I am grateful to live in a time where there are such amazing advancements in the world. I understand the importance of not letting technology itself become one of our modern day idols. But used with wisdom, the advancing edge of technology can enrich our lives and add some fun pleasures along the way. I love the new panorama feature in the iPhone. A simple thing for sure, but now it is so easy to produce a panorma that one can learn to see the world from a whole new perspective. 

At the Shepherd Eye Center, we have a wonderful staff which comprises a large number of employees. I have often been pleasantly surprised to feel a sense of family and friendship among the group. There are many I could have included in this photo but Jeanie and Debbie are fine representatives of the great group that keeps our office functional each day.

Tonight I give a shout of gratitude for my wonderful family, the Millers and the Bakers. I feel very blessed to be part of these great family lines. The Miller clan, shown below, recently gathered for the celebration of my father’s 80th birthday. There is something special about family relationships. Even when we don’t see each other often, there is warmth, familiarity and love that endures and is easily rekindled. 

One of our favorite family portraits is hanging on our upstairs wall. It is a black and white version of a family “line-up” taken at a Marie Callenders restaurant many years ago. Recently, we found ourselves at the same restaurant in Southern California. We gathered all the players that were available and did our best to recreate the mood. I am thankful for fun family memories. Check out the two images below. 

I had just finished a full day at work in the Green Valley office. I was late getting away and had to drive to the other side of the world to teach a class in the northwest part of the valley. As I left the office, the sky was very interesting. Before turning right out of the parking lot, I had to stop and get an image or two of the beautiful colors in the clouds. It was just me and the iPhone but I couldn’t let it go. The sky got better and better. I took one more image and then another and then another. I needed to get on the road soon to get to my class. But maybe I could get a better angle by moving up the street a bit. So I did. The new position was interesting and the sky got better yet. I realized that my first location was the best and I had to go back and get a few more images before the magic faded away. And so I did. What about the class? I was late. But the roses smelled so good.