Daily Devotional for January 31, 2024 Yesterday I did Ray’s memorial service at the church and then had his internment at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen.  The church, his family and friends, and the military honored his life of service with their presence.   Ray was someone I dearly love.  He was easy to talk about.  In fact, … Continue reading →

Driving back and forth from Dallas and Flower Mound had taken a toll on my nine-year-old, high mileage truck.  After getting it repaired and still having significant problems, I decided I needed reliable transportation because I didn’t want to break down on the side of the road late at night.Even though I had not planned on … Continue reading Daily Devotional for January 30, 2024 →

Every week, I spend the night in three different places.  Each is unique.In my house, it is exceedingly quiet.  There used to be a lot of laughter and noise but that left when Shannon did.  Now there’s silence.In Shannon’s hospital, there is a constant stream of nurses, techs, and therapists.  This happens day and night.  And while I am very … Continue reading Daily Devotional for January 29, 2024 →

I have a little, hairless dog named Ziggy.  Even though she is creepy looking, I dearly love her.  Petting Ziggy is like petting a warm, underinflated football.  We are buddies.On Tuesday evening, when I got home from the church, I let the dogs out to use the restroom.  What I didn’t notice were our horses grazing next to the … Continue reading Daily Devotional for January 25, 2024 →

Melissa is my administrative assistant.  She tells me where to stand, sit, what to say, and what not to say.  She is also the only one in the world who knows where everything is in my office.  She is indispensable.Melissa is married to Scott.  I performed their wedding.  It was one of the most enjoyable weddings I’ve ever been a … Continue reading Daily Devotional for January 24, 2024 →

Now that I am a bona fide expert at doing laundry, I haven’t turned anymore of Shannon’s and my clothing pink. That’s a big step up.  But there’s one thing about laundry I don’t understand, and no one has been able to explain it to me.Every time I do laundry, I come up one sock short.  It’s as … Continue reading Daily Devotional for January 23, 2024 →

Recently, Shannon’s therapists have been preparing me for when she comes home.  I am learning all sorts of things I never considered.This past week, I learned how to transfer Shannon to a bed and a chair.  Then came the big one.I knew one of our biggest challenges, once she came home, would be transportation because my truck … Continue reading Daily Devotional for January 22, 2024 →

I am currently in the process of making some renovations to our home in preparation for Shannon’s return. Yesterday, safety grab bars were installed. When I first looked at all the different sizes, shapes, and colors of safety grab bars, I was overwhelmed.  I really wanted Shannon to approve of my choices.  That’s when the grownups took over.Brenda and … Continue reading Daily Devotional for January 18, 2024 →

Prior to Shannon’s injury we had a division of household duties.  Shannon would tell me what I was to do, and I would do it.  That pretty much sums it up.  But there was one thing that I was never allowed to do.Shannon always did our laundry.In no way was this some sort of misogynistic understanding of our … Continue reading Daily Devotional for January 17, 2024 →

Yesterday, Candy sent the following request to the Daily Devotional email.“Please ask Pastor Tom to mention his sweet dogs in a devotional. Are they at home now? I am so glad Shannon is coming home. Being surrounded by family memories and familiar things may be just what she needs right now. The dogs will be … Continue reading Daily Devotional for January 16, 2024 →