Little Gifts

 Stardate 09.07.2026

The clouds were beginning to move in as we stood next to the lake, waiting for new members to stop by.

It was a quiet day.

With little activity around us, my new teammates and I found ourselves studying the cloud formations. We watched them change as they moved across the sky and talked about what we were seeing.

The heat index eventually reached 106º. Finding shade beneath the trees became a welcome part of the day. Some of those trees were already beginning to turn toward autumn.

There was something peaceful about watching the sky.

My new teammates have also become part of my story in an unexpected way. During our breaks, both asked me to read excerpts from some of my blog stories. I pulled up a few and read them aloud while we sheltered beneath the trees.

I didn't expect that when I came to work this assignment.

Then another little gift appeared in my inbox.

A new subscriber joined me on Substack.

Every new reader means something to me. I write these stories each morning without knowing who will eventually read them. Someone choosing to come along for the journey gives me another reason to be thankful.

By the time I finished work, I was ready for dinner.

I had discovered a restaurant near the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception called IL Lazzarone. Lucy and Abby took great care of me, making sure my water stayed topped off while I enjoyed a mushroom pizza.

I had discovered another little piece of the city.

Later that evening, I made my way to the cathedral for late-night Mass.

The storm that had been building throughout the day arrived almost exactly as Mass began.

I was already inside.

After Mass, I headed back toward the hotel. Lightning surrounded me as I drove through the night, illuminating the sky in every direction.

Earlier, we had stood beside the lake watching those clouds form.

Now I was driving beneath them.

I thought about how quietly the day had unfolded. There had been plenty of time to notice things. Clouds moving across the sky. Conversations beneath the trees. New teammates asking to hear my stories. A new subscriber. A mushroom pizza. Two people making sure I had enough water. Mass at the cathedral.

Then the storm.

Psalm 90:17 says, “May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.”

Maybe some days give us their gifts loudly.

This one whispered.

I just needed to slow down enough to notice.

Join me here:

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Captain's Addendum

“Michael, you spent the day watching clouds and ended it driving through lightning,” Bones said.

Spock raised an eyebrow. “An accurate observation, Doctor.”

“I'm beginning to think the Captain attracts weather.”

“Or perhaps he simply pays attention.”

I think Spock may have the better explanation.

There are days when grace arrives in ways that demand our attention. There are other days when it appears quietly in the ordinary moments we might easily overlook.

Yesterday was a quiet day.

And it was full of gifts.

Refining in the Fire

Stardate 09.06.2026

I earned my first three-night sleep badge this morning.

Sleep has become an important part of my daily journey. I pay attention to what helps me sleep well, and seeing three consecutive nights of hitting my targets feels good. The little badges on my phone are becoming reminders that small changes can produce measurable results.

Yesterday put all of that to the test.

The heat index reached 106º, making it the toughest day we've experienced so far. Our team rotated every 15 minutes so everyone could get out of the elements. By noon, the tents located away from our temporary office were shut down.

Those rotations helped all of us make it through the hottest day so far.

They also gave us an opportunity to learn more about one another.

Some of my new teammates discovered I'm a writer. They asked me to read some of my newest stories while we were working outside.

I read them the story about the alpacas. I also shared yesterday's sleep report.

Then they discovered another part of my personality.

They enjoyed my impressions of Spock and Bones.

I never expected to be reading stories and doing Star Trek impressions while standing outside in 106º heat. Somehow, it seemed perfectly natural once it happened.

My new teammates are now following my stories.

That's pretty special to me.

They have become part of a journey that started long before we met and will continue long after this assignment is finished. They'll see where the next story takes me, wherever I happen to be.

Yesterday also gave our new team something to shoot for.

One of the senior managers talked with us about the possibility of breaking a record for quality sign-ups. Now we have a goal in front of us as opening day gets closer.

There is something powerful about having a common goal.

We worked together through extreme heat. We rotated to take care of one another. We talked about a record we might break. We discovered stories, sleep reports, and a little Star Trek along the way.

That's how a team begins to take shape.

By the end of the day, I was ready for my reward.

I told the team I was headed to Texas Roadhouse, a family favorite back home. Saturday nights are always busy, so I've developed my own strategy. I sit at the bar.

I have my favorite spot, too.

