I read the lengthy excerpt from McCay Coppins’ upcoming biography of Mitt Romney, which was published in The Atlantic a week or so ago. I’ve found Mr. Romney interesting: he seems to be a reasonable person but inexplicably abandoned some of his “reasonableness” to change some long-held positions on issues when he ran for President in 2012.  more

I was getting ready to can homemade applesauce. Hair up, hands washed, kettle of water heating on the stove. I tied on the old apron I had picked up at Nostalgia Vintage and put my hand into the front pocket. more

Many Christian parents seem to be nervous about sending their children to public schools. My wife and I are grateful that both our daughters successfully attended Sedalia public schools, and graduated from State Fair Community College and the University of Missouri, all secular institutions. If you are a Christian parent of school-going children, please consider implementing these suggestions to boost your family’s life of faith. more

Five years ago, I had the distinct privilege to help open the Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri’s 12th Club Site in Dresden. It was a wonderful moment and aligned with the Club’s mission to serve more kids, more often. more

Once upon a time, during a moonlit night, an unsuspecting woman descended the steps of her backyard deck and stepped onto the stone patio. Her three rambunctious dogs raced past her, eager to hit the grass and sniff out the perfect place to pee before bedtime. more

When Thomas Williamson was on trial for multiple murders in Pettis County in the late 1880s, the Sedalia Democrat and the Sedalia Bazoo, which closely followed the trial, noted that his brother testified that Thomas had suffered from mental problems since he had recovered from typhoid fever several years before. more

I heavily debated telling this story, but after some consideration, I thought, why not? This is a true story about a most unfortunate series of events that occurred in my life last week. more

I heard from a couple of my Afghan colleagues on my birthday. It’s hard to think that I worked with them 11 years ago, but 11 years it has been. I know this because the memory that popped up on my Facebook page on September 12 was a picture of me standing in full gear in the hall of a governmental building in Herat, where I was waiting to go into a room where all the prosecutors in Afghanistan were congregating. I had written some comment about celebrating my 59th birthday in a bullet-proof vest. I had been invited to this meeting because the featured speaker was to be the Attorney General of Afghanistan, the first woman ever appointed to that position, who was declaring that she would stamp out governmental corruption. more

You know those beautiful, orderly outdoor spreads in Better Homes and Gardens? Perfectly cut paths lined with fine gravel, flower beds six feet deep, pristine outdoor furniture? more

As the editor of two community newspapers, I spend a lot of my time sitting behind a desk sifting through hundreds of emails, editing reporters’ articles, working with our design team on the paper each night, and talking with other departments to make sure we’re all on the same page. But now and then, I find opportunities to make a community appearance. more

Matthew 25:35-40 is that familiar passage in which Jesus tells his followers that when he was hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, a stranger, or imprisoned, they provided for him. Puzzled by this statement, they asked him when it was that they did all this. The answer was then and remains now that just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. (Matt. 25:40) more

September is National Library Card Sign Up Month. All month long, we are celebrating all the different resources we have access to with our library card. more

I miss the writers. The Writers Guild of America went on strike in early May, and it has been a creative wasteland on television ever since. Most of the shows Tom and I used to watch won't be back with new episodes this fall. Lately, we've been flipping through over 100 channels, amazed that there are so many options yet so little we want to see. more

Nineteenth-century folks displayed an incredible interest in the unusual, the old, and the rare. Whether it was something real, like the mastodon bones found near Warsaw or Native American arrowheads found in the fields after plowing, or fake, like the mummified mermaids displayed by traveling shows, people would pay to see it. Someone was even more interested in taking their money. more

Where does your joy come from and who provides it? more

The truckload of criminal charges Donald Trump faces tends to confirm the often-heard remark that he’s his own worst enemy. That’s saying a lot, considering all the other enemies he has. more

At long last, we are at home. Two weeks and 4,556 miles later, we walked through the front door of the condo, put down our bags (not too many, because the little car has a little trunk!), and plopped down in our chairs. Hue seemed happy to see us – by that, I mean she wound herself around each of our legs a few times and then scampered over to the scratching post to relieve her anxiety. more

We just pulled out of the hotel parking lot. Approximately 12 hours until we get home from a wonderful, relaxing week at the beach. more

All mums are hardy, but, to make it through the first winter in this area, they should be spring-planted. Most of our mums are sold in the fall. more

A friend and I were talking over the holiday weekend. She and I like to hold one another accountable for staying positive, focusing on joy and enjoying every small thing around us. It works out well because we both have a tendency to dwell on the small stuff. This exercise keeps us upbeat and less dramatic. We both enjoy it. more