On Inauguration Day it had been raining and misting here for a while. Our dog, Mr. Beefy, (a direct descendant–the firstborn–of Fortunado El Conquistador AKA “Nato” of Phoenix, Arizona) needed to go outside, but was hesitant, so I walked with him. The Beef is quite the sniffer. Knowing his process can take a while, I…
Jesus was asleep in the boat when the storm came. The Disciples woke Him and said “We are perishing!” Then He asked the Disciples – “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Jesus rebuked the storm – and the sea was calm. If God is in the storm with you – Find your…
Blessed with good mentors in life, I’m grateful to carry their wisdom within me. They’ve been especially useful this year. In early June of 2020 Dodie and I decided we had enough of the bad news spewing out of broadcast and social media. Long before President Donald Trump’s presidency, I had lost faith in most…
Read more Remain Calm, Trust in God, and For Sure Vote in Person
I miss rain. When I was seven, we lived on West Ansley in south San Antonio. Three Dennis families, lived side by side, with six acres among us. It was my last innocent summer in many ways. In just a few months Blackie, my devoted Cocker Spaniel would be dead. Nineteen days later, I would…
Read more My First Great Adventure Was In a Torrential Storm
This was a lot of brand new word learning for a someone who just wanted to play Superman or Lone Ranger. Unknown words, like “school,” “astronaut,” and “lunchbox,” were cropping up. Heck, I was just interested in understandable verbage like “Up Up and Away” or “Hiyo Silver.” “Kemosabe” was stretching it. But the one that…
As our students return to school for the 2020-21 term, it’s more important than ever for teachers and parents to work together. Parents may see behaviors at home that teachers aren’t seeing in school and vice versa. That reality is, things are different this year. It could be one of those times in life that…
Read more Parents, Teachers Help Students Face Emotional Issues as Schools Open
All around us, across the United States, there are people who are beginning to show the strength that is inside all of us. It’s the strength of spirit–a strength of fellowship that they will not relent from expressing. No matter what noise is shouting from the newscasts, a rioter’s loudspeaker or a CNN pundit, we…
Read more Americans Are Beginning to Show Strength in Love of God and for President Trump
Saturday afternoon, the Peterson Regional Health Hospital emergency room doctor and cardiologist said they were going to send me up to ICU. Not even an hour before, the love of my life, my bride Dodie and I were happily eating “Donna’s Meatloaf” at the Camp Verde General Store and Restaurant about 17 miles away. Serendipity…
Read more ICU Do You See Me? True Friends In Times of Crisis
During a job performance review in the 1990s, my boss, H-E-B Vice President Ralph Mehringer said something that I remember to this day. “You have the unique ability to take the venom out of angry people,” he noted. “You quickly de-fang them.” I liked that. Ralph is a keen observer and calls it as he…
Read more Powerful Winning Hacks That Take Venom Out of Angry People
There are two things you need to know about how you feel and one thing you need to do. The first thing you need to know is that you worry–or feel this crazy fear–because you are smart. I’m not being condescending. This is truth. Dumber folks among us don’t worry much. They may not be…
