Quality Dentist Time Today

 How does one equate quality with a visit to a dentist?  Well, I don't have an ordinary dentist.  I have a team. Dr. Megan Grier is at the top of the dental charts when it comes to quality.  The same goes for the staff.  Five stars.  Nancy Voss is the one who does the heavy lifting when it's time to remove stains and plaque.  All I can say is I owe my toothpaste commercial smile to Williamsburg Dental Health Clinic.  Step one is healthy teeth and gums.  Don't skip this step.  Have a great day.

Happy Birthday to My Wife

 I'm shouting this from the roof tops.  "Happy birthday, my love!  I love you with all my heart!"

That's probably all I can say today without reneging on my promise to keep my family out of my stories.  There are no age disclosures here.  There are no details about her private life.  I just want the world to know this is a very special day for my wife.  Have a great day.

Happy Memorial Day

 

What are you doing at 3pm today?  Barbecue?  Family time?  Day off?  I have a suggestion for you.  How about at 3pm today you pause for a moment of reflection and remembrance?  Consider why you get to do all the things this Holiday brings.  There was an ultimate sacrifice paid for your benefit and your family's benefit.  I can't even imagine losing a family member during their service to our country.  There are generations of family members in my ancestry who served our country with great courage.  As far as I know, all of them served their full terms before moving on to full lives outside of the military.  For those who died while serving, this day is for you.  

Set your alarms for 3pm.  Pause.  Reflect.  Pray for the families who are struggling with the loss of a loved one who died for you to have days like today.  Happy Memorial Day.  Have a great day.

Signs We Are Prisoners of War

 Have you ever experienced a time in your life when situations were so whacky that you couldn't discern which direction was north and which way was south?  Maybe the sun was so obscure that even the east and the west weren't clearly visible.  When this happens, all Hell breaks loose.  Others are telling you to stop looking down when you're trying to look up.  The same things happens to prisoners of war.  They are tortured.  They aren't allow to go outside and bask in the sun.  For some, years go by and they are so lost they have no clue what season they are in.  If this is happening to you, perhaps you are noticing that you are actually a prisoner of war.  The kind of war I'm referring to is a spiritual battle and this is happening right now.

If you are deep in debt, you're a prisoner.  If you or members of your family are suffering from any kind of addiction, you're a prisoner of war.  If cancer, heart disease, or any other ailment is striking you down, or if you find yourself losing your mind, you're a prisoner of war.

In my opinion, not a soul on this planet is exempt from the consequences of our imprisonment.  We are all dying.  Death is the ultimate sign we are prisoners of war.  I believe death is not only a sign of our captivity; it's also a solution.  Death is freedom from captivity.  Death is liberation from our prison cells.  Death leads to new life.  

If the world is trying to tell you down is up, the east is the west, or anything else that is false, have hope.  All of the lies will be exposed.  Be patient.  Your captivity is not permanent.  Have a great day.

On the Run Today

 The Holiday weekends in retail can be crazy.  I'm not exempt from this.  Our team has been running at full speed all week and today we hit the accelerator pedal.  I'm already running and the sun is barely up.  It doesn't slow down next week as the honey do list has been expanded.  Enjoy your Holiday weekend.  Have a great day.

Writing Detours

 

How many times in your life have you experienced detours?  How do you handle them?  They have become so common in my life, especially with my writing projects, that I actually expect them.  The long and winding road is to be enjoyed, along with all the lessons.  At the end of the day, all that matters is that I cross the finish line.  Thank you for your patience.  I'm finding some great morsels on the backroads.  Have a great day.

Forgiveness is a Lifestyle

Are you holding any grudges today?  If so, why?  How much time needs to pass before you can let go.  Consider what would happen to your sense of well-being if you said, "I forgive you."  Keep in mind that the person you are forgiving doesn't necessarily need to be alive.  Forgiveness is not really for the person you hurt you; it's for your benefit.

Forgiveness is a lifestyle.  Make it a way of life.  If you have a big list of grudges, chances are this is causing you pain even when you refuse to acknowledge how this list affects you.  Maybe today is a good day to change it up and begin practicing forgiveness.  Have a great day.

Lessons from the Service Dogs in Training

The other day I met a dog trainer.  She was teaching her German Shepherd how to be a service dog.  I don't know all of her methods but one thing stood out every time the service dog did something the trainer didn't like.  Her command was simple and the dog quickly responded, eager for the rewards.  All she had to do was say "wrong."  If that didn't work, she repeated the command.  Most of the time, the dog responded on the first command.   My mind drifted to Sea World in San Diego where we visited often.  There was one show in particular that mesmerized me.  All of the participants were rescue animals.  Dogs.  Cats.  Critters.  They were trained the same way – positive reinforcement and simple voice commands that were eventually replaced with simple hand gestures.

In a way, we humans can learn from service dogs in training.  We need to be reminded when our behavior is wrong.  When we are guided to the correct behavior we are rewarded with the ultimate prize – Heaven.  If a service dog reaches "graduation" from the training, it's rewarded with a lifetime job.  We humans have free will do decide on eternity with our Creator or eternity in the place where people go who would rather be on their own.  That's all Hell is, a place where the Master is not accepted.

If today you hear the master's voice, pay attention.  If you hear, "wrong," change your behavior.  The master is willing to work with you until the very last day of your life.  What are you going to do the next time you hear his voice?  Have a great day.

Are You Ready to Face Death?

 There is no escape from death.  We can hide.  We can pretend.  We can deny.  We can even try to outrun.  The upper limit is about 120 years.  Some don't even make it out of the womb.  The rest of us are somewhere in between.  The YouTube pastor I follow daily spoke of visiting death regularly today in day 143 of his podcast, Catechism in a Year.  I thought I was all caught up last year when I completed his Bible in a Year program.  I heard of CIY that launched on January 1 and decided to jump in.  Today's message moved me.  In my opinion, there is no greater topic of interest than death and what happens next.  There is an element of risk involved.  Either way, the stakes are high.

If you made it this far in today's story, perhaps you are intrigued about death.  I believe the moment you die you get the opportunity to look in the mirror and see what choices you made for your next step – eternity.  The way I see it, you're choosing to get closer to God or further away with every choice you make.  This decision is made in your heart.  Your final breath is your last chance to say you want to be with God.  Those who came before you are cheering for you.  

If you're not really sure about an afterlife, I'm open to having a conversation with you.  If you're not ready to face death, I'm open to a conversation about that as well.  As someone who came within a heartbeat of losing my life over five years ago when I unintentionally crossed the yellow line in an ugly snow storm, I can honestly say to you that I faced what I thought was certain death.  I've spent these last five years doing my best to make better choices.  The best choice I ever made was to ask Jesus to live in my heart.  The joy you see on my face comes from the roommate living inside of me.  I'm thankful he inspires me to get to know him on a deeper level.  Am I ready to face death?  Yes.  How about you?  Have a great day.

Phase II Deck Project Resumes Today

 The materials are in.  The crew arrived a few moments ago.  We are beyond excited.  Words cannot describe the technical expertise these men from Parceros Construction possess.  We have special tokens of our appreciation that rank at the top of the sweet tooth meter – cookies from our next door neighbor, Tanya, owner of South Street Cookies.  Stay tuned for the progress report.  I would like to thank my neighbors, Mike and Tanya, for fulfilling our special order.  These neighbors are blessings in our lives and soon all of Williamsburg and the surrounding communities will know of their sweet delights.  The same goes for Parceros Construction.  These are the go to people for your home improvement needs.  Have a great day.

Celebrating 11 Years at my Day Job

 I have some mixed feelings today.  Maybe it's because I'm celebrating three important anniversaries.  The first is my day job.  I can't believe how it seems like yesterday when I began a job that has turned into something beyond my imagination.  I'm most excited about reloading my vacation bank which will be 160 hours I will be using to spend quality time with my wife.

Now the mixed feelings part.  My dad left this world 21 years ago.  Yesterday was the anniversary of his death.  His reunion story with our family began when we notified him of the passing of my sister's father-in-law the day before Easter.  In our faith, the time between Easter and the 50 days following is a time of great joy.  It was the same for my family as we rejoiced in our dad's return after a long period of separation when he retired deep in the heart of Mexico.  Every time I'm investigating new technology I think of my dad and how much fun he would have had with it.  Maybe somehow he is playing a role from the other side making sure I find all the hidden gems.  Deep down I don't believe anything I'm discovering is accidental.

Let's move on to the joy part of today.  In my faith we are celebrating a very important moment in the Easter Season.  This is the day Jesus ascended into the clouds right in front of his followers.  What a sight that must have been.  First, Jesus dies.  It's the darkest moment in time his followers had to endure.  His mother watched everything knowing she was powerless to stop it.  Then he rose from the dead.  Amazing! He spends time with his followers and they feel like they're in Heaven.  Then...poof!  He's gone.  This is the day.  I'm headed to my house of worship thankful that this is my assigned day to share scripture readings related to this critical time in history.  If you are not a believer, this story is for you.  Jesus promised he would come back the same way he left.  We don't know exactly when that moment will be.  Perhaps Jesus is giving us this time to do what he asks of everyone...share.  Share how our lives are better because we know Jesus.  We know he died for us.  He's coming back.  Get to know him before it's your time to vanish from this planet.  Have a great day.

Why is it Important to Verify Veracity?

 One of my greatest challenges when it comes to writing is finding veracity rather than trusting assumptions. Some misstatements have been around so long we accept them as truth.  Imagine what is must have been like to live in the world at a time when everyone believed the world was flat.  Verifying the veracity of that assumption had certain consequences.  Along comes Christopher Columbus.  He watches boats sailing off into the sunsets and notices the stern appearing to rise up before vanishing along the horizon.  A flatliner may say that observation merely confirms the boat was falling off the planet.  We all know this to be false.  Well, Columbus decided it was worth the risk to explore like no other and he was well rewarded.

Veracity is most important when it comes to the spiritual realm, a place we cannot see with our own eyes.  The Dark Side will do everything in its power to lie, distort, and confuse.  While there can be veracity in up to 99% of the statement from the Dark Side, it's that 1% that can be harmful.  If you are aware of this and you do your best to verify veracity in every area of your life, you will find hidden treasures.  

Here are some sample questions you can test on your own.  Does God exist?  Does Evil exist?  Do I have a soul?  If I have a soul, will my soul live forever?  Is Jesus real?  Is there a Holy Spirit who guides me?  If God is real, how can I find him?  If the Evil One is real, how can I escape his lack of veracity and find the truth, the whole truth, and noting but the truth?

I have one recommendation before closing.  In your search to verify veracity, do not rely solely on your senses.  There are times when they misrepresent the truth.  Dig deep.  Your search for the truth will land you on solid ground.  Have a great day.

Have You Found Your Super Power Yet?

 If your heart is beating you have a super power.  Finding your super power by copying others around you won't work.  They have their gifts and you have yours.  One simple note for those of you attempting to discover your gift.  You can't force it.  It comes to you naturally.  Consider what daily activities you enjoy most.  These activities may turn out to be more than hobbies.  They may be signs of something deeper inside  you the world needs.  

Warning.  Hiding doesn't work.  What does work is embracing your own unique talent and sharing it with others.  I believe these inner gifts you possess are really not for your benefit but for others.  The sooner you figure that out the more apt you are to jump in and share.  It gets really exciting when teams of people, each with their own unique super power, come together and combine strengths.  This works without fail.  

If you really have no clue what your super power is, ask your friends and family for help.  Maybe they see something in you that you don't yet see in yourself.   Whatever you do, please don't waste your super power. It may turn into a use it or lose it situation.  Have a great day.

Lights Out

It was surreal last night dropping into my men's Wednesday night league match.  The neighborhood was blacked out from a power outage that knocked out all the local traffic lights.  Knowing how competitive my team is, they took notice of the situation and walked onto the indoor courts relying on natural light from the sky lights.  We laughed as we whiffed some of our first swings attempting to adjust to the low light.  The local pro was disapproving of our actions noting the bathrooms were off limits due to the darkness in the building.  We seemed oblivious and quickly adapted.  

The lights came back on about twenty minutes into our warmup and we began our matches.  Every minute of court time is critical as our men's 18+ and 40+ teams are facing off next month to see if we can claim top dog in Iowa and move on to regional competition later in the summer.  Ten minutes later the pro in charge of the facility announced the club was closing early due to the crisis.  His staff was already released in anticipation of a long night of darkness.  Once again, we adapted and relocated to local courts in three separate locations in order to accommodate all the players eager to play.  My group headed to City High School.  We heard new courts were recently built and this would be a great opportunity since our championship matches are scheduled for outside next month.  If lights out were strike one, strike two happened to be the barely visible lines on the courts.  I think the construction crew in charge must have been drinking margaritas, lots of margaritas while painting the lines.  Our courts resembled clay courts as the lines appeared covered up.

The good news is we overcame all our challenges and there was no strike three.  I wish my teammates success in our upcoming matches.  It's a great feeling knowing I can count on my teammates to do whatever it takes to reach full potential.  Have a great day.

The Vlog Learning Curve

My OCD tendencies are kicking in.  Does this bother me?  Not at all.  Hyper-focus on a single task for prolonged periods of time leads to completion.  We do this when we're in school.  Olympic athletes do this do achieve peak performance.  I'm doing this to get my projects out of my system and into the world. 

If you happen to be a content creator, maybe you can relate.  My weakness is I tend to drift when the winds are calm and my boat isn't moving.  The flip side is when those winds pick up the exhilaration kicks in.  That's where I am on the vlog learning curve.  Aside from my nature walk with my wife, I was up at 4:00 learning about software used to make videos, specifically interview software.  I found a gem with the evmux people who offer a free software program tailored to what I need to cross the finish line.  I'm making sure there is a solid marketing plan in place for my book launches.  Stay tuned.  I will make sure to surface from my cave every now and then to let you know I'm still here.  Have a great day.

Blog to Vlog Transformation

 

You heard the story about the princess who kissed the frog and he became a prince.  You know all about those ugly caterpillars who turn into butterflies.  My story is similar.  My writing/blogging/publishing journey is going through its own transformation right before your eyes.  Yesterday I found some new software for doing YouTube type interviews and shared it on my personal FaceBook page.  It certainly wasn't pretty but it was only a test, like the chicken who busts out of the egg not ready to fully emerge until he checks out his surroundings.  

This morning I woke up eager to learn how to enhance my blog through the use of video clips.  I found a newer generation of software that appears to be superior to what I discovered yesterday.  While I may be a long way away from prime time sharing I'm thankful for the handful of friends who gave me feedback yesterday, like my high school friend, Scott Pfister, who happens to teach this stuff for a living.  I hope he didn't feel like he was hearing fingers scratching a chalk board while checking in on my first video.

Soon you will be seeing short video clips sprinkled into these blog pages.  There isn't much to see in today's vlog I will be sharing on my FaceBook page.  The material is boring but necessary as I need to post about my disclaimers.  If you are reading this on my FaceBook page, feel free to check in later.  Hopefully you will see a butterfly and not a frog or a caterpillar.  Have a great day.

Link to today's Vlog from Caveman Michael

Parallel Tracks

 Today's story is about parallel tracks.  Not the kind found on train tracks although the tracks I'm referring to do resemble what you see in the picture.  These parallel tracks are more about a journey.  If you were traveling on these tracks with me it would be easy for both of us to look back and see where we've come from although we can only see a little bit ahead of us until we hit the blind curve.  This is where I find myself today.  In order to move forward I must not be afraid of what's ahead.  Neither should you.  Are you still with me?

As you look around at the other passengers you may find it difficult to know where they're from.  That's because they're from all walks of life.  Skin color doesn't matter.  Religious beliefs or non-beliefs don't matter.  Education isn't important.  There are travelers of all political parties.  What is common to all who are here is the quest.  There is this desire to seek the truth.  That happens to be what I'm writing about in my books.  My parallel tracks are more like a roller coaster ride.  I don't know when the ride will end but I'm certain about what happens when it's over.  Others who don't know the conductor may be fearful about what's beyond the blind curve.  

If you're willing to stay on these parallel tracks with me I can promise you one thing – you and I are not alone.  You may be asking, "Is is safe ahead?"  The answer is no.  It's not safe.  All you have to do is look behind you and you see all the times when you were in dangerous predicaments.  Maybe that's how we met.  All I'm asking of you is that you trust where we're going.  Thank you for sharing the ride with me.  Have a great day.

Happy Mother's Day

 God bless all the moms of this world.  If you are a mom, may your day be filled with abundant joy.  This is your day.  Savor it.  My mom is celebrating with my siblings who live in her state.  I will be watching our sons pampering their mom today once I return home from my day job.  We are headed to our house of worship to thank God for all the moms who make this world so special with their presence.  Happy Mother's Day!  Have a great day.

A Shout Out to All the Moms

I know.  I know.  Today is not Mother's Day.  So, what's the shout out for today?  Today all the moms in this world are still doing all the things they do on the other 364 days of the year that aren't Mother's Day.  So, I hope some of these moms happen to see this story honoring them, like my mother who reads these stories daily.  I'm sure with six adult kids her calendar will be full tomorrow.

I hope you grew up with a loving mother who only wanted the best for you.  If you didn't, I'm sorry.  A loving mother is a true refection of God's love for you.  Maybe your mother left this planet earlier than you wanted.  I'm sorry for that too.  I do have some good news for you.  Your mother is still around although now invisible to you and others.  She's cheering for you.  She can't wait to embrace you when it's your time to depart.  And if you have one of those mothers who didn't live up to your expectations, the best thing you can do is forgive her.  Only God knows why she wasn't capable of being a loving mother.  Let go of those negative memories and be thankful you are here because without her you wouldn't exist.

Here's a special message for all the moms in this world.  Thank you.  This includes every single mom I know.  This is for all my sisters, aunts, cousins, coworkers, neighbors, friends, and others who make our world better with their presence.  You are a blessing for all of us.  May you feel loved and pampered today, tomorrow on Mother's Day, and all days.  Yes, thank you.  Have a great day.

We are Prisoners of War

 No one is exempt.  You may feel like you're free at times but this is only an illusion.  Once sin entered the picture we all became captives.  Hard as you may try to find the exit door it does not exist.  Death is inevitable.  So is the infighting.  Don't blame your enemy.  Don't blame yourself.  If you want a survival tip, try this.  Surrender.  Let go of everything.  Stop fighting.  Your enemy is in exactly the same position you are in.  The real enemy wants to pit you against your foe so you will get riled up and fight without ceasing.  The enemy wants you to be trapped in hopelessness.  It doesn't have to be this way.

You may consider surrender as an option but in the back of your mind you're not sure why you should do this.  I believe this process of letting go brings inner peace.  I dwell on the idea of what the rescue plan will look like and this motivates me to carry on.  Caution.  This rescue plan doesn't happen until after death.  Every single one of us needs to die before we are freed.  There is something bigger and better on the other side.  Have a great day.

The Stories are Percolating

I may not be a coffee drinker but I understand the process of percolating since my wife never skips a day without her morning brew.  Unless my headphones are on and I'm somewhere distant like Alpha Centauri meditating, I hear the slow trickle of water in her Cuisinart transforming her coffee grinds into a magical drink she will savor as the morning sun ascends.  I have my own percolating process going on inside my brain.  The grinds are Heaven sent.  There is no alarm like my wife's coffee maker as the Holy Spirit wakes me before dawn to plant seeds to be shared with others.

I've been experimenting with so many food ideas that I feel like Thomas Edison when he was trying to figure out the light bulb.  Imagine every day you wake up and try a new process and nothing happens.  No light.  Only failure.  I wonder how his wife felt about his negative outcomes.  1,000 failures?  Yikes!  I don't have to worry about my wife.  Why?  Coffee.  Give her coffee and she becomes oblivious to my flirtations with the right food combinations for success.

People are asking what's happening to my skin.  Yesterday at our favorite consignment shop the cashier looked at me as if I was lying when I told her I was eligible for the senior discount for those 55 and over.  I forked over my driver's license and her confusion signaled perhaps my ID was a forgery.  It helps that all my belly fat is gone and the double chin no longer exists, all signs I'm finding the right food combinations to help me live long and prosper.  I'm beginning to feel like the Energizer Bunny.  This is all food related.  If you're waiting for my secrets, be patient.  I'm also done.  Have a great day.

Family Day Today

Well, the honey do list is almost complete (for now).  We are headed to Iowa City to cross off the remaining items on our check list.  All I can say is the next time you visit us we will have plenty of room to listen to the birds sing and watch the critters play.  I especially love seeing the squirrels jump from tree to tree like circus acrobats.  By the way, I witnessed the last baby finch fly the coop this morning while planting Shadowland 'Seducers' and Island Breeze plants, perennial Hostas which will bring us years of happiness while we are enjoying the outdoors at Casa de Mulligan.  The joy continues as I discovered three new nests under construction just below the new portion of our deck.  Looks like word of mouth spread amongst the abundant bird species thriving in our community that this is the perfect place to raise a family.  Have a great day.

Science, Fiction, or Science Fiction?

 Have you ever been at a point in your life when you think you know something until you dig deeper and discover just how much you don't know?  For example, how much do you know about your own body?  What are the best foods to eat?  When is the best time to eat?  How do you prevent illness?  There are so many smart people out there who dedicate their entire lives in a particular specialty and still don't know everything.

Here's another question for you to help me understand how you solve mysteries.  When you put puzzles together, do you have a pattern of steps?  Do you work on the borders first?  Do you search for specific colors and match them up?  Do you gaze at the picture on the puzzle box and find small clues about how the puzzle pieces are linked?

If you understand how puzzle pieces fit, you may have a clue how my brain works when it comes to my writing projects.  One area where I'm struggling has to do with my findings so far.  My food research seems to drift along an unfamiliar path.  There are those who may argue that my head is up in the clouds similar to the ones that showed up the other day during a freak storm.  These mammatus clouds form as they are dropping rather than rising.  Some may argue my work belongs in the fiction category.  Others may see a hint of validity.  Maybe the whole thing is simply science fiction.  All I know is I'm going to ask my readers to please read the whole book before passing any kind of judgment.  I'm going to keep digging and I'm not going to stop experimenting even when "Live Long and Prosper" is released.  You can decide for yourself if my story is science, fiction, or science fiction.  Beam me up, Scotty.  Have a great day.

Have You Ever Seen Upside Down Clouds Like These?

When the air is sinking rather than rising and moisture is prevalent, you may get to see mammatus clouds like the ones pictured here. All I can say is my weather-related vocabulary has greatly expanded since arriving in Iowa eleven years ago.  While derechos and polar vortexes can be dangerous, mammatus clouds are relatively benign unless perhaps you're flying through them.  

Once again, the family is marked safe from the fast-moving storm that hit us near the end of the day yesterday.  I captured this photo at the end of the shift.  Stay tuned for more nature shots.  Have a great day.

Joy, Joy, Joy

Dad's weber grill he gifted us is now back in its spot at the end of our new deck.  Papa finch you see in the photo was watching everything from our neighbors roof top this morning.  My wife told me she believes the first time the bird visited this Spring it was a sign from my dad, who has been in Heaven for 21 years.  So many of my friends and extended family are also watching over me and my family.  All I can say is, "Joy, Joy, Joy!"  Have a great day.

New Chapter – Final Chapter

 First the new chapter.  Paige and Lance are celebrating their wedding today right here in our home town.  We will be attending their ceremony and then enjoying cocktails, dinner, and dancing later in the evening.  Paige was the first person at my day job to volunteer for my earliest food experiments.  She gets an honorable mention in my book for helping me understand what works and what doesn't when it comes to food choices.  

Now for the final chapter.  This one stings.  I learned that one of my favorite managers of all times, Dana Drennen, passed away.  Dana is the one who pulled me aside and informed me my general manager was diagnosed with multiple tumors.  We were in his new location in Springfield, Missouri where he relocated to be closer to family.  I was asked to help support the new hires and being with Dana was a real treat.  Dana always found a way to motivate others to be their best.  Sadly, he was within one year of retirement but did not get to leave this world the way he planned.  He will be missed by so many.  May his soul rest in peace.  Have a great day.

Breakfast on the Patio

I find it hard to believe how much outdoor time affects my well being.  Many of my past stories are about barbecuing.  When our patio deck deteriorated to the point where it became dangerous to use, we stopped eating outside.  All I can say is I'm so thankful to have patio time once again.  All I need to do now is finish putting our swing together and haul our weber grill back to the patio when I get home from my day job tonight.  Breakfast on the patio was soothing for my soul.  Make sure you get outside and find a place to enjoy a quiet place.  Have a great day. 

All Decked Out

Phase I of our deck project is complete.  My wife and I were so impressed with Parceros Construction, led by project manager, Laura Ciaravito, that we decided to move forward with Phase II.  I felt like I was going back in time to "Snora" Ehlers Spanish class at SHS in Phoenix when the crew which included Laura's dad, Orlando, asked me for some English lessons while they were conversing in their native tongue.  I was leading "plastics" or conversations which Snora E became world famous for.  I learned that this highly talented crew was knocking on my neighbors' doors introducing themselves.  While they may be highly motivated to work and grow their business, their english is like my Spanish when I first entered high school – zero, nada.  

I taught our crew how to properly introduce themselves.  Based on what my wife and I know about these folks, they will be busy beyond measure.  I can't thank them enough.  Here are some pictures.  By the way, I asked these guys to please be careful around the newly hatched birds who are inches below the new deck surface.  They live.  Check out their mug shot below.  Have a great day.

Celebrating 5,000th Blog Story Today

It's day 5,000.  I'm taking a deep breath and smiling ear to ear.  This blog has become a lifelong passion and I'm thrilled you're stopping by for the victory lap.  If the weather holds up this afternoon I'm headed to our new patio deck and sipping red wine with my bride of 33 years.  One glass only for me because I'm off to the tennis courts for a workout after our celebration.  Thank you so much for all the support you have given me over the years, especially those of you who tune in daily.  

I'm staring at a stone carving my wife added to my desktop in my home office with the inscription, He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge ~ Psalm 91:4.  That's what he's been doing every day of my writing journey.  These stories are for his glory.  You have seen my trials.  You have witnessed my falls.  Today I'm pausing to give thanks to God for inspiring me to write and to thank you for encouraging me along the way.

If I can get a grip on technology, there may be a short video clip posted here to commemorate today's milestone.  This writing journey is not over.  Two books are in the oven.  The recipe has been refined and I'm going to give you something special.  All of this is for God's glory.  See you tomorrow for day 5,001.  Have a great day.  May you Live Long and Prosper.

As the Blogometer Turns

One day to go.  Yep.  Today the blogometer shows 4,999 stories.  Tomorrow I'm celebrating 5,000 anecdotes.  I have my headphones on and my cousin, Mark Mulligan, is serenading from south of the border.  My mind drifts to the beaches of Kino Bay where we cousins hung out in my teenage years.  By the way, congrats to Mark's son, Louis, who was featured on last night's show.  Louis announced last night that he was selected to attend music school.  Congratulations!  

There is no finish line when it comes to blogging.  Yes, I'm thankful I made it this far and that writing is becoming more natural for me.  This is a lifetime journey.  Come back tomorrow and I'll share something special with you on blog day 5,000.  Like young Louis did last night, singing for the first time publicly, I'm trying out new technology for the first time.  It's scary and it's intimidating, just like when I opened myself up on day 1 and came out of my cave to begin my blog journey.  Thank you for your support and encouragement.  Have a great day.

One Month of Miracles at My Day Job

 Today is the start of our Children's Miracle Network fundraising campaign at my day job.  We work together as a team along with our members to raise money for the sick kids at our local hospital.  As a person who has had a couple of close calls with death I have great empathy for these families dealing with sickness and disease.  We are reminded of these kids every time there is a home game at Kinnick stadium as the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital overlooks the field.  70,000+ fans including opponents on the field pause at the end of the first quarter to wave to these kids who are peering out from the windows on the 12th floor.  It's a sacred moment that transcends sports and connects us with families who are searching for hope.

Please keep my teammates in your prayers this month.  May they be inspired to give their absolute best to serve the ones who need our help the most and may everyone we encounter respond with abundant generosity.  Have a great day.