"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." – Roger Caras

This is a picture of our Sir Bentley. Two years ago he developed a liver issue that was not fixable and we had to say farewell. He was a remarkable companion to us for five years and handful of months. What an amazing pup and how blessed we were to have him. 

Good Tuesday morning on this March 24, 2026, where, if you are up and able to go, well, since according to the writing of Job, it is God who is the Sustainer of life, as in our next breath, well, that means we need to bend our knee and give Him all the praise and Glory. (Job 7:7 and 33:4) I know I write a lot about aging. It does reflect the stage in my life, but, at the same time I am in reasonably good shape for the shape I'm in. I recently was reminded from a short clip telling about a 1979 research project called the "Counterclockwise Study" authored and supervised by Harvard psychologist Ellen Langer. This study  gathered a group of older men, late 70's through 80's and observed them during a special retreat. Essentially, the participants were put into a setting from 1959 surrounded by period furniture, black and white TV, music, media, food and other items from that era. They were examined before and after only one week of being in that environment they showed significant improvements in vision, hearing, grip strength, memory, and cognitive function. It just goes to show you. I'm not 100% sure of what but it does go to show you something. Mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter, or something like that. Solomon recorded this interesting observation, Proverbs 23:7, "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." Let me see here, twenty years ago for me would be 2006. I would have been sixty years young. I did look at the songs in all categories, and, alas, I didn't recognize them. I know I was still in my working prime back then, working can to can't, as my grandfather used to say. Somewhere in that time frame was when I discovered a new thing about myself. The Doctor: Mr. Abbott you have full-blown Type-2 diabetes. Mr Abbott: No I do not! The Doctor: Yes you do, the blood test does not lie. Mr. Abbott: In this case, the blood test is wrong! Now tell me how to get rid of it. The Doctor: Change your life, lose weight, and, if you are part of a very small percentage, maybe you can do something about it. And, I did all of those things and still ended up with full-blown Type 2. A game changer but I've been able with God's help to do what they refer to as this: Manage it. (One never gets at ease seeing how nearly every test that is run comes back as abnormal, but, as we are all inclined to say, 'It is what is', right?) Now go back and read my opening comments about Who it is that sustains life. And, the fact that I am still here is because He is not finished with me yet. That is the truth. Period. Continuing the story and Amen.

 

When Bentley had to be put down, (our Jimmy went with him because I couldn't), I firmly committed to never having another pup, period, end of that story. Well, so many people bombarded me with how we really needed to replace him, well, that end of story became an end of chapter and we ushered in the three week old Lil Miss Biscuit. We got her early because her mom was not able to nurse and the folks were feeding the pups goat milk. We fetched some milk replacer from the store and took over her feeding and we more or less raised her by hand. She is not Sir Bentley Barksalot, Esq., but, guess what? She is 100% Lil Miss Biscuit, and, just like that, she is now two years old. Already she is beloved and some say, more than spoiled. I'll never forget Bentley because he was pretty much my first dog. I know. Old people, late in life, you never know what they might get into. But, Bentley loved to ride in the ole truck with his head out the window. He, at least, knew he needed to stay in the truck. Biscuit, well, she loves to ride with her head out the window but she does so with wild abandonment and I have to hold onto her and it's pretty much all I can do to keep her in the truck. That's the truth. It is. It really is. Bentley now Biscuit, they have enriched our lives. I wasn't raised up where pets were ever in the house. That was an ironclad rule. That was yesterday and now is now and Biscuit at this particular time has the final say. Ha! Y'all enjoy and know that God is our Sustainer. Amen.

“Aging seems to be the only available way to live a long life.” Kitty O’Neill Collins, known as the fastest woman alive having driven across Oregon's Alvord Desert in a three-wheeled rocket car called the SMI Motivator, she clocked an average of 512.710 mph..

