Del got home yesterday and announced the thermometer on his truck registered the outside temperature as 91 degree Fahrenheit. So weird. Not even enjoyable. Naked trees and grass not quite green don't partner well with July temps. The landscape, well everything really, feels odd, looks stunned, almost as if the earth itself has no idea what's happening or what to do about it. I think I kinda get it. The world indeed feels a little odd and I think 'stunned' is exactly the right

I wanted to say a few words to honor my dad. Truth be told, I've been thinking about what I’d say at dad’s funeral for a while now, knowing I’d want to take this chance to say something. So I’ve been practicing, picking the right words, trying to imagine what this moment would be like. I’d practice during my morning walks around Story City, IA. I’d practice on my drive to and from work, I’d practice while I was lying awake at 3am on a Tuesday morning. And wouldn’t you know it

I know I have a tendency to oversimplify things but imagine for a moment that the world's problems could be fixed with a potluck. Nope. Don't roll your eyes. Just stop and think about it. What if all this mess, all this division, all this crazy could be cleaned up and put away like the kitchen after a potluck?. You've seen them haven't you? The church ladies. The ones in the basement kitchen cleaning up after a Sunday potluck? They scurry around, they chide each other about