Along with beautiful flowers and bountiful rains, springtime also marks the season of graduations. Many colleges have already held their commencements and Shenandoah County seniors will turn their tassels this coming week. As the graduates cross this threshold, they embark on a new segment of life’s journey. The future…
This Sunday we celebrate a special day as we remember all mothers. Each mother is an extraordinary creation of God and no other person ever takes the place of a child’s mother. Her influence continues in the life of her children long after they are grown and even after her…
One question that virtually every human has struggled with at one time or another is, “Does God exist?” Any number of life events can prompt us to raise this most important question and ponder its possible responses. Most commonly, our own pain and suffering or that of a close friend…
The western United States has received a welcome reprieve from devastating firestorms that claimed many lives, destroyed thousands of properties, and cost billions of dollars. We should all pray that 2018 will be more kind to these areas and that life and homes will be spared. Meanwhile, we in the…
Every year about this time, thousands of eastern hunters head west on quests for elk, mule deer, and other western game species not found in these parts. They generally return in a week or two with either antlers and meat or stories about the ones that got away. One year,…
It’s hard to believe that Shenandoah County School students already have two weeks under their belts and it’s not even Fair week yet. Having spent 17 years in front of a classroom myself, my sympathies are with those teachers who have already gotten their classes rolling. What started as a…
The cool nights and clear days of spring have given way to the hot and humid days of summer, and along with those changes have come different flowers. The hyacinths and daffodils of March and April are a distance memory as the daylilies have now taken center stage. These showy…
In September of 2014, my wife and I attended the wedding of a young couple in Germany. The groom’s mother was Nancy’s best friend when she was stationed there in the 1980s and it was a real treat for her to see the whole family again. It was even more…
One of the more popular children’s gifts in the last few years has been the Elf on the Shelf. This money maker involves a storybook and doll combo that has recently expanded to include additional accessories that mines even deeper into our wallets. In addition to the Christmas version, birthday…
Here we are in the month of red and green with indoor trees and outdoor lights! What a special time of year to celebrate the birth of the Messiah with family and friends. While decorations consist of many different colors and symbols, one of the older yet still most common…