Mount Virtus

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Home Archives for My Life

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

What Does It Really Take To Be Colorado’s Next Secretary of State?

Via Face The State, judging by the plethora of applicants for Colorado's Secretary of State job, perhaps I should have sent in a resume myself. I've never taught yoga, played lacrosse, or met Ross Perot, but what the heck? You can cast your own vote for which one of the 20 applicants is most deserving of Bill Ritter's appointment as the next Secretary of State. Too bad for you and me. We missed our chance at statewide office after yesterday's deadline. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, My Life Tagged With: applicants, appointment, Bill Ritter, Colorado, deadline, Face the State, lacrosse, resume, Ross Perot, Secretary of State, statewide office, vote, yoga

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

What I’m Thankful for #13: Thoughtful Surprises

This is one in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced are not necessarily in any particular order. I hope the series is of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic takes a dive. This is an easier kind of surprise to write about than "the surprises God sends my way". And it's quite a surprise that I'm even writing about it. Yesterday, out of the blue and completely unexpected, a co-worker gave me a very thoughtful gift: a baseball autographed by future Hall-of-Fame relief pitcher … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, My Life, Sports and Leisure Tagged With: Baseball, Branch Rickey Award, co-worker, Denver Rotary, Detroit Tigers, free agent, generosity, Hall-of-Fame, Mrs. Virtus, relief pitcher, surprises, thankfulness, thoughtful, Trevor Hoffman

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

What I’m Thankful For #6: A Great God Who Gives (Many) Second Chances

This is one in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced are not necessarily in any particular order. I hope the series is of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic takes a dive. As a fallen creature bent on sinning, I deserve to be punished. God has every just right in the universe to count my sins and failures against me. The psalmist of thousands of years ago understood this well: Psalm 130:3-4 "If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, General, My Life Tagged With: Bible, characterized, divine attributes, earth, fallen creature, God, God's forgiveness, God's mercy, grateful, just right, license, meditation, presumptuous living, provided, Psalm 130:3-4, psalmist, punishment, second chances, sin, thankfulness, theological depths, universe

2/7/2026 By Ben 5 Comments

What I’m Thankful for #14: Blessings (and Responsibilities) of Children

This is one in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced are not necessarily in any particular order. I hope the series is of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic takes a dive. There is a divide between parenthood and non-parenthood that you don't really get until after it's thrust upon you. It seems to be one of those well-known secrets of the generations that doesn't completely make sense to try to explain to the uninitiated. But I will weakly try to tag it as a unique … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, Education, General, My Life Tagged With: all bets are off, blessed, burden, combination, conveniences, curious wonder, definition, effective parents, generations, glimpses, hassle, hopes, imagination, individuals, investment, learning, Mrs. Virtus, natural fallen state, newcomer, novice, our own kingdoms, parenthood, patience, plans, positive fruit, prayers, priorities, Psalm 127, reference, reminder, Scriptures, secrets, tears, thankfulness, Thanksgiving, time, tremendous responsibility, understanding, uninitiated, womb

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

What I’m Thankful for #15: Cinnamon

This is one in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced are not necessarily in any particular order. I hope the series is of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic takes a dive. Did you think every entry in this series was going to be utterly serious? Well, first of all, you probably haven't been paying attention. But even if you have, there should be little doubt left. I am very thankful for cinnamon - the tastiest, most succulent, appetizing flavor. Can I get an Amen? Think of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, My Life, Random and Miscellaneous Tagged With: cinnamon, cinnamon doughnuts, cinnamon log, cinnamon rolls, natural stimulant, serious, tasty, thankfulness

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

A Promising Step to Test the Bounds of Colorado Teachers Union Power?

My post-election commentary on the impact for teachers unions and education reform was published today in the Denver Post. A key section to whet your appetite:Peter Groff's Democratic peers voted to re-elect him as state Senate president, and Rep. Terrance Carroll was selected to become the new speaker of the House. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, General, Labor, My Life Tagged With: anti-teacher, associations, Bernie Buescher, bipartisan issue, bold choice, boundaries, charter schools, citizens, coercion, Colorado, Colorado Education Association, criticisms, Democrats, Denver Post, education reform, fear, honest, honest look, House Education Committee, Laura Bradford, leadership, legislative attacks, leverage, monopoly model, outside observers, outside the box, parents, Peter Groff, post-election commentary, practitioner, profession, professional guilds, promising step, public school choice, question, Republican, scholars, seminar, source, Speaker of the House, state legislature, state senate president, status quo, students, teacher organization, teacher unionism, teachers unions, Terrance Carroll, union power

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Great Resource: Election Neutrality Now