Welcome back. I'm glad you showed up today, Monday, March 23, 2026. In this part of the world, the weather has been competing in a yo yo contest with near freezing temperatures early last week while finishing up the week flirting with 90's. That jerking forth and back can be hard on older people's bones, or, at least I've heard that it can. Ha! I am working to perfect the sounds I make when I am getting up off the chair. I don't care too much for the groan or the moan, but, I think a low guttural grunt might be my favorite. Sometimes I forget and the groan might slip out. I mean just being me is insulting enough, but, do they have to make it so difficult to find your birth year using that wheel on the computer. My word, finding 1946 takes a while and the whole time the medical technician is sitting there smiling. I also notice how much time I spend reading about orthopedic shoes and other ads of that ilk, it just makes me want to cry. I also find it interesting to mention a particular song or artist who was a consistent number one on the charts, but, alas, all I get is a blank stare from the younger person I'm talking to. I've heard the one about turning down the radio in the car so the older person can see better, but, for me, that's not the reason I turn it off when I am surrounded by jerk-drivers because I need to concentrate on my survival. And this one, the ophthalmologist couldn't wait to get my cataracts out and kept referring to them as becoming ripe. Well, he took them out and now I need glasses to sharpen up far off objects, (like reading the monitor on the back wall when I am in the choir), and, I need reading glasses to share Scripture when I'm teaching. Go figure, and, thank you very much. One sure sign of my advancing years: Trends no longer even think about getting onto my radar screen. Clothes, vehicles, and any other new fangled item have no meaning to me except if we are trying to buy something for one of our grands or great grands. I'm not complaining, just sharing, because, the old quote is true, the one with the most birthdays lives the longest. You can now go to your room and think about that one. 

 

If I didn't write about aging challenges I would be living in denial. Yes. I am aware about the jokes concerning the word denial. And, no it is not a river located in northeastern Africa. Please don't try to sidetrack me with silly jokes, especially those that don't even qualify to be called a 'dad' joke. I do know one of the things I do think quite a bit about is what I will leave behind. I'm not talking about wealth here. My thoughts are about my testimony and the great need for my children, my grandchildren, and currently my great grandchildren to know the Lord, to put their faith and trust in Jesus, and, to live out their lives in service to the God who loved them enough to send His one and only Son to die for them. Why does this matter weigh so heavy on my heart and mind? Let me be frank, it's like this, Jesus put it this way, "A person may get everything in the whole world for himself. But if he loses his life, it will not be any good for him. There is nothing that a person can give to get back his life." (Matthew 16:26 from the EasyEnglish Bible). And this, from our Savior, John 5:25-29 "Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." (From the New King James Version, NKJV.) These are the things I ponder as I pray that each of them will hear the Truth of John 3:16, respond, and be saved. Amen.

“All our discontents about what we want appeared to me to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have.” ― Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe, (1719)

A depiction of Robinson Crusoe with his rescued native friend, Friday.

It's Friday my friend, and it's the name Robinson Crusoe gave to the native he rescued from cannibals and he did so on a Friday, therefore, he named him Friday. I do know you find that to be very interesting but you might prefer that I get on with today's edition, on this March 20, 2026. (For those who don't know about Robinson Crusoe, well, I feel a wee bit sorry for you because it is a wonderful story found in the novel written in 1719 by Daniel Defoe.) There are also several movies made from that great novel. Okay. Well, how in the world are you doing on this, another day in the neighborhood? Let me hit this one head on. Got it? Good. Based on the information I have heard from the current administration, I am, at this time, supporting the military action in Iran. I am convinced many of the news sources are actually rooting for our armed forces to lose because of their hatred of President Trump. You can have your opinion. That's mine. I'm not saying there is no propaganda coming from the administration because the reporting is typically done to form a positive view of their actions, however, this joint military action alongside Israel makes sense given the threat that Iran poses along with their long term status of being the number one sponsor of radical terrorism. I can understand why some people do not care for President Trump. His history, his mannerisms, and, his commentary at times has contributed to this dislike. However, to root for Iran in the coverage of the news is unacceptable and it is why the FCC has threatened to investigate some of the news reporting entities. It's one thing to be biased, liberal versus conservative, but, to manipulate the news in order to support a sworn enemy of our country is frankly beyond the pale. I am not enjoying the higher prices at the pump, the grocery store, and, just about any and everywhere things are purchased. Hopefully, the report that these spikes are temporary will be proven to be true. Meanwhile, I support our troops and I pray for a speedy completion of this conflict. Amen.

