Move prep, plans being worked out

I spoke briefly with the person who is going to be my greatest resource in my recent change of title and responsibilities and he was more than a little blown away by the scope of work I have taken on. I am too, but I know the Lord will make a way. I just have to be diligent to find it; especially since it is a done deal. I need his help to argue the magnitude of one of the tasks that was done by the person I am replacing. I want no part of it, nor should I have by definition of roles. We will see how the Lord works it out.


Mama and I are making little plans for the move but I have held off on making any big plans until I am told what the company is offering for the relocation. I have a conference scheduled for later today to get those details. There is no sense getting ahead of ourselves. When the move begins to come together it will happen very quickly and I need to be ready; if there is truly any way to be really ready. We have no place to move our stuff to at the farm; no room to even put all of our clothing, much less the furniture, appliances and electronics.

Chase has offered to help store certain items since he and Bo York are considering sharing an apartment in Amarillo. He wants the sofa, the couch, the TV and computer and several other items for use in furnishing the apartment until we have need of it in Bowie. Mama is less inclined to allow that than I am – especially with regard to the couch. But with the expectation that the house in Amarillo will be empty on or before the end of September, it may be a suitable alternative to storing the items in a dusty storage building.

While Mama and Victoria are in Amarillo this weekend I am going to begin work on the shop building. It needs some careful cutting to reshape it to our purpose. I hope to have the brackets and lumber to begin rebuilding it before Grandma and Grandpa get back from West Virginia. With Nate’s help at the end of August, we should be able to get the apartment we are building in it completed by the end of September. Some of the space we create will store our household items until we decide what to do with them.

Yesterday evening Mama and I went to a corner of the property where I have some very large elderberry plants. I was hoping to get some fresh berries off of them to make the syrup we use for colds, but the birds are stripping them as quickly as they ripen. I will have to settle for the plants near the house – if the dogs do not completely destroy them. In their quest to find shade and a cool patch of ground they have dug up and trampled nearly every fleshy plant in the yard. My elderberry plants are especially attractive to them.

On my way across the pasture to the plants I brushed a nettle plant which has raised whelps on my legs. The last time that happened I was wearing a pair of torn jeans and the nettle stung me on my bare skin. That lasted over two weeks before it healed. I need to be very aware of the plants in relation to the grandchildren when they are here with us.

Speaking of that visit, we have already scheduled a trail ride for the grandkids. Mama spoke to Wes last night about how we could get rid of the older horse which is looking very poorly and while she had him on the phone she asked about letting the grandkids ride. He seemed pretty excited about the idea. Their mom and dad are welcome to come also. Some sharing will have to take place because I think we are limited to four horses, but Wes and I will walk, leading the horses of the youngest riders.

It should be fun.

The ceremony, job offers, work ahead

Mama was talking to Grandma on Saturday afternoon and got the story of the renewal of their vows. I did not get the full story but it seems to have gone very well. All participants from the minister, her brother Jack, to the flower girls and attendants, to the musicians who played and sang, enjoyed both the ceremony and the sentiment. Grandma is not feeling well physically, but this last weekend was an emotional high point for her.


Yesterday they were planning as a family to go to Jack’s church then meet for lunch and the reception at the Rippling Water’s Campground. (The reception for the renewal was postponed to Sunday afternoon.) They will have their cake and punch after lunch. It helped Grandma to stretch out the moment. To top things off Grandpa was given a golf cart by the staff at the campground. It needs some repairs but it should be fun to have on the farm.

I got a call early on Friday from my boss. He offered for me to take over the responsibilities of one of my peers who is currently our training coordinator for our area. He has accepted another job and will be leaving at the end of August. I had suggested the move so I was not overly shocked by the request. My boss has lost three of my peers since he has taken over. This individual will be the forth. I would be the fifth. That is a heavy toll. As a consolation prize, he offered to relocate me to Decatur. The deal involves me either postponing or denying any offer that comes from the licensing group.

Which brings up a difficult question: If I had peace when making the original decision, why do I not feel that peace this morning? I am certain that no matter how the decision had been made, the same flood of doubt and second guessing would overcome me at some point. With the international move, everything would have been done for me, but I still do not believe that is what the Lord wanted of me.

That option was a “dark horse” candidate, an aside rather than an opportunity I had been praying for. The move to Decatur, and more importantly the farm, was the object of our continual prayer. However, the move to the farm is fraught with difficulty and expense – which I will incur out of my own pocket. That is not necessarily a bad thing because everything done in the relocation will only move us toward our goal at the farm, but it is a lot of work that we will have to do. Some of it I am looking forward to, some of it not so much.

Nate, Cori and the kids will be coming over at the end of August so Grandpa and I will have help in getting the shop and apartment finished – and we will need the help. I have drawn up plans for the apartment and it should be relatively simple to accomplish as a part of the shop. Once that project is done, we will be ready to move – rather we will be better able to move. It is still moving Mama to an ever shrinking area. But who needs all of this stuff anyway?

During the sermon last night the preacher said that the Lord is teaching him to live like he is leaving. I am not completely sure how to apply that idea to what we are doing at the farm but I like the overall inclination of thought; that what we are to be doing with our lives ought to have an eternal focus rather than building ourselves a kingdom here. There are certain needs that this life and this world impose on us, but meeting those needs is never to become the focus of our lives. We should always be ready and willing to pack up, leave everything behind and move on when God calls.

When I think of Grandma and Grandpa, my mom and dad, Mama and I, I see a pattern of believers who practice this thought.

This world is not my home,

I’m just a passing through.

My treasures are laid up

Somewhere beyond the blue.

The angels beckon me from Heaven’s open door

And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

I want to leave this world better for my having been here, but I will be leaving.

Renewal of vows, corrections and healing, planning

Mama was reminding me last night that tomorrow is the family reunion in West Virginia. During that gathering, Grandma and Grandpa are scheduled to renew their wedding vows. This year will be their 50th wedding anniversary. Grandma’s brother Jack will be officiating the ceremony. Thought it is not required during this exchange of vows, he is an ordained minister. It is a reversal of sorts on the less than joyous meeting at the Justice of the Peace fifty years ago.


Grandma has not been feeling very well over the past several days and since she has anticipated this event for many months, it has her concerned. We are praying that she will get to feeling better so the second time around, it will be a very happy memory. Sometimes, when it comes to Grandma, happy memories are hard to make.

I will be leaving Amarillo this afternoon, heading to Bowie. Much of the stuff I have been asked to bring is setting by the door of the house. I could have brought it all with me this morning, but I have other assignments on Amarillo before I am fully authorized to leave. Most of those are shopping errands, but one is to vote in the runoff election for several Texas races.

