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Anniversary Reader Reflections!

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Greetings, Readers! You will notice that today’s article looks a little different from my usual musings. This is the eighth anniversary of this work in progress. It all started in August of 2018 when I asked our tech savvy son, Marc, to help me set up a blog on my personal website ( www.mjkministries.com ). At the time, I was not sure how long this effort would last or that anyone would even read what I was writing. But to my surprise, God has blessed in an incredible way! Blogger At Work! As of this writing, Serve by Design has logged over one million and ninety-one thousand pageviews since its inception. The site regularly averages 45,000 pageviews each month. This issue represents the 400 th article! I have repeated this maxim a few times over the years, “Writers need readers!” I am grateful to each of you who take the time each week to open this devotional blog, read or scan through it, and then share your reflections. You are a blessing to me! Your verbal and written interaction...
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"I Want a Sandwich!"

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“Dad, you know how a child’s voice can carry!” That’s how Matt started his recap of last week’s early morning flight from a recent work assignment at the D.C. office. He continued to relate how something humorous had occurred on the connecting flight from Atlanta to home. The plane had just reached its optimum elevation, and the attendants were beginning to ask the passengers about their preferences for drinks and snacks. Iconic PB&J Sandwich! Credit: AdobeStock When I used to fly recreationally, I remember the choices for snacks to be limited to a single packet of peanuts or pretzels! According to their website, Delta Airlines offers four choices with fancy names: Lotus Biscoff cookies, MadeGood Chocolate Chip Chewy Granola Bars, SunChips Garden Salsa, and Cheez-It Original Baked Snack Crackers.  Matt estimated that the little person, with a big voice, was about three or four years old. After the flight attendant engaged her about the multiple snack choices, s...
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Eye Contact Noticed!

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Klay, our oldest and sixteen-year-old New Mexican grandson, and I recently enjoyed an hour-long chat at the nearby coffee shop. He and his family were in Illinois for a few days. We treasure these occasions and are thankful that we get to see each other two or three times a year. The world stops when we are together and we can get into a serious conversation quickly about any subject! Early Childhood Education!  ðŸ˜† This time we were in a discussion about the next steps for Klay after he graduates from high school in December. He has been taking advanced classes for years and will be finishing this stage of his education two months from his seventeenth birthday. Now, he is earnestly focused on what his bachelor's degree will look like and where he will do his studies. He wants to get on a track that takes him to seminary in the next three to four years. It’s an exciting time for this special grand who has already been asked to preach a couple of times in his home church the last f...
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Who's Watching You?

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We are still replaying the highlights of our last Saturday evening gathering to watch our beloved Cardinals play the Atlanta Braves at Busch Stadium! It was an occasion full of various elements that included celebrating with Matt, our eldest son, on his fiftieth birthday! Twenty-one family members had come in from New Mexico, Texas, Saint Louis, and Illinois! "Want some Dippin' Dots, Honey?" The mid-afternoon celebration started at Ted Drews Frozen Custard with each of us ready to sample our favorites from their famous ice cream menu of shakes and concretes. As we approached the ordering windows, a light sprinkle or two of rain greeted us momentarily, but it only lasted a few minutes before the sun would shine brightly throughout the rest of the evening. Then, we made our way over to the stadium to check in at the gate, and receive the David Eckstein Bobblehead promotional giveaway. Those of us who were older were eager to get a hand on this commemorative memento that f...
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The Scent of a Christian

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Our family room is decorated with Texas symbols. It is a tribute to the fifteen years that we resided in the Lone Star State. Prominently on display is a beautiful Texas Afghan throw comforter, that is draped over our largest couch and showcased by two Texas pillows at each end! The comforter pictures, in decorative stitching, some of the most notable symbols of the Great State: the Alamo, the Mockingbird, the Armadillo, a Bucking Bronco, a Pecan Tree, and numerous Bluebonnets outlining the perimeter! It is a continual reminder of what we love about Texas! A Tribute to Mac! I regularly read these monthly periodicals: Texas Monthly , Parks and Wildlife , and Texas Highways . They help me to keep up with Texas news, events, and happenings! I never miss reading the last page of Texas Monthly that features a delightfully funny and sarcastic short article with a “Question and Answer” format. It is written by Davis Courtney, The Texanist , who, by his own description, offers “Fine Advice an...
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Backrow Digger!

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Our youngest granddaughter, Klaire Michelle, recently completed her first volleyball camp in the nearby high school gym. She loved it! Klaire is a petite, yet athletic, nine-year-old who’s going into fourth grade. She, along with one hundred other campers, participated in a week of disciplined two-hour sessions that included instruction and hands-on (pun intended!) practice! Hey Girl, Keep Diggin'!! Both of our twin daughters played volleyball during their middle and high school years. They were short in stature, but gritty, daring, and highly competitive! They were our team’s best diggers long before the sport would designate specialists called Liberos, who excelled in backrow defense. Monique, their mother, continues to score for the Libero during high school volleyball games! What makes a backrow specialist so valuable? They are agile, have quick hands, and are balanced on their feet. Diggers must get low enough to the floor to protect against the deadly hits of fierce tall hi...
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"Higher Ground!"

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I haven’t heard the local meteorologist say much about the drought monitor lately. Last season, our area was locked into some serious drought conditions, but 2026 is quite different for us. The intersection of highs and lows, along with the jet stream, is pushing an abundance of thunderstorms and higher rain totals our way! We are on the plus side (five inches so far in June!) for rain totals here in central Illinois. A Rainy Day Retreat!  We have a neighborhood pond about a half-block away from our house. Over the years, I have seen a few mallard ducks crossing our property with a half dozen ducklings imprinting behind the mother hen. It is nature, at its best, to see the next generation in motion! The frequency of these visits seems to have increased with each flood watch report this spring! It has me thinking that even the ducks are seeking higher ground! There is a good bit of relational advice in the saying, “Take the high ground!” I’ve heard something similar, “If someone g...
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