variable costs no surprises, lower fixed costs with many variables many surprises. One man's pain, the other man's relief.

It has been an interesting month. I spent the majority of it on the road between Abilene and Fort Worth. The majority of the road time was in a baby blue Peterbilt. This was really kind of fun. It has been years since I have driven a big rig much. I have decided though that we all are idiots! The things I have observed while going down the road or while sitting in a traffic jam. I have seen anything from people reading the newspaper to reading a hard back book, from being on their palm pilot to having their lap top set up on the console or seat beside them, the ever present cell phone, putting on makeup (even doing the eyeliner or mascara), tying a neck tie, and of course eating fast food ......... in the fast lane. All this done while traveling over seventy miles an hour! Some people have everything down to the minute or second, taking advantage of every traffic snag to dress on the way to work or on the way home, to get undressed. If we have done any of the above or if we have shared the roadways with people doing any of the above, we are idiots indeed!

Today preparations begin in earnest for the St. Lawrence transition. So much to do and so little time to do it. It seems odd that it is all hurry preparing to go to a high pressure job in a laid back community. I look forward to the people, I don't look forward to the long hours of work. But I do like to eat, I like to stay dry when it rains or snows and I like to keep cool when it is hot and warm when it is cold, so I am thankful for the work opportunity!

FATHER, I sure feel scatter brained! Please help me pull it together! I ask YOUR blessings on my efforts as I begin fitting the pieces together. I thank YOU for the safe travel and safe work the past month, I ask the same of YOU for the upcoming work. I ask YOUR guidance and council in choosing suppliers, employees, and sub-contractors. Help me and my team to do good work worthy of the confidence and trust of those that enlisted us. FATHER be with KRL and I as we transition through this time apart. Bless KRL as she deals with her work issues, help me to know how to help her. I continue to ask YOUR blessings on Rene', Carol, Michelle, and Aimee. I continue to ask YOUR healing of them all. I also pray for those in our church family who are ill or hurting, bless them all, comfort them. I ask that YOU lift me, boost me, energize me. Fill me with YOUR spirit. For YOUR love FATHER, I am thankful!

Sunday. I made the first service at Highland. It was a good service! Charles Mattis led and did a very very good job. It was an upbeat, quick moving service. Cope is still doing his Jonah series. Today he talked of the whale. He knows it was a whale because he saw pictures of it when he was a kid! (Even though the passage reads a great fish!). Charles offered his testimony of being lost at sea. Class was pretty good. Terry lacks one more Sunday and his stint will be up teaching. Class attendance wasn't too good. It seems to cycle!

I didn't do the store deal yesterday so when I got home I got the list and a check and went straightway to finish this weekend chore. I did very well! It has helped that they have had some pretty good ten for a dollar deals. I wasn't very domesticated today. I didn't take one single coupon to the store with me! Thank goodness we didn't need dog food or cleaning supplies today!

I am through helping my friend with the can contract. I am down to three weeks to Fall contract and I have much to do to put everything in place! I have a battle raging within. This is one of those years that I can't seem to get hyped to go out there. It is very odd because usually I enjoy a big year more than I enjoy a poor year. I know once I get there and get in the groove it will be O.K., but it is the getting there that is tough. I have been in the dog house for the last couple of days. Some things I do just aren't done good enough. I mowed Tuesday and KRL is mowing today so go figure! I am observing though. Let the record show I mowed clockwise. (If that matters).

FATHER please fine tune my emotional roller coaster. There is so much going on and I am doing my best but I need YOU to take control! Do YOUR thing! FATHER I continue to ask YOUR blessing of healing for Rene', Carol, Michelle, and Aimee. I ask a special blessing for Gywneth Curtis. FATHER there are many in our church family that are sick or hurting. I pray YOU will fill their needs. Be with the leaders of Highland, guide them, direct them. Bless Uncle Jess, Little Scottye, and Gran Warton, I ask YOUR watch and care over them. YOU have been good to me LORD.

Jesus
Alpha and Omega
Immanuel
King of Kings
Light of the World
Morning Star
Prince of Peace
Wonderful
Counselor
Lamb of God
Savior of the World
The Good Shepherd
The Way
Lord of Lords
Anointed One
Bread of Life
Chief Cornerstone
Great High Priest
Heir of All Things
Holy and Righteous One
Lord of Glory
Messiah
Teacher
The Most Holy
The Truth
Word of God

So much to so many!