As I went through downtown Amarillo yesterday evening, I could not find the building I was looking for where I could cast my vote. Mama and I have been there several times but for some reason, I was not successful in the time I had allotted myself. Since I am able to cast my vote today, I gave up after a little over a half hour, deciding instead to look the directions up so I could be better prepared today.

I spent a little over two hours with the two ladies that were having personality issues in the office in Guymon, OK. It took the first hour of talking to get them to look each other in the eye. From there they began to speak freely and communicate the hurts that had brought about the fracture in their relationship. Once one particular item was communicated and corrected, the entire atmosphere in the room changed.

Though it was obvious that the healing had begun there is still a huge amount of work to be done to restore the office to calm since the wounding has been communicated very broadly by one of the feuding parties. Everyone will have to be slowly brought into the reconciliation. One particular person, who is a trouble-maker, will have to be excluded from all conversations not directly work related.

Though it makes us feel empowered and vindicated to build alliances against someone we perceive to have wronged us, it can have disastrous consequences. Every time the offence is repeated into a receptive set of ears another stone is dropped into the pond of each person’s mental and emotional reserves and the ripples begin to move across the surface. Nothing will stop them; nothing can unless the Spirit of God brings calm to the water.

Neither of these ladies can undo what has been done but the greater harm was done by the one who kept the offence fresh in the mind of everyone she talked with. That is the point I needed to get across and I think the Lord allowed that to be done. There are several people I need to thank for their prayers. Those of you, who did so, thank you.

Chase is still looking at apartments in Amarillo in case things work out that he stays there for his schooling when and if Mama and I get to relocate. We had a pretty long discussion last night about how to budget for such an expense. I think he will do well, but he will need a roommate to make it work even though he is doing very well in his job at Sear’s. For the moment he and Bo York are talking about sharing the apartment. We will have to wait and see how that works out as Mama and discover the direction the Lord will take us.

As expected, I have heard nothing new concerning either of the pending job offers and the respective relocation opportunities.

Choices, updates, voting

As I sit here and gather my thoughts I am struck by the difficulty in making choices between better and best. As I was praying during this mornings commute (an hour drive) I was replaying some of the similar situations from the past. I came to the realization that I can have peace in almost any situation because I generally look for the best in whatever circumstances I find myself.


Given the gravity of the choices I need to make in the given circumstances, I will have to rely on the Lord for open and closed doors to help me make the right decision. I think it is already made and I am waiting on final confirmation, but waiting is always the difficult part.

To update you on Grandma and Grandpa, the trip to West Virginia went off without a hitch. Grandma traveled better than she had expected and Norman had a very nice bed ready for them upon arrival. He was able to but a sleep number bed in a California King size for under $400. It suites Grandma pretty well. Norman and Grandpa are already out doing landscape jobs. They are hoping to gather the money to purchase a baler that Grandpa will bring back to the farm – along with many other items Norman has set aside for the same purpose.

Both Grandpa and Norman had their eye on a particular baler several weeks ago and there was to be some arrangement made to hold that one for us pending getting the money accumulated. I do not know if that happened or not. I have been relying on prayer to hold the right baler at the right price. I am excited to see what the Lord has in answer to those prayers.

Mama gave me a late update yesterday on the chicks. As she had expected, only one of the two little hatchlings survived. It is solid black. Because of the way the coop is set up, she was able to separate the mama and her little one from the rest of the flock in order to help protect it from the pecking of the rest of the hens. Maybe this will make them jealous enough to have their own. We could use the little ones to replace the older hens through the coming season. (But if they have figured that out, we are sunk.)

Mama has been picking watermelon and cantaloupe. She has begun giving away the ripening fruit so that it does not go to waste. She told me that the okra and peppers are still producing but the heat is taking a severe toll on the plants. She also has plans for me to till the garden so we can begin our summer garden. There is no slowing this woman down, especially if the work can be done by me.

I plan to vote on my way home tonight. We have a runoff in three races leading up to the general election in November. It never ceases to amaze me what things you hear when political races are being run. As bold as the lies are in the coming presidential election, they are even more so in the local and state races. In order to make an informed decision, I have gone to some trusted websites to try to work my way through the nonsense.

I can only hope that the effort pays off.

My farm girl, work, Chase

Mama and Victoria have been canning salsa the last several days. Mama says it is definitely hot; spicy hot. Since we tend to like the medium more than the hot, that could be a problem. I suppose we can use it in bean dip or cheese dip but I will have to see just how hot it really is. The peach butter is done and Mama reports that it looks pretty good.


She called last night to tell me that we have baby chicks in the coop. The broody hen’s patience has paid off and the hatchlings are arriving. Mama was a little worried about one of the two new arrivals, but she was excited none the less. There are still three more eggs in the nest so we will have to wait a couple more days to see if they hatch or if they are duds. If they do not hatch, they will have to be disposed of carefully. They can be quite smelly.

I am still waiting on word from either group concerning job moves but there are situations brewing at one office that have spilled over into the overall operation to the point that I am at the point of pulling my remaining hair out. Personality conflicts are generally the most difficult conflicts to handle. When it is two women fighting it is more so. I have been praying about the situation as I have tried to help the two individuals work through it. Only God is able, but it has come to the point that I have to intervene more aggressively since the whole office is in turmoil. If there was any work related situation that would give me pause about staying where I am, it is one like this one. But it is only a little pause.

I took the opportunity to bounce the local job offer off a friend in the Borger office. As soon as I had explained the potential offer he was thrilled with it. His angle was a very practical one. His take on the move is that it would put me several years ahead on my retirement plans. That is a good observation. I will be limited as far as advancement at ConocoPhillips is concerned but I will be well ahead on all other fronts. I just have to wait and see if the offer comes or not.

Yesterday evening, Chase related his morning of looking at apartments in Amarillo and he seems to have focused in on one particular complex for future reference. He is worried that Makaila will go ahead and move out too soon. My caution to him was that she gives the idea several months to develop as she accumulates some money. It is a bad idea to take on an obligation of that duration and cost with no preparation. The cost is $625 per month if I remember correctly, but at that price, money can disappear very quickly. They were told the same sales pitch that the apartments are renting very quickly so they had better act soon. I still say, wait.

Chase also spent some time at the admissions offices at Amarillo College, a local Junior College. After I did some research, I discovered that his assertion that it was the best choice in the area for the education he is seeking is actually accurate. He wants to get some formal training in software and internet applications. They offer a two year degree whose graduates are highly sought after. He may really be on to something there.

We have had a chance to talk about his relationship with Makaila since it has been just the two of us at home in the evenings. I am beginning to see some clarity in the opinions he is forming and some deeper inspection of their two personalities. I am beginning to see a vision forming of what the future may be like for the two of them in the process of examining strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes, those things about a person that give them pause and how they might deal with those issues; how those weigh against each other and what each might be willing to overlook or adapt to for many years to come.

