What a week.  Lots going on.

So let's begin with the biggest news.  Erica filed for divorce from Rian.  She had moved out in January citing some personal issues she needed to address and said that she didn't want a divorce or another man, just some time to sort stuff out.  Well, it is obvious that she lied and that much of her life has been one lie on top of another.  I have encouraged Rian to counter sue for divorce citing mental deficiency on her part.  I think the odds are really good because her maternal grandfather was institutionalized (per a conversation I had with her maternal grandmother).  The grandmother also said that all of Erica's young life she (Erica) worried she had those same genes.

Hello! I don't think we have to worry about that any more.  We have a winner!

I had a feeling about Erica right after she left so I tried to prepare Rian in case this did happen. 

Probably the two people I am most disappointed with are Chet and Shirley.  I feel that they have enabled Erica to act the way she has and who wouldn't want a vacation from mothering.  When she wakes up Chet has waken the boys (when they are with Erica) and Shirley has breakfast on the table.  When you get home from school laundry is folded and ion your bed.

Sounds like a vacation to me!

Erica played a little dirty pool by refusing Rian access to the boys until he signed a temporary custody order.

Rian got a lawyer yesterday and got his boys too.

Memama gave the boys scholarships for their various camps.  Baseball, basketball, and church.  Reid leaves this weekend for White River, one of the camps Memama paid for.  Erica wants to take him to camp and for Rian not to go (says maybe Rian can pick him up next week).  I think it is doubloy sorry for her to try to take any credit for something she didn't arrange or pay for.

I am also pretty unhappy with the Elders from Green Lawn.  They had all told Rian to be patient and don't act rash and everything would work out.  Obviously they got a good dose of the fork-ed tongue Erica possesses.

Oh would I love to run into Erica or her parents.  I have been very uninvolved up to know but I sure love a good altercation!

Next news.  Merrit, Noble and Nellie are here at Memama's.  She is filing for divorce from Brad.  It seems he has a girl friend at the bar he spends every day at and Merrit found some phone records and text messages that prove it.  I have also seen records of phone trackers that show him keeping up with Merrit's whereabouts but also reveals his being at this girls house.  Dates, times, everything.  But, Brd is trying to tell Merrit she is crazy.  Brad reminds me of Brentley.  He thinks he is smarter than everyone else.  Duh, Brad.  I think all that alcohol has eaten your brain cells away!

Brad is supposed to be coming here to bring some things and to see his wife and baby.  He had better behave or he'll get treated to an ass whipping.

If things will play our just right, his parole should be revoked soon.

Well, we have certified Memama's crop.  I also disastered her last 18 acres of wheat.  We will destroy it this coming week.  We have streaked some with rotary hoes and with the bed planter sandfighter. 

I went to the barn about a quarter to five yesterday and they guys were already gone.  I texted Slats and he said they decided to quit at 4:30.  I told him if they were running this thing to just go ahead and write their own paychecks.  They also committed the cardinal sin of failing to lock the barn.  I told them maybe we should just wait until Monday and take today off.

They showed up today ready to work.

Hope your week was better than mine.

Have a day.

Oh FATHER, if I were in charge.  Help me to keep calm, to know that your plan is unfolding as you intend and that the people will get their just desserts in your own time.

Happy Birthday Terri Jo.  She would have been 49 today.  In 10 days she will have been gone six years.

Well, we are planted.  The Marth was finished June 4th, then we moved to Wastella and were rained out, so we moved to the Home after a day or so and Rian planted about 165 acres and we got rained out.  So we lost another day and moved back to Wastella and completed planting there on June 11th.  Then we moved back to the home place and finished it on June 12th.  We moved to the section and began ppanting on the 12th, and in a different move we plan ted it east to west.  As well as I can remember, we have never planted it that way.  Usually we begin in the middle and go both ways or plant the west side first and then finish on the east.  I was having to skip terrace channels that were to muddy, but yesterday afternoon I began filling them in and planting end rows.  So technically, both the Piersal and Riggs parts of the section were completed on the 14th of June.

Historically we receive a rain either during or right after planting the section.  We will have to see if the new planting procedure alters this.  I have put in some late nights this year, trying to be sure that weather didn't catch us and make us miss the June 20th deadline for crop insurance.  There were weveral nights that I ran until 9 or 10, but Thursday night after going to date nights with my gorgeous Mother, Kyle, Chad and Aaron, I returned to the tractor and ran until 2 in the morning.

As my luck would have it, it was 3 by the time I got to bed and just after 8 when I heard the housekeeper trying to get in.  So it was a short night,.

The final day saw us having more problems than any other day during planting.  Of course it didn't hep that with all the skips we really didn't know how many acres we had to finish so we kept adding two bags across eight planters, then another two, then one, then another one.  Long story short, it really drew out the finish.  But it is done and the tractor and planter are back at the barn.

