Mano’s ABC’s of Perseverance

Mano (4-2015)

This weekend, Cody and I visited my Dad’s 90 year-old mom, Margarete Pyle (pictured above here with Cody, me, Katy, Tanner, and Dad last April). I’m told that when we were growing up, my brother differentiated our grandmothers by “one who has hair in the back”, so when I tried to say, “Margarete” and it came out “Mano”, that name stuck!

Mano has lived in her current nursing home for a year and a half. Throughout that time, they’ve taken good care of her. But two weeks ago, one of the nurses dropped her…which led to several days in ICU with a slight break in her lower neck. I can’t imagine her pain…  Today, she’s back in the nursing home and was very talkative and positive. In fact, you can’t be around Mano long without being encouraged or smiling. Many of her caregivers appreciate her sweet spirit.

Earlier this week, she was diagnosed with pneumonia, and they were discussing hospice care…but Mano continues to fight and persevere.

I like the promise of James 1:12, which says, “Blessed is the one who remains steadfast under trial, for when she has stood the test she will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him.”

Click here for Mano’s ABC’s of Perseverance.

Katy: Leading from the Lockers

Katy's Birthday

Our daughter, Katy, turned 16 earlier this month, and we had a fun time surprising her by meeting her track team at Fiesta Texas in San Antonio on her birthday.  She’s pictured above with a money cake.  Jennifer rolled up one hundred $1 bills and made her a three layered cake!

Katy has a lot of innate leadership qualities.  In fact, she was selected for a Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) Seminar—designed to help high school sophomores recognize their leadership talents and apply them to become effective, ethical leaders in their home, school, workplace and community.

Last year, Katy was a protégé in a high school development program I designed and delivered—University Baptist Church’s Student Leadership Academy.  Over the course of the year, Katy was mentored by a high school student, addressing questions like:  Where do you see God at work in your life?  What challenges are you facing that you would like to discuss?

In the program, she also learned from Leadership Speakers and three different Workshops I delivered (Personal Effectiveness; Leadership Fundamentals; and Out of This World Leadership).  For the first workshop, I used a variety of John Maxwell’s materials, including his book Leading from the Lockers.

Click here for a summary.