Saturday. Wonderful, merciful day. Thanks, I needed one!

This past week was a full one. It was hard, but productive. My biggest fear is that once again I will stay true to form and work myself out of a job. That would be tough because my next one isn't lined up until September.

For the first time I sat down with one of the owners and discussed where the business appears to be, what changes need to be implemented to streamline the operation and maximize income while minimizing expenses, and what direction they need to be pointed. While we are still in early stages of digging through the business, it was a very flattering meeting for me. The owner vocalized his hope that somewhere down the road I would be content to stay with his business year round, long term. Wow, isn't it nice to have options. We also talked about a new opportunity that has surfaced since I began my work for him. It would be seasonal work but would fit quite well with our other work.

My goal this weekend is to do some resting up, get some honey "do(s)" done, pick up Kat so we can do the sleep over, church deal, and late Saturday we are supposed to go to Addie's birthday swim party! I have just a handful of projects to do, I have some 941 figures to pass on to a business and outside of that, all I need to do is call and put the STL Direct TV on vacation.

The report I received yesterday on Rene' is not good. They moved her into hospice. It seems that all the cells they had drawn earlier in the week were malignant. Health care workers believe it could be as quick as five minutes or as long as four or five days before the cancer takes her. She only has about fifty percent of one lung that is functional, her respiration has become very rapid and very shallow. If I have my days right, they moved her into hospice on Thursday, which happened to be Rene's forty-fourth birthday. Once the move to hospice was completed a cake surfaced and they had a birthday party and sang to her. My report is that she was lucid for a good portion of the day and her son and daughter along with their dad (Rene's former husband), Tim, spent the majority of the day at her bed side. I think a lot of emotional healing probably took place between Rene' and Tim as their relationship had become very bitter at times after they split up. It amazes me how trivial some things seem in comparison to life.

Billie Ruth and Otis (Rene's mom and dad) are having a very difficult time. Aunt Melba went to be with them at Billie's request and late Thursday Maretha (another sister of Billie's) went there.

I have lost classmates but I have never lost a relative close to my age. It bothers me more than I would like to admit. I don't do funerals very well, I think I have attended two in the past five years. I think that is probably why Krl and I have a pact if something happens to either one of us, the other knows what to do. I prefer to think of good memories. While I am very aware of what is transpiring three and a half hours to the east of Abilene, when I visualize Rene' I see the tall, slender, dark haired woman at our family reunion last year. She was aware of the cancer's return, but we laughed and had fun all through the auction and other reunion events. At the close of the family church service the business meeting ensued and at the conclusion of the meeting Billie and Otis had Rene' stand with them in front of the family group and they announced the return of Rene's cancer and her plans to begin treatment. Her Dad led the family in prayer on her behalf. My last words to Rene' were accompanied by a hug as I told her, "You will be in my prayers". I don't believe in unanswered prayers. I think sometimes we don't understand why GOD answers them as he does. I wouldn't want GOD's job. It has to be hard.

We read of a place that's called heaven,
It's made for the pure and the free;
These truths in God's word he has given,
How beautiful heaven must be.

How beautiful heaven must be (must be)
Sweet home of the happy and free;
Fair haven of rest for the weary,
How beautiful heaven must be.

The angels so sweetly are singing,
Up there by the beautiful sea;
Sweet chords from their gold harps are ringing,
How beautiful heaven must be.

How beautiful heaven must be (must be)
Sweet home of the happy and free;
Fair haven of rest for the weary,
How beautiful heaven must be.

Pure waters of life there are flowing
And all who will drink may be free;
Rare jewels of splendor are glowing,
How beautiful heaven must be.

How beautiful heaven must be (must be)
Sweet home of the happy and free;
Fair haven of rest for the weary,
How beautiful heaven must be.

In heaven no drooping nor pining,
No wishing for elsewhere to be;
God's light is forever there shining,
How beautiful heaven must be.

How beautiful heaven must be (must be)
Sweet home of the happy and free;
Fair haven of rest for the weary,
How beautiful heaven must be.

(HOW BEAUTIFUL HEAVEN MUST BE, hymn by Rev. A. S. Bridgewater).

FATHER we love YOU. We worship YOU, we adore YOU. There is none other than YOU. We are weak and needful. Without YOU our efforts are futile. We pray that YOUR purpose will become our purpose and YOUR ways will become our ways. Allow us to pour ourselves out at YOUR feet to be filled with YOUR spirit. FATHER many prayers continue to be lifted for Rene'. We join in this number. FATHER we pray for her health, but we also pray that YOUR will be done. We ask that YOU caress her softly in the folds of YOUR love, YOUR mercy, and YOUR grace. We pray for her comfort as well as the comfort of her children, parents, and extended family. FATHER, there are many others that are in need of YOUR healing too, we pray for them, we pray for the health care givers, we pray for all the families. We pray for those in spiritual need. We pray that YOU will heal our hearts. We pray for those hurting from loss. We ask YOUR comfort for them. We pray for our spiritual family, for our leaders. We believe in angels.