“Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Abraham Lincoln My “middle sister” recently visited us in Iowa as we celebrated her birthday. She and I have had a close relationship over the years, and I miss her the minute her taillights are in the…

“A great relationship is about two things: First, appreciating the similarities and second, respecting the differences.” ~ Invajy Thirty years…How did that happen? We now look back on a shared road that has taken us on so many different paths. Many couples probably survive hardships greater than the ones we…

“Regret is a tough but fair teacher in life. To live our lives without regret is to believe that we have nothing to learn, no amends to make, and no opportunity to be braver in our lives.” *Unknown As I reflect this morning, news reaches me of another death in…

This summer has been one of reflection. So much life happening around me and my family and friends that have brought changes and milestones, celebrations, and times of sadness. The picture above shows my father, gone now 30 years, and my three sisters. …

Dear Elected Official. I am writing to you as a constituent that you were elected to serve. You have forgotten that you represent ALL of our citizens, not just the Republican Party. That means that you should endeavor to see that even those who disagree with you are not your…

The joy that has been my eldest daughter! This beautiful child introduced me to fatherhood. She taught me so much, and she helped me become a better person in hundreds of ways. …

“A room without books is like a body without a soul” Cicero. A Roman philosopher from well over 2000 years ago certainly had the wisdom of the ages. Books have played such an important role in my life and the current trend of book bans and rewriting of history is…

My memory fools me frequently, especially when I think of my children. My three kids are often frozen in moments that increasingly are more than twenty-five years old! Many special moments are frozen in time because they are so sweet and special that you’ll never forget them. I have a…

I never knew how much anxiety comes with aging. I always thought of being older as something that would happen in the future. I never saw myself being in the midst of it. My sixties seemed to evaporate due to the demands of change. So much was happening. Major life…