I do some of my best thinking in the shower. Some people sing. Others are still sleeping. Being a morning person and morning shower-er, I most often use my shower time to intellectually explore various and sundry topics. [My wife is fond of saying I always think about cosmology, origins-of-the-universe, black holes, Relativity, and other such spaceborne, far-out concepts, but my shower-thought repertoire is more varied than that.] One such topic is the very process of getting the perfect temperature for the shower water: when the shower starts to cool, which is better, turning the hot up or the cold down? When you're in the shower, and the temperature just isn't quite right, turning which knob is more effective? » read more »

Our daughter, Kristen, just got promoted to Staff Sergeant!

Different people like different kinds of pets. Some people really like cats. Ya, cats are cute. But they tear up your furniture, break valuable things, and their litter box smells! Some other people really like birds. I think they're pretty, but they're really loud! Some really different people like reptiles. They're really fun to learn about, but they're just too gross and slimy for me!

But just because different people like different pets, that doesn't mean you should pick your friends by what kind of pet they have! Stick to the person's personality!

What is it about dogs that makes people just love them? Do they have a special look in their eyes? I have found that it is based on the personality of the dog. For example, my dog is very sweet. It's impossible to not love her! But pit bulls are mean. They have a personality that makes them almost impossible to be loved!

Different people also love different kinds of dogs. For example, I love sweet cuddly lap dogs. But that's the kind of person I am! Some other people might just love the way pit bulls are! So that's the kind of dog they'd want to own!

My point is that different people love and want different kinds of dogs! » read more »

The sweetest dog I have ever met is my own. Polly is a very sweet, cuddly lap dog. She isn't even a year old, and she's been through one big adventure.

When we had Polly spayed, she had an allergic reaction to the stuff they used to clean her belly. They gave her Benadryl immediately. When we got her back the next day, she had a nick as if the razer had slipped. Then we figured it was from when the allergic reaction had happened. But a day or two later, the nick had busted and fresh blood had spilled out of it. So we took her to the Emergency Animal Clinic (it was a Sunday, so the vet was closed). They couldn't figure out what happened, but Polly had to get a cone. We wrote get well notes on it! Polly wasn't eating or drinking anything. I got her to eat out of my hand and drink from a snack bowl a little bit. Then, it became a scab. After a month or so, the scab finally became skin. She now is fine, but has a bald spot on her tummy and on her right side (from the infection). I think there might be some hair growing back, though. » read more »

My daughter has been talking recently about how unfair it is (a favorite word of children, is it not?) that Mom doesn't get paid for all she does. From an ungodly worldview, she may be right. Mom puts out a lot of effort for no income. Without the salary, it would seem this effort is wasted. However, from a Biblical point of view, salary is not a valid measurement of worth. Given the magnitude of the Lord's sacrifice on our behalf--His only begotten Son--I'd say our worth is immeasurably high. » read more »

Juliana, after having one too many cognacs:

I hope you have a very merry Christmas today! Our family sure did (and still is). Kevin and Kristen couldn't be with us today, nor could Brian. We miss them all very much. We hope they're having a merry Christmas, though.

It's such a joy opening presents from loved ones. I especially enjoy watching little ones do so, with their unbounded excitement and gratitude. It's a nice metaphor for the free gift of salvation our Father offers us through the substitutionary and atoning sacrifice of His Son, a gift we only need open to accept. » read more »

I was asked last year to offer a prayer at a PIM Christmas party. I was caught a bit off-guard (I like to have material ready, especially if there's a chance to preach!), but I never mind praying. In anticipation of being asked again this year (though I doubt I will be--there are plenty of others), I've been doing some studying and meditating. I want to share some of my thoughts, however disjoint they may be. » read more »

Apparently our dog is learning to spell. We use the keyword "out" to ask her or tell her about going outside to do her business. When we want to speak to each other about taking her out but not let her know what we're talking about, we tend to spell "out": "oh-you-tee". The verbal spelling has never been associated with actually going out in that it's used to discuss the concept abstractly, never coinciding with the act of heading toward the door. However, Polly seems to have discovered this association on her own--we're not sure how. Now, when "oh-you-tee" is spelled, she runs to the door expecting her leash and a walk outside. » read more »