I’m just glad I have Mama.

New opportunity, other decisions

As I have been wrestling through the pros and cons of the Licensing job from the dual perspectives of work and family life I have run into some interesting paradoxes. How do I build the farm and an herb business from four thousand miles away vs. how do I build the farm and an herb business if I stay broke? There will be enough money to do all the things required at the farm if I take the job, but I will not be here to get it done. Can I put my life plans on hold for two years while I enjoy the next two years of life?


Our Pastor here tells me, as I have often told my children, that if there is no peace in the decision, keep on doing what you are doing until the Lord gives clear direction. That direction may have come yesterday. I got a call from my boss late yesterday. One of my peers is moving to a different position within ConocoPhillips. He is currently our Training Coordinator. I have offered several times to take over his training responsibilities while maintaining my current assignments. It seems he finally got hold of that thought.

As we talked, it became clear he did not want to loose me to the Licensing group. He would rather I attempt the expanded assignment while delegating greater responsibility within my group. I concur. He asked me to formalize the thought and give him a business plan while he conferred with his boss about the new assignment which would allow me to relocate to Decatur. If both the assignment and the move are approved I told him my preference is to stay but I would be foolish not to listen to the offer made by the Licensing group – if such an offer comes.

I bounced the whole argument off of Mama who was initially deflated by the whole potential change of plans but, after some discussion, came to see the validity of the argument. I cannot say at this point that I would not take the assignment in Licensing, but if the job change and relocation to Decatur becomes another option, that would be my preference.

I do not want to put too much weight on the whole discussions at this point but one of the troubling things about the decision is the nagging sense of impending disaster that looms over us as a nation – as well as each of us individually. I get the impression that it is time to play my cards close to the chest; that money without proximity may not be the best course of action at this point. In other words, it may be the wiser decision to take less but stay close. The time I could give to the family, the farm and a new business my yield greater fruit than money alone could purchase.

Mama made an interesting point that other than the travel and the money associated with the Licensing job, there is a good deal of recognition that accompanies the position. That is generally a career building plus, but it comes at a price and for the moment we are caught between the two options – since neither of the two is a formal offer at this point. Please pray with us: 1) that the right offer will come through, 2) that we allow the Spirit to guide our decision.

Chase is off today and he plans on spending the morning with Makaila and her mom looking at several apartments. It seems that Makaila’s mom (who is nearing delivery) is encouraging her to move out. Her argument, though not steadfast, is that there would be an additional room available for the new baby if hers is vacated. My response to Chase, “that’s just stupid.”

He is trying to pose a counter argument on Makaila’s behalf but I am not sure how much pressure she is under. Since she now works for her dad and is earning about $500 per week, they feel she is more than able to afford the rent – while her older sister continues to live at home. She told me the other day that her parents were not very good with money; point proven. At least both Chase and Makaila see the folly of assuming a years worth of obligation based on one weeks worth of earnings.

Oversights, moving friends, Chase’s new pets, Becky

With all the planning and execution of those plans for Mama, Grandma and Grandpa, my work schedule, etc. those of us west of the Mississippi forgot Blake’s birthday. Mama called me on either Friday evening or Saturday to inform me that “we” had forgotten our youngest grandson’s birthday. I have to take my share of the blame because I did not post a reminder on my calendar. Aside from that, I cannot be held too accountable. I do not remember anyone’s birthday other than Mama’s; but I am still sorry for the oversight. Blake is still too young to notice. His mother, on the other hand did notice. Hopefully she does not keep score.


Chase and I helped in two separate moves on Saturday. I worked with a crew to relocate the De La Garza’s and Chase went to Canyon to help a family in the church empty a storage unit and retrieve the contents to their home in Amarillo. In the process, Bobby and Sandra gave us the washer and dryer we had given them many months ago. Chase was given the snakes they had been housing.

The apartment they moved into was tiny. When we left in the early afternoon, there were barely pathways through the piles of boxes. All the furniture that had been moved into the space was buried under boxes. Many pieces of furniture had been left at the house they were moving out of. Some were taken by people helping in the move – like the washer and dryer – but a lot was left behind. I hope it does not overwhelm Sandra.

Chase’s experience was a little different. The unit they emptied was an accumulation of mostly worthless items that had been added to over the process of a decade. He talked about moving boxes of newspaper clippings dating back to 1982; mostly recipes that had obviously never been used. Everything was caked with dust – understandable in this area. It was all placed in a run down singlewide until there was no room to move. He said he felt like he was in an episode of hoarders.

On the bright side it did make him aware of the clutter and unnecessary mess he keeps in his room. I do not know how long the effects of the shock will remain with him, but for the moment, his room is much neater than it has been in quite some time. He even did a load of wash yesterday. I am not sure if he is more excited about the snakes he is keeping or the washer and dryer. We have not had a home laundry for three or four months.

Chase and Makaila successfully fed both snakes yesterday after we had eaten. I don’t know if the timing was right for Makaila because the entire process grossed her out, but there is almost always a morbid fascination with watching a snake take its prey. They are fed frozen baby mice. I always fed mine live mice, but it worked. We had to thaw a little pink newborn baby for the rat snake and a fuzzy older baby for the ball python. Mama does not approve any more than Makaila does, but both are willing to go along.

Becky called me; I believe it was Friday night. She was walking to work as she was leaving Charles – for good this time, she stated. It was a long discussion but the bottom line was a festering problem with Charles’s mother who has recently moved in with them. Having a mother-in-law in the home is never a good idea; much less so for Becky and Charles.

I assured her that Charles would come around once it settled in that she was taking her earning power with her she walked down the street. As it turned out, she called again on the following morning and when I asked her where she was, she told me she was at her home. I am not sure how the reconciliation took place, but for the moment there is some peace in the home. Pray for them.

I told Becky that she is going to have to take the lead spiritually. She has been trained to do so. He has not. She knows what needs to be done to get her life back on track with the Lord. It is time to start getting it done. Only God can make this situation right. Only salvation can enable Charles to be the kind of husband Becky needs.

Charles still thinks he is a gift to Becky: little does he know.

TSCRA, money, Mama, Grandma

Last night after work I attended a meeting of the Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association in Spearman, TX. It is a private company that provides thirty special rangers in the states of Texas and Oklahoma to investigate thefts on ranches and farms of organization members. I heard about them on the radio during my morning commute to Borger and since it was so close I decided to go.


I met some great people including one of our state House of Representative members – whose name I cannot remember, and a State Senator, Kel Seliger. I remember his name because he sat at the table with me, a gentleman named Dean Greene and Dean’s son, Brennan. I also talked at length with Special Ranger Ben Eggleston. It was well worth the time to go. Eventually I will join the organization to support the special services they offer, but I could not do it last night.

