An Empty Nest

August 1, 2025

Really. An empty nest. Throughout the month of July, we had a front-row seat to the entire process. The stage: a spruce tree just outside our bedroom window. The accommodation: a perfectly crafted nest of twigs, mud, and whatever else the robin could appropriately gather. First came a single, unmistakable blue egg. Then, a day […]

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A Stone of Remembrance – An Unforgettable Kiss

July 18, 2025

Whidbey Island, July 2012 This July—as with every July—Mary and I remember. Specifically, we remember July 2012, when Mary lost her balance while cycling on Whidbey Island, Washington. As she began to fall, she was struck by a passing pickup truck. The days that followed were intense. Life-altering in the truest sense. The reflection below […]

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Seismic Resilience

July 11, 2025

History has shaped what construction requires in states like California. Engineers call this seismic resilience. Earthquakes are inevitable. They have happened. They do happen. And they will happen. So the question is: what will we do to prepare for—and then survive—them? Talented and experienced technicians design and build with these objectives in mind. Notice: the […]

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A Sacred Walk

July 7, 2025

It felt like a sacred stewardship, even though it was an unanticipated assignment. The request came during the 2022 graduation exercises at Taylor University. As a Trustee of my alma mater, I was invited to sit on the platform during the commencement ceremony. But this request was different. It came because of a special graduate—specifically, […]

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Pay Attention

June 27, 2025

It was a beautifully cool Colorado summer night—the perfect invitation for a walk at dusk. And so, we embraced the opportunity. Our pace invited exploration, and we charted a path through a wooded section of our neighborhood. This area was especially intriguing because we’d spotted owls here before—but not for months. Mary, who normally walks […]

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Yes, I Caught the Big One

June 20, 2025

Originally posted 15 years ago. Still true today. With summer activities in full swing, I thought it fitting to revisit this reflection. The reminder it offers feels as timely as ever: summer can easily become as congested and frustrating as Denver traffic. Resist the urge to simply push through. Discover moments to savor. Invest in […]

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Always a Student: A Father’s Day Reflection

June 13, 2025

I can’t help but wonder when the explosion of graduation ceremonies took place. The fuse to that trend certainly wasn’t lit by 1977, the year I graduated from college. Fast forward to 2025, and now—as grandparents—we’ve celebrated a kindergarten graduation and two eighth-grade graduations, all in the same season. Graduation is about completion. Finality. Closure. […]

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A Popper Full

May 23, 2025

On May 24th, 2015—her 90th birthday—Eunice Cargo made a bold move from Brighton, Michigan, to Aurora, Colorado. It was a courageous step, and one that ultimately impacted Mary, me, and our entire family just as deeply as it impacted Eunice herself. It’s true. My own story of impact has, at its core, a simple yet […]

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The Rocks Beat Me To It

May 16, 2025

It was Michelangelo who brilliantly said, “The sculpture is already complete within the marble block, before I start my work. It is already there, I just have to chisel away the superfluous material.” Perhaps he was echoing the perspective of Jesus during the Pharisaical uproar over the praise being lavished on Him just a week […]

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Don’t Swerve

May 9, 2025

Not long after Mary and I moved to Franklin, Tennessee in 1987, we gathered our three kids and two Nashville nieces and set out on a Christmas tree hunt. We’d heard about a local tree farm with an outstanding selection, so we borrowed my brother’s larger vehicle and headed out for what we hoped would […]

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