The title is misleading I am not thinking about crying on my birthday, but you want to talk about a day that did not turn out like I though it would. I had a plan. It was going to be a cool day for August and Matthew and I were going to put new shingles on a roof.
We did get some on between 10 am and 2 this afternoon. The pallet did shrink some but not much. We did not get started till 10 am because I first went out and checked hogs in 3 hog buildings. I was doing the chores for some people who will remain anonymous. They evidently felt it was more important to go to a nephew's wedding than it was not to ask me to check a few hog buildings on my birthday.
Below is the 13th building we have shingled this year and if we buy no more houses we would have only 2 left (I don't see that happening with Micah on the hunt). Matthew and I were ready to go at 10 and I figured less than 4 hours later we would be done.
Problem was when we started up the air compressor for the nail gun. (compressor plugged into outlet in garage) we blew a fuse in the box in the garage. Plugged the compressor into another outlet fed from the other side of the 220 current and blew the breaker in the basement. No current and the tenant was off having breakfast with a friend.. Called him and did a few odd jobs waiting for Steve to get home so we could get into the house and get current back on. He graciously connected us into an outlet in the house and we were off and running.
For a bit that is, we finished one side which was the most difficult and went for lunch. Were rolling along after lunch and I got a phone call asking if I would come down to the police station. (I did have to ask where the police station was because I had never been there before.) A tenant and friend was asking if I would come down for moral support. He was bringing a couple of women in to file a complaint and I think he thought if I was there, they would be taken more seriously. I went. I thought it was more important to help someone in trouble than getting a roof on. It was kind of surreal though to be introduced as Reverend Spoelstra to everyone we met. Usually I correct anyone who calls me that but today I just let it slide (its my birthday remember?). To most of the people I deal with on a daily basis I am the closest thing they have to a minister and they really don't care about the CRC rules of who is a preacher and who isn't. So I spent my birthday checking hogs and sitting in a police station playing moderator and pastor. Never would have guessed that would be my day. But I got to talk to a man in the police station about Jesus and eternal life and that may be the best birthday gift I could ever receive.
I am thinking I will light a fire in our fire pit this evening and just sit for a bit counting all the blessings God has given me.
God has blessed me with Sharon. Here we are eating in a greasy diner in southern Illinois. And when I write greasy I mean the floors the walls and even the ceilings. The place was packed but I don't think they had cleaned in at least 10 years. But yea! neither of us got food poisoning.
Our three sons and daughter in law, Joshua and Casey on the left and Micah and Matthew on the right.
One of the biggest blessings of all is it seems that almost every week I get to share the gospel with someone. God just throws people into my life and believe me there is no greater feeling than seeing someone accept Jesus as their savior. I had a man who came to know Jesus in January, come up to me last week and stick out his hand to shake my hand and thank me for turning his life around. I didn't do anything, but show up and listen ( Ok maybe I said a few things, but nothing that was going to make anyone see they were a sinner in need of a savior) I got to watch God at work handing out free grace. I am blessed indeed.
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