Me?  I am worn out.  Tired and achy.  Stayed in bed until 10, ate breakfast and moved to the couch.  I plan on doing nothing except go to the pharmacy later today.  I am in lounging mode.

Oh, and I plan on cheering for the spurs tonight!  Go Spurs!

During Thursday nights date night, Chad and I were talking about where were were exactly a year ago.  Me, Memama, Aunt Robbie, Coach, Jani, Kelsi and Chad were in Dallas setting in a Salt Grass Steak House before flying out for Seattle the following morning.  A year later and that trip was still a fun trip!

So that means anniversaries are coming up for Shelby and Larissa, and for Rian and Erica.

Rian and three other Dads are spending Fathers day with 13 boys (between their own kids and friends) at Roaring Springs.  I understand they are loaded with three pickups, three travel trailers, ATV's, four wheelers, bikes, and other specialty toys.  I hope the weather cools them off some.  I know they will have a big time.

Well, that's enough for now.  By the way, cotton I planted Tuesday was up yesterday!  Go cotton!

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for helping us to get this years crop in.  Thank YOU for YOUR rain blessings.  FATHER we ask that YOU bless our efforts.  We ask for safety for the group camping.  FATHER thank YOU for showing us how to be FATHERs, may we always try to be more like YOU!  Please bless all the Dad's.

Six years ago today I lost my best friend growing up, my brother.  Today marks six years into eternity for Freddy.

Dear Freddy,

I find it hard to believe that six years have passed since you left us.  In some ways it seems much longer, in other ways it seems like only yesterday.

It amazes me that something will happen or I will be somewhere and it will remind me of you and that I need to talk to you.

Just this weekend I was in San Antonio and went to the Little Red Barn Steak House.  Immediately, when we walked through the doors, I thought of you and how much you liked that place.  FYI, then owner has died (two years ago) but his daughters still run the family business.  Many of the cow girls haven't changed outfits since you and I were last there.  It appears most of the pricing on the walls has had a 1 painted in front of it.  Lol!  So, it is not the bargain it once was, but it is still a good place and great atmosphere.

Another example of flashbacks was when we did the park and ride from the AT & T Center to the Alamodome, we parked and the AT  & T center sits beside (and dwarfs) Joe Freeman Coliseum.  Once again a flood of memories flashed through my brain.

Memama is doing pretty well.  She stays tired, but some of that is due to her heart rate when it really gets to beating.  They are working to keep it regulated better.  She is so precious, it pains me just to watch the aging process.  We talk of you and Terri and Pepa often.  At Christmas this year we had 52 at the house, but all of us had empty spots in our hearts for ya'll.

I have been planting cotton.  I have the Marth planted and lack just the top of Wastella to plant, then back by the barn and to the section.  It has been very dry, very windy and extremely hot for this time of year.  100 degrees plus already!  We had a better than average crop last year.  We didn't qualify for any insurance, and lots of people did.  I keep teasing Memama and tell her that she is just a better farmer than Pepa.  (I can hear him say sshh____! when I say that.)

We are in the middle of the Cline shale oil boom.  At your birthday last year we had leased acreages for Memama, Pat and Hag and Chris's Trust along with the Grays.  We felt very fortunate as we had waited out the rush and more than doubled the amount many leased for.  In the summer I began to try to lease Memama's subsequent acreages, the half interest on your part of the home she and Dad had reserved, the quarter on the Arnold, half on the feedlot, and quarter on the Vandever.  While working on this I found that due to a clerical error,  Memama still has 100% of the minerals on the Hendrich's and 75% of the minerals on the May.  The best part is that it gives her straight line lengths that fir well into the horizontal drilling plans.  This was quite a windfall and almost doubled the original lease amount for which she owned the land and what we leased it for.  I kid her that I am going to buy her turbans to wear when her first well comes in.  Memama the rag head!

Your family is doing well.  Linda continues to work at Nolan Nursing and Rehab center and seems to put in a lot of time.  Jeri and Joni are looking good.  Jeri still has her good job in Dallas.  Joni just took a job at TSTC that she seems to really enjoy and has state benefits!

Jason is back in Florida.  His family is good.  Christy quit Dr. Eaker and tends to his truck books, and plays Mom.  Devon is working for the railroad in Alpine, Dillon will be a Senior.  I think after taking a year off for his concussions, Dillon is going to play football again this year.  He did go to regional in hurdles this year.  Dakota is growing up way to fast.  She will be a kindergartner this year.  She is a gorgeous little girl.

Jake is good.  He just accepted the assistant head coaching job in Roscoe.  If certain things happen he will be the head coach and eventually the athletic director.  He is very pumped and has been collecting money for weight room equipment.  Lindsay is teaching at Southeast Elementary in Sweetwater and seems to enjoy it.  The twins are something else.  They are so full of life and energy.  They know who you are, Jake and Lindsay have done a good job of educating them.  Jalin is a head taller than Brody but while they fuss sometimes, don't mess with me brother or sister!  Tell Pepa the twins really enjoy his lift chair.  They like to sit or stand in it and raise all the way up and launch out of it!  I think I just heard him again, "Shh____! I'm going to cut your tail off!"

