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Keep your nose up, with art
For centuries, combatants have adorned their weapons, shields, clothes and selves with symbols, shapes or messages that personalized the fight, motivating and reminding them of their dedication.

Bob Ford
4 min read


Spaying and neutering your pets: It is not just for population control
Male dogs who have not been altered are also at risk of cancer, particularly testicular cancer, though prostate cancer can also occur.

Julie L. King, DVM
3 min read


Reader’s Corner: Dinosaur fun at Creation Experience Museum
With toybox space and shelf space at a premium in their home, I wanted to make sure what we selected was worthwhile, and the Creation Experience Museum bookstore did not disappoint!

Cynthia J. Thomas
1 min read


Your House Didn’t Sell. Here’s What To Do Now.
And now that your listing has expired without a buyer? You’re left feeling stuck, and maybe even a little embarrassed.

Heathery Tankersley
3 min read


Natural sunscreen – the why’s and how’s
Another good reason to make our own sunscreen is to be able to avoid extra and unneeded/harmful chemicals coming into our bodies.

Jody Johnson Godfrey
3 min read
![A puzzle—and a much bigger picture [Part 2]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d906d_e9b50c3ea98043ab8aed4fb414c240bb~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_333,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_avif,quality_auto/0d906d_e9b50c3ea98043ab8aed4fb414c240bb~mv2.webp)
![A puzzle—and a much bigger picture [Part 2]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d906d_e9b50c3ea98043ab8aed4fb414c240bb~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_296,h_222,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/0d906d_e9b50c3ea98043ab8aed4fb414c240bb~mv2.webp)
A puzzle—and a much bigger picture [Part 2]
[This is part two in a two-part series in which the author compares lessons learned while doing a puzzle to a “bigger picture,” i.e.,...

Laurie Lemke Thompson
2 min read
![Memories from the Homestead: The Vinings—remembering ‘Fiddlin' Jake’ [Part 2]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d906d_ee465b9613e84c9bb8b4b784542fb1bb~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_333,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_avif,quality_auto/0d906d_ee465b9613e84c9bb8b4b784542fb1bb~mv2.webp)
![Memories from the Homestead: The Vinings—remembering ‘Fiddlin' Jake’ [Part 2]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d906d_ee465b9613e84c9bb8b4b784542fb1bb~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_296,h_222,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/0d906d_ee465b9613e84c9bb8b4b784542fb1bb~mv2.webp)
Memories from the Homestead: The Vinings—remembering ‘Fiddlin' Jake’ [Part 2]
It's not known how and when Gussie took up the fiddle, but it's very evident that he played at a number of parties and dances for several years.

John Fullerton
4 min read


Reflections: But Lord, who will get things done?
Thank you to my friends who happen to be named Martha—three or four of you—for perspective over the years about having that name. In...

Cynthia J. Thomas
3 min read


Outdoors with Larry Dablemont: How I learned to catch trout
The best thing about S of O was Lake Taneycomo, full of trout and ducks. The School sat on a bluff right above it.

Larry Dablemont
4 min read


Breakfast at Tiffany’s: Thriving families
Discontent can be a tool that the enemy uses to destroy families by keeping them focused on themselves, what they lack, and how those closest to them are to blame.

Tiffany Gravett
3 min read


Been thinkin’ about…Barn poems
But this was April and I was nearing the end of the second grade. Kindergarten, first grade, second grade, the end of each school year was marked by a school program...

Joshua Heston
5 min read


Stock Market Insights: Winning the tariff war - Can the world economy handle the consequences?
The Japan deal came on the heels of two other deals with Indonesia and the Philippines. The Indonesia deal alone increases the Indonesia tariff payments from last year's $1 billion to just over $7 billion.

Dr. Richard Baker
3 min read


Missouri reels in nonresident anglers with steep trout permit hike?
In 2026, that cost will rise to $49.00 per person, a Daily Fishing Permit at $9.00, and a Nonresident Trout Permit at $40.00 for a whopping 133% price increase!

Gary J. Groman
3 min read


Breakfast at Tiffany’s: Seed time and harvest
For all the promises of God in Him [Jesus] are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 2 Corinthians 1:20 When we don't...

Tiffany Gravett
2 min read


Stock Market Insights: Stocks at record highs; what should investors do now?
Joe Shearrer, CPFA® is Vice President and Wealth Advisor at Fervent Wealth Management. Since bottoming out in April, the U.S. stock...

Joe Shearer, CPFA
3 min read


Outdoors with Larry Dablemont: The marsh that used to be
At Schell Osage the blinds were spaced well and the pools were full of smartweed. Ducks of all species loved it.

Larry Dablemont
4 min read
![Memories from the Homestead: Remembering the Vining family at Garber [Part one]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d906d_ee465b9613e84c9bb8b4b784542fb1bb~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_333,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_avif,quality_auto/0d906d_ee465b9613e84c9bb8b4b784542fb1bb~mv2.webp)
![Memories from the Homestead: Remembering the Vining family at Garber [Part one]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d906d_ee465b9613e84c9bb8b4b784542fb1bb~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_296,h_222,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/0d906d_ee465b9613e84c9bb8b4b784542fb1bb~mv2.webp)
Memories from the Homestead: Remembering the Vining family at Garber [Part one]
Settling in a cabin just to the south of Roark Creek in 1888, their official homestead patent date came on February 12, 1892.

John Fullerton
4 min read


For the love of Branson: Mountain music
Tim went on to say in our recent conversation that what further distinguishes mountain music from bluegrass is the way he is picking his banjo in these covers ...

Marshall Howden
2 min read


A puzzle—and a much bigger picture
When working on a “lesser” (i.e., 300-piece) puzzle one day, I began to wonder what I could learn from