I also met the gentleman who owns one of the two feedlots in Hereford, TX. It is a 30,000 head operation. We got to talk about the market and how the rising cost of corn will affect him in his operation. He uses the wet corn mash sold by a local ethanol plant in his feed regimen and was shocked that I knew anything about it. I only know because Mama and I visited the manager of one of those plants when we were our doing follow up visits for the church. It really is an amazingly connected world.

I was careful to let Mama know how much money we had available through the remainder of the month with the caveat that I had not been told how much our insurance payment would be this month – with State farm it seems to fluctuate a good deal. As it turned out, what we owed was enough to use up – and then some – of what we had available for the remainder of July. She was canning peaches and wanted to know if she could buy another case of canning jars. I had to say no, but we have freezer bags to put them in; if there is room in the freezers after they were loaded with the pork we recently picked up. It could be a long ten days until I get paid again. But at least Mama and Victoria will eat well.

Chase was scrambling for food yesterday. We have things available that I will cook when I am off this weekend but with Mama leaving on Wednesday morning and me getting home just in time to get ready for church that evening I did not fix any dinner. Last night I got home at 9 p.m. He called me yesterday afternoon and asked if there were any frozen items he could heat up. There is not much of that is the house. I think he settled for a sandwich. He went to Makaila’s house after she got off from work so I assume he ate there. Poor guy! He does not get paid until next Friday.

Mama told me last night that Grandma is a nervous wreck as they prepare for the trip to West Virginia. She has never traveled well and with the pain she is feeling right now, traveling is self-imposed torture. She has finally recognized that what she is eating and drinking is exacerbating the conditions causing her pain. Both Grandma and Grandpa are scheduled to see Jonas while they are in West Virginia. Maybe she is really ready to hear.

Be praying for them as they travel. It is a long trip.

Disconnected, travel plan update, Chase in sales

It is interesting to how disconnected I feel knowing Mama is away. Each of us attended church services last night with out each other. Each of us was asked by the people around us where the other was and each of us gave our respective answers. We said our goodnights long distance and will continue in that manner for many days to come. Maybe this is a taste of what may come should I take the licensing job. It is definitely a taste of what Maggie and soon, Brittany, will be patiently pacing themselves through. It is not necessarily difficult but it is different.


I spoke with Ruben Yoder yesterday afternoon about the possibility of him conducting an herbal training session for us in Decatur while he and his family are in the Dallas area. It will be during the last week of August and although I am not sure of the venue I am excited about the prospect of getting the help and the exposure within the community. I have always thought about doing this very thing but have been unsuccessful at getting anything started. Even though this may not be any more than a practice run, every little step forward helps.

We will firm up the details in the coming days but I have invited him and his family to our farm during the time they are in the area. It, too, is not much yet but it is a good start and I know they will enjoy the freedom to run. He is traveling with his wife and their two boys, age 3 and 5. That ought to be a great road trip for them and a business building venture for me and Mama. At least I am entertaining that hope.

I seem to have trouble getting my days right concerning the departure date for Grandma and Grandpa. They are leaving tomorrow. The date has always been Friday I just have had trouble remembering where that day falls relative to where I am at the time. Like the man who called up the control tower at the local army base to ask the time. The air traffic controller asked, “What branch of the service are you in?” the caller, taken aback by the question asked, “What possible difference could that make?” “Well,” he responded, “if you are a civilian, it is 3 p.m. If you are in the Army, it is 1500 hours. If you are in the Air Force it’s Thursday, but if you are in the Marines, it’s July.”

Anyway, they are still planning on leaving in the morning and making it as far as they can. I do not know if they are planning on taking two days or more to get to Point Pleasant. That will depend largely on Grandma and how much she can tolerate. I do know the return trip will be several weeks out if not a month away. Mama will stay for the duration to help ensure all the farm chores get done. With the pigs gone there is less of a load but we still have the dogs, chickens, horses and the donkeys.

It has been so dry that there is little else to do as far as mowing or gardening. We are keeping up with the plants that are still producing: watermelon, cantaloupe, tomatoes, peppers and onions. But it is more a matter of harvesting what ripens that it is weeding or hoeing. I am not sure how the chickens are doing as far as laying eggs. The summer seems to have slowed them down some. It has been brutally hot.

Andrew Fie is going to buy a TV from Chase next week. He had Chase do some research to find him a deal at a certain price, a certain minimum size with the extended warranty. Chase told him last night what he had found so he and Andrew will complete the deal when Chase is working and Andrew is off. The plan is for Monday but we will wait and see how that works out.

Chase is excited about the prospect.

Mrs. Watson, faith issues, more travel, Aaron, farm visitors

Mama and I worked a little over an hour at Mrs. Watson’s last night. She has a little patch of flower bed in front of her condo/townhouse. It is about fifteen feet long and about three feet wide. Last night I finished pulling up the bushes that had died there, cut the grass and weeds off of the area and put down some landscaping mesh in preparation for gravel being bought to cover the area. Mrs. Watson was delighted with the progress on the landscaping and all the conversation that went along with it.


I described her dwelling as a condo/townhouse since I am unsure of the definition. Here is the formal definition: A condominium is a housing structure that is a part of a bigger unit or building and the owner of the condo owns the interiors independently and the other services in the building jointly with other condo owners. A townhouse is a style of housing where a row of identical houses share walls. The discrepancy is often in a person’s perception of the unit. Some view a condo as more upscale. Mrs. Watson lives in a townhouse though she prefers to refer to it as her condo.

Before Mama and I left we took time to pray for her daughter – who is probably our age. Like many in my generation, she was raised in church. Then came life with its disappointments and successes; seemingly unaffected by the prayers prayed for help or in thanks. So they have left God thinking it is not worth the trouble to give someone else credit or blame in their lives. They tend to give themselves extra credit when they do not blame God.

I believe it was Dr. Hyles who preached that all of our failures are prayer failures. The real praying generation was the one before my mom and dad. We have not been taught to pray, to take the time required to get a hold of God with importunity. The old folks called it “praying through”. We who were more enlightened than our father’s preached that God knows the heart and does not require such careful explanation or participation on our part.

What we failed to recognize is that God truly does know our hearts but that we have not been careful to know our own hearts. Jeremiah 17:9 says, the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it: certainly not we ourselves. So we pat each other on the back, full of sympathy, empty of the knowledge of God, wondering why our parents saw church as necessary at all. Though my generation questions the faith of our parents there is still a respect for their beliefs in large part. The generation following has outright contempt for matters of faith. It is truly sad.

Mama leaves today for the farm. Grandma and Grandpa leave tomorrow for West Virginia. Because we are not sure when they will be back, Mama and I have kept our plans open. I will need to be in Decatur on the 1st and 2nd of August. All other trips to the area will be to see Mama. Hopefully, all will work out well and Grandma and Grandpa will be back in two or three weeks, if not, Mama will spend over a month as backup at the farm. It is such a sacrifice on her part.