FATHER forgive me when I spaz out about the demands on me. Help me to seize the opportunity to surrender my day, my week, my life to YOU and allow YOU to work through me! Use me! I continue to ask YOUR blessings on Rene', Carol, Michelle, and Aimee. I ask for your healing for them. Be with those who have experienced loss or voids in their lives. Comfort them. YOU are my all in all!

PPPPPpppppppffffffffssssssssstttttttt! FATHER, I am spent! What a week!

I am so tired. I am so worn out! I am so thankful that YOU GOD carried me because it wasn't an option for me alone!

I have decided if we are going to do a wish list for Abilene and Mike got to go first I had better catchup! Dear Department of Transportation, If Mike gets his wish for Mr. Barnes and Mr. Nobles to come to Abilene, can we honor them with a HOV lane on the "new and improved Winters Freeway!"

FATHER, I pray for Rene', Carol, Michelle, and Aimee, I ask that you continue to bless them with YOUR healing. Rest me well, rest me quickly! Let me draw from YOUR strength!

I was telling Rian that the stripes on the "new and improved Winters Freeway" are from Hewlett/Packard. They are half black and half white and look like the test pattern when you align an ink cartridge! If I were to get a ticket I would definitely fight it. I can imagine my attorney asking the officer which was the closest match a or b, b or c. 1 or 2. Now with three lanes each direction to watch I figure we can confuse them!

I have a confession. I messed up, but it is my favorite kind of screw up! I went through the entire day thinking it was Wednesday and on the way home I found out it was Thursday! YES!

FATHER. thank YOU for accelerating my week! I needed that! YOU have carried me so far and I find myself asking YOU to do it for one more day! FATHER bless my prayer concerns. Heal Rene', Carol, Michelle, and Aimee. Be with those who are sad and heavy laden. Bless the leaders of Highland. Bless our efforts. FATHER, YOU are my GOD!

If you aren't moving forward you are going backward!

Progress. Civilization. Abilene, Texas! I am so thankful that the contractor doing the work on the Winters Freeway is rationing our introduction to the multi-lane roadway! I would hate to think if they just opened up all six lanes and everyone overdosed and got where they were going before they were ready to get there! I am thinking of asking Krl for one of those orange plastic barrels for Christmas just so I feel like I am in familiar surroundings! A couple of final notes on the freeway project. I loved the billboards that used to say "Abilene, Texas-home of the fifteen minute rush hour!" Since we have increased the freeway capacity by half again, are we now home to the seven and a half minute rush hour? We are now going to have one of those signs every metropolis covets, Right lane must exit! Speed on fellow Abileneans!

I got the inside story on what happened yesterday when all those can shipments were cancelled. It seems that the man in charge of production scheduling took the order and completely forgot to put it on the production schedule! Coke got them shipped from the warehouse of Crown Cork and Seal in Conroe.

Today was a busy day. It started off rough, everything that could go wrong did! I was leaving Abilene at five this morning and it ended up being six-thirty instead. My friend has another employee who is having some health issues so this week I am trying to belly up to the bar and do all I can in order to free up my friend to cover for his other employee.

FATHER thank YOU for the day and its blessings! Thank YOU for taking control and making my day! FATHER I continue to lift up Rene', Carol, Michelle, and Aimee for YOUR care and healing. Bless them and comfort them. FATHER, YOU are a mighty and powerful GOD and all that has been and is and will be comes through YOU! All praise, all glory, all honor is YOURS!

Surprise surprise surprise! Shout it out Gomer!

I was counting on a short Tuesday. I was scheduled to work this afternoon. I got to sleep in, got up, got all the lawn equipment out, took my time to let the dew dissipate and I finished the lawn just in time to get a shower, get my things together and head to work on schedule. Just as I was getting into the shower my cell phone went off and the entire work afternoon was cancelled by Coke. I don't know if they are having production problems or just what but they cancelled delivery on about one and a quarter million cans. We have been trying to transport all the summer promo cans this week. If Six Flags or Hurricane Harbor are closed it does little good to have a Coke can promoting reduced price admittance. We go back on line beginning with the one o'clock delivery Wednesday morning.

I am kind of glad I got the yard out of the way. I have been needing to trim shrubs so I will do them on my Saturday Lawn day! I have lots to do. I am now under four weeks to being on the jobsite at St. Lawrence.

