Finally Friday was quite the day.

It was a slow day at work. It seemed like I had to continually look for something to do. For most of the morning I was the only one there so I kept busy answering the phone. About one-thirty I received a call from Krl telling me that the storage company that houses the RV that my fall employer has leased for me, called needing me to come by. Not a good omen.

When I began looking for a storage facility I had a short list of requirements. (1) security, (2)protection from the weather, (3) accessibility, and (4) security. Did I mention security? When I made my recommendation I felt really good. The particular facility I decided on boasted of only one breech several years ago and the weak link in security had been fixed. They also advertised lighting, incident detectors, closed circuit video and regular daily patrols of the facility. Sounds good doesn't it. Worthy of a premium fee.

After the thirty minute drive from Jones County, I arrived to find a police cruiser (also not a good sign). I coded in my security code and drove to my rental bay to find the door standing open on the trailer as well as on the RV's on either side. The last count I had was three B & E's when I finished with the police but they were still investigating (?). I would estimate there are in excess of fifty RV's stored there. When I arrived I was actually relieved. The thieves had broken out the window of the door, cut through the screen and unlatched and opened the door. Bad enough but it could have been much worse. A quick inventory revealed the entertainment center had been gutted. Flat screen TV, CD/DVD player, VCR, all removed. Now I will be the first to attest to the fact that this was an extremely difficult thing to do. The slide outs are fully retracted, making it almost impossible to remove the television from the entertainment center as it is half covered by the slide out. I can testify that it took Krl and I both to wrestle that thing in there with the trailer set up and plenty of room. Further investigation (by me, not the police) revealed a smaller television missing from the bedroom. Everything had been into. All the cabinet doors were open throughout the trailer. Thankfully there was no spray paint, no holes in the walls and no slashing of furniture or mattresses. We are currently looking through paperwork for serial numbers.

I did receive an incident report from the police. It is a pre-printed form saying that they feel there is not sufficient evidence to warrant a detective following up on this crime. How convenient. I don't know why the cop didn't get on his car's PA system and shout "Olly olly oxenfree, come out come out wherever you are, oh and by the way, bring that stuff that you took!" I did have a couple of visits with the owner of the facility. While he is apologetic and assures me that measures are already in the works to prevent this from happening again, I find that I could get agitated and mad. But I haven't, so far. It now seems that the part of the security system that activates at the sound of breaking glass is not functional because of false alarms requiring facility personnel and police to check it out at all hours. What is worse, false alarms or false advertising? I despise a thief.

I spent until six PM getting the trailer secured again.

Krl and I are going to Pat Lawrence's graveside service this afternoon. All of the kids went to San Angelo yesterday as the family gathers there. Rian is going to conduct the brief service. He called me several times as they were trying to leave Lubbock for San Angelo. I had to mess with him a little. I asked him if he had secured a burial permit. He said, "No". I told him if he was officiating it was his responsibility and at his expense to secure the burial permit from the State of Texas. After a few minutes of scrambled conversation he finally figured out that Dad was messing with him.

Carol Pickett died yesterday. Carol had been included in my daily prayer capsule for the last year. She makes three. Rene', Pat, and now Carol. Carol worked in our office in 2001 and 2002 as comptroller. I had known her prior to that, when my kids mother and I were dating, the Pickett family lived two doors down and on occasion we would babysit Debbie and Bobby. Carol had been diagnosed with lung cancer. Our deepest sympathy goes out to her family.

FATHER, please temper and tether me. Thank YOU for getting me through the past week. FATHER, hearts are heavy with family and friends. I pray that YOU will comfort these as they deal with the void caused by the loss of life. Fill the void with YOUR love and surround these people with YOUR angels. I lift up Memama, Pepa, Ol, Hag, B., Lillie, Michelle, Aimee, Ashlyn Kate, Jennifer, Tj, Anna, Jess, those continuing their recovery from their injuries, Dr. Mackie, Yaenga, Jeanine and Sandi for YOUR gifts of healing. I pray for those of us struggling to follow YOU. I pray for our spiritual family and for our leaders. I pray for the efforts being made to expand YOUR kingdom. I pray for safety for those traveling to do YOUR work and I ask peace for those eagerly awaiting their safe arrival and return. Fill me with YOU.