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Many of you who have known Ellen and me for a while have noticed that I’ve lost some weight recently. Last Sunday at church someone even stopped me and said they barely recognized me. Those of you who have lost a significant amount of weight can relate—because we see ourselves every day, we don’t notice the changes as quickly.

Moments of genuine gratitude often arrive when you least expect them. After saying grace, Ryder and I settled into the living room—leash in hand—because with a Great Dane of his height, everything on the table is fair game. And as much as he would have appreciated the hours of meal prep, I’m pretty sure it wasn’t intended for a massive, starving puppy who believes every meal might be his last.

As many of you know, kids don’t come with manuals—and most days, we parents are learning on the fly. Every day brings a new adventure; kind of like opening a questionable diaper… you never really know what you’re going to get. Last week, Ellen took the big boys (Isaiah and Isaac) to Cub Scouts, leaving me with the littles (Ethan and Evan). Anytime I’m solely responsible for the kids, it feels a bit like the blind leading the blind. Chaos isn’t just likely—it’s guaranteed.

I’m often the mediator in what we call “emergency toy crises.” These happen daily. Actually, if we’re being honest, they happen multiple times a day. I’m almost certain I’ve lost part of my hearing from the blood-curdling screams. (And no, it’s not selective hearing, despite what Ellen claims.)

After last week’s story about Lyn’s miraculous recovery from Bell’s Palsy, a friend came in smiling and said, “Doc, you sit and think about the what ifs, don’t you?”

It’s funny how life comes full circle—and how God often uses “no’s” and unanswered prayers to guide us toward His purpose. Before I ever knew the life-changing power of a specific and corrective chiropractic adjustment, I wanted to become a physical therapist. At the time, that was the popular path for exercise science majors. Because of its popularity, getting into a PT program was extremely competitive.

“Boys, let’s play ‘quiet as a mouse’ and don’t make a sound,” Ellen said in her best mom-voice as Isaiah and Isaac got rowdy in the back of her SUV. “We need to find the right exit to get to Top Golf. Understood?”

I’m starting to worry about Ethan’s obsession with skeletons. He points out every single decoration in people’s yards with feverish excitement—and if you don’t slow down so he can marvel at them, you risk a full toddler meltdown.

“Look, a pumpkin!” Ethan’s little hands stretched out in the middle of Menards, pointing at their Halloween yard displays.

“I know, I know… Dinosaurs are crazy… roar… I’m going to get a juice… I like robot movie (Wild Robot).” I looked up from my computer to see Ethan (almost 3) holding a toy phone to his ear, having a full-blown conversation. It was so convincing that I almost wondered if someone was actually on the other end.

If you’ve ever opened a bottle of essential oil and thought, “Wow, that’s strong!” — you’re absolutely right. Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts- powerful enough to soothe stress, ease headaches, or freshen the air. That means just one drop can pack serious therapeutic punch — but also carries risk if used improperly.

Chiropractic gave my grandpa more time. My hope is that you’ll be the kind of friend who “nags” someone you care about—because that persistence just might save them, and give them more time too.