“I predict future happiness for Americans, if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.” – Thomas Jefferson

Hello and welcome. Today is Thursday, July 3, 2025. We invite any and all to Mims Baptist, Conroe, for tonight's 4th of July, Celebrate America party. It begins at 5:30 p.m. and it will have something for everyone. We will be going later. Why? The wife has a long running attraction to fireworks. She does. Therefore, we plan to arrive as it is beginning to begin to get dark so we can be there for what has been designated as the greatest fireworks display in all of Montgomery County. I did see the kidney specialist yesterday afternoon. She was a most wonderfully pleasant lady and we worked through the numbers and she looked through the history. In a nutshell, the problem is both serious and systemic, however, she saw some ways we can work to slow the progress of the kidney disease. Good for her. Yay and thank God! She thinks that perhaps the medication I have been on to deal with my blood pressure has been too much, keeping my blood pressure lower than needed at my age. She thinks I can function with it somewhat higher in order to help my kidneys to properly function. That will be step one, change the medication. I go back in November and we will see what to do after that. The wife and I have been with Kelsey Seybold Medicare Advantage since we reached 65, roughly 14 years ago. We have had outstanding support from this provider. I know they have been sold to United Health Care over a year ago. Based on what we have heard from others using United Health Care, we thought our coverage would significantly change and not for the better. While it has changed some and we are paying a little more out of pocket, the care has not. We are so thankful for this, as of now. And, yes, we know it can change in a heartbeat. People tell us all the time there are better systems out there. There may be, but, we are very happy with our medical coverage and when it comes down to it, that's what really matters. 

 

Picture of why women live longer than me.

But enough about me and my health. Yes. I do realize it's my blog and I will write what I want to write, but, at the same time I am aware that some might not enjoy me delving into my personal health. In some ways I think it might be helpful to those who may be dealing with health related issues. God has given us the advancements in the medical field and I, for one, thank Him they are now able to better treat and cure a variety of ailments. One need only look at the longevity tables to see how the average lifespan has increased over time. As it stands now we have this statistical record, Both sexes: 78.4 years; Males: 75.8; years and Females: 81.1 years. The technical reasoning as to why women live longer goes like this: 
"Women generally eat healthier and they tend to pay more attention to their health. On average, women visit the doctor earlier and more often than men, generally drink less alcohol, use less tobacco and pay more attention to a healthy diet." That's a scientific analysis. Here are some of the real reasons from a man's point of view: ~ Men and women are different. ~ Never pickup a woman at a laundromat because if she can't afford a washer and dryer, how will she ever support you? ~ I haven't spoken to my wife in 18 months, I didn't want to interrupt her. ~ I married Miss Right but I didn't realize her last name was Always. ~ Our last fight was my fault. She asked me what was on TV. I told her I thought it was dust. ~ Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street bald headed, belly hanging over their belt and they still think they are beautiful. ~ What's worse than a male chauvinist pig? A woman who will not do what she is told. ~ And, finally, why do men die earlier than women? Because they want to! ~

 

The wife, a few years ago.

Those were jokes I found on the internet, so, do not get the idea I am talking about my wife. She is an amazing woman who is loved by not only me, her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, all other family members, as well as countless others who make up her circle of friends, and, her many fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. I thought I needed to add that disclaimer so that it is here to prove those were just little funny ditties. Right? Right. Have a great Thursday and may God continue to bless our one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Amen.