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.