Week of September 9

The weather had been cool and fall like, however this week it warmed up and got humid. By Wednesday and Thursday we got some thunderstorms and heavy rain, two inches.  Because things had been so dry, that was more rain than we have gotten since July combined.

The boys are enjoying their Wednesday night youth groups and look forward to going. Luke’s been taking guitar lessons on Thursdays. He doesn't like to get his guitar out and practice. If I didn't hound him to practice he never would. Jake is really enjoying his school classes. He drives his truck to school at 12:30 and gets back at 3. Some days he even stays longer to help in the shop. He has gotten to know and like his classmates and teacher. It is nice to have something he can do everyday and looks forward to it. He likes to keep himself busy. I think one of his favorite things is driving either his old Chevy or the old Ford. He thinks its great to see so many other old trucks at his school too. The boys still crave their 1 hour daily computer turn. It is such a big deal to them and they are so disappointed when they are too busy to get it in. We are probably one of the only parents that limit screen time like we do.  I see the repercussions in kids all that time that spend countless hours in front of their video games and cell phones. They are constantly in need of entertaining and have trouble focusing and sitting still. They have their eyes glued to a cell phone while sitting, eating, waiting, walking, you name it. I think it is sad they all ow kids on their phones during school. We are hurting kids and their ability to learn and focus. Our generation of kids is going to really struggle in the future.

Mark has been stressed, he had to clean out a grain bin of beans and clear out stuck bean pods. It is extremely dangerous and horribly hot. It’s a miserable job that must be done. He doesn’t tell me a lot of details because he doesn’t want me to worry. He also had a doctor appointment earlier this week and was determined he probably has an arthritis condition called spondyloarthritis. It was very upsetting to Mark to hear a diagnosis and some potential problems he will have later in his future. It was depressing to him and upsetting. I am hoping and praying  he can get a plan with exercises and medication to help. It is sad to be so young and have so much discomfort and pain.

This week in order to get thing ready for our drive out to Oklahoma, Mark hooked the trailer up only to find the lights didn’t work. He hauled the trailer to Callender to have them work on it. They determined it was not the trailer but the truck, so on to Boone the truck went to get the wiring fixed. This, being the newly purchased Blue Ford truck. In the process, the trailer tire got a big nail and was leaking air, so that led to a tire repair. Once the tire was taken off at the tire place, a stud busted off. While checking it over it was decided that the bearings were bad and the brakes really should be replaced. So… one thing led to another! That is so typical of how things go for Mark. It was a rough week for him.