School Has Started and You Have Homework!

It is September 2023. Many of you are enjoying peace and quiet at home – the kids are back in school! For seven to eight hours each school day, you have some time to do things you want to do for yourself. Parents still have to keep the kitchen pantry full, drive car pool and wash the family’s clothes,...

Israel, Birthdays and Re-Invigorated Faith!

Q: How to celebrate your wife’s 60th birthday? A: Take her to Israel for two weeks of long, hot, dirty, life-changing hikes all over the Promised Land! Nancy and I went together to Israel during our first term in Congress in 2009.  Since we were part of a group from Congress, our trip was heavy with...

Fort Bend Women Make Fort Bend Strong!

Since 1987, every March has been Women’s History Month in the United States. This is a month dedicated to the contributions women have made to society, history and culture. All of us have one woman who should be honored – our mother. My mother celebrated her 84th birthday last month. She is the best...

What Rhymes with“New Year?” Volunteer!

Happy 2023! The New Year is a time we naturally reflect on the joy and sadness of the past year. My family mourned the passing of Nancy’s mom on September 8th, but we find comfort that her human pains are past, and she is feeling only joy and peace in Heaven. And we’re still feeling the overwhelming...

Armistice Day 2022 and The Unbreakable Bonds of 41 Million Americans

Armistice Day is a very special day of honor for our nation’s military veterans and their families.  Armistice Day was created to celebrate the end of the “War to End All Wars” – World War I.   The end of hostilities between the Allies and Germany would be formally signed in 1918 at the eleventh...

Why September is My Favorite Month

I love September in Texas! The Friday Night Lights of Fort Bend high school football are shining brightly all over our county.  The Battle of the Berg between Lamar Consolidated and B.F. Terry gets things rolling on September 2nd.  By the end of September, Katy will be undefeated and beginning to think...

Oh, Say Can You See

July 4, 1776, the United States of America declared its independence from the most powerful nation in the world, Great Britain.  Most of the known world thought our Founding Fathers were out of their minds.  How could the people ever be trusted to govern themselves?  Mr. Washington, Mr. Adams, Mr....

Known But To God

Those revered four words are carved into the white marble of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. Sadly, those four words apply to many graves here in Fort Bend County.  These forgotten lives have common traits. They tend to be in cemeteries of people of color. Some are likely...

It’s Finally 2022!

January 1st was the official start of the New Year! Historically, important things have happened on the first day of the New Year. The Republic of China (Taiwan) became a nation in 1912. Australia was born in 1901 – G’day, mate!  The Czech Republic and Slovakia split into two independent nations in...

“It ain’t bragging if it’s true.” Anonymous Texas quote

Howdy, y’all! Welcome to a new, regular column in the absolutely! focus media family of magazines. We’re calling it Fort Bend Strong. Our intent is to point out why Fort Bend County is the greatest place in the United States to raise a family, start a business, and chase your American Dream. That’s...