Welcome to Monday, another opportunity for us all to make a difference!

It is Monday, October 27, 2008 and the news on the radio about the world economy is bad, bad, and more bad. How bad is it? It must be pretty bad because I think they have run out of superlatives, adjectives, and other ways to communicate the depths of what may be a very rough ride over the next several months. As for the 700 billion of our tax dollars we've handed over to the Treasury Secretary to pretty much spend as he decides, well, would you believe that folks from every industry known to humanity, from sea to shining sea, are in line to get some of the loot that is going to be doled out? Local governments, state governments, large, medium, and small businesses all see themselves as key to getting the economy back on track, therefore, they see themselves as deserving of some bailout funding. Meanwhile, the average Jack and Jill will eventually get the full measure of this split the loot program and may end up with no pail or no water. BUT, our trust is not in Mr. Paulsen or Mr. Benanke, or in the federal government, or even in what we can see and touch in front of our eyes, our trust is in the Lord our God and we have His word on it that He will never leave nor forsake us and that we will have victory in the end!


Sometime later this morning there will be some sounds emanating from our damaged home that have not yet been heard. It will be the sound of the early restoration process being implemented. FINALLY. You might remember that I used that old proverb that every journey begins with a first step in many of my blogs. Well, we are making that first step and hopefully will be pursuing a schedule that will get us back into our house before Christmas, maybe in early December, Lord willing and the weather holds up. That's not to say there's not but a few million details that yet have to be worked out but at least we see the train beginning to rev its engines in preparation for leaving the station. Our nephew and his dad are going to be the leaders on this project. The nephew is a skilled builder with over 25 years of experience. His dad, my wife's brother, is a man of God, who has served in his calling to preach for 44 years. What a combination! A master builder working with a man who believes in moment by moment contact with the Master. May God bless them as they seek to get this project completed.


On Saturday we spent most of the day getting stuff ready to be stored in one of those temporary containers. Those 16 foot boxes do hold quite a bit of stuff. We had at least sixty large boxes and other miscellaneous items to load but before we got that done we called our middle son and more or less told him we had a need for a break and would he please bring his four offspring over to see their MiMi and Poppy. He did, they came, we hugged and loved on our little ones, we took them to McDonalds, we soaked up as much of their energy as we could, then they went on their way, and we returned to the task at hand. Our eldest and his wife showed up and literally provided much of the back breaking labor required to load all of this up. Needless to say, we didn't have to be rocked to sleep Saturday evening. Yeah, we have too much stuff. Most people do. A tremendous amount of what we have is sentimental memorabilia. Box after box of memories. I told my wife last evening on the way to our local Church services that perhaps coming out of all this we will do something about trying to live with less stuff, a more simple life, without so many items, and decorations and other such junk. It was a good thought and we might do something but we likely will end up filling up the restored place in no time at all. Have a great week and remember God is at the wheel and we should most definitely leave the driving to HIM! Amen. ...More later.