I had a call from Ollie on Sunday. (For those of you who don't know, Ollie is my youngest daughter Merrit. The nickname stems from her olive skin). Ollie lives in Lubbock, she attends LCU, she is a Real Estate Agent with enough letters after her name to use the entire alphabet. More importantly she is the baby and she is the only kiddo who is not married. She is known as Auntie "M" to the nieces and nephew. This is a young woman who has always said she has no intention of ever getting married. She is capable of making it on her own. The only time she is interested in a male is when she goes to a function requiring an escort! O.K.. This weekend Ollie is bringing a guy to meet me......... Whaz up wid dis?

Rian celebrated his twenty-seventh birthday Monday! Happy birthday! May God bless you with many more! Maybe Erica and Reidman will give you a treat and let you ride in the wagon for at least a part of your family's evening walk.

I hate to start the fall job tired and short tempered. I am beginning to get frustrated with some of my suppliers. I guess their business is so good that they don't have to perform. I have been waiting going on two weeks for some quotes. I have called and the sales people say they are on a sales call and as soon as they return to the office they will fax over their proposal. I am wondering how many opportunities to give them or if I should just work my way up the food chain and if they get in trouble so be it!

FATHER thank YOU for the day off! Help me to use it wisely. FATHER help me to work within my capabilities and allow YOU to work though me. FATHER I am heavy hearted, I don't quite know why. Maybe I am looking too far down the road, help me to maintain focus and objective. Lift me, energize me, boost me. I continue to ask YOUR blessing on Rene', Carol, Michelle and Aimee. Please heal them FATHER. Bless all those who are sad and heavy laden. YOU are supreme, let YOUR blessings flow!

Whew! Long Monday! Short Tuesday on tap!

Regardless of where this week goes it had a very blessed start! Sunday church was SUPER! Steven Moore was the worship leader and his praise team was outstanding. Lots of young voices pitching in and it was really really exceptional. I love the bubbling enthusiasm that Steven brings to worship. I am so jealous that he just overflows. I have always been an extremely private person. I was hurt very deeply at a young age (my granddads passing) and I guess I have become hardened in the public show of emotion!

It seemed everyone fed off of Stevens bubbling! Mike contracted it by osmosis and did his usual outstanding job of presenting his lesson. Jonah. Our feeble attempts to hide from God and or run away!

FATHER, thank YOU for the day and its bountiful blessings! Thank YOU for the safe day. FATHER I continue to ask YOUR healing for Rene', Carol, Michelle, and Aimee. Bless them. FATHER be with those who grieve in their loss and help them to realize their loved one's gain!
Surround us FATHER. Consume us. Use us!

Sunday! One more day to Monday. Two more Mondays, get the next one off!

This is a different Sunday for me. A friend asked me if I would help him move his engine shop today. It is the only day of the week they are closed. We struck a deal. They are going to get pallet jacks and forklifts in place beginning at seven this morning. I told them I would go to early church service and then I would be there with bells on.

It appears that this week may be my last week for the filler job. It has been an interesting job of numbers. My friend recently was awarded a contract by Coca-Cola to move new empty aluminum cans from Crown in Abilene to Coke (for filling) in Fort Worth. My friend knew I was looking for something to fill the space prior to my fall contract and we struck a deal. He told me I might be in the office, I might be in a truck, I might be smoothing a problem, I might just be making sure everything worked on time. Everything is time sensitive, Coke doesn't want too many cans but if their line runs out it is a monetary penalty/per minute! The first week we moved about eight-million three hundred thousand cans, the second week the same amount. The third week we moved ten-million eight-hundred-thousand five-hundred and eighty seven cans. This week we are scheduled to move in excess of thirteen million cans! They tell us we are on the down side of peak demand for summer but we are building for the Labor Day Holiday. Amazing! I am a Diet Coke-aholic but I never thought about the numbers. A couple of interesting notes: a full truckload of cans is two-hundred-twenty-thousand five-hundred-sixty three weighing slightly over five thousand pounds. A single pallet count is just over eight thousand cans and if you could get a handle on it one person could pick it up! I can watch the production line and just shake my head as cans go every direction. I am not sure what the current one day production record manufacturing cans at the Abilene plant is but last I knew it was four point two million in twenty-four hours! I get this vision of Lucy and Ethyl in the candy plant in an old "I Love Lucy" show!

