Category Archives: Life

My two dogs

Family, Life

You have heard it said that many times owners and their dogs began to look similar and take on some of the same attributes. You have seen heavy, wide men with bulldogs and old guys with pugs or tall guys with great Danes, etc.

If I favored my dogs, I would either look like Santa Claus or a small ugly woman. Ha.

My oldest dog is a Yorkie that I traded a shotgun for 9 years ago. He turned out to be the runt of the litter…literally the runt. He is 2.7 lbs with the heart of a lion, but the body of a squirrel. He thinks he is in charge wherever he goes, but he basically has two things he does well: he loves everybody and he pees everywhere. Oh, by the way his name is Bear. Ha.

My other dog is a Sheltie that was given to my wife for Christmas two years ago, but he took to me and thinks I am his mother. His name is Broker because he was given to Elaine by all the brokers at Hotel AG. He was supposed to be 14-15 lbs when grown, and he is now probably over 20 lbs. He looks like Santa Claus because his fur is tan and white, and he has the personality of Santa: always fat, happy and looking for a treat.

We have a dog park down at the bottom of the hill from our home. I am talking 6-7 houses down. I have this old Jeep Grand Wagoneer that I love and last year, I had it out driving it with the tailgate window down. We were going to take the dogs to the park, so I just put Broker in the back with the window down for the 2-minute ride to the park. Well, when I got to the park and went around to get Broker out, I realized that within the 2-minute ride he had apparently completely voided his bowels. He had fired off probably 8 torpedoes in that two-minute time span. When I got home, my old Wagoneer had 8 dark, smelly spots in the tailgate area. I guess you could say he is a little skittish.

So, I have one dog that could take up hunting because he would look good sitting in the truck and then another dog that couldn’t even jump in the truck.

You know all is well in the world when around 9 at night the Sheltie is sleeping on the couch and the Yorkie is lying on his back with his feet in the air. No worries and all is calm and full of peace. KT

My garage

Life

I have a three-car garage in the basement of our house that is my space. I have had all kinds of muscle cars over the years and bought and sold many. In my next career, I would like to have a vintage muscle car dealership. I think seeing those cars and trucks every day and watching them go through the restoration process would be a kick. Probably would not make any money, but it would be fun.

Last year, I did something that was fun, exhausting and almost spiritual. I pulled everything out of the garage. Yes, everything. When it was completely empty, I cleaned and washed the floor and readied the garage for a makeover. I painted the floors, walls and supports all battleship gray. It looked like a Navy vessel when I got through.

Next, I went out and bought sections of carpet to adhere to the floors where the cars would actually set. Then, I started on the workbench and saw things I didn’t even know I owned; I organized each item, and everything had its own place. For Christmas last year, Elaine gave me a new toolbox. Now, this is not some little girl toolbox. This is the size toolbox you see in the NASCAR garage when you watch TV. It has roller bearing drawers and slick black paint; it is the smack daddy of all toolboxes.

This garage is as perfect as a garage can be. I sold my super sport Chevelle and Cheyenne Pickup last year and now only have a Grand Wagoneer in the stall. I want a 69 Boss 429 Mustang or 66 Shelby, but who knows if that will happen. Ha.

Why am I telling you all of this? It is because of how I felt when I got finished. My mind was clear, and anxiety did not exist. While I cleaned, I made some life plans, figured out some pressing answers, and renewed my spirit. I do not know about women, but I can tell you as a guy that cleaning an area like a garage helps men think through life issues. The time alone cleaning a garage is as good of therapy for the soul as anything I have ever done. KT

The title Daddy

Family, Life

I have held many titles over my career and personal life, but the title I cherish the most is Daddy.

When I think of being a daddy, I think of the most precious moments of my life I have shared with my wife and my children. I believe when you get to the one yard line of life and the memories of your life flood your mind, it will be memories of your family and not of your work or your money.

The moments I have spent as a daddy when the cell phone was off and the computer was closed and it was just me and my girls will always be moments I will carry with me for the rest of my life. The thing that most of those moments have in common is they didn’t cost a dime. It was Christmas mornings, prayers at night, wrestling in the floor, holding hands as we crossed the street, a hello kiss and hug when I got home, watching them be baptized, etc. Once the girls were older, it was having them ask me for my advice, watching them drive out of the driveway for the first time, giving the young man the look before he left with my baby on a date, and their graduations. These are the moments that will be the mental video played in my mind until the end of my life.

I was in the room when both of my daughters were born, and both times I cried like a baby. I held that sweet little bundle that was a gift from God and could only whisper a prayer of thanks to God. As a daddy, you instantly know that little baby is someone you would give your life for if needed. If you were like me, you also understood the term “unconditional love” for the very first time.

How about you? What is your most precious title? What are the moments that will flood your thoughts when you step from the here and now into the beyond? KT

20 years

Life

Stop for a minute and think with me about something that is very, very humbling and very, very real.

Think about 1994 in your life. Think about where you were, what you were doing, and how old your children were. What were you thinking about then and what was most important to you? Where did you live and where did you work?

This past week when we buried my stepmother, I was thinking about a 20-year span of time. Can you remember 20 years ago? I was 36 years old 20 years ago, my daughters were 10 and 7, and we had just moved to a new house we built.

As for me, I still have shirts hanging in the closet from 20 years ago, and I can remember when and where I bought them. I can remember seeing my little girls play in the swimming pool and have sleepovers with their friends. Like other guys, I can remember what I was driving and how much I paid for the car. I remember life’s little moments, like when I would pray with my girls at night and tell them I love them. The tree house I build them, their first dates, the tears when their hearts were broken over some boy, and when they started driving. I can remember so very, very well when they graduated high school, started college, and when they married. My memories are full of very good moments that I will keep with me until the day I die.

What really got me in the last week is that in the same 20-year span of time I can remember so well, is that if the Lord lets me live, I will be 76 years old. Think about 20 years from now in your own life. If you are still living in 20 years, tell me what you think will be important.

Now you have the point I am making. Life is short, even though we get bogged down in it. Sometimes, like today, we need to raise our heads and realize that life is passing by at an incredibly rapid rate. If you are reading this blog, you still have time to right wrongs, repair relationships, save for the future, and begin to prepare what you want your family to remember about your life. KT

Redeemer

Life

The dictionary definition of the word “Redeemer” is somebody who redeems somebody or something, especially somebody who rescues another.

When we think of the term redeem, we often think of a coupon or a gift card. In essence, the coupon or card is exchanged for the product you wanted to buy.

In the spiritual sense, Jesus Christ was and is our redeemer; he exchanged himself and his life for me and you. I believe when he was dying on the cross, he was looking into the future at all the faces of all the Christians he was dying for. At some point that day, he saw my face and your face as he was looking into the future.

Nicole C. Mullen wrote a song in the early 2000s called “My Redeemer Lives,” and it is one of the most incredible songs I have ever heard. I listened to it yesterday, and it is so purposeful. A couple of the lines in the song say “Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning? And who told the ocean you can only come this far? And who showed the moon where to hide ‘til evening? Whose words alone can catch a falling star?”

Now, let me tell you about my Redeemer. My Redeemer took an uneducated, stuttering kid, who moved out of the house his senior year of high school, and he watched over me. He wrapped his arms around me and protected me. He allowed me to grow up and have an incredible family and anointed, blessed life. He redeemed me when he bought me, and he brought me through life. I literally owe him my life and everything in it.

He redeemed you too. KT