Stories & Blogs

Roy’s Sunday Letter for July 27, 2025

BODY MIND & SOUL The personal and professional training I received placed an emphasis on strengthening the connection between the body – mind -soul. Each one of us has positive individual characteristics. It is when we have a lifestyle of all three, balanced and coordinated, we are at our most healthy and well selves. And…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for July 20, 2025

FINDING OUR BEST, MOST ENJOYABLE WAY Beth and I had a delightful day trip to Granbury with our dear friend Elizabeth (101 years young). We had not been to Granbury in 35+ years. We found the small shops around the courthouse square flourishing and representing the culture of Granbury in the best of ways. We…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for July 13, 2025

HEALING STORIES IN TROUBLED TIMES Recently PBS and local KERA filmed an Arts & Culture series by bringing together Santa Fe high school students, from area schools. Each were asked to write about themselves or a news topic. The students then shared their writing with another student. These Santa Fe students took the risk of…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for July 6, 2025

SMALL PATCHES BECOME A QUILT Beth and I recently experienced something wonderful, exciting, and yes, even inspirational. Eight of “We” mid-age, elder age individuals who gathered weekly to meditate, were joined by forty middle and high school Black teen girls who were at the church for a day camp. Diane talked with the girls about…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for June 29, 2025

READER SUGGTSIONS OF TOPICS AND AREAS OF INTEREST Last week, I asked readers of the Sunday Letter to suggest topics and areas of interest. I received wonderful suggestions and challenges to include in this week’s Sunday Letter. Jerry E. and Marcia would like to know what books, magazines, or podcasts you read or listened to…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for June 22, 2025

INDIVIDUAL AND DAILY LIFE LIMITATIONS Limitations come to us all…they can be physical, emotional, mental, financial, spiritual, as well as phones and digital technology. Limitations can be challenges to overcome, each brings learning, broadening and changing who we are. Perhaps the most meaningful learning comes when we accept and invite life limitations to live alongside…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter June 15, 2025

MEMORIES, OF LONG AGO AND NOW In so many ways, we are our memories, both the ones from our childhood and the newest, for example, from Thursday’s lunch with a friend. There are some that come with “Do Not Disturb Signs.” As we know those are in the past and it is really ok to…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for June 8, 2025

WHO INSPIRES YOU & WHO DO YOU INSPIRE? My Sunday question: Who Inspired you at the different stages of your life: youth – emerging adulthood – mid-life – senior or elder years? In what ways did Inspiration change your achievements or help you to face and over-come challenges. What or who is an Inspiration to…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for June 1, 2025

ROY AT 81 YEARS Somewhere, I have a copy of 1944 “Shore to Ship” cable to my Navy Officer father, on a ship somewhere off Normandy. The cable announced my birth. My mother was living with her parents on their east Texas farm in Gladewater. And yes, 81 is just a number, but also a…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for May 25, 2025

ALL ABOUT FRIENDS AND FRIENDSHIPS Richard left a brief voice mail as Wendi and he were driving back to North Carolina after visiting nearby family. When I connected with Richard his words defined long term friendship for us all. “I just wanted to hear your voice.” I treasure Richard’s words, as I consider the voices…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for December 29, 2024

Reflections – Calendars & Seasons of the Year Most of us look at our calendars often, whether iPad, laptop, watch, or one of the traditional paper calendars. Calendars add details to our comings and goings of dates, times, events, and people. My paper calendar helps my elder memory with notes of birthdays, phone numbers, anniversaries…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for December 22, 2024

REFLECTIONS – CHRISTMAS 2024 Most of us live days somewhere between the inspiring restoration of the Norte Dame Cathedral and the heritage story of the birth of a child, a humble manger in a faraway village, pilgrim parents, and travel weary shepherds. In the midst of the annual seasonal blur, we each have an opportunity…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for December 15, 2024

** The numbers and the reasons for the decline in church attendance are well documented. Although the percentage of Americans who have de-churched has grown, the desire of the American public to find and experience a church like community has also grown. These new assemblies and communities tend to be cause centered, with a focus…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for December 8, 2024

** In Paris, Norte Dame has been fully restored from a destructive fire five years ago. Artists and craft persons used historic and new materials throughout the restoration. The language changed from artist/craft persons to Companions, expressing the ownership felt by all committed to returning Norte Dame to France and the world with awe and…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for December 1, 2024

The arrival of Thanksgiving and the coming Christmas season brings the mix of memories, some warm and life-giving, others more difficult. A seasonal truth, for me, would be that both seasons are best experienced and enjoyed in the company of family and friends. Receptions, open houses and dinners are opportunities to tell and listen to…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for November 24, 2024

For this Sunday Letter, I relied on Beth’s notebook of quotes and wisdom sayings. I wanted to shine the light on the Goodness within people and Thankfulness for their lives and teachings given to individuals and families. Sometimes their words guide us to be and serve others. Perhaps one or even three quotes and sayings…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for November 17, 2024

** Several writer friends encouraged me to “play with AI.” I keyed 2 lines of a high school senior invited to travel to China for a 3-month study. His strict father was defiant in his response “no, never!” Sent those lines to an AI chat. Within seconds I received a well written and clear one…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for November 10, 2024

** The church and leaders of faith have been an influencing part of my life from college, vocation and now in my elderhood. The church and faith centers have addressed gaps in food scarcity, racial and gender equality, the pursuit of peace among nations/cultures, and now strong divisions in our society. In my small way…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for November 3, 2024

** Research and tracking of an individual’s steady listening and viewing political and economic news can have a physical and emotional impact. This can, perhaps, dim someone’s sense of hope, wellness and health, no longer seeing the goodness of others or a bright future. Steady listening and viewing of hopeful, encouraging news and interviews can…

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Roy’s Sunday Letter for October 27, 2024

** The annual State Fair of Texas is now over and with no gun shootings and death as compared to last year. The Fair banned all guns from Fair entry. The TX AG, of course, filed suit on behalf of gun advocates to allow gun entry. The AG lost his appeal. Fair goers, venders, and…

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