It isn’t often that I am able to go to the grocery store with Michelle. Obviously it isn’t a major outing but it is nice to have a few minutes together, casually shopping for the family. I am grateful for my dear wife and appreciate time with her.

Sometimes new technology feels like a burden. I often embrace it but at times it feels like one more thing to do that doesn’t necessarily enrich life. Not the case with this new app that Richard introduced to our family- PaperKarma. I take a photo with my phone of each item of junk mail that comes to the house. I send off the photo and PaperKarma works behind the scenes to contact the appropriate company and request that their mailings be discontinued. This is one technology I can embrace with enthusiasm.

We live in a hectic world. Many pressures and demands. Busy schedules that keep us running from sunrise till late at night. In our society we often don’t take time to talk and share. It is a critical part of our happiness to nurture relationships. This requires our time and energy. This is one of the reasons that family dinners are important. They provide a natural setting for communication. And if it is not dinner time, we can still pull up the couch and chairs and talk for a spell.

Michelle has taken quite an interest in gardening this year. It is hard work, requiring significant energy and time. But we are blessed by her efforts. The garden adds beauty to the yard, but we especially enjoy eating the freshly grown fruits and vegetables. They taste great and producing them gives a nice sense of self sufficiency. 

Even in the desert, we get wonderful colors. Especially in the spring, the outside world comes alive as trees, flowers and other foliage grow. The bright colors make me happy.