I am CuTRis

Temperatures were in the 40'sF when my wife and I took our anniversary hike around Fairy Falls in Stillwater, MN. Since the rain had (mostly) stopped, it was perfect hiking weather. It rained on our wedding day, which we were told was "good luck." So, since we got married on a Friday, I asked Google how many Fridays there had been since our wedding. The answer was 3 including the day we got married.

My wife sometimes uses the wrong words, or makes up words, so I don't always know what she's saying. Sometimes, she doesn't answer me. But, we've been together for 18 years, and married for 16. We started by hiking together. So, most anniversaries, we try to take off from work and go hiking. The weather can be anything early in May. In fact, it rained on our wedding day. The judge said it meant good luck. I would have to agree. We've been through a lot, but we have a wonderful son and I can't think of anyone else who I would rather be with.

We never know with certainty whether we are speaking to someone for the last time or not. I remember last conversations with several people--sometimes I was pretty sure it was the last, and sometimes I had no idea that it was. So, it is best to always be kind to others and try to avoid holding grudges. There is a tendency these days, to be mean to one another and it is horrible. It's particularly sad when it is family members or longtime friends. We can't take much into the next realm with us, but we can take our love and our honor.

Here is proof that my son likes hiking (even though he says he doesn't). It was 2012, and he was just 2 months old, and he kept up with me step for step!

8 years ago, my wife accompanied her parents and sister to an event in the family in Milwaukee. our son was still pretty little, and I stayed home with him. On their trip back, my father and mother-in-law stopped at a Build-A-Bear Factory so they could get all the little kids in the family a stuffed animal. Grayson's grandfather made his rabbit that he named Peter. Peter is a pretty important dude, and for his 8th birthday party, like every year, everyone showed up! There was a dinner, a carrot cake with candles, presents, a good time was had by all! Most incredible, and I think my wife had something to do with this, because it was the wish of my mother-in-law that the tradition continues, but my in-laws still were able to give Peter Rabbit a generous monetary birthday gift even though both of them passed away in 2022. Try as I might with at least two photos, the names of my in-laws on the envelope that held the money did not show. Was this a coincidence? I like to think that even ...

And when That person Who was supposed to love you, Slices through Your Soul, You look down And see your heart Falling from your chest, As it lands with a plop, In a bloody mass At your feet. You watch, As it still beats slowly, Slower, And finally it stops. And you know Nothing will ever Be the same. -KJC

As one of my childhood friends recently wrote eloquently about how Christmas has changed in light of losing loved ones, it made me think more about the changes I've seen. For long I have been dismayed by the fact that Christmas has become commercialized, and parents have taught their children to expect lots of fancy presents. Not only from themselves, but from the aunts and uncles. And some of these children, are now adults going to college. Even those who insist on praying before Christmas dinner, seem to advocate the orgy of ripping presents open and piling them up behind themselves without a single thought about where those presents came from. I've also noticed, how small families have been pushed aside, because they are an inconvenience for the parties and doings of larger ones. Occasionally a voice will ask for some changes, but there is always a self-absorbed mean person to put them back in their place. This is not what Christmas is. This season, my Christmas wish is tha...

I keep hearing snippets about Republicans who are condemning interracial marriage ; which is something my wife and I have a stake in. So first, I’d like to point out that once we achieve a racial mix like, say, Cuba, with lots of mixed families and mixed people, it will be a whole lot harder to judge others based on their race. Because let’s face it, the liberal method of forcing equality doesn’t work very well. Interracial families are created by choice and by love, so that’s why it works. And finally, what will Clarence Thomas and Mitch McConnell do if their marriages are made illegal? Likely this will be more about “pick and choose” politics—like how unborn children should have more rights than their mothers; or how living children can become living targets for people whose rights to possess and carry deadly weapons needs to be protected.

Nothing is so wonderful as hearing my parents and my son laughing together...

Marrying for Money Doesn't Make You Happy UnAssociated Press April 10, 2018 A new study published by some guy from Saskatoon, shows that people who marry for financial gain are not happy as a result.

As my son was decorating his grandpa's Father's Day card he asked, "Is grandma grandpa's best friend?" I answered, "Yeah buddy, she is."

https://www.change.org/p/keep-lexi-home Children should be held above politics as the little gifts from God that they are.

Apparently this is about some insane law that only Native American people can adopt Native American children! Lexi is said to be 1/64 Native American so the Choctaw tribe has decided to traumatize this child to satisfy the power they have due to the Indian Child Welfare Act passed in the 1970's. Unfortunately, this misuse of power is doing anything but protecting child welfare. Shame on the tribe and shame of the legal system for letting this happen! A child should never be removed from a loving home over such political crap! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3505472/Custody-case-girl-six-ripped-foster-family-1-5-cent-Native-American-white-appealed-California-s-highest-court.html

After reading a story about a child being torn from her family in a custody battle , I can only wonder how the biological parents could do such a thing to their child? The girl went to live with a loving foster family at age two and now at age six she has been removed, kicking and screaming from the family who loves her to go live with her dysfunctional biological family. It is truly heartbreaking and extremely upsetting. Shouldn't the child's interests be considered over all else? I would ask her where she would like to live. Everyone else can could with HER decision.

Thank you son for allowing me to watch you grow. I am in constant awe of your intelligence and abilities. Though you are still too young for some things, you are a master of much. Thank you son for allowing me to be a part of your education and your insatiable desire to know about everything around you. Thank you for letting me watch you learn to read and count and sing and run and play. Thank you for becoming such a good little helper. And finally, thank you for being my buddy. Love, Dad

If you think that children's lives matter, go ahead and leave a comment below. Thanks, Kevin

Once upon a time, a man tried to answer his child's question about why some people are mean. The man thought about it; because it was a very good question after all. Then he told his little one that there had always been some people who were mean and some who were kind—and we could only do our very best to make sure that kindness wins in the end. "Will there always be mean people?" asked the child. "I'm afraid so," answered the father. "There has always been—so it is likely there will always be." Then the man kissed his child and put the little one to bed and walked quietly out of the room. The man sat in the dark and cried. He cried for the world that was now his child's. —KJC

This little guy is my nephew. http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/video/9599965-mom-takes-on-hmong-culture-for-bone-marrow-donor-for-son/