That was a pretty good week.

The little Peterbilt truck is sitting outside the farm shop, radiator swap complete. After sitting for three days the truck was still full of water and anti-freeze. Excellent. I started it up again yesterday and let it run all afternoon while I was working on a few odd and end things. I could almost swear the little truck has a smirk on its grill and would love to hit the open road. I picked up new pad mounts for the hood, and began researching a windshield wiper issue. By end of day the only thing not compete was the windshield wiper problem. But I do have a plan in progress. Apparently someone (the previous owner) let a screw get loose and it wallowed the hole out in the fiberglass before breaking the other hole out! So, being the farm boy and southern engineer I am, I developed a plan. A couple more holes to drill and I will have a fix ready to install.

I have never been able to fully explain how fulfilling it is when I have made a repair (whether it is a simple repair or an engine overhaul) and a vehicle starts and rolls out of the shop. Just call me crazy!

On my Facebook page today I made a confession, I feel compelled to let my blog readers in on it as well.

I had a weak moment and gave in to temptation. After having my original checking account since 1964, I recently requested a debit card. Yesterday I gave in and used it for the first time. I feel like such a slut! As I keyed in each of my pin numbers (my account is so old my pin is in Roman Numerals) I knew there was no going back.

Rian told me how quick and convenient the debit cards are, but I don't think the people behind me in my checkout line thought so as I recorded my debit card transaction in my check register.

No luck to date in my truck driver search, but oh well. I will leave Sunday, Monday or Tuesday and go to Loop and drive the truck myself. It would simplify and slow my world down AND it would put some extra Christmas Money in our pockets! Things usually work out for a reason!

But, today I plan on going to Gatesville to see Ollie! I haven't seen her since she turned herself in in July. I am actually rolling the dice in hopes she has filed her approved visitor list. It is my understanding that the visit today will have to be through the glass, on phones. The rules call for no visits the first ten days and then from day eleven to day 29 all visits are through the glass, but after 30 days you can sit at a table with them. I plan on getting a roll of quarters before I go. While she is in a State Jail, I guess my visits to Leonard have been training on the do's and don'ts. I always want to run to my vehicle after I leave the Sallyport!

I would like to encourage any readers to send Ollie a Christmas card between now and the twentieth of this month.

Here is her address and #:

Merrit Freeman Ryan #01675411
Woodman SJ Unit
1210 Coryell City Road
Gatesville, Texas 76528

48 days until her scheduled release!

This week we made the decision to postpone our family Christmas until after her release. (This is nothing new to our crew. Use to when we were at the seasonal jobsite we would do Christmas in February or even later. I think one year we did Christmas in June. It is pretty neat because everything is open and no one is rushing to be somewhere else.).

Well, I have mile to go before I sleep, and things to do before I sleep!

Have a day! Have two in a row and we will call it a weekend!

FATHER, thank YOU for a good week. I love it when YOUR plan comes together! Instill in me the assurance that everything is unfolding as YOU intend. I pray for safe travel and a good visit. We will glorify and praise YOUR name!