This week has followed the lead of the rest of this season. Busy.

I had two drivers who missed their scheduled return times just after the start of Monday. I had let one go home mid-afternoon Saturday due to the scheduled maintenance Sunday and the fact that his family had a relative die. I had told him to keep me posted so we could plan. He had told me he would would be back in the wee hours of Monday (it was pay day and he knew checks would be on the dock) and he would let me know when he needed off for the funeral.

Turns out, they decided not to go.

When I went to the bale dock Monday morning I had every trailer loaded and two full loads on the ground and another one being built on the ground.

My milo truck driver had gone home for an appointment so I decided to get in his truck and haul.

By the time the second tardy driver arrived, we had already moved six loads of bales. That was shortly after noon.

When I returned from my second bale load, I was asked if I would haul a load of milo to Miles. They had sold ten loads that had to be loaded on rail cars before the train bumped the cars at six-thirty.

I made it in plenty of time and I got back to the compound a tick before eight.

I sure could tell I am out of road warrior shape.

Tuesday morning was spent running parts in Midland and Odessa. My milo driver had come back and there was no load for him. I figured I could get some parts and let him install them. Hey, I would probably be paying someone anyway.

Late yesterday after the cold front blew through, this man told me, if he could get his check he would go home. We had a brief "come to Jesus" meeting and I told him that could be arranged. I went on to tell him how many loads he had declined by going home or staying in Lubbock with friends. It came to a lot more than him sitting for a day. The big difference was he didn't make the decison for yesterday. And he didn't want to be here anyway.

He gave me his paperwork and in a short time Krl had cut is check. I had to look him up to give it to him. He was in the back drinking and carousing with some other drivers.

When I was in Odessa I heard an advertisement on the radio station I was listening to. It said, "Redefine Christmas. Give to a charity in the name of someone you love!"

I like that.

Another interesting thing was a sign I saw. I had followed a big rig for a number of miles, so I had time to study a graphic they had placed on the back. It read:
Driven by Faith. Prosperous by Grace.

How true.

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU!