HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO MY TROPHY WIFE

It's our 47th anniversary today. That's right! 47 years of wedded bliss! God has certainly blessed me with a godly wife, who is also a godly mother & grand-mother. Thank you, God. And thank you, Lois, for standing by me all these years.

ANNIVERSARY PRAYER

"Heavenly Father, on our wedding anniversary I come to the throne of grace with a prayer of thanksgiving. I a grateful to You for my spouse I bless You that by Your direction the pathways of our lives met & our hearts were united in true love.

"I thank You, dear Lord, that our love for reach other has been preserved & strengthened through the years. In Your divine wisdom, good days & bad, health & sickness, & all other experiences have bound our hearts & lives closer to each & to You, our God & Lord.

"I confess that I have not always been as kind & thoughtful as I should have been. I regret that I have sometimes been selfish & indifferent. Help me to make amends. Teach me to be quick to forgive & to forget any fault of my spouse, even as You no longer remember my sins for Jesus' sake.

"If it be Your will, grant us additional years of wedded happiness; cause the love that unites us to become stronger each day. When our life is over, take my loved one & me to the heavenly home that You have prepared for those who love You. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen." My Prayer Book

TODDLERS

"Toddler rates Disney World a close 2nd to trip through car wash." Babylon Bee

HIP UPATE

For those of you who take endless delight in my personal life, I'm scheduled for a right hip replacement on 7/14. [I had my left hip done in 2016.] I passed my pulmonology & cardiology screenings. I will still need a pre-op check-up with my GP & attendance at a joint replacement class, approximately 1 week ahead of my surgery. I started doing my pre-op exercises on SUN.

COFFEE UPDATE

Long-time readers may recall that I prized Seattle's Best Dark #5, but I haven't enjoyed that brew for years. Right now Lois & I are enjoying Queens Dark Roast, which we purchased at the Cuban Coffee Queen in Key West last FEB. Good stuff.

RESOLUTIONS UPDATE

> Lose at least 12 lbs. D. May was not a good month with me. I gained weight, & I'm going to have to get serious if I want to meet this goal. I'm concerned, because we have 3 road trips coming up, & I always struggle to eat with moderation when I'm on the road.

> Cross 2 things off our bucket list. A.  We made it to Key West & Dry Tortugas NP in FEB. 

> Have fruits & vegetables at least 4X/week. A.

> Walk at least 4X/week. F. A very sore hip has prevented me from accomplishing this goal. My right hip replacement is scheduled for July 14. Hopefully, I can make progress toward this goal after that.

> Publish my 365 day devotion book. B. I'm currently reviewing the galleys that were sent to me. I've had 2 conversations with my Westbow marketing consultant.

> Write & publish another 365-day devotion book. B. I'm moving right along.

GPA:  C-

PAYING IT FORWARD * 

* Column by Barton Goldsmith in Norfolk Daily News, 5/23

"As a therapist, I am constantly using my brain to create ways to make people's lives less emotionally taxing & easier. I put a lot of thought into it. This doesn't mean that more right-brain activities like playing music get ignored, but in terms of giving my brain a workout, there is nothing better than real-life problem solving, especially when it's for other people.

"When it's your own stuff, you're so emotionally involved, it's hard to get any perspective. And perspective is what you can give to someone else. You don't have to be a therapist to do this. Listening to someone else's problems frees your brain to think of things you wouldn't be able to come up with yourself it you were facing something similar.

"You also get the benefit of putting your experience to use, which strengthens your imagination & thinking ability--& is great mental exercise. And yes, it does help to make you better when it comes to your own problem solving, because getting perspective comes with practice. Helping someone figure out their life is a much more rewarding place to put your energy than anywhere else I could imagine . . . 

"Once you have gotten to a certain place in life, that place where you are wondering what to do next, & you have some choices, you may want to try giving back. Engaging with & spending time with others, & helping out where you can, is a gift to yourself as well as them. I promise that it will serve you & your brain function better than whiling away the hours on your computer."