Aaron will be home today – according to recent news from Maggie. Something is broken on the boat and they are not allowed to patrol without the piece of equipment functional. I am not even sure Maggie knows what the piece of equipment is, although I am almost certain Aaron has told her. She is just excited he will be with her today. So far we have not been told how this will effect his current patrol duration. That will come later.

Cori and Nate and the kids are planning on traveling to the farm in late August. At least, that is what I think Mama told me. Sadly, the pigs will not be there for Grant’s inspection. Their carefully packaged remains are being picked up today by Grandma and Grandpa. That ensures we will eat well while they are at the farm. Mama did mention taking the grandkids shopping for a pygmy goat. That probably will not happen since we are not ready to house a goat. Besides, I do not want to saddle Grandpa and Victoria with another pet if Mama and I get sent overseas.

The sad part of the idea is that Mama’s will usually prevails in such ventures.

Yard work ministry, shopping for the wedding, prayers

Mama worked with one of the older ladies in our church yesterday. She is 74 years old and lives in a nice town house near the church. She had a stroke many years ago and has had to give up many activities she used to enjoy; one of which is yard work. Mama helped her with her little yard space yesterday. I do not know what they did other than pull weeds and tidy it up but Mama and I bought two little plants last night at Lowe’s to put in the space when she goes back over on Wednesday with Chase to do some heavier tasks.


Mama has discovered a new found freedom to visit some of the older ladies in our church. She has begun to visit Mrs. Patrick on a regular basis when she is in town and now Mrs. Watson has been added to the list. It is a ministry for which she is well qualified.

Mama is leaving for Bowie on Wednesday afternoon or possibly Thursday morning. Grandma and Grandpa are still planning to leave on Friday. He has done most of the prep work he had scheduled on the truck and trailer and Grandma is psyching herself up for the journey. In preparation, Mama has been shopping for a wedding outfit for Grandma and yesterday she struck pay dirt. I hope Grandma is as thrilled with the outfit as Mama is.

Mama and I were out on Saturday evening after the conference looking for a specific style and color of shirt for the same occasion. Mama was very frustrated and threatened to give up shopping altogether. (We all know that is not going to happen.) I am still not sure what we were looking for even though it was described to me several times. I know it had to be red and I was having trouble with even that defining characteristic.

Nothing I found was really red even though I remain unconvinced of the dismissal. Whatever it was we were having no luck finding it. But we did come across a wrap that Mama bought. Oddly enough, it was “off white” and not even close to the item which had been described to me as the object of our search. It bothered me a little since none of the “off red” items I found were even given consideration. Never-the-less, it was incorporated into the final outfit. The bridal fitting is Thursday night so be praying for that.

Mama and I are praying about the job I have applied for. We never really know how such a position will affect our lives and our marriage. The demands of licensing can be burdensome. There are times of very short notice to fly to a plant in some far flung part of the world to help them through a problem. There are assignments where it would not be practical to take Mama. Want I need to find out is whether or not they are looking to station us somewhere for a year or more or whether they will look to me to shuttle from one project to another for several weeks at a time.

Although Mama would be available to go with me wherever I was sent, the same is not true for Chase. He is the wild card in the venture. Our obligations to him are not yet complete. He cannot stay behind the way Joshua did when we went to New Jersey. It would not be practical for him to hop from one location to another with us – unless he would choose to do so for a year or more. Remembering back to my youth, at his age, a year looks like a small section of eternity and being encumbered in a relationship with a young lady only makes the time traveling abroad look more unattractive.

As Mama and I began to pray together last night I told her we had two weeks or so to pray this through since I probably will not hear anything before the end of the month. When I do hear back I fully expect to be asked to interview with the position manager in Houston. It is there that I will find out all the particulars associated with the job. That will more fully direct our prayers.

For the moment we are fully loaded up with my work demands, the farm and all that goes along with that, trying to order our lives to live in two places at once, watch over Chase as he makes the final preparations to enter life on his own, and help provide for Grandma and Grandpa as they approach the end of their race. Whether or not we get the licensing job, we will praise the Lord and press on.

Times are tough but God id good!

The seminar, Victoria, job update, Chase

The seminar at the church this weekend was really good. Mama and I enjoyed it thoroughly and I think Victoria did also. She missed Friday night because she was too hung over from the root canal she had done earlier that morning. On Saturday morning there was a joint session, and then the women and men split out into separate sessions. When we rejoined, Victoria told me she had enjoyed the lecture but she could have done without the last fifteen minutes. Mama told me it dealt with distracting your husband in a good way.


She headed home after we got out of the seminar Saturday afternoon. There was to be a dinner after church in Decatur Sunday afternoon and she wanted to get back to Bowie so she would have time to prepare something for the occasion. Mama and I really miss such fellowships. We have not been to one since we left Western Hills Baptist Church in Victoria, TX. Mama and I are pretty sure the church in Decatur would have the same relaxed, folksy atmosphere that we missed while we were in New Jersey.

Victoria will have to make the trip back over in a couple weeks to get the permanent crown put in. She is greatly relieved as far as the pain goes. I, on the other hand, am only beginning to experience the pain caused our finances by the dental work. What is worse, Mama and I have to get some work done pretty soon; I am experiencing a constant dull pain from a tooth I need to have worked on. For now the prognosis is that it only requires a filling. We will see if that is where it ends.

I got an email response to my question about the licensing job with ConocoPhillips. When I am interested in a particular job I usually contact the hiring manager and ask if there is a pre-identified candidate. If there is, I back away. In this case I am being told there is no such candidate for the position. I should say positions. The response indicated that the licensing group is looking to beef up their operating force from 8 to 28 over the next two years. This is the first of many attempts to secure people to fill those slots.

The hiring manager’s immediate goal is to get at least two people to begin expanding his work force. With that thought in mind, it would seem pretty sure that I will get a good looking over, given my background. I am trying to not let my focus move in that direction but it is difficult. I have a job and it would be disastrous to lose focus until there is a valid reason to shift that focus. To date, that is not the case.

Makaila went to both services with us yesterday – or rather, went to both services with Chase. Chase asked if he could spend the afternoon at her house but we balked. Instead he spent the afternoon sleeping – which is exactly what he needed to be doing. After church a group of folks went to IHOP to eat and visit. Chase and Makaila went along. Mama took a lady who is visiting our church home so when she got to our house I asked if she would like to go out also but we elected not to. Instead we were in bed by 10:30.

I had my usual Sunday night sleep pattern. I am not sure why I have that struggle but I do.