 

That particular ongoing hostility may not be the elephant in the room, but, it is one that impacts us all. And, especially, the lives of those who lose loved ones as a result. Me feeling one way or another can never come close to the pain these families are dealing with. May God comfort them and may they look to Him for help going forward. Amen. Join me in praying for the soon resolution of this conflict. Again, I want to thank you, the readers, of my blogs. I appreciate the comments I receive from time to time. And, I especially love to hear the wife of my youth chuckle when she proofs my daily posting. It makes me think that if it brings a smile to her it might just do the same for someone else. At times, there's not too much smiling going on in a world that literally is in such a mess. Only God can help us but it's good that we all can do our part to cheer each other on as we, together, continue our journey here. I remind us all of this truth. As believers, this world is not our final dwelling place. It's not folks. It's really isn't! Here is an old hymn that has an idea about that place we call home:

 

Is Not This the Land of Beulah? (1882): Often associated with the line "I am dwelling on the mountain". It became a popular Methodist revival song written, or arranged by, William Hunter or John W. Dadmun. You can hear this on YouTube sung by several different groups including the Gaither Homecoming choir. 

 

Lyrics

 

I am dwelling on the mountain,
Where the golden sunlight gleams
O'er a land whose wondrous beauty
Far exceeds my fondest dreams
Where the air is pure, ethereal,
Laden with the breath of flow'rs,
They are blooming by the fountain,
'Neath the amaranthine bow'rs. (note unfading, undying, forever flowers)

 

Is not this the land of Beulah?
Blessed, blessed land of light,
Where the flowers bloom forever,
And the sun is always bright!

 

I can see far down the mountain,
Where I wandered weary years,
Often hindered in my journey
By the ghosts of doubts and fears;
Broken vows and disappointments
Thickly sprinkled all the way,
But the Spirit led, unerring,
To the land I hold today.

 

Is not this the land of Beulah?
Blessed, blessed land of light,
Where the flowers bloom forever,
And the sun is always bright!

 

I am drinking at the fountain,
Where I ever would abide;
For I've tasted life's pure river,
And my soul is satisfied;
There's no thirsting for life's pleasures,
Nor adorning, rich and gay,
For I've found a richer treasure,
One that fadeth not away.

 

Is not this the land of Beulah?
Blessed, blessed land of light,
Where the flowers bloom forever,
And the sun is always bright!

 

Tell me not of heavy crosses,
Nor of burdens hard to bear,
For I've found this great salvation
Makes each burden light appear;
And I love to follow Jesus,
Gladly counting all but dross,
Worldly honors all forsaking
For the glory of the cross.

 

Is not this the land of Beulah?
Blessed, blessed land of light,
Where the flowers bloom forever,
And the sun is always bright!

 

Oh, the cross has wondrous glory!
Oft I've proved this to be true;
When I'm in the way so narrow,
I can see a pathway through;
And how sweetly Jesus whispers:
"Take the cross, thou need'st not fear,
For I've tried the way before thee, "
And the glory lingers near

 

Is not this the land of Beulah?
Blessed, blessed land of light,
Where the flowers bloom forever,
And the sun is always bright!

 

That's what I call a good one. What say you? Enjoy and may God add His blessings. Amen. 

"Do other people, I wonder, find the same keen pleasure that I do in periodically undertaking a pilgrimage all over the house to wage a war of extermination upon its accumulations of rubbish?" ~ Chiffon, "The Woman of To-Day," To-Day, 1898