I had a weak moment yesterday and bit the bullet. I was out doing Saturday errands and got on my cell phone and made an offer on an upgraded travel trailer for when I go out on my next contract! This is one of those cases where I will live there for the financier! I am thrilled. I would actually have central heat (again) and much much more room! Now I find myself not looking forward to cleaning out my old trailer. I bet there are some winter clothes that have resided in that trailer for ten years! I sure hope this is a case where in retrospect I look back and GOD led me to do this instead of "the devil made me do it"! I got a feeling GOD will do his part to help pay for it where the devil would get flush "next week"!

FATHER thank YOU for all YOU do! I ask for a blessed day, a blessed week. I ask for a safe day and week! I ask for YOUR presence in my day and week. Keep me centered. FATHER I continue to lift up Rene', Carol, Michelle and Aimee for YOUR healing and comfort. Send YOUR angels, surround us. This is the day that YOU have made! May it bring GLORY to YOU!

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!

The best laid plans of mice and men...........

My day started as planned. An early quick trip to Fort Worth. The first inclination of things going awry was in Fort Worth. I was wearing hiking boots, bailed out of my truck and filled the left one with water. Having grown up on the farm I will never complain about rain in Texas, however this will not keep me quiet about squishy, wet shoes and a chill very uncommon for Texas in August. It seemed to take an eternity to get home to Abilene. By the time I arrived at the house I just wanted to get those wet shoes and socks off and take a hot bath!

My plan had been to do weekend chores today and late tomorrow, but the rain reduced the possibility list considerably! I was going to round up some equipment for a friend's weekend project but he took a spur of the moment trip to Oklahoma so I did nothing, but I did it very well!

I hope to go to St. Lawrence tomorrow, visit with the General Manager and some of my friends there and try to create a time table for being in place at the jobsite. While I am on the road tomorrow watch out for me because I will probably be on the cell phone!

We got a report today that Rene' Baxter is not doing well in her treatment. As some of you know this is her third bout with breast cancer or cancers associated with breast cancer. She has fought so bravely. Sometimes it is difficult to comprehend why GOD's plan for some includes disease and suffering. It is difficult to do but we must turn all of this over to GOD to see his plan through. It's about seizing the opportunity to surrender it all to him!

FATHER, I thank YOU for the safe day. I thank YOU for a good week, when I have stumbled you have rescued me, when I have been tired and heavy laden YOU have lifted me and carried me. Thank YOU! Father while the reports on Aimee are good I continue to pray for her. FATHER I ask a very special blessing on Rene', bless her, comfort her, I lift her up to YOU for YOUR healing. FATHER I ask for YOUR gift of healing for Carol, and Michelle. I also ask YOUR watch and care for Ronnie Helm as he recovers from heart surgery. Bless them all. FATHER, be with the leaders of Highland as they chart our trek for YOUR Higher ground! Let YOUR Glory fill the earth!

Hump day! Yea! Wednesday's are my favorite middle day of the week!

Actually I have only Thursday and my Friday is loose. I am going to Fort Worth in the morning. I should be back by noon and then it will be the lawn or some weekend chores to get out of the way. I am actually hoping to go to St. Lawrence for part of Friday. I want to lay my eyes on the prospects for the fall contract! The reports are good. I guess I am a pessimist and want to see for myself. I have lots of things hanging in the balance. Equipment concerns, housing concerns, and of course personnel concerns.

I am having a D cell week and I feel like my power source (GOD connection) is only a C cell connection! Help me out! I can use all the encouragement I can get! Pray for me! Cheer for me! Summon Angels for me! I'll take it all!

FATHER surround me with YOU! We got the report today that Aimee's Doctor will not her attend public school this year. Too many immune system issues. FATHER we can deal with this as long as YOU take control of her body and blood system! We thank YOU for her healing! We continue to ask the healing of Rene', Carol, and Michelle. Bless them all. Be with my day tomorrow, make it YOURS! The glory is YOURS!

This will be short!

I have always disliked tests! It has been years since I was in school but I find myself tested occasionally and yesterday was one of those. GOD decided it was time for a "pop quiz", and while I did better than the last time I know I am not satisfied and that GOD probably is glad that I am not satisfied.

The wheels came off my day just when it turned on the home stretch. It ended up making my day super long and late but thankfully my friend who I am working with granted me a reprieve. I don't have to be in until about lunch.

Reidman is puny, all the phillies are still thrilled with school, and all the mom's and dad's are trying to hit their stride "post start of school".

