Our home is a welcoming place to grandkids and granddogs alike. One day we were watching Bailey, our ten-year-old golden retriever granddog from the Waco division of Burchett Incorporated. She is a regal and beautiful girl who loves to swim. We took our Maggie and Bailey out to the pool to do just that. Maggie swims like she is competing for the final Olympic-team spot. She goes full bore to the end, jumps out, shakes…

If you're planning your next vacation, you may consider some amazing places in the Dominican Republic. And rightly so! This country is stunning! I recently experienced the Dominican Republic from behind a camera lens. What I found was intriguing, sobering, and ultimately, beautiful. Take the journey with me in these photos. "Contrast" - Gualey, Santo Domingo Dominican Republic - beautiful and vibrant! But also impoverished. A family in less than desirable circumstances showed us their gorgeous view of…

I am a white, middle-class male who has almost always lived in the suburbs. I have never experienced any real prejudice or discrimination. I have never lost a job, been sneered at, or called a name because of race. Racism and social injustice were issues of the past to me; I had never seen or experienced them, so I assumed no one else had either. It would have been very easy for me to keep…

I love New Year’s Resolutions. Writing down my wide-eyed dreams for the next 365 days gives me great hope. But then, I hate New Year’s Resolutions. Because around the middle of April I realize just how pie-in-the-sky they really were. Take my recurring annual goal, “Get Organized.” I’ve learned it’s about as easy to accomplish as shoveling snow in the middle of a blizzard. At some point it’s more realistic to toss the shovel and…

Making a list of New Year’s Resolutions is romantic. Why? For the same reason that high school is way cooler on your first day of high school than it is on your second. For the same reason that for every virgin the wedding day seems like the first step toward a lifetime of sexual paradise. And for the same reason that finding out “we’re pregnant” is initially a blast of uncontainable excitement. New beginnings are…

The familiar smell of coffee delighted my senses as I stepped into my favorite local coffee shop. I examined the shelves. This could be perfect! Each item seemed unique enough to be personal and general enough to please anyone who drinks a morning cup of coffee. I picked out and purchased two great Christmas gifts. I small-talked with the cashier, placed my items in a bag, and stepped out into the crisp beginnings of winter weather…