Happy Thursday, and this one is being celebrated on March 19, 2026. I do hope all is well with you as we continue our journey here on the planet. Yep. That's me in the boat. I put myself there with the help of the a.i. utility, ChatGPT. The caption speaks for itself, however, the boat reminded me of a saying I heard growing up, "Son, you are up a creek without a paddle." Which, as most of you likely know, 'is an idiom describing a person in a very difficult, serious or hopeless situation with no easy way to escape or fix it. It implies being trapped without necessary resources or control. The phrase often refers to a predicament where one has made a mistake or faces a crisis with no solutions, similar to being stranded in a boat with no means to move it'. I can't be sure but where I grew up some may have said it like this, "Son, you are up a crick without a paddle." That little word change is actually a well recognized colloquialism in use in a variety of rural American communities. As for the hat, I think I bought it for our trip to Scotland back in the mid 1990's. I still have it, however, it has been used by nearly all our grands and I'll put it to you this way, "It has been turned every way but loose." It's been a detective hat, an explorer's hat, a cowboy or cowgirl hat, and no telling how many other adventures it has seen. Our great grands will soon be old enough to give it a go. I can still remember our first grand, Tiffany, when she would wear my raincoat and that hat investigating whatever crimes she could imagine. Come to think about it, I believe I still have that raincoat too. The wife recently raided my closet under the guise of organizing my stuff. It was very painful to see it all being tossed here and there. Here's a little preview, "Do you realize how many shirts you have that still have the tags attached to them?" Me: "Yeah, I need to decide when I might wear them." And, as we like to say here in the burbs, the beat goes on and on and on. 

 

I started to say that I might have said to the wife of my youth as she, like the title above, was undertaking her organizing and discarding pilgrimage, "Physician heal thyself." (I do believe she has at least 2 plus closets of her own to declutter.) Just saying.  A few years ago she carried off several boxes of our tax records that were only twenty or more years old. To me they were a family history of sorts. To her, they were stuff occupying space in the office closet. Rarely, okay, very rarely, I would look back to those records from the mid 1960's and relive how we could make it on less than $5,000 per year. She took the records over to Louisiana to her sister's acreage where the wife is known for loving to start big fires. There she burned up those and she is ready to even take more for burning. She is. She really is. She thinks I am a charter member of the procrastination club, however, I haven't taken the time yet to even think about that claim. I will get around to it at some time in the future. I will admit I do have a fairly messy office. Okay. I said it. At the same time, I will leave you with what research and scientific study has found, "A messy office often indicates a highly creative, albeit potentially disorganized, mind, frequently linked to unconventional thinking, high productivity, and a focus on new ideas rather than strict order. However, it can also be perceived by others as a sign of low conscientiousness, stress, poor time management, or a lack of professional care." The wife would land in the 'however' category but here's the wonderful thing about it all: Sixty one years and counting, with all our differences, we somehow make it work. And, I thank God for her every single day. I do. I really do. Take care now, you hear, or you might just end up finding yourself up the creek without a paddle. May God bless each one. Amen.

"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you." — Anne Lamott

Good morning blog readers and welcome. Today is Wednesday, March 18, 2026, or, as we call it around here, Church choir practice night. We did get to see the neurologist yesterday afternoon. I can't describe him too much because he was wearing a really large mask. I did my best not to breathe in his direction. He seemed very pleasant and importantly, he was very thorough. Unfortunately, he ran through what he thought were some reasonable explanations for her episode but was unable to come up with anything definitive. Additionally, her experience may end up being a one time, one off situation that may not be repeated. He did talk about one thing that does occur from more or less out of the blue. It's called Transient Global Amnesia (TGA). It is rare, sudden, and it causes an individual over 50 to be unable to remember or recall recent events. It typically lasts only for a few hours and it is most likely brought on by stress and physical exertion. Bingo! The wife of my youth have both of those patented with her name on it. The important thing when the doctor can't nail down something specific: Rule out any other cause! Therefore, she will be undergoing an MRI, and EEG, additional blood work, a heart monitor session, and a sleep evaluation. We are already in the process of getting these scheduled. When we finished with the doctor, the wife who is the patient recommended we go and walk the Katy Mills Mall. She did. She really did. Obviously, her memory is back and she does have an abiding affection for malls. She does. She really does. That sounded really wonderful to me. No it didn't. It really didn't. We dodged 18 wheelers, crazy drivers, and, a whole slew of those jacked up pick-up trucks to get over there, but, the antidote for that level of stress is to go to the mall. I actually had not thought of that. I hadn't. We did go and we did walk and we did enjoy. That last sentence was from a prepared statement given to me to read. I'm only joking. I actually was required to memorize it. Still joking. 

