Hey Brett, great to hear from you.

Thank you for your words of encouragement. Things have been crazy, but yes, I feel good about my priorities right now... its been a lot of work taking care of my wife and kids through the challenges we've faced, and I know it's so worth it, but I still need a vacation! ....maybe in a few years!

Hope you and yours are doing well too.

Thanks! It's so true!

Thanks Margaret! Yes, these trying times should make our marriage and family stronger. ...and it's always a good reminder that so many people are going through more than me - I should not complain!

What do you mean?

The point I was making is that when you are praying for your wife you will feel closer to her. That affect is not limited to one religion or theology.

However, if you're worried about things like salvation... of course it matters :)

Ha! Thanks Mike! Great point about using our mood as an excuse. Not only that, but sometimes we act like our moods are victims to our circumstances instead on making a choices to change it.

Thanks for the comment, I agree, you really have to be careful when you use it in your marriage.

Thanks for your comment Mike! glad to know you've got my back :)

It's not so much correlated with price as it is with the necessity of the product (needs vs. wants). 100 million loaves of bread isn't a lot, but 30 million iPads is.

I never said or implied that a significant portion of iPad owners are husbands and/or fathers, just that some are.

It was not my intention to paint all husbands/fathers who own iPads as bad husbands/fathers, I apologize if that's how it was received. It was simply intended as a word of caution.

"So if you were talking about a 50 cent pack of gum, 30 million wouldn't be a massive number? Only when talking about a $500 iPad? "

Correct.

I think our disagreement lies simply in a misunderstanding... I never used the word "all." it is certainly appropriate for some people.. those with time and money. Nor do I think "all" 65,00 apps are time wasters. I do think that there are at least some husbands and father who are being irresponsible here, don't you? ...that's why I wrote this.

There are certainly benefits to portable technology, I have a smart phone with apps and know of their potential usefulness, but I constantly have to check myself to be sure it's not detracting from my family life.