Good Golly!

I hadn't had opportunity to go into my detales blog until today.  It has been two months since I last posted.


It isn't because nothing has happened, it is probably because too much HAS happened.


First of all, GOD is good, all the time.  He has blessed us repeatedly with timely rains and he has us positioned to have one of the best crop year starts in many years.  The wheat is absolutely gorgeous and every time a weather warning banner runs across the bottom of the television screen, it just makes you sick to your stomach, knowing that such a beautiful crop could be destroyed with volatile weather.


Just have to realize, GOD is in control!


I took Memama in to have a post procedure check up on her new pacemaker.  Her pulse was 140.  We had an idea that her heart rate was up from when she had been in Dr. Eaker's office to renew prescriptions and have blood work done.  We also realized that Memama was very lethargic which happens when her heart is fluttering.  It doesn't move much blood very effectively.


When we got to Dr. McCain's, he was very surprised at Memama's elevated heart rate and began to try to determine if it was a sinus rhythm or if it was the arithymia.  He did an EKG and called the pacemaker rep.  Then he scheduled her for a procedure where they would use the pacemaker, medications and paddles to get her slowed down and in rhythm.  When she came out she was at 60 beats per minute.


They prescribed a new med to help control her heart rate, but by the following afternoon her pulse was at 127.


Even now her pulse sneaks up past the 100 mark quite frequently.


On a sad note, Memama's sister Betsy died March 29.  She had been taking radiation treatments and was very weak.  I would think a combination of the treatments and her heart condition were just too much.  It was a big surprise for everyone.  Her funeral was held in Fort Worth on April 2.  A large group of family was present.  I drove Memama down the day before to split the travel across two days.


We have been doing a thrash trying to find Memama's farm financing for 2015.  Her long time banker told Pat and I he wanted to hear it from Memama's mouth that she wanted to continue to farm, not Pat and I.  Memama went over there and told him, however when I went in in March to visit about it he told me he was not going to write her an operating loan.  He said she had no business at her age to be farming.  Pat and I both were witnesses to this.  He said she had too many options available that weren't as risky.


Pat and I talked and made an appointment with another entity.  After visiting with them we brought an application home and Pat set about filling it out, while I gathered other information that was needed for it.  Finally it was complete and I made the drive and dropped it off.  About a week later we received a call and arranged a meeting.  It seemed the loan officer wanted to do the loan but the credit analyst didn't.  We had done extensive tax planning the last few years and while minimizing tax liability, it didn't help  the cash flow appearance.


I think a lot of these want to be ag lenders are running scared.  New program, lots of unanswered questions.  In fact the loan officer told us a year ago his company would have jumped all over our app.


So we submitted another application and are awaiting an answer.


It has really been frustrating to try to farm with no funds.  I would have liked to fertilized our wheat crop but the money wasn't there and that window is now closed.  We put off some spraying and plowing, but now we are in a must do situation.  Currently we are putting down our yellow herbicide.  We are half way.


The big tractor has been I the shop the past week.  It developed a lope at idle that doesn't clear up until at fuel throttle.  I had talked with diesel shops and they told me it was a cam position sensor or a servo problem regulating the fuel pump rack.  We had pulled an array of error codes, but finally the mechanic cleared the codes and one code reoccurred.  The fuel temperature sensor.  He ordered one and put it in and the problem continued.  Now the mechanic says it is a problem with the fuel injection pump.  $3200 to have it rebuilt and the R & R and diagnostics to this point.  I really need to get this tractor going so we can lay off rows!


Maybe we will hear something soon.


Let's see.  Since my last post, Addison, Robyn, Larissa, Memama, Makai, Wade, Shelby, Joni (and tomorrow, Chris) have had birthdays. (Hope I didn't miss anyone but probably did.).


Long time Roscoe resident Charles Ratliff died this past week.  Charles was Uncle Jesse's brother and Charle's and Verla's kids went to school with us at Roscoe.  I believe Jake told me that Charles announced Roscoe Plowboy home football games for 48 years.


This past week I took Memama to get a prescription refilled and her Coumadin level checked.  Pat walked across from the hospital (Where Hag's Dad is enrolled in hospice) while we were I the exam room.  The nurse explained to us that the Doctor had begun a program where regardless of age if you are on a controlled substance they do a urinalysis.  So the nuirse brought a pee hat (that goes into the toilet) and a cup and Pat and Memama went down the hall to the bathroom.  In a while they returned.  No urine in the cup.  No Urine I the hat.  Apparently when Memama slid onto the toilet seat she slid the pee hat to the back of the toilet.  She did her business, but failed to hit the target. 


It pains me to tell you my mother failed her drug test.


And who says accuracy doesn't count!


She got her scripts anyhow.


Hope your world is spinning about right for you!


FATHER, thank YOU for all YOUR blessings.  The rain, the good crop potential.  FATHER we lift up Betsy's and Charles's family for YOUR gifts of comfort and care.  FATHER we lift Memama for YOUR continued gifts of healing and health.  Thank YOU for the hope and promise we have in JESUS!