I believe that I know how those cowboys felt when they were nearing completion of their cattle drives.

I feel as though we are poised on the outskirts of town, waiting 'til morning when we will make the final push and finish what we have started.

Today marks 183 days on the jobsite for me, 181 for Krl. That's a long time to not have been home.

Krl and I have been laughing. We have been talking about what we look forward to the most. We are in agreement. Bathtub! Krl made the comment that she wanted to pamper herself (and she deserves it). She wants a manicure, pedicure, facial and a massage. Of course all this is after a long soaking bath.

I told her I could relate to the cowboys after the trail drive. We've seen them in the movies, sitting in the deep metal bathtubs with people scurrying about with an almost endless supply of HOT water. These trail riders sit there puffing on a cigar as they soak. I can also relate to when they walk into the barber shop, and get a shave and a haircut. I wish I could find an old fashion barber with his scissors, straight razor and razor strap.

It has been steady. Thankfully the plant has hummed along. We should be below 100 modules by 7:00 this morning. In fact I think we should be about 72 or so, possibly less. We are like kids waiting for Christmas. The anticipation is about to kill us.

I have had one employee working pretty steady the last two days, cleaning and loading. You don't realize how much you accumulate until you have to gather it up to move. Of course, I haven't been too much help, while I have orchestrated a plan, Krl and I have been busy with our normal weekly duties. Driver and equipment settlements. One more time after this one.

We are fortunate because the job will end almost simultaneously with the end of the first quarter. Yes! This will make the quarterly reporting much easier.

Our plans are to exit the compound, Wednesday mid-morning. I continue to tweak final plans but I am planning on three or four trucks coming to take equipment home to Abilene, the shop at Midland, and to store in Roscoe. Add my company pickup with one RV and Krl in the company SUV and we will have a convoy!

The GM has been picking up supplies for a Tuesday afternoon celebration. I saw Frank and a couple of his helpers unloading the GM's pickup Saturday afternoon. It looks like barbecue with all the trimmings and a lot of "Bud Light". (Some of the employees out here can't speak much English but you can bet one of the first things they learn is this brand name. The dumpsters provide proof that this is a main staple of their diets as well).

It is looking as though we will fall just short of the 156,000 bale mark. I think we will probably end up in the 155,800+ range. This converts to 1558 loads of bales shipped, just over 2300 loads of cottonseed, and 49 loads of motes (the low grade short staple cotton that is sacrificed in the cleaners and is used to stuff mattresses and furniture, and to make paper). Drivers who have been here from the beginning (and there are only about three) have logged over 300 loads each. The forklift, which was "new" December 27, now has 1900 hours.

I would like to say that it has been fun, but at this point I can't. We are all too worn out, too exhausted and too frustrated, and we are going to have to have some time away from it before we can make a fair assessment. It has been hard, but rewarding. One thing that has kept many of us going has been the fact that we are making history, not just for this plant but for the industry as all eyes are watching to see what our final numbers are. It will be a record! That is part of the reward. The humbling thing is that old adage, "Records are made to be broken".

Our pups are so ready to go home. I can't wait to see their excitement as they re-discover their yard and home. I wonder if Krl and I will be as entertaining to the neighbors?

Be the real deal.

FATHER, if not for you we could never have made it to this point. I ask YOUR continued blessings these last hours. I am thankful for all our co-workers, thankful for YOUR watchful eye. I thank YOU for Krl and the support and companionship that she has been. I pray for safety for all of us as we complete this task and we disband and go our separate ways. Bless us with safe passage. I pray for safety for Adam and his men. I lift up Memama, Pepa, Hag, Bets, Jess, Douglas, Jack, B., Lillie, Ashlyn Kate, Dr. Mackie, and Jeanine for YOUR miracles of healing and care. I pray for those who are sad and heavy hearted with grief. I ask YOUR comfort for them. I pray for those of us who stumble as we try to follow YOU. Give us new resolve, keep us centered in YOU. I pray for our spiritual family and our leaders. I pray for the efforts being made to expand YOUR kingdom. I pray for Richard, Anastacia, James and Terah as well as our prayer partners Jenavene and Susan. FATHER, if not for You ..........