FATHER I continue to ask YOUR blessings on Aimee, Rene', Carol, and Michelle. Heal them, comfort them. Bless Charles and Shelly. Please bless my day! Engulf me FATHER!

Highland yesterday was on point. It was Higher Ground! I think everyone looks forward to the return of "the swallows"! Back to two services, which I prefer the early one. An abundance of college students returning. Ryan's last Sunday as a worship leader at Highland. Mike's return from his sabbatical.

One word! Wow! I love the song service when the house is filled with young vibrant exuberant voices. It was a blessing just to have been there! Ryan did his usual all out in leading. Krl is going to really miss him! He was her favorite! I can imagine a vacation that we have talked about. It wasn't scheduling Disney World or the such. It was talk of making it a point to be in Nashville for Sunday at Otter Creek. Now Krl may make it a point to be in Memphis at Highland Street on another Sunday! Maybe we are maturing as Christians when we start planning vacations with churches we want to visit!

Mike was on. It was very emotional, it was very powerful. Mike Cope would not be the man he is today if GOD had not blessed him and his family with Megan. I can only imagine the frustration, the trials and challenges of a handicapped child but then we must always remember GOD is in control working his plan. If anything I think Megan made Mike more "GOD Like". I love to hear Mike use Megan in his lessons. I appreciate his sharing when it might be easier to keep it private. My favorite Megan story is when Mike was babysitting and Megan got into the coffee beans! Priceless! Mike is human! Emotion is O.K..

FATHER, thank YOU for Sunday's like yesterday! Bless Mike and his family, bless Ryan as he ventures out. Bless all of those who were dropped off at school or were dropping off students. May this school year be blessed! I ask YOUR continued blessing for Aimee, Rene', Carol and Michelle. Be with Ronnie as he recuperates from his surgery. Heal them all FATHER! Fill us with YOUR spirit!

What a day what a day! We went to Lubbock for Reidman's first birthday celebration. We rolled out from the house about nine fifty. Headed for Lenscrafters to have Krl's spectacles repaired, they were backed up already, or they had two left over from last evening! Finally we just hit the road throwing caution to the wind and the pieces of Krl's eye glasses in the glove box! We arrived in Lubbock with sufficient time to eat lunch and yet be fashionably early to the party! (You got to get the jump on the other grandparents!). It was an enjoyable time! Homemade ice cream and an assortment of cake combinations. Several kids to help Reid figure out this gift opening thing, and lots of family and good friends to join in the celebration! By the way, Meme and Dandy gave Reid an authentic Radio Flyer Red Wagon!

We made a day of it. We went and looked at some equipment that is going on my next contract, made a few suggestions, met with a potential employee and looked at possibly upgrading my travel trailer! Yea! The trailer we looked at had a washer and dryer! I got to figuring how much savings I would have by not going to the Laundromat and at fifteen dollars a week it would take a really long time for this trailer to pay for itself! We may need some divine guidance on this! I am excited about the possibility! The heater has not worked in my trailer for about six or seven years. Thank Walmart for ceramic forced air heaters.

One of the highlights of the day was Aimee Harris and her family attended Reid's party. As many of you know Aimee had been diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia and her prognosis was not good. They gave her a round of HTG treatments in hopes her body would start producing blood cells again and we have anxiously waited for two months to find out if it is working. She has endured numerous platelet transfusions and has had a lot on her plate for a four year old. We got word that her body has indeed responded to the treatments! Thank YOU GOD! She may have to have some more platelets until her body comes totally up to speed but they felt so good that they removed her shunts! What a wonderful day! She is getting ready to celebrate her fifth birthday. She will find out Monday if she can attend public school or if she has to be home schooled this year due immune system concerns!

FATHER thank YOU for a really good day! Thank YOU for the safe travel! I ask that YOU bless Reid with many more happy birthdays! FATHER thank YOU for blessing Aimee, for her good reports. I ask that YOU continue to bless her with YOUR miracle of healing! I ask that YOU bless Rene', Carol, and Michelle with YOUR miracle of healing as well. I am in awe of YOUR majesty! Thank YOU FATHER!

Yesterday was not a good day. Today I find myself holding carrots in front of me so I can chase them. While I look forward to seeing Reid I find myself dreading the trek up there and back. Throw in the fact that I am seriously considering resigning as "Dandy" to two of the granddaughters and you know this day could be quite volatile.

