Have had an interesting last two weeks, besides having computer problems, I think the drive is on its last legs, have not been feeling all that well.The office says that I should get a new computer, but when is anybodys guess. Have a back plan for most of what I do, but will need to get my files on a flash drive so as not to lose them. The company stuff while easy to replace is a bit more of a problem as I need the computer almost everyday for customer orders, inventory, and other need it now stuff. For my large accounts, not having it available is NOT an option I want to deal with. Have been working on missions conference stuff a lot for the last few weeks. Have a bunch of emails from missionaries I need to put into a useable form for our conference and hopefully a few more to come in. Really think this conference will be one of the better ones we have had. Also, have a couple of (retired) missionaries in our church. They went to the field in the early 80's and then God saw fit to bring the home because of an accident. We have decided to honor them this year, not some they really want, but something that I and the committee felt was needed by our church. Had a long talk with them last week and explained what we wanted to do, got their blessing and offers of help. Hope todo this in late June, I think maybe fathers day. Have a banner that I placed over the freeway on the day they left for the field. Hasn't been seen by anyone but me since that day, plan on using it as a way of starting to tell their story.
The weather here has been really wintery. Got lots of snow on the 2nd, spent most of the day just blowing snow. Would not have gotten far if we had a fire call during the storm. Measured 14" on the ground Wednesday the 2nd. at noon. Did have a call about 10am that morning, but right on the main road. Turned out to be just a down wire, but had to drive the fire trucks almost a mile to find a place to turn around. Have been dealing with my personal problem almost daily, looks like we will be losing one and maybe both. In talking with my district board last night, told them I felt we needed to remove the fire prevention guy regardless even if he meets the residence requirement. Just too many people are talking about this and it is not good for moral of the other firefighters. We need to spend more time on recruiting new members and do not need old ones who are creating problems the whole town is talking about. Looks like I will be the bad guy as they have left it to me to make the choice. The man has been less then honest with me too many times to cut him any slack.
Have been having a problem with my left shoulder and upper arm. Pain today is quite a bit less then the last few days, but still I am mineful of how I use it. Not sure what the problem is as I can't point to any one thing that would have caused it. Last night, felt pain in the left shoulder and arm and across my back into the right shoulder. Not sure what the problem is but it really is effecting my work and my energy level. Might just be old age catching up with me.
With no TV, which by the way has almost be a year, find that I read more. Have been rereading the book Ghost Mountain Boys, and cross-checking it with a book on New Guniea by Edwin Hoyt and also Dad's book on the 32nd. division. Couple that with Google maps and I think I have a pretty good idea of the area where my Dad was shot during the Second World War. It is hard to imagine the terrian of New Guniea being the way it is talked about in the books when you look at the Google maps. On them it looks almost like terrian around here. Been interesting and somewhat soul searching as I read and ponder what they went through. It seems like I am always trying to answer questions, after the people who knew the answers have died. I think when they were living, I was too wrapped up in me and realize what I was missing or ignoring. Spent the day or most of it at the station, got some things done, but not near enough. Wish I could just spend about 6 months working on stuff. Once it was done, things would go much smoother. Then I could maybe just enjoy the job, or maybe retire. Got an email today from Steve Mills, he and his wife are missionaries to TOGO, right next door to Ghana. He is a PA and she is a nurse. Can not believe what they and the rest of their staff go thru in the course of their week. Just reading about their week makes mine seem quite insignificant. Also, ready a book by Jay Walsh titled Ripe Mangos, talks about some of the people and ministries in Bangladesh. Right after I read that, we got a letter from Geo Collins, his son in law. George works with national churches in countries that do not readily accept missionaries. He also spent 8 years is Bangladesh. Anyway, he wrote about the passing of a pastor's wife that he had know from his earlier days there. The name stuck me, and I looking in the book that his father in law had written 30 years before. The lady's story was in the book about her coming to Christ and her eventual marriage to a young pastor. Found that interesting. My wife has been looking at a lot of our pictures from early in our marriage. As I look at the skinny kid she married, and the cute little girls and boys of our youth, I find my self wishing they still we little. Wishing that the days had not gone so quick. Wishing I had realize sooner that I was important in their lives, and not just what I could provide. Wishing I had found more of my fulfillment in being a daddy to them rather than a person who got things done for other people. Some how top cows, a well equipped and trained fire department and farm bureau leader seem kind of empty. This week brings a fire meeting, with annual elections, my report is short and contains no big surprises, just care on and watch the dollars. The week after will set the course for several iitems that must be faced. Hey that's way I get to wear the white hat, and get the BIG dollars. Yeah right.
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