 

When I said the wife was a poster child for both stress and physical exertion, well, it just happens to be the truth. She goes like a whirlwind most of the time, burning candles on both ends and in the middle. I will not go into all the details of how I know these two symptoms are true, but, needless to say, she needs to slow down and I believe they say, "Stop and smell the roses." Okay. I wasn't sure of exactly all that speech idiom entails, so, I did what most of us do when we don't know, we Google it. Right? Here's the answer given: ~ "Stop and smell the roses" is an idiom advising people to slow down, reduce stress, and appreciate life's small, everyday pleasures instead of rushing through them. It encourages mindfulness, gratitude, and taking breaks to enjoy the present moment. ~ She is wired the way she is wired and making these types of changes will not be easy. She is put together in a way that makes it almost impossible for her to say no. And, rarely does she say no. And, I think most of us know how those who never says no are the ones typically asked to do a certain task. Am I right or am I right? I thought so. We used to say this about dad on his mowing tractor, "He should most likely no longer be operating that tractor, however, if he were to die while doing what he loved to do, there are worse things." And, that just might be the case with the wife. She is who she is and let me quickly add this truth, she is very beloved, far and wide. I will do what I can to try and slow her down but I don't plan to lay down in front of the mowing tractor when she has it revved up. You do know what I mean, right Vern? Thanks ever so much for all those who have expressed your concerns and your prayers for her. We do greatly appreciate them all. May God bless is my prayer. Amen.

"Never iron a four-leaf clover, because you don't want to press your luck". ~ copied

Well, well, and, that's not only a deep subject, but, it is the truth as in the song, it is well with my soul. This doesn't mean everything is hunky dory, but, it does mean that God is with us and we can count on Him. Amen. Today is Tuesday, St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2026, and, I do bid each one a warm welcome from here at the ole blogger ranch to your little niche in the world, wherever that happens to be. I'll let the experts and the pundits talk about snakes and why they are not native to Ireland and I add this little tidbit, just because there are no snakes, mosquitoes, or spiders in Iceland doesn't mean I would want to live there. You can wear green or you can choose not to, it's your choice. Yesterday, I accompanied the wife of my youth to her primary care appointment. I told the nurse I was there as her interpreter. She laughed out loud. When I told our eldest son that's what I told them, well, he had this retort, "Oh my!" At any rate, since she does not remember any of the details regarding what led up to the accident last Friday, the subsequent trip to the ER or even coming home afterwards, well, I was there to fill in the blanks as best I know them. To the credit of the nurse she said if anyone deserved to be there with her it would be me. The primary care looked through all the tests run by the emergency room doctor. He did his best to try and figure out if there was some kind of trigger that brought on the episode she experienced. Of course they checked her vitals, listened to her heart, and, we talked and talked. He, knowing we are seeing the neurologist today, pretty much yielded to that specialist to do further investigation. He said they may want to do an MRI to see if it picks up something not seen in the CT Scan. She and her interpreter will be headed over to the neurologist visit and he happens to be at the Katy Clinic today, therefore, we will be driving in the highly discussed and not much ever done about the Houston congested traffic in order to get there. For close to 40 years I drove in, through, around, over the hills and through the woods in the Houston metroplex without even a thought. That was then. This is now. It is a habit that is real easy to quit. But, Lord willing, we will get there and see what comes from this next phase of our journey.

