I told you last time that we got rained out at the balloon festival because pilots hate wet balloons.

So we went home early.  We thought we may catch Canyon having a party (playing x-box on my big screen) but when we got home he wasn't even there.  I texted him to find out where he was and Robyn and I sat down to watch TV and wait for a reply.  That was when we heard a car door slam and looked out the window.  We were very surprised to see Canyon and four of his friends climbing out of his car.  He took it for a little joy ride.  He has no liscense, and we just canceled the insurance.  

Upset?  Yeah, we were a little upset.  Not so much that he took the car when he knew he wasn't supposed to, but more because of the fact that we both didn't notice a WHOLE CAR missing from in front of our house.

All Canyon's friends bailed on him.  They said "c'mon let's just go to the park" but Canyon said no.  He came inside to face the music.  That actually took some of the heat off for him.  We took the keys and scolded him.  We reaffirmed to him that he always gets busted, after all he is 'Lil Griswald'.

He told us that he just wants to drive.  We said if he had been pulled over his liscense would be suspended until he is 21.  We can only hope that it eventually sinks in.  We told him that we were listing the car on Craigslist to see if we could sell it.  He paid 1200 a few months ago.  I suspected we might get 500 after he broke the tail light, removed the stereo, busted the windshield and deployed the airbags (all this happened with him putting less than 25 miles on the car).  Any money less than 1200 dollars would be his loss and hopefully a lesson learned.  I personally wouldn't give 100 bucks for this rolling turd.

Friday night Robyn and I were supposed to go to the I-Cubs game with some people from church, but rain was on again-off again, and after being washed out of the balloon festival we decided to skip it.  We went out and had a nice dinner instead.  With the left overs we had dinner the next night too.

Saturday I began a new side project.  I'm building a bathroom vanity for a client.  I made cabinets for their other house and now they are remodeling their master bath.

$270 worth?

As the cloud of saw dust setteled I had magicaly turned that 270 dollar pile into...

$400 cabinets (so far)

By this time next week they should be about a 700 dollar vanity.  I will keep you posted.

Sunday, when we pulled into church we saw this in the drive.

Mixing politics and religion?

It so happens that she was in Iowa for the straw poll and just wanted to go to church here.  Point of Grace has offered the auditorium for political debates and such in the past (not on Sunday tho) and Michelle Bachmann and her husband have become friends with Pastor Jeff and his family through that.

It also happened to be the day after 30 soldiers died in a helicoptor crash in Afganistan.  Pastor Jeff asked Michelle and her husband if they wanted to say anything to the people at church.  She said although it was a sad time, God tells us to put our minds on things that are good and she read a passage from the bible.  Philippians 4: 4-9.

  Always be full of joy in the Lord.  Again I say, rejoice!  Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.  Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.  Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.  Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  Keep putting into practice all you learned and recieved from me - everything you heard from me and saw me doing.  Then the God of peace will be with you.

I had a video of Michelle Bachmann reading the passage to post here, but there were technical difficulties.  Sorry.

Sunday night, just before 10 pm I posted Canyon's car for sale on Craigslist.  I was going to list it for $800 and hope for the best but Robyn said to make it $900, so we did.  At 10:02 my phone rang.  Someone wanted to know if they could come look at the car.  I said it's dark outside but they didn't care so I said be my guest.  I got calls until midnight.  

Monday morning the phone rang a 5:30 and didn't stop ringing all day.  People wanted to know about the car.  What could I say?  I told them about all the little problems it had but let them know the motor was good.  I got calls from Colfax, from Missouri and from Lincoln Nebraska.  I got text messages galore.  And every time I tried to listen to a voice mail someone would beep in.  I even had a dozen e-mails.  Robyn entertained prospective buyers from 8:30 until 10.  Then when she got home at 4 they started showing up again.  It got to the point that when somebody asked about the car I just said, "listen, it's a 900 dollar car.  It's exactly what you think it is, no more, no less".  By the time I got home from work, Robyn had sold it for $750.  I couldn't get the ad off Craigslist fast enough.  I will never put my phone number on an ad again.  The buyer gave us a hundred bucks down and said she would be back tomorrow.  I told canyon to make some sold signs and tape them in the windows so nobody would knock on the door.  Then a truck pulled up and a large man got out.  He looked at the sold sign and came up the driveway anyway.  I told him it was sold.  He said why didn't you call me and let me know? (seriously?)  I said I have no idea who you are.  He said I told you I was on my way here.  (again, seriously?)  I said I got a thousand calls and EVERYBODY said they were on their way.  Sorry, first come, first served.  He was not happy.  I kept my truck between us.  He left in a huff.

ding dong the witch is dead

Monday at work we began processing the big table for the bar in Lawerance Kansas.  It needs to be sealed but here is a close up of the middle section..

This may make cyclone fans puke

We will do the install next week.  It might be a fun road trip.

Tuesday, I struggled.  A counter top chipped (I didn't do it) and the boss was not thrilled.  He was already having a tuff day when we gave him this news.  I immeditaly began reforming the top so we could make a new one.  When the boss came back to my area, he placed the blame on me.  I took the heat but thought the person responsible would accept the blame, he didn't. (I found out later that he thought the boss was upset with all of us)  Anyway, it upset me that he didn't step forward.  I was struggling with a bit of anger.  I couldn't concetrate on my work because of it.

Then to compound my frustrations, I made a call to a friend who is suffering much bigger struggles than myself.  I was trying to set up a meeting between him and a pastor from church which we had discussed all week end.  He was very irrate.  His situation had intensified and he vented on me.  I wished there was something I could do to ease his burden.  

I thought of the new study my small group is starting.  It is a book called 'To Busy not to Pray' by Bill Hybels.  I had just read the first chapters the night before and it talks about the reasons we don't pray, or pray weakly when we do.  Sometimes weak prayer comes from weak faith.  It was me it was talking about.  

After I hung up the phone, I told God that I wanted to pray sincerely.  I know he listens and I know he answers.  I prayed that I could release the bitterness I was feeling and I prayed for my friend.  I asked God to show me what I needed to do to help my friend calm his storm.  I cried and suddenly thought of Robyn.  I was swept over with a feeling of peace and strength.  My anger was gone.  God showed me how wonderful He is by letting me know that I have no reason to feel bitter.  I am one lucky man.  

Then I recieved a text from my friend, he apoligized for spouting off and asked me to please set up a meeting.  God was with him too.  I don't know yet how this will all work out, but I do know that God will lead me.  I can't wait to get deeper into this new study.  

Until next time..

Peace

Dan