Sticks and Stones

Sticks and Stones

I love September! As a student and then an educator, this month has always meant new beginnings loaded with possibilities. Every August, my mother bought me new shoes and a new start-of-school outfit. I proudly carried a new box of crayons and a handful of brand-new...

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9-1-1 What’s Your Emergency?

9-1-1 What’s Your Emergency?

We teach children at a very early age to dial 9-1-1 to get help in an emergency.  And emergencies come when least expected throughout our lives. So, the question is: Who do we turn to for help? What—or who—is your first line of defense for the demands you face? I...

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Grow Where You’re Planted

Grow Where You’re Planted

Spring never fails to bring me surprises: every year, a random flower blooms in an unexpected spot. My daddy always said the squirrels and chipmunks were his landscape designer. They’re mine, too. I can always count on four-footed helpers to dig up and replant bulbs....

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October On The Farm

October On The Farm

A Bountiful Harvest Here on the farm, the maple trees are ablaze with glorious red leaves. Hay season has ended, but the harvest is still underway, with soybeans and corn ready for gathering. Harvest generally begins in mid-September and can run as late as...

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Power Outage

Power Outage

I am a woman who plans and then works on a plan. My family knows not to stand in my way when I have my checklist - unless they’re willing to help. So, to say the recent power outage disrupted my plans is an understatement. This time, the cause of the outage wasn’t a...

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September On The Farm

September On The Farm

This year, my March On The Farm post discussed my wild, unruly grapevines that I had neglected for so long. But this year would be different, I decided. Through the spring and early summer, my sons and I worked tirelessly to prune, replace posts, and wire the vines to...

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It Is No Secret What God Can Do

It Is No Secret What God Can Do

Grandparents can be the sugar and spice and everything nice in a child’s life. Mine certainly were. A grandparent’s presence-or absence-is crucial, especially these days, when we see more and more grandparents raising grandchildren. How would you describe your...

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Hide and Seek

Hide and Seek

Do you remember playing hide & seek as a child? I could find some of the most amazing spots to hide because who wants to be IT? Not I!

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