 

It's interesting how we never know exactly what we might be involved in on any given day. We can plan, and I think we should, but, we should never be surprised when things do not always fit what we had in mind. I know I use the 'Lord willing' phrase a lot. I do. I really do. I think about the first writing of the New Testament, that being James, early 40's AD, who we believe he was the son of Mary and Joseph, the half-brother of our Lord and he became a believer after the resurrection, and, was the Sr. Elder in the local assembly, Church, in Jerusalem. Here are some verses to consider: ~ Mark 6:3: Identifies James, Joses, Judas, and Simon as Jesus' brothers, mentioned in the context of his hometown. Matthew 13:55: Also mentions James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas as brothers of Jesus. Galatians 1:19: Paul explicitly calls him "James, the Lord's brother" when describing his visit to Jerusalem. John 7:2-5: Notes that early in Jesus' ministry, his brothers did not believe in him. 1 Corinthians 15:7: Mentions a personal appearance of the resurrected Jesus to James.Acts 1:14: Identifies James and his brothers as being present with the disciples in prayer after the Ascension. Acts 15:13-21: Depicts James presiding over the Jerusalem Council. Acts 12:17: Shows James as a leader, with Peter reporting to him. Galatians 2:9: Paul calls James a "pillar" of the church. ~ Well, he, in his letter covers this very thing about how we should plan the events in our lives. In Chapter 4, (there were no chapters or verses divided when he wrote his letter), as we have it organized, we read these words: ~ 13) Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14) whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15) Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” 16) But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17) Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. ~ There you have it, "if the Lord wills", therefore, when I say Lord willing that's exactly what I mean, even though I know it can be a throw down slogan but it really is the truth. It is. It really is. Amen.

"Commonly misattributed quotations abound more than ever before, now that they can be shared so easily on social media. Aphorisms, maxims, sententiae, and inspirational or witty quotations often become associated with public figures or well-known writers who never said or wrote them. And these misattributions can be surprisingly tenacious." ~ Joseph Wallace, PhD in English Literature

Welcome back. I bring you warm wishes and a hearty hello from here at the ole blogger ranch to wherever you happen to be tuning in from on this Monday, March 16, 2026. We've been experiencing some cooler weather in these parts of late and this reminds me of that famous quotation, "Everyone complains about the weather but no one does anything about it." Widely attributed to Mark Twain, but, it does not appear in any of his writings, however, he was known to quote it in his recorded comments. It originated in the writings of a fellow by the name of Charles Dudley Warner, (1829-1900), an American essayist, who actually was a friend of Mark Twain, Dudley not only came up with this widely recognized quote but also this one, "Politics makes strange bedfellows." I suppose being attributed for things you didn't actually come up with wasn't that big of a deal because even Yogi Berra famously said, "I didn't say all the things I said", talking about many of the things that were tagged as one of his sayings that he never said. There is a long history of misattributed quotations tagged to people like Winston Churchill, Thomas Jefferson, and, Mark Twain. Believe it or not, this is an area of literary interest where these types of erroneous attributions are tracked, exposed, and, the correct quote originator identified. I suppose those involved in these kinds of correction efforts must have been hall monitors in grade school. And, you can quote me on that, that is, unless that quote is already taken. Ha! 

 

I ask for your prayers on behalf of the wife of my youth. She had a medical episode last Friday morning which led to a vehicular accident. No one was hurt. Our truck was scraped on the bumper but the car she hit received quite a lot of damage. The people in the damaged car were ever so kind, mostly concerned about my wife. She was taken to the ER by ambulance and today we see our primary care and tomorrow we see the neurologist. She has no recollection of any of what happened. She continues to have some fuzziness, headaches, and, some wobbliness. She had gone to run an errand and on her way there was the unexpected happening. Life if like that. Jimmy was with her and when he called me I was up here working on the computer in the ole blogger ranch office and here's the truth, Lil Miss Biscuit and I nearly fell right out of the chair. I typically can try to be above the fray but I'll be honest, I was shaking. The many tests they conducted at the ER did not indicate what the problem might be, therefore, we were released to get these followups as soon as possible. She told the people at the ER that she wanted to go home because she had a good nurse. That would be me and I am trying to be just that, a good nurse. We've been through many challenges during our 61 plus years, and, we will, with God's help, and, the intercession of so many prayer warriors, get to this one and through it. Lil Miss Biscuit has decided laying behind me is her best spot on my typing chair, therefore, I write this, literally, on the edge of my seat while she snoozes. Y'all have yourselves a blessed day and may God help us all is my prayer. Amen.