Pphhfffssstt. I am tired. After I left the office mid afternoon yesterday I made my scheduled trip, logged almost three hundred fifty miles, visited, ate barbecue, and toured the country around St. Lawrence looking at the crops. Looking good! While there is a pretty broad range of cotton, it is the best overall crop I have seen out there in eleven years. The biggest cotton I saw was probably 12 to 15 inches tall and gorgeous. Virtually all the cotton is big enough that when you look across the field it is a field of green. When I went down CR 125 Mitchell and Jody have sunflowers shoulder high and already with flowers as large as saucers. I saw a couple of patches of milo that were knee high so they are way ahead of the curve.

Lots going on. Probably the two biggest pieces of news were that Darren (a former plant superintendent who farms and is now on the board) and Kim, his wife are expecting another baby. They are due in July. Avery, the big sister, is a two or three years old now (or maybe in between). The big question is whether this baby will be a Red Raider or an Aggie. I saw Lillie from a distance, she was looking good. It would appear that she has a hat collection going. I think she has completed her chemo and radiation treatments. The gin board election saw Nathan get re-elected. I was teasing him that the membership didn't think he was totally rehabilitated so they sentenced him to a couple more years. Sammy chose not to run again. He had served for nine years, the last few as president of the board of directors. Rory was elected to the place vacated by Sammy. I don't think this will have a big effect on the board, it just continues the tie to the Halfmann/Neihus clans that was present when Gary was serving. If anything it gives that north CR 125 over representation with Jody and Rory both on the board. Oh well, they can car pool to the meetings.

The biggest news was the possibility of Frankie, the plant superintendent leaving. One of the former Plant Supers that is now a manager for a new facility in Dumas has made a really solid run at Frankie to move up there. Leighton, who was plant superintendent after Darren and before Milton, has been talking to Frankie for a couple of months tweaking on a deal. Finally last week Frankie told B.J. that he was going to give his notice. Of course this was a shock to everyone because they were not aware Frankie was looking or that he was not satisfied. The board held an emergency meeting with him and offered a counter offer yesterday afternoon. It isn't quite a level playing field because Dumas has been working on their deal for two months while the counter offer has just been aware of the developments for a five days. I visited with Frankie and sat with him and his family at the meal last evening. He was putting away the Bud Light and already wrestling with his choices. I think if the offers are comparable he will stay, but if they aren't he and Nancy will begin their packing. Regardless, this will not be the last time he is asked to dance. Whether he is in St. Lawrence or in Dumas if he wants to chase the big bucks the possibilities will always be there. I do feel though that at some point the dollars will become secondary. Without a doubt, the co-op is getting quite the reputation for developing plant superintendents and then other co-ops raiding them. The growing field. I would love to see Frankie stay but I am being selfish. I want Frankie to do what he thinks is best for him and his family.

When I crawled into bed early this morning it was two o'clock. I sure didn't want to come in to work this morning but I did. That is the kind of guy I am. Loyal and trainable. Rats!

Well, the new hound is not working out very well. She is hard headed and sure doesn't understand the sharing aspect of communal living.. Krl was frustrated with her yesterday and I was frustrated with her this morning. I have gone too long without accidents to have to train a new hound. All of the others were trained in a day. She is behind the learning curve. Before I left the house I put her in the back yard where she was telling the neighborhood about it. I showed her the broom and she shut up. She is a sweet hound but she may not be a fit.

FATHER, please lift me and carry me though this day. I am tired. I am thankful for the safe trip yesterday, I am thankful for the good reports and the high spirits of the community. I pray that YOU will continue to bless their efforts. I continue to ask YOU for gentle timely rains for their crops. I ask that YOU be with Frankie as he makes his decision. Help him to weigh all the possibilities and to be comfortable with his choice. FATHER I pray for Krl and her healing. I pray for all those who are near and dear who are in need of YOUR healing. I pray for those sad with grief. I pray for those of us who stumble as we try to follow YOU. I pray for our spiritual family and our leaders. I pray for the efforts to expand YOUR kingdom. Praise be to YOU.