Not much is happening down on the farm.

We finished breaking all the land, either with the big v-ripper or the mould board.  All the wheat has been planted (by December 15th) and is finally coming up.  I would sure like to see a rain though.  The inch we got two weeks ago is about gone.

On the way home from the final field, we experienced a problem with the left front hub on the big tractor.  It gave off  a quick burst of smoke and then continued to operate normally.  We stopped to investigate and found that it was extremely hot and had tell tale signs that something was wrong.inside.  Upon tear down, we discovered no oil, although none of us can recall this tractor ever showing evidence of a leak.  However there was evidence that someone had been inside this planetary before us.  The ring gear was broken and the sun gear had evidently tried to climb teeth, resulting in almost 100% chipped teeth and a planetary housing that was distorted with breaks or cracks.

In addition to this tractor, Pepa's favorite, the old 4850 he sunk a boat load of money in, appeared to be knock kneed on the front end.  We discovered a busted tapered bearing on a king pin.  This really amazed me because, this tractor only has 400 hours since the whole front rear end housing was replaced.

Ironically, both problems with both tractors were on the left front.

The 4850 was relatively cheap to fix, especially compared to the 8310.  In fact the 8310 coast almost 10 times the cost of the 4850.  It also took twice as long.  Both tractors have been in the shop for two weeks.

We finished the 8310 Tuesday, and ever since we have been doing odds and ends, primarily to the 4850.  Lights ect.  Things that don't require a whole lot of maintenance unless you let them go and the problems grow.

Hopefully both tractors will be out of the shop later today.

I was informed yesterday that my divorce is set for mediation February 1.  This was after some late claims made Monday prior to the final hearing on the 22nd of this month.  So far I have refused to get into the games and crap, but I am getting very tempted because lots of my personal items are missing.  Some aren't worth much money, mainly sentimental, but others can't be replaced.

Oh well.  The nice part is I am through paying the house payment and utilities for the Meadowick house.  It was supposed to go on the market January 1, by the judges order, and that hasn't happened yet.  Since they have started the games, I refuse to pay any more  and I want to be reimbursed for all that I've paid.

Well, time will tell.

Have a day!

FATHER, I'm going to need a lot of patience.

On New Year's day we went to Shallowater.

For Christmas, Scott, Makai's live in had given her a marriage license.  Initially they had talked about January 12 and getting Married at the welcome center at City Hall in San Angelo.  Those plans changed and they decided they wanted Rian to officiate the ceremony and Rian and Erica agreed to allow them to get married in their home.

Joni Sue made a cake, which we carried up there, Holt and Drew were the ring bearers (since they had prior experience), Reid was the sound technician, and Addison was Maid of Honor.

It was short and sweet, followed by cake and punch and a short visit.  Then the thirteen of us went into Lubbock for a late lunch.

That meant in a span of twenty four days both of my daughters married and in a span of 31 days three of Memama's grand children married.

I think that's enough for a while.

Next wedding up is May 4 for Kirby and Andi.

Looking back, it was about this time of year last year I began putting the trip to Lake Chelan together for Shelby and Larissa's wedding.

Jani was here yesterday and I asked her where the nearest motels were to Kirby and Andi's wedding location.  When there is a big crew, an early start if essential!

This one should be a piece of cake.

Have a day!

FATHER, we need you every hour, every minute, every second.

This year saw a large crew at Memama's house for Christmas.  52 I believe was the final count.  Only two grand children and one daughter-in-law didn't make it. 
Wesley was working and Kayla went to her folks, Robyn had only Christmas day off from her job and spent it with her cheese cake family, and Linda was pressed into duty due to some of her help not showing up at the nursing home.

For the first time in many years, all of my kids were here.  In fact, all their spouses and kids were present too.

As we have done in the past couple of years, we all had meal assignments.  Memama did dressing and creamed potatoes, Fred's family did the turkeys, green bean casserole, bread and other parts, Pat did the hams and Steph pitched in as well.  Jani did sweet potato casserole, Larissa did a desert, and I know I am missing lots because there was a ton of food and it was all delicious!