Pat and Hag are O.K..  For a year almost she has battled severely swollen optic nerves.  At first they thought she had a brain tumor but now they have determined she has a pseudo tumor.  For some reason her body thinks it has a tumor.  Long story short she has to much spinal fluid pressure.  They have been giving her massive doses of diuretics and improvement has been very slow.  Just last week she fell and broke her arm just below the shoulder.  They thought they might do surgery, but have decided not to.  Eight weeks in a restraining sling with the arm stabilized against her body.  Steph and JR, Chloe and Carson stay busy.  They are still in Huntsville.  Chris and Kyle are both still in Roscoe and are tall and skinny.

Coach Freeman is still in Breckenridge.  He toyed with the idea of retirement but decided against it.  Jani is still doing insurance and bounces between Brownwood and Breckenridge.  Kelsi is running what used to be the manufacturing business of Ratliff steel.  They make poly spool trailers and Tige boat trailers.  One of the customers purchased that part of the business from Ratliff Steel.  Colby is the Regional manager for Smith and Nephew.  He and Courtney and the girls still live in Lantana.  Kirby and Andi got married last month in Lingleville.  It was gorgeous and quite an event.  The four little red head nieces of Kirb's were in the wedding party.  Kirby and Andi are living in Edmond, Oklahoma with him working for Smith and Nephew too.  So far they have avoided the tornadoes in their area.

Terri's crew is good.  Last year saw two of the four get married.  Of course in June twenty-eight of us went to Chelan, Washington to attend Shelby and Larissa's wedding.  They live between Lubbock and New Deal now, she works for Purina and he works for CPS.  In December Wee and Kayla got married in Edna.  Another large crew made that trek.  Riley got to come up for about a week at Christmas.  Seeing him instantly reminds you of his Momma.  Robyn is still in Austin, working and going to school.  She has a new boy friend that seems real nice.  I wasn't aware of it but this last weekend all of TJ's kids and E were in San Antonio for George Straits concert.  It sounded like they had a good time!  I am sure they missed their Momma though.

I talk with Jeanetta from time to time.  She and her crew seem to be doing well.  Often it is astounding to learn of the drastic weather differences between there and here.

As for me, a year later I am divorced and living with Memama.  I have a friend who says they believe GOD has a plan and I am right where I am supposed to be.  I tell you there is a world of difference in coming in and out and living here.  I know that she and Pepa had to be covering for each other for several years.  The highlight of my day is when Memama gets up and cooks breakfast.  That time in the morning is very special.  I am seeing a very nice lady who lives in Abilene but originally is from New York.  (Yeah, I know it is hard to find a total package!)  Lol!

Rian and Erica have been going through a rough patch.  I am confident that things will work out the way they are supposed to.  I really feel for those three little boys though.  I heard a deal the other day that said, "There comes a time when you must forget everything that is wrong with a person and remember all the reasons you fell in love and married them."  Rian and Erica are both employed at Shallowater ISD.  Reid is turning out to be an excellent scholar and athlete.  Holt is still an avid outdoorsman, and Moses loves to eat.  Rian said at one of Moses' T-ball games (the park is located across the street from Shallowater's only donut shop), Moses was playing the pitchers defensive position.  Rian said when in the field Moses would yell at him, "Hey, Dad!  Doughnut! Or, Dad, kolache!"  He wanted a snack to eat in the dugout!  Rian made him hold out until after the game.

Rian did resign his position at the church last fall.  He just had too many irons in the fire and with some reorganization money wise and no relief duty wise, it was an easy decision.

My two girls are both in San Angelo.  Merrit got married in December and Makai got married January 1.  Addison is an 8th grader, and Noble is very mobile, going on 2.

Merrit had to put her dog down last year, so we looked and looked and finally found a suitable replacement.  I bought her and Noble another English Bulldog, and it relieves me of gift giving forever.  The dogs name is Penelope or "Nellie" for short.

My latest project, in addition to the oil and gas stuff and farming, has been some work at the house.  Tell Pepa that he can breathe easy.  I tended to it.  We had steel piers put under the north and east side of the house and then had it leveled.  I put a new septic system in on the north side of the house for the front bathroom, and we gutted all three bathrooms and totally redid them.  They are gorgeous if I say so myself.

We had a rain last night.  We really needed it.  I would have like to have been through planting, but I won't turn down a rain.

I still find that I am uncomfortable in the position I find myself in.  This was never supposed to be my job, or so I thought.  It was supposed to be yours.

I solicit all of you to be our guardian angels, and ask for any help, any direction you can give us to improve our situations.

Tell Terri and Pepa, along with GOD and JESUS and all who have gone before us hello.  Know that you are missed and still greatly loved.

Love,
d