I took some time for myself this morning, recreation. Activity of the day, a farm auction. It was entertaining. I had several items on my horizon, some sold for within a few dollars of what new would sell for, other items were way way over priced! To put it in a nutshell, I kept my hands in my pockets for the most part.

I have always looked at auctions through different glasses. What are the circumstances, were they retiring? Were they forced out?

I have always had a problem buying a "bargain" at someone else's expense.

Krl tells me I could sell manure back to the cow! She often scolds me that I have never explored that possibility. I have fond memories of going to cattle auctions when I was young. I had the privilege of selling show animals in premium sales from Abilene to Houston. I have been through a truck auction. I have been through an excess farm equipment auction, and I have been sold out on the court house steps. Seems to me the only man who comes out on top is the auctioneer!

Most years I run the family reunion auction. This is a very mild version of most auctions. Very low pressure, but I will stick it to one of the aunts or uncles if I catch them napping. "What are ya gonna give????????????" "All in all said all done, sold!" Make 'em pay attention, do dollar increments until it gets moving and you see several hands go up in unison, then hit 'em at five dollars each! It's all in fun and it is to benefit the reunion fund after all. Usually there are some sore people and I have been known to go to the bookkeeper afterwards and pay for something I sold to someone else.

The cotton ginning continues to go well. We will be crowding 110,000 bales by morning. 48,000 more to go. Frank is now telling me that we are on track for March 29th! Thank YOU JESUS!
Of course everyday the odds are in favor of a major breakdown, but so far we have dodged the bullet. Frank always throws it up how little faith we have in the preparations he and his crew have done in the plant.

We are beginning to get frayed around the edges. Everyone, I mean everyone is getting stressed! We lost one member of the gin crew because he just spazzed out. He had a fit and quit, then came back wanting his job but by then he had been replaced. He had been with the gin for sixteen months and was on track to become a year round employee. Adios Gordo! It would appear all the supervisors are as fed up as I am! While we are trying to be patient, if someone needs replacing and gives us an opening, "so long".

The GM admitted himself to the hospital Sunday night. Respiratory problems. The doctor also says he has gained way to much weight in the last two months. Hopefully they will do a full battery of tests. Prognosis is a three day stay.

We received notification today that we have been approved for DSL service. In the past they had wanted a two year commitment. Now they have agreed to do a month by month which suits us much better because we are usually here five to six months of the year. Over the next few days we hope to be making the transition. Addressees in our address book will get notification when we make the swap because it will involve a new e-mail addie! Best part is we won't be sharing a line with our telephone.

I just received my new quarterly "wall of prayer" guide. This has been some "quiet time" for me. We have four teens that were assigned, we don't know them and the odds are not that we ever will. We committed to pray for them through their high school years. Neat thing is, they requested to be added to those wanting prayers. We also have prayer partners who we may or may not know. There are daily scriptures for our teens and for our partners in our guide.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. It's getting tough out here.

Be the real deal.

FATHER, we are so weak, we are so needy. Thank YOU for seeing to our needs. FATHER I pray that we might be fair and just. Patient and kind. Help us to make good decisions. I ask for safety and YOUR care for Adam and his men. Surround them with YOUR angels. I pray for Krl, that YOU would heal her and keep her well. I pray for Memama, Pepa, Hag, Bets, Jess, Trc, Lillie, Aimee, Ashlyn Kate, Dr. Mackie, Jeanine, Hope, B., and K.C.. I pray for those sad and heavy hearted with grief. I pray for those of us who struggle to follow YOU. I pray for our spiritual family and our leaders, I pray for the efforts to expand YOUR kingdom. I pray for Richard, Anastacia, James and Terah. That their values would not be of this world but of YOUR world. I pray for our prayer partners Jenavene and Susan. That we would not be self serving, or keeping score. Praise be to YOUR name.