Our Summer

This summer has been an experience in tolerance. The heat of central Texas is without a doubt one of the worst heats I have felt. I would say only Yuma, AZ and Ballad, Iraq have been worse. I wanted to do nothing at all at any point in time. There was no rain for months of course and my pastures and yard looked like they had been baked in an oven. I spent more money on hay and feed for the livestock just these few months then I had to during the entire winter. Luckily, September has brought us some relief. Rain and lower temperatures.

It is almost magical watching the transformation of nature. God’s creation certainly has a tenacity about it. Within four days of the first rain I had to mow my magnificent looking yard. Now it appears lush and green with no sign of the dead life that had overwhelmed it just a week prior. My livestock now have plenty of fresh greenery to eat and my mood has much improved. Here in this arid savannah we constantly pray for rain. In this beautiful place rain is the lifeblood of all things from farming to commerce. I am eternally grateful to God for his bounties.

The Sadness of my Addiction

Addiction, it is more than drugs and alcohol. Some say it is will power and some say it is a disease. Perhaps it is a little of both in my case. I have always thought of myself as of being of strong mind yet here I sit admitting that I have a problem. It was always there lurking but in my life up to this point I was to busy to notice it. My wife did, but as all arrogant headstrong men, I ignored her pleas.

My addiction is not drugs or alcohol… it is, this may sound stupid but it is true nonetheless, spending money. That’s right. If I have it I will spend it. It’s a sad state of affairs really. When I was younger we were pretty much dirt poor and I mean we had no money to spend. Now that I am an adult and have some money all I want to do is spread it around. My wife is opposite, she to was living in a poorer household yet she wants to hoard money. She isn’t miserly but she does not like to spend money if she does not have to. I, on the other hand, want what I want when I want it and will drop tons of money to get it. I am an impulse shopper too.

Well… thanks to my addiction to spending the coins and my wife’s role in beating it into my head I am on a path of hopeful recovery. I have been praying about this and I know God’s will be done in this matter. All I can do is continue to place it in God’s hands and pray. He will show me the way and help me along my path.