At Founders' Night I briefly met former Denver elections official Jan Tyler. She introduced me to her website Election Neutrality Now, a great resource on conducting clean and fair elections, as well as issues related to voter fraud. Jan had a Speakout in the Rocky Mountain News published a few days ago. It's also worth a read. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, My Life Tagged With: clean elections, Denver elections official, Election Neutrality Now, Founders Night, Jan Tyler, resource, Rocky Mountain News, Speakout, voter fraud

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

What I’m Thankful for #9: Even the Surprises God Sends My Way

This is one in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced are not necessarily in any particular order. I hope the series is of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic takes a dive. It's only fitting that I wasn't planning to write this one at all, much less for this weekend. But then, Friday afternoon I wasn't planning for a failed fuel pump and fuel gauge to bring my car to a halt on the way home from work yesterday, nor for the mechanic's tab that followed. Not easy to be thankful … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, General, My Life Tagged With: Bible, car, chastise, Christ-like character, circumstances, Denver Post, difficult, dire, faithfulness, fuel gauge, fuel pump, impatient attitude, Job, matter of faith, mechanic, nice treat, op-ed, our good, promises, publication, repairs, selfishness, surprises, thankfulness, tow truck, weekend, wife

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

What I’m Thankful For #2: Freedom of Worship

This is one in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced are not necessarily in any particular order. I hope the series is of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic takes a dive. Human beings are hard-wired to worship. What we choose to worship is a day-by-day, moment-by-moment decision. There's an ongoing battle in human hearts for whom or what will receive our worship. Ultimately, no human government or other authority can dictate or regulate this most fundamental form of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, Cultural Conservatism, General, My Life, National Politics Tagged With: Constitution, First Amendment, free exercise of religion, freedom of worship, religious liberties, thankful

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

What I’m Thankful for #3: Modern Medicine

This is one in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced are not necessarily in any particular order. I hope the series is of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic takes a dive. I love to study history, which makes me all the more grateful to live in the times we do. No epoch in human history has been without its share of troubles of various kinds - and ours is no exception - but I feel profoundly blessed by the advent and continual development of modern medicine. Why? Because … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, General, Health Care, My Life Tagged With: allergist, bad protoplasm, blessed, common grace, complaining, medical problems, modern medicine, pediatrician, thankful, Western Civilization

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Inside

  • About Ben
  • Archives
  • Colorado Ballot Reviews
    • Colorado Ballot 2008
    • Colorado Ballot 2010
    • Colorado Ballot 2012
    • Colorado Ballot 2014
  • Mary and Jacob: From the Forgotten Dust
  • Mount Virtus?
  • Passion and Purpose:
    The Rise & Fall of Al Gansee
  • The Westfield Gardener
  • What I’m Thankful For
  • Writer / Editor For Hire

About Me

Ben DeGrow
Grateful and growing Christian, devoted husband and father of 3, public policy analyst, returned to Michigan by way of Colorado, conservative writer, lifelong learner, Detroit Tigers fan.

Recent Posts

  • AI-Enhanced Cyberbullying: The Dark Side of Teen Innovation
  • My Baker’s Dozen of Top 2023 Reads
  • Common Learning Disabilities in Children
  • Tips to Teach Kids to Set and Achieve Goals
  • The Christmas Music Countdown You’ve Been Looking For: 2022 Edition

Colorado News

  • Colorado Senate News
  • Complete Colorado
  • Independence Institute
  • Loveland Politics
  • The Colorado Observer

National News and Politics

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  • Hot Air
  • National Review
  • Politico
  • Real Clear Politics
  • Reason
  • The Washington Times
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Blogs Extraordinaire

  • American Thinker
  • David Harsanyi’s Blog
  • E!! The True Conservative Story
  • EIA Intercepts
  • Evangelical Outpost
  • Hugh Hewitt
  • Instapundit
  • LaShawn Barber
  • Lileks
  • Little Green Footballs
  • Michelle Malkin
  • NRO's The Corner
  • Power Line
  • Red State

Completing the Blogroll

  • Alarming News
  • Black Five
  • Blogs of War
  • Eduwonk
  • Flypaper
  • Fraters Libertas
  • Historical Conversations
  • IMAO
  • Jay P. Greene
  • Mike Anderson
  • Mullings
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  • Right Wing News
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  • Shot in the Dark
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  • Virginia Postrel
  • Volokh Conspiracy

Christian Commentary et al.

  • Kevin Pierpont
  • Sharper Iron

Conservative and GOP Sites

  • Backbone America
  • Cal Thomas
  • Colorado Republican Party
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  • Dennis Prager
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Colorado Blogs

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  • Rocky Mountain Alliance 1.0 (Archive)
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Other Sites

  • Technorati
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Rocky Mountain Alliance 2.0

  • Reclaim the Blue
  • The Business Word
  • The Daily Blogster
  • View from a Height

To Contact Me:
bendegrow-at-gmail.com

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