I refuse to be a convenience. "Sure, we want to go to Lubbock to Reid's party (unless something else comes along that we would rather do)!" Scheduling is done to maintain order and planning. This sword is going to cut both ways. I do not intend to be an option any longer. We will continue on with the willing participants while the fickle pair view our activities from the outside looking in! Justice! When I finally get mad I am mad all over and when my mind is made up it is made up! I am feeling better already!

FATHER, I continue to ask for YOUR healing for Aimee, Rene', Carol and Michelle. Bless them and comfort them. FATHER, take my day, mold it and make it.

Whew! I like the added time off but when you concentrate a week into half the time is it worth it?

My tail is dragging! Next week we flop and add another day. Conditioning, conditioning! While physically demanding it has been almost fun. I get to enjoy being a peon! Actually I find the "just" part a little difficult. I see something and try to handle it or give a heads up. I guess it is habit.

Today is a special day. Reid is celebrating (O.K., Reid isn't but all his kin are) his first birthday! Reid could probably care less! Reid is just a happy go lucky kind of guy who is so full of himself! He is adorable! I think back to last year when he was born and there was such a mob waiting to meet him I am surprised he didn't return to the womb to hide. His Mom had some complications but thankfully all are doing great! Rian and Erica have elected to throw a party tomorrow, Rian told me they had invited forty family members! Krl and I will leave about eleven in the morning and make the drive. If things go according to plan we will have all the grandchildren together for just the second time! Lauren, Ellen, and Kat are riding up with us while Addie is riding up with Kali. It should be an interesting outing!

Milestones! All the granddaughters will be in school for the first time. Reid, the one and only grandson celebrates his first birthday.

I often wonder what they will experience in their lifetimes. What difficulties, challenges, defeats and victories will they endure and enjoy. I worry. I sometimes think the most difficult part of being a parent or grandparent is watching your off-spring make their way. Often times the spoken word is not enough to deter, some lessons must be learned the hard way. I only hope that as the kids get older I continue to get smarter.

FATHER thank YOU for it all. Bless Reid on his birthday, I pray for many more! I thank YOU for the safe week and I ask for safe passage for all traveling to Lubbock tomorrow. FATHER, bless all the kids, and the grandchildren, be with them as they start a new school year. Be with Kat and Addie as they begin their schooling, be with Ellen as she begins middle school, be with Lauren as she returns to AHS, and be with Reid as he begins new day care! FATHER surround them and protect them with YOUR angels! Draw them to YOU and YOUR purpose! I continue to ask YOUR miracle of healing for Aimee, Rene', Carol, and Michelle. Bless them and comfort them. Bless Charles and Shelly and their efforts to rebuild. I am thankful YOU are a powerful and mighty GOD because YOUR plate is full. YOU are my GOD! There is none other.

Busy, busy! Be careful what you wish for! While I have started enjoying my drive time this is ridiculous! I have already been to the metroplex four times this week and it looks like probably two more times before the weekend!

Things are hopping! I've got lots to share but it may be slow in coming! I am sooo tired! It is after ten this evening and I have just had dinner and still need to get a bath! Pray for me! Cheer me on!

FATHER I continue to ask for YOUR miracle of healing for Aimee, Rene', Carol, and Michelle. Bless them, surround them! Send more Angels FATHER! You are my GOD!

I haven't been very diligent in my blogging lately. Sorry! This part time gig is kind of throwing me off.

I returned to the Peach and Melon Festival Saturday night and stayed there until the wee hours Sunday. I think by the time I got home, unwound, cleaned up and got to bed it was four am.. I have not set an alarm in forever unless it is for two or three in the morning but I should have. I guess my week caught up with me, when I looked at the clock it was eleven thirty! Shazam!

We had a good weekend. I enjoyed getting to visit with many friends and acquaintances.

I am off today. Then I am scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and then off for the weekend. I guess I will move my Saturday to Friday again as we are planning on going to Lubbock for Reid's first birthday! Unless something changes I will be spending a lot of time on the road again. I did get an inkling that I may spend time in the office this week. I kind of like to be on the road. I usually don't even turn the radio on, but I probably look like an idiot as I sing and talk and pray. It has gotten where I really look forward to this concentrated GOD time!

I am using today to put equipment together for the upcoming contract. I am trying to get a quote on a new Manitou forklift. I plan on trying to go with less equipment, two forklifts instead of three, probably ten trucks and sixteen or seventeen trailers. Next step will be to put warm bodies in place. I guess I will be looking for about twenty or twenty-one people that want to work, don't mind long hours, like lots of overtime and work well with others. I really wish I had about three contracts like this a year. I would vacation the remainder of the year and retire early!