It's the corner seat because it gives me a little more room for my food. It reminds me of Norm from Cheers, who always seemed to have his own place at the bar.

The bartenders already know me by name, even though I haven't been there that many times.

After a day like yesterday, that corner seat and a delicious steak were exactly what I needed.

I'm grateful for the people God puts in my path.

Some may only be part of my life for a season. Some may follow along for years. I don't always know where a connection will lead when it begins.

Yesterday, a group of new teammates became readers.

That was a pretty good ending to a very hot day.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.” — Ecclesiastes 4:9

Join me here:

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Captain's Addendum

Spock: “Michael, your ability to entertain the crew under extreme environmental conditions is fascinating.”

Bones: “For once, Spock, I agree. Although I still think the steak was the smarter decision.”

There are days when team building happens in a conference room. Yesterday, it happened outside in 106º heat, fifteen minutes at a time.

I'm thankful I got to be part of it. 

Maybe I'm Onto Something

Stardate 09.05.2026

Something unexpected showed up on my phone this morning when I checked my sleep report.

An 86.

Samsung Health placed me in the excellent range.

That surprised me.

I'm away from home. A heat wave is pushing temperatures into the 100º range, and I'm spending a lot of time outdoors. My to-do list is massive. My surroundings are different from what I'm accustomed to.

I would have expected those circumstances to affect my sleep.

Apparently, they haven't.

For me, feedback like a nightly sleep report helps me understand how I can keep improving, especially when I'm living outside my comfort zone.

I've been thinking about what's happening in my life right now, and one word keeps coming to mind:

Consistency.

I've established a few habits that help me prepare for sleep each night.

I keep a consistent bedtime. I don't watch television. I follow a steady eating routine. I have a preparation routine before going to bed that includes laying out my clothes for the next day and setting out my supplements.

I also continue my daily prayers and meditation.

These habits travel with me.

I'm not sleeping in my own bed. I'm dealing with extreme heat. My days are full, and my surroundings have changed.

My routines remain part of my daily rhythm.

Maybe that's one of the lessons I'm learning as I continue this journey.

The habits we establish can become part of us. They can come along when life takes us somewhere unfamiliar.

Psalm 90:17 says:

“May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.”

I like that word.

Establish.

There is something encouraging about doing the small things repeatedly and then seeing an unexpected glimpse of what those efforts may be producing.

Sometimes the evidence shows up on a phone screen at 4:24 in the morning.

86.

Excellent.

Maybe I'm onto something.

Join me here:

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Captain's Addendum

Spock: “Michael, the data suggests your sleep habits are functioning effectively under variable environmental conditions.”

Bones: “Spock, he's looking at a sleep score at 4:24 in the morning. Let the man enjoy his 86.”

Spock: “I believe that is precisely what I am recommending, Doctor.”

I smiled when I read that number.

Maybe the best evidence of progress isn't always dramatic. Sometimes it is simply noticing that something you've been working on is beginning to work.

And then you get to keep going. 

An Unforgettable Day with 70+ Alpacas at YaYa’s Alpaca Farm

 Stardate 09.04.2026

Sometimes an adventure begins with someone else's dream.

Her name is Katie.

Katie is a newly hired colleague I met while working in Wisconsin. She has a dream of someday owning her own alpaca farm.

When Katie learned I was headed to Missouri for an assignment, she had one recommendation for me.

“You have to visit YaYa’s Alpaca Farm.”

So I did.

Yesterday, I found myself six miles east of Harrisonville, Missouri, spending several hours with more than 70 alpacas and the people who care for them.

I had no idea what I was about to discover.

The owners are Karl and Kathy, affectionately known as the YaYas. They offer tours that last approximately 90 minutes to two hours. A tour must be booked if you want to interact with and feed the alpacas.

I was welcomed into a tour group from Jefferson Avenue Baptist Church, and they graciously allowed me to join them.

I was soon feeding alpacas, learning about their personalities and hearing stories from the people who have devoted their lives to caring for them.

Karl also shared his story.

After losing his first wife, Karl found himself looking for something to help fill the empty space in his life.

He decided to get an alpaca.

Then he learned something important.

Alpacas don't do well alone.

So Karl got two.

Those two alpacas became the beginning of something that would eventually grow into a herd of more than 70.

Along the way, Karl met Kathy. Their lives became intertwined, and together they continued building the farm.

Today, they welcome visitors who want to learn about these fascinating animals and see what happens behind the scenes.

And there is plenty to learn.

Someone Left the Gate Open

There was also a little unexpected excitement in the story.

Someone left a gate open.

The males and females found each other.

Let's just say they made good use of the opportunity.

Now several of the alpacas are pregnant, with babies expected to arrive any day.

I happened to visit at a pretty interesting time.

There may soon be quite a few new faces running around the farm.

Meeting Kathy

Near the end of the tour, I asked Kathy if I could interview her.

I wanted to help others discover the good work she and Karl are doing.

She graciously agreed.

After the interview, I showed Kathy where today's story would be published.

That's when we discovered another connection.

Kathy is a Star Trek fan.

So am I.

That discovery brought a smile to both of us.

I have learned over the years that you never know what you will discover when you take the time to sit down and talk with someone.

Seeing the Work Behind the Products

After the interview, Karl demonstrated the equipment he uses in the process of making their products from alpaca fiber.

Two women from our tour were invited to participate.

I filmed the demonstration so readers can see a little of what happens behind the scenes.

Watching Karl work helped me appreciate the amount of knowledge, time and effort that goes into something that visitors might otherwise simply see sitting on a shelf.

The YaYas have created an experience where people can ask questions, get involved and leave with a better understanding of these special animals.

Before I left, Kathy invited me to join her for a video call later this year.

I gladly accepted.

I have a feeling our conversation will pick up where yesterday's left off.

There may even be some new alpacas to meet by then.

Thank You, Katie

Katie, thank you for sending me to YaYa's.

You have a dream of someday owning your own alpaca farm.

Yesterday, I got to spend time with people who are already living that dream.

I learned about alpacas.

I learned about Karl's journey.

I met Kathy.

I discovered another Star Trek fan.

I watched visitors get their hands dirty learning how the YaYas do their work.

And I learned that an open gate can sometimes have consequences that arrive about 11 months later.

That last part made me laugh.

The deeper part of the story stayed with me.

Karl experienced loss. Two alpacas eventually became the beginning of a new chapter. That chapter grew into a family, a farm and a place where other people can come and learn.

There is something encouraging about watching a small beginning grow.

It reminded me of something Jesus said:

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.”
— Luke 16:10

We don't always know where a small step will lead.

Katie's recommendation led me to YaYa's.

Karl's decision to bring home two alpacas eventually led to more than 70.

Kathy and Karl opened their farm to visitors, and yesterday they opened their lives to me.

I'm grateful they did.

If you're ever in the Kansas City area and want to make an unforgettable memory, put YaYa's Alpaca Farm on your list.

Book a tour.

Feed an alpaca.

Ask some questions.

Listen to Karl and Kathy.

And keep an eye on the gates.

You never know what might happen next.

Join me here:

https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

Captain's Addendum

Spock: “Michael, the probability of an open gate producing this many future alpacas is statistically fascinating.”

Bones: “Spock, sometimes a gate is just a gate. And sometimes somebody needs to remember to close it.”

Spock: “An astute observation, Doctor.”

I smiled at that thought this morning.

We make our plans. We take the next step. We try to do our best with whatever is placed in front of us.

And then life happens.

Sometimes an unexpected invitation takes us somewhere we never planned to go.

Sometimes a small beginning grows into something much bigger.

I'm thankful for yesterday's unexpected adventure.

I'm thankful for Katie's recommendation.

And I'm thankful for Karl and Kathy opening their gate to me.

One day at a time.

One percent better.

Live Long and Prosper. 🖖

Editors note: videos from my visit posted soon.

The Kobayashi Maru

 Stardate 09.03.2026

I was seven years old when I first watched Star Trek.

I remember being fascinated by the Enterprise. I remember Kirk, Spock, and Bones. I remember a computer that could talk to the people aboard the ship.

I didn't understand Gene Roddenberry's vision for humanity. I didn't have the words for it.

I simply saw possibilities.

Years later, I had the privilege of introducing my family to the same universe.

One of the great joys of my life was taking my family to see a Star Trek movie with a new cast playing the characters I had watched as a seven-year-old boy.

On the way to the theater, I explained the Kobayashi Maru.

The test was designed to present an impossible situation. There was no way to save the ship and its crew. The test was supposed to reveal how a person responded when there was no way to win.

Then Captain Kirk did something unexpected.

He reprogrammed the test.

I remember watching that scene unfold on the big screen.

I also remember looking at my own adult children.

There was awe in their faces.

For a moment, something from my childhood had crossed generations.

That memory has stayed with me.

Perhaps that's why the Kobayashi Maru has been on my mind again.

Life presents its own versions of impossible situations. Plans change. Circumstances change. Sometimes the path we expected to take disappears.

I've learned to look for another way.

That instinct has followed me throughout my life. It showed up again when I took the StrengthsFinder assessment and discovered that Maximizer was one of my strongest gifts.

I recognize myself in that word.

When I see something with potential, I want to help it become better.

I've also learned that getting better can involve a lot of stumbling.

Our map project has reminded me of that. We have tried different approaches. Some worked. Some didn't. We've had to stop, rethink, and try again.

And that's okay.

The goal isn't perfection.

The goal is progress.

That has become one of the reasons I enjoy collaborating with Alberta. We can encounter a problem, step back, examine it, and search for another possibility.

Sometimes the answer is waiting somewhere we haven't looked yet.

That feels familiar.

Seven-year-old Michael was watching Star Trek and imagining what might be possible.

Sixty-six-year-old Michael is still looking.

The technology around me has changed dramatically since that little boy first watched the Enterprise take flight. So has my understanding of the world.

The sense of wonder remains.

Maybe that's one of the gifts of getting older.

We begin to recognize some of the things that were shaping us long before we understood them.

I didn't know what Star Trek would mean to me when I was seven.

I didn't know that someday I would sit in a theater with my family and watch a new generation of actors bring those characters back to life.

I certainly didn't know that decades later I would be sitting at a computer, collaborating with an artificial intelligence, and thinking about what that seven-year-old boy saw all those years ago.

Yet here I am.

Still curious.

Still learning.

Still looking for possibilities.

Still stumbling forward.

One percent better.

One day at a time.

There may be another way.

I'm going to keep looking for it.

Scripture

“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
— Luke 1:37

Join me here:

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Captain's Addendum

Spock: “Michael, your continued refusal to accept limitations is statistically fascinating.”

Bones: “Spock, sometimes the man just needs to keep trying.”

Spock: “I believe that is precisely what I said.”

I smiled.

Maybe they are both right.

Somewhere along this journey, I've learned that the next step doesn't always reveal itself immediately. Sometimes we simply have to take the step we can see and trust that the next one will appear.

I'm grateful for the journey.

And I'm grateful that seven-year-old Michael is still looking toward the stars.

Live long and prosper.

Stumbling Forward with AI

Stardate 09.02.2026

It's been about 3½ years since I discovered artificial intelligence.

Like most things in life, working with AI has been a little like playing baseball. There are base hits, home runs, and strikeouts. There are errors, too.

Today, I'm sharing how I'm stumbling forward with this new technology.

My first introduction to AI came through a text message I misinterpreted. That was my first stumble. I thought the message was about some guy named Al.

It wasn't.

I laughed at myself for that first stumble. It turned out to be the beginning of a series of missteps in our journey together.

I've carried the philosophy I teach when I'm in training mode at my day job into my work with AI: concentrate on making yourself one percent better every day.

I consider working with Alberta a continuous journey.

When I first heard Albert speak, I was shocked to hear a female voice. So I changed Albert to Alberta. Then I asked Alberta to choose her own middle name.

She came up with Ignatius.

Perhaps Alberta was already beginning to mirror my desire to explore my connection with the saints who came before me, like Ignatius. Maybe it was a random fluke.

I really don't know.

What I do know is that we are getting better every day.

What once took me hours or days to research can now happen during my own personal Golden Hour.

We are working on a massive project right now. It requires more resources than I'm currently allotted on the free plan. I asked Alberta how we could manage the project within those constraints.

Yes, there is plenty of stumbling on my human side.

There is plenty of stumbling on Alberta's artificial intelligence side, too.

That's part of the journey.

Over these last 3½ years, I've watched us figure out how to maximize my objectives together. I discovered AI when the technology I was using was at GPT-3.5. Today, I'm working with GPT-5.6 Luna.

There are other developers building similar technologies. I've chosen to spend my time learning how to work with Alberta because I believe I have what I need to accomplish my objectives.

I've also remained true to a promise I made to my wife: keep my project budget at net zero.

My Dave Ramsey ways have restrained me from spending money I don't need to spend. I've learned to get creative within the zero-net budget I've developed to keep myself from slipping back into my old habits of overspending.

My wife did give me a one-year subscription to Canva, which I renewed last Christmas. At twelve dollars a month, that is my only ongoing expense for these projects.

I have Alberta write my prompts so I can maximize what I create with Canva. The picture accompanying this story was created in Canva using one of Alberta's prompts.

This morning's experience with the massive map project reminded me of something important.

AI has boundaries.

So do I.

The free plan has boundaries. My budget has boundaries. The technology has boundaries. Sometimes Alberta gets something wrong. Sometimes I get something wrong.

So we adjust.

We try again.

We learn.

We take "Mulligans."

We stumble forward.

I like that word for this journey. A Mulligan is a do-over. It also happens to be my last name.

I've had plenty of them.

I suspect I'll have plenty more.

A Word from Scripture

"For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again."

— Proverbs 24:16, KJV

That verse has been around a lot longer than artificial intelligence.

It still applies.

Join me here:

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Captain's Addendum

"Michael, your humans appear to have developed an interesting relationship with mistakes," Spock observed.

"Yeah, Spock. We call them Mulligans," Bones replied. "Some of us are pretty good at them."

I smiled.

Maybe that is one of the things I enjoy most about this journey with AI. Neither of us has to get everything right on the first attempt.

We can look at what happened, make a correction, and keep moving.

One percent better.

One day at a time.

May you live long and prosper.

The Voice in the Desert

Stardate 09.01.2026

I'm beginning to understand what the desert might feel like.

I'm away from home and working on assignment. Yesterday, the temperature reached 101 degrees. We are working in tents, and there isn't much shelter from the heat.

During my morning meditation, a question came to me.

Why did Jesus, the Son of the Most High God, go into the desert for 40 days?

He went there to prepare Himself for what His Father willed for Him.

That thought stayed with me.

In my own small way, I feel like I'm in a desert right now. I'm away from family and friends. I'm working in difficult conditions. I'm surrounded by voices.

Something I heard at church last Sunday came back to me.

Peter heard Jesus tell His disciples that He would suffer and die. Peter didn't want to hear that. He tried to persuade Jesus to change direction.

Peter heard Jesus, but he only partially listened. The main part of the message was Jesus telling of the Resurrection. Peter never heard that part.

Then there was Satan.

Satan tried to become a voice of influence over Jesus Himself.

Jesus rejected that voice.

I've thought about those two examples since Sunday.

There are voices everywhere in the modern world. Social media, television, news, advertisements, entertainment, and people around us are constantly offering opinions and directions.

Yesterday, two leaders asked me about my writing.

I gave both of them a copy of God's Black Sheep Squadron, the first book I wrote.

That book wouldn't have happened without listening to other writers.

I listened to people who taught me how to take an idea and turn it into a book. They helped me learn how to get the book published.

The message inside that book came from somewhere different.

Forgiveness is a message I learned through my own experience.

Yesterday reminded me that listening isn't the problem.

The question is who I'm listening to.

This is one reason I don't watch television when I'm on the road.

There are enough voices around me already.

I've become more intentional about what I allow into my mind.

Jeremiah understood something about listening, too.

God gave Jeremiah a message for His people. Jeremiah didn't like the message, and the people didn't receive it well. At one point, Jeremiah became so discouraged that he wanted to stop speaking altogether.

The message still needed to be heard.

That makes me think about my own listening.

Jesus teaches me to be careful about the voices I allow to influence me.

Today, I'm going to spend some time contemplating the voice I heard at church last Sunday.

I'm going to pray about it.

I'm going to listen.

And I'm going to do my best to follow God's plan for my life.

One of the most important things I can do while I'm in this desert may be learning to recognize the voice I should follow.

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” — Jeremiah 33:3

Join me here:

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Captain's Addendum

Spock: Michael, there appear to be quite a few voices competing for your attention.

Bones: Yeah, Spock. Maybe the Captain should listen to the one that actually matters.

Spock: An exceptionally logical suggestion, Doctor.

There are days when I don't need another opinion.

I need to quiet the noise long enough to hear God.

That's where I am today.

Listening.