It has been a little over a week since my last trip to San Antonio. I made the trip to attend a friend’s memorial service on June 21. Sue was 85 years old and had been sick for the last year of her life. Her daughter informed us all that this was a party and it certainly was as we sang many of Sue’s favorite hymns. It really was a joyous time as we all knew Sue is now happy, healthy, and full of life in heaven with Jesus.
I took advantage to my time in San Antonio to visit my Women’s Neighborhood Prayer group friends and attend the monthly prayer meeting. Since moving I have only been able to attend two of those meetings and it is always a joy to see those women and to pray for our country with them. Whenever I am in San Antonio the last week of the month, if it is possible I make an effort to attend that prayer meeting. The US (including local governments, families, schools, etc.) is in serious trouble and we need to pray.
Last December Norm Grimmett (church deacon) and I had visited two home-bound seniors, taking them the Lord’s Supper. Both Kay and Helen were really grateful and we enjoyed the visit too. The Care Team may think our purpose is to minister to and bless our home-bound church members, but the truth is we get just as much blessing from reaching out to them as they get from us. Well, in May I received a post card informing me the deacons wanted to provide the Communion to the home-bound again. So I contacted Norm and told him if it could be arranged I would like to accompany him to provide the Lord’s Supper to Kay and Helen again. Both women were upset with me moving out to the country and I knew they would be thrilled to see me again. After a few phone calls were made, that Wednesday Norm and I carpooled to Helen’s home (a 30 minute drive) and visited with her before all sharing in the Lord’s Supper together. After that we drove to the Assisted Living Facility Kay had moved to after falling last February. Once again Norm and I had a nice visit and then the three of us shared the Lord’s Supper together. Both women were grateful we had made the trip to bring them this sacred sacrament.
It was time for lunch when we left Kay’s room. So Kay went off to lunch at the facility and Norm and I went to a local restaurant. Afterward I returned to Kay. Kay is still in the process of cleaning out her house to be sold. She wanted to donate a bunch of tools to AOCCCI. So I picked her up and drove her to her house. While she looked for some things in her home she wanted to take back to the facility, I selected tools out of the shed I thought would be useful here at the ranch. I came home with several metal rakes, a bunch of shovels, a hoe, pick ax, and a few other items. Afterward I took Kay and several bags of stuff back to her room at the facility. She was very grateful the tools were going to good use and I am thankful for the donations.
Thursday I made the long drive back to the ranch, where I have been for the past week. It seems no matter how much I get done here there is still more to do. Friday and Saturday I had to address the water well pump quitting on me. Same problem both days—it doesn’t take much for the pressure switch electrical connection to be disrupted. Causes include rust, ants, other insects…. A neighbor helped me on Friday but Saturday I had to drive to town and purchase new parts and emery boards which cleaned off the pressure switch allowing the electrical connection to occur.
Sunday evening Rocksprings Baptist had an old fashioned Baptismal service at the river, where more than half a dozen folks were baptized. Afterward we had a church picnic. It was a lot of fun.
Monday I painted the living room. Looks a lot better than before but is in need of a second coat of paint.
Tuesday the wind that had plagued the area all month was finally still, allowing me to burn a bunch of paper (bills and other private documents), an old tattered flag, and lots of cedar branches. I managed to get it all burned even though rain threatened all morning. I also hauled a bunch of rocks to the house. Wednesday I hauled even more rocks. Plans are to build a rock wall skirt around the house.
Thursday morning I drove to Rocksprings where I spent an hour volunteering in the library and ran a few errands. I then returned home.
Though Hurricane Alex hit Mexico Wednesday evening, Texas also has been touched by this storm. Of course the gulf cities received most of the rain, but I have seen rain off and on all day yesterday and today (Friday). Since Edwards County was in danger of going into stage 1 water restrictions if we did not get rain this week, this rain is a blessing.
In anticipation of the rain I placed 5 gallon buckets and a garbage can in strategic places to catch water as it poured off the roof. Around noon today during a lull in the rain I went out to check. Since Thursday morning the rain gauge measured about 3.5 inches of rain and every container is filled to the brim with water. The rain barrel is now half full.
It is possible to live a modern day life without a well or access to city water. In the Texas Hill Country a family is doing just that. All their water comes from catching rain water. Water wells around here tend to have low pressure and can supply just so much water. So it makes since to think about the future and install more rain water barrels. There is already a cistern on the property that can hold a lot more water then my little rain barrel. Hopefully it can be converted into a rain water storage container. It sits next to the cabin so it should be easy to convert. It is also nearby an area perfect for gardening.
Finally, I want to share I have twice now spotted a rabbit running under the cabin when I walk by. Clearly the critter has a home there. The question is: is this rabbit a he or a she with a nest full of babies?
And lastly, for those in the United States…Happy 4th of July!
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