Victoria and the dentist, a job, Grandma and Grandpa, money – no worries

Victoria went to a dentist in Bowie last week to have a tooth looked at. She, like Joshua, waited way too long to have the work done and a root canal is now required. She was not impressed with the dentist there so she drove to Amarillo on Wednesday afternoon to have our dentist here do the work. She has been on antibiotics for several days but was also prescribed pain pills in order to combat the toothache.


She took a pain pill yesterday afternoon prior to seeing the dentist. That was at 3:30 p.m. The dentist examined her tooth and set up an appointment for this morning. Victoria thought she was unaffected by the hydrocodone until about 5:30 p.m. Then it kicked in. She was a groggy mess for the remainder of the evening but instead of lying down to sleep it off a little she stayed up and fought it all evening. I am surprised she did not bite her tongue at dinner. I kept slurring my speech as I repeated her words back to her. She was more frustrated with me than the tooth by the time I went to bed.

She and Mama will go back today to have the work done. I think she plans on doping up again. This evening should be fun especially since she plans on going out with the singles attending tonight’s Marriage Enrichment seminar. I wish Chase was going too but he has the weekend planned and this was not a part of it. Honestly, it came up on us suddenly because we have been away, but I try to take every opportunity to strengthen my marriage.

Most of my children know that I have applied for a job with ConocoPhillips licensing division. The focus of the projects at this point in time, and for the nest two years, is Australia. Also included in the areas of focus are Trinidad and Tobago, Equatorial Guinea and Louisiana. I was not sure how Mama would react to my desire to apply so on Wednesday I called her to feel her out.

“Is Australia close enough to Bowie that I can apply for a job there?” is how I framed the question. Within less than three milliseconds I got my answer. “Australia!” she shouted as I pulled the phone away from my ear. It was Mama’s positive, excited shout. So I applied yesterday. I emailed the sponsor of the job early on Wednesday but I did not get an answer until this morning. I will fill all of you in on the details on Monday but I want Mama to be the first to hear. It is mostly positive.

The posting will not come down until the 23rd so I do not think I will hear anything before the end of the month. Keep me in your prayers on that, please.

Grandma and Grandpa are gearing up for the trip to West Virginia. I think Victoria should donate her left over pain meds to the cause. It will be difficult for Grandma. Norman has stockpiled items to be brought back to the farm. When the baler is purchased, it should fill the trailer and truck to the max. They might look like the Beverly Hillbillies on their return to Texas. We are not sure of how soon they will be able to come home. It is totally dependent on money. Norman is trying to schedule some jobs for him and Grandpa to do while Grandpa is there to help, so please add that to your prayer list.

This month has been a real struggle financially. Last month I did not have the money to do all the things required of me and Mama but we plowed through anyway. This month and next will be the catch up time. That, in and of itself, is incredibly stressful to me. It has been quite some time since I have seen my accounts so poorly stocked, but we are making it. We are quickly gaining ground but it requires a very strict adherence to our budget. It has been an unpleasant learning experience for Mama, but it has answered a prayer I have been praying that we all regain a more practical sense of the worth of money.

All in all, it has been a wonderful trial.

Chase and courting

I have been writing about how Mama is dealing with the relationship between Chase and Makaila but I have not been able until recently to put into words what it is that is troubling Mama so much. As I was praying yesterday the Lord gave me some insight into how to voice those concerns to Chase so he would understand where the uneasiness originates. Chase has asked several times why we do not trust him and my answer has been “because you cannot trust you and you are too young to know it.”


Based on some recent events in our circle of friends he has come to understand what I am saying when I give him that answer – especially when it comes to being alone with a female companion. But he and Mama are still wrestling with the other time spent together with either our family or her family. So last night after church, I tried to explain it again.

I asked him to think back over the dating relationships of his older siblings – four of whom are now married. I asked him to recount how many of those prospective suitors got to do what he is doing; spend hours at one house or another in the company of the one being courted. How many times could he remember Nate hanging out at our house, or Aaron, or Andrew? (We were leaving Charles out of the discussion for the moment because I feel that he and Becky got this part of proper Christian dating completely wrong.)

All of the relationships that ended up in the marriages of his three sisters were long distance relationships and we did not have to deal as a family with the constant visitation of the prospective paramour; not that that would have been a bad thing. It is just not the way it was done.

What he and Makaila are doing in their quest to spend time together is very like what I did when I had girlfriends in my teen years. As much as Grandma tried to encourage romances in Mama’s life she never had boyfriends constantly at her house. (Although I find it hard to believe she was not constantly asked out in her teen years because she was hot.) So this is Mama’s first experience in sharing her youngest son with another female. Since she has not totally acquiesced to the relationship, it is a struggle for her. I assume it is a struggle for most mothers but I only know Mama’s apprehensions in this romance. (I am not even sure if Chase thinks of this as a romance. I am pretty sure Makaila does.)

The caveat is that while Chase is spending time with Makaila, testing his skills in relationships with the opposite sex, it may well be that she is less concerned about relational skills development vs. strengthening her attachment to him personally. The expectations of the two parties involved may be vastly different. There may be heartbreak ahead thought at this point it would be difficult for either of them to see.

I did not leave a trail of broken hearts in my wake as I kept company with the young ladies I courted before Mama came into my life but the process left such a terrible taste in my mouth that I swore off of courtship for several years. Then I met Mama.

The bottom line: Marriage is the second most important decision a person will make – assuming they are committed to making it only once. Since courtship can lead to marriage, it should be examined closely and bathed in prayer. I do not know if Chase is praying about it. I do not know if Makaila is capable of praying about it. Mama and I do not know if either of them will make a decision concerning their relationship based on God’s will rather than convenience or acquiescence.

Chase has chosen well for his first amour. God is willing to lead. We hope they are willing to follow.

Pig delivery complete, shopping, Rosie and Mama, Chase

Grandpa and Grandma made it to the butcher with the pigs yesterday and as Grandma tells it, the people there unloading the pigs were quite impressed with the modifications made to the trailer. Turns out, the pigs spent all day Monday and Monday night on the trailer. Grandpa loaded them at the morning feeding time on Monday morning. They were parked in the shade, fed well and wet down when it got hot. They thought they were at a traveling spa. Ignorance is bliss.


I still have not heard about the job I applied for that would move us to Decatur. I am confident I should hear this week but I have no idea if I am still a candidate for the job. During my mid-year review I was told that the entire scope of the job had changed and much of that change would shift the job away from what made it attractive to me in the initial offering. We will see what happens as the final decision comes down.

Last night was another short evening for me but Mama and I went to an oriental grocery store to see if we could find the noodles to make our favorite Korean dish: japchae. The main ingredient is a noodle made from sweet potatoes. We were successful. The dried noodle isle had about two hundred types of noodles – mostly made from rice. We found what we were looking for in the last section of the isle. What was exciting is that they were very inexpensive. We also bought ingredients for several other dishes. Mama took the Korean cookbook she had been given by Andrew’s mom and grandmas so we played “show and tell” with the employees as we hunted fro the ingredients. It was fun.