Me, I fixed trash mix, kolaches for appetizers and did a broccoli, cauliflower, red onion salad (by special request).

For days leading up to the big day, we took turns using Memama's big double ovens.

Of the fifty-two, we had four special guests that are friends of the family.

After a tremendous meal. we had the tree for the youngsters, and the older ones participated in the White Elephant.  Now lots of times the white elephant is joke gifts, but ours is a little more serious with a $25 target price and instructions to bring something you would want.  We had forty participants, and the gifts changed hands many times.

It was a wonderful day, enjoyed especially by Memama.

Which, fyi Memama is doing much better, they are really making some progress with her new meds and she is getting that twinkle in her eyes.  So we are Thankful for this.  I gave everyone except the greats but including Memama's siblings a picture of her taken in front of the tree prior to Christmas.

It has really been special to have been able to live with her the last  eight months.

So, if you didn't make it this year and want to make it next year, begin making plans now!

Hope you had a day, a month, a holiday, a year.

Father, Thank YOU for JESUS.

The wedding that almost wasn't.

As many of you are aware, Merrit go married December 8 in San Angelo.

If only it were that simple.

The advertised wedding time was 3 pm..  The bride arrived at the church at 2:43pm. dressed in jeans, a sweatshirt and flip flops.

This had been such an iffy deal that Rian (the bride's brother who was officiating) and I had already discussed who needed to make the announcement if we had a run away bride.

But, in a thrash by all the bridesmaids, they finally got Merrit dressed and pacified that her butt crack was indeed covered.

After the wedding, pictures were made outside and while this was taking place, Pat discovered there was nothing to drink at the reception, and nothing to put it in.  Pat and Hag made a mad dash and  bought water and tea while Merrit's best friend got plastic wear and cranberry juice.

I simply told anyone who asked, that we didn't know if we would actually need refreshments.

Many family members were pressed into duty to act as the houseparty hosts.  So, special thanks to Pat, Hag, Jani, Coach, and Georgiana for stepping in and helping out.

Oh, the good news is a month later they are still married.

FATHER, I hope we passed YOUR test.

When the group of us went to Edna for the wedding, the three remaining siblings left a day early.  I had Memama riding with me, Pat, Hag and Chris were in their vehicle and Coach and Jani were in their vehicle.  We decided to break up Memama's trip and stopped in San Antonio and stayed at the San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk.

We were pulled up and the valets were unloading the cars while bell hops loaded carts.  Memama was watching as asked me where her brown tote was at.  I informed her that everything was unloaded.  She checked again.  No brown tote.  She informed me her brown tote contained her gownie, all her shoes and twenty-five pair of panties.

I couldn't help but laugh.  What would the odds be that I would take a woman to a hotel and she would forget her bag with gown and underwear and even higher odds that that woman would be my mother!

I texted Shelby as he and Larissa were planning on staying with Kyle at Memama's house so I asked them to get Memama's bag that was left.  Then the girls, Pat and Jani, went to the Riverwalk Mall and bought Memama a sleep shirt and a few pair of panties.

Then we hit the river.  It was gorgeous.  All the decorations, and lights were a sight to see.  We did the Rio Taxi and ended up eating Mexican food on the river.

I think Coach got a pretty good idea of Memama's health as he had plans to drag all of us around the river walk. Eventually we walked to street level and got a cab to get Memama back to the hotel.

The next morning we hit the river again and ate lunch at Salt Grass before heading for Edna.  (Coach and Jani decided to stay another day in San Antonio as they didn't have to go to the rehearsal). 

As Memama and I drove into Edna I told her to enjoy her night there without Coach being there to drag her azz all over town.  She looked around and asked me, "Edna isn 't that big is it?"

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for safe travel.  We continue to lift Memama for YOUR gifts of healing..