FATHER, bless my efforts as I plan for my upcoming contract. I pray that YOU will lead good people to me to fill my job openings. FATHER help me to be a good overseer, fair in my compensation offering, free with my compliments and gentle in my scoldings. Keep me centered and tethered in YOU. FATHER I continue to ask YOUR healing for Aimee, Rene', Carol, and Michelle. Bless them, surround them with YOU. Bless this week LORD!

I am currently trying to deal with a crisis among friends. I have two long time associations who go back even farther. They have been friends since childhood. Over the last few months a friendly rivalry has escalated to the point of an all out war. They have stopped talking except when they have recalled some item they have loaned the other which was not returned! It is childish snipping which has escalated to the point of "bring on the big dogs!". I find myself constantly pressured to take one side or the other. I currently maintain both friendships and both business relationships and I have expressed no desire or intent to get off the fence. Oh for the good old days!

Summer is over except for the shouting! When you see those school supplies and hear the news talking about the tax free weekend shopping in conjunction with sports stories concerning Texas High School Football you need to look out for the "yellow dog" buses. Where did all the summer go!

FATHER, thank YOU for everything! This world YOU created is so magnificent, the warm sunshine, the cooling rains, the changing seasons, all indicators that YOU are indeed good, and a mighty and powerful GOD! YOU are in control, lead us on! FATHER, I ask YOUR blessings on all the students and teachers as they return to the classrooms. FATHER help them all to give their best efforts. FATHER help all of us to realize that everyday we can teach CHRIST through the lives we lead. Keep us centered. FATHER I continue to ask YOUR blessings upon Aimee Harris, Rene' Baxter, Carol Pickett and Michelle Allen. I ask YOUR gift of healing for them. Bless my friends as they hopefully work through their problems. I continue to ask YOUR blessings on Charles and Shelly as they put their relationship back together. Fill us FATHER for YOUR purpose.

Well as you can tell my leave from blogging became prolonged. I guess I was blog blocked!

Actually I have been burning the candle at both ends and just haven't had the time or energy to sit down at the computer. My filler job was flat, but now it has been busy busy! I left Abilene and went to Fort Worth Tuesday morning. I got there about seven thirty. I returned to Abilene by noon only to go back to Fort Worth about one Tuesday afternoon and returned late Tuesday night. Then Wednesday morning I left Abilene about five thirty and went back to Fort Worth and got home to Abilene about lunch time. Thursday I left at six and went back to, yep, Fort Worth, returned to Abilene about one, met up with some friends and went to De Leon for the Peach and Melon Festival. This event is probably bigger than Homecoming for this community!

I am trying to beg off going to De Leon again tonight. I don't think I will have a choice tomorrow. Friends have an established tradition of the final day of the festival they car caravan to Strawn to Mary's restaurant and treat all members of their car caravan to Texas's largest chicken fried steak! It is huge! It will hang off a platter which it occupies by itself. All the trimmings arrive on their own plate. Usually they will make it a point to take one rookie with them so everyone can poke fun at them when they can't consume their meal! Most veterans will order a half order while the women might even order a quarter order!

We await word from Aimee's bone marrow tests. These will indicate if the HTG treatments are working.

I continue to lift up Aimee, Rene', Carol, and Michelle, for YOUR gift of healing. I ask YOUR blessings upon them and also upon Charles and Shelly. Bless us Lord, keep us, guide us.

As you noticed I took yesterday off from blogging. My mind was bloggled!

I made the church and Sunday school scene. Krl slept in again. I told her only one more Sunday and we can get up and go to the early service! Cope was gone so there was a stand in. The message was good but the delivery was lacking. Sunday school was very emotional. A couple had a prayer request for their marriage. The class was a very good example of Christianity in action. They shared their story and tears with the class. Kurt lead the class in a prayer on their behalf. I know they will be at the forefront of everyone's prayer list this week.

My filler job has become flat. I guess I need to shake the trees and rake the leaves and see if there is something else that I might do until my contract starts.

Lots going on in my mind.....my pea brain is on fast forward!

Father, bless this week. Take control. I continue to ask your healing for Aimee, Rene', Carol and Michelle. Bless this SS couple as they try to regain what they had. YOU are good.