We took Rosie for a walk after we got back. She has been recovering from a bad back injury the whole time we have been away. She is doing well but is still very overweight from what Mama normally keeps her. She started the mile walk with us in her normal fashion; barking at everything and everyone she saw, pulling against the restraint and running as far ahead of us as the leash would allow.

We were not quite half way through and all that stopped. She still stopped at every enticing smell she came across but the pulling stopped, the straining stopped. She struggled to keep up. It worked out pretty well for Mama. She was struggling to keep up too. Her left knee has been bothering her for several weeks now. Last night was no exception. When we got home Rosie flopped onto her pallet of blankets and did not move the remainder of the evening. Mama pretty well stopped too.

Chase asked to go to Makaila’s house last night and Mama said no. She thinks he is spending too much time with her. I am less concerned but I do not see it from Mama’s perspective. When I did not jump in to defend her position I guess she assumed as much. Mind you, Chase was complying with the decision but during dinner he thought of something he had left at Makail’s house that Mama had wanted brought back home – some Pensacola Beach sand.

Soon after supper she relented and let him go with the express mandate that he come home by 9 p.m. Chase protested playfully to the early curfew but I explained that the family there, like our family, will not participate in certain activities while there is a guest in the house. So, in order to allow them to get settled down (they have a two year old in the home) and ready for the night, it would be best to be out of their way at an earlier hour than curfew.

I just hope he remembered the sand.

Work, Mama’s schedule, the hogs, training this weekend

Chase has begun working two jobs. He was already hired on at Sears before we left. They held a spot open for him while we were on vacation. Since he has gotten back he has also been hired on at Best Buy. He is working the phone sales area – I think. He is coordinating hours between the two to see which works out best but he should be able to get close to forty hours per week between the two.


We have seen a lot of Makaila this week. She went to both services with us on Sunday and was over for dinner last night. I believe both she and Chase are working today so Mama will be on her own for the first time in weeks. Fortunately, Rosie is at home with her so she has some company. We are still without a washer and dryer so she may have to do some washing today. I am never quite sure of that schedule.

She will be going back to the farm on the 18th in order to help Victoria cover the feeding of the animals and the many other little things that need to be done on a daily basis at the farm. Grandma and Grandpa will be leaving on the 20th. The only caveat is that they may not be back for a month, depending on finances. I cannot spend that much time in Bowie because of my duties here, so it could be a period of some separation for us. We will wait and see. It is not like she is too far away.

She was on her own most of last night. After dinner I shaved, showered and went to bed. Chase and Makaila went out for ice cream and Mama baked cookies. I think I was in bed before 8 p.m. Not much romance there but I slept very poorly the night before. I think I may have gotten three hours of sleep. I guess I went to bed bailing hay, but I am not sure how to compensate other than playing catch up over the next several nights.

Grandpa is supposed to take the hogs to the butcher this morning. I did not hear anything about how he was progressing last night but I think we were pretty well ready with the trailer. Since it is makeshift I am a little worried about the whole exercise but Grandpa is not inclined to borrow anything he does not absolutely have to. Please pray it will go well. It is only about fifty miles to the drop off point. We are fairly confident the modifications we made to the trailer will hold them for that long.

I am making plans to get rid of the two older horses next month. That will leave us with only the filly – Misty. We have been offered another horse but have declined so far. Knowing Mama, we will have to get another horse so Misty will have company. I am looking for ways to simplify the farm demands and lower the expenses but I am struggling with the notion that, for some reason, our animals require their own pets. (Too many Disney movies.)

Mama and I are attending a Marriage Enrichment Seminar this weekend at our church. The church is struggling with what to call the seminar because Pastor wants the singles to attend also. After all, the more insight they have into marriage before they do marry, the better their chances of starting off right. I can understand the discomfort of the singles with the overall theme, but I do think it is a good idea for them to get involved.

I am supposed to take Mama out on a date Friday evening before going to the opening service at the church later that night. Classes and training sessions will continue all day Saturday and into Sunday.

I am looking forward to it.

Vacation’s over, fireworks, fishing, travel plans

I worked out of the Decatur office on the 2nd and 3rd of July but is still felt a little like vacation since I had off the remainder of the week due to holidays and vacation on that Friday. Now that we are back in Amarillo and I am sitting in the Borger office it feels like vacation is really over. We have to rearrange the bedroom for Chase since he is back home and Mama is going to pick up the mail we have been accumulating for about a month. We are back to the grind – it is a little anticlimactic.


The 4th was fun for us. We went to the church in Decatur as usual on Wednesday night. After the service we went to the spot we were told was the best place to watch a fireworks display. Many of the church people were there also so we had a great visit with several families as we waited for the show to commence. It turned out to be the best display of fireworks I had ever seen. Mama assured me Disney World was better but I don’t think that is a fair comparison.

Chase had asked me about purchasing some fireworks for us to fire off but I balked at the idea. I have seen too many injuries as a result of people handling gunpowder without any idea how to do it safely. As a case in point, the boyfriend of one of the ladies we recently hired is currently in the Ft Worth burn unit because of a fireworks accident. They are beginning skin grafts in the next few days. It is sad how a momentary lapse in judgment can change a person’s life so quickly.

On Thursday evening I went to the big pond on our farm to see if there were any fish in it. Tuesday night I had gone there to see if I could shoot some turtles in order to keep them in control and I noticed several swirls on the water that are usually a good indicator of fish. I was not disappointed. After getting my bait stolen several times I cast into a likely area and the hook was immediately taken by something large enough to bend my pole over pretty significantly. It was a large mouth bass – about a pound and one half.

It was the biggest fish I caught that night but it was encouraging. Victoria was really shocked. She had seen the pond when the drought was at its worst. It was a muddy collection of water about fifteen lower that it is now. Somehow those fish survived. I caught two other bass. One was only about three inches long and one was not even hooked. He came up because he refused to let go of the worm. We have a reproducing population of bass in the pond. What a blessing!

Grandpa and I worked on outfitting one of our trailers to be ready to transport the hogs to the butcher. I think they are scheduled for delivery tomorrow. The makeshift panels should hold them for the trip but we will only know in the execution of the transport. Picking up the meat after processing should not be a problem – paying for it is somewhat problematic.

Grandma and Grandpa are scheduled to go to West Virginia on the 20th. I have not been able to help them financially so it has taken them several months to accumulate the money to get there. They are conspiring with Norman to get some jobs while Grandpa is there to help so that they can buy a baler Norman found and get the money to get back to Bowie.

The renewal of their wedding vows is scheduled some time while they are there. That is the only reason Grandma is considering the trip. I know the family reunion is also during that time so it will be very busy for the two of them. I hope all power is restored to the area by that time. I heard on the radio this morning that much of Kanawah County, West Virginia is without power this morning. Some of the more rural counties are still recovering from severe storms that ripped through the area over a week ago.

Please pray for Grandma and Grandpa’s health and finances.

Going home, new rules, Chase’s expectations, non-normal conditions

Brittany and Andrew stayed over at the farm through yesterday evening. They both napped through the afternoon and left around 10 p.m. At least, that is what I knew as I went to bed. I tried to call this morning but did not get an answer. We should hear from them sometime later today.


I picked the peaches from one of our trees. I think there were nine in all. Not an orchard by anyone’s definition but it is the first fruit we have harvested from the trees we have planted. Grandpa and I are learning some hard lessons about farming and growing in this area. What we had learned in West Virginia does not necessarily translate to the requirements of local agriculture. Grandpa is watching, asking questions and learning a new set of rules. I am getting it second hand, but I am getting it. We are both reading a lot.

For instance, we are not going to plant any trees or bushes in the spring any more. If we cannot afford to make the purchases in the fall all such purchases will wait until the following fall when there is sufficient rain to help the plant get established. We also are figuring out where to plant certain plants and trees. Some of those places are not the most aestheticly pleasing locations, but they are the most practical. Landscaping will be a major challenge. Some plants will not flourish where Mama will want them without requiring constant watering. We will work it out but we may kill a few plants in the process.

Chase gets to go back to Amarillo on Thursday so he is patiently enduring the farm until them. He is certainly not enjoying it the way Mama and I do. Mama said he described the work they were doing in the garden as “boring” and in all likelihood, it probably was. They were pulling up the dried up bean plants to clear the garden and gather the dried pods so the seeds could be set aside for next season’s planting. Such work is certainly not exciting but it is necessary if we are to have a garden next year without the price tag of new seed being involved.

Much of the work we do in not exciting; laundry, washing dishes, scrubbing toilets, mowing the grass, etc. But is all has to be done if we are to get the full benefit the many blessings God has given us. I like what Pastor Chadwick says, “The real reward of work is work.” In our youth we might have seen working a job for the money alone as the reward, but as life increases our responsibilities and assignments, we who have a good work ethic, go to our jobs for reasons that stretch far beyond the money we earn in that persuit; dependability, trustworthiness, both to our employer and the loved ones for whom we are providing, self-worth, independence and most of all prudence.

In a society where it is no longer necessary to work in order to eat, it is difficult to convince a person that the sense of self-worth derived from personally providing for the needs of your family cannot be accurately measured; even when that provision is in the form of gathering and drying seeds to be planted next year. It is an enormous sense of accomplishment for me and Mama as well as Grandma and Grandpa. That little victory goes a long way to offset the sometimes larger failures we have suffered through in our attempts to learn to make a farm in this area.

Norman, as well as much of West Virginia, is without power. He said one of the local service stations opened briefly yesterday to sell off the freezer and refrigerated items getting ready to spoil. It was a madhouse. Without power everything had to me done with pencil and paper. People were not patient. Without power there was no air conditioning. People were hot. Without power the gas pumps could not be operated so people looking to fill their tanks got angry enough to ram their cars into each other and the store building.

It makes my insistence on purchasing some freeze dried food for emergencies seem more urgent. We do have several shelves of canned food and are getting ready to butcher two hogs. We have chickens, eggs and ripening fruit and vegetables in the garden. We even have one hen setting on some eggs to hatch out little ones which will perpetuate our flock. So we would be okay for a short while if things got like they are where disasters have recently struck. After all, that is why we are buying the farm.

It does show that it would not take long for things to get really, really crazy when those who have not prepared are faced with the needs they cannot supply - even basic needs. I remember hauling water from our creek to flush toilets and being thankful for the nearby creek and the buckets to haul the water in.

Right now a little preparation would go a very long way.

Waking differently, the little van, updates

Yesterday was the first morning in two weeks that we have not been wakened by our grandchildren. It was a bitter sweet for me and Mama but it was a Sunday morning so the hurry associated with getting ready for Sunday School overwhelmed the moment. It was especially hurried because we had Brittany and Andrew at the farm with us. Since there is only one bathroom at our end of the mobile home it was a coordination nightmare to get everyone the time needed to prepare for the day, but we made it…sort of. We were only a few minutes late.


The little van groaned its way all the way back to Bowie and still had enough wear left in the power steering pump to get us to church and back twice. I am sure we will have to get it replaced soon but for now we are still making do. Grandpa and I will work on the O2 sensor in the next couple days. It also needs to be replaced. From there we will track down any other little problems we are having.

I told Mama as we were traveling back on Saturday that I am about through traveling with dogs. Dodger was a nervous wreck through most of the thirteen hours we were on the road. We did not have Lucy on the way back because Andrew and Brittany had taken her with them when they came back through Florida on Thursday. It was enough to deal with Dodger. He hates confined spaces. He was so glad to get back to the farm that he has not even wanted to come into the house for more than a few minutes.

Mama and I took Jake to the airport in Pensacola Thursday afternoon. He did very well in the parting. He and Mama have conspired to get together “every other year or every other other year” for the duration of his life. It is nice to have that kind of influence in his life. While he was with us he got a Bible from the thrift store in Bowie. He read out of it every day and carried it with him proudly. I marked the Roman’s Road in his Bible and showed him how to use it. On Wednesday night before he left he was practicing with Mykenzie.

I am sure the Lord will use him at some point but there is much prayer required to keep him close to the Lord since the only positive spiritual influence he has is with Mama and me. We need to pray the Lord will send someone into his life that will guard and instruct him Biblically. We need to pray that his parents and his brother will get saved and get involved in a good Bible preaching fundamental church. It was a joy to have him with us.

Joshua had to head back to Victoria, TX the morning after the wedding – which went very well, by the way. His ride was on her way back through Saturday morning so we met them at the intersection of I-10 and Avalon Boulevard in Milton as they made their way back west. I assume he arrived safely since we have not heard any news to the contrary.

Brittany and Andrew will be heading out this morning for Colorado Springs. An all clear was issued for the area where they live. They did not suffer any loss in the recent fires that ravaged the area but they should be able to see first hand and up close the charred remains since the fire burned to within several hundred feet of the dorms at the Air Force Academy. I do not know how much of the Academy grounds were affected but it appears it was extensive.

Chase will head to Amarillo on Thursday. He has a job with Sears in their electronic department. He is pretty excited about it. Mama and I will head home on Saturday. For the moment, we are going to enjoy some time on the farm.

There is a lot of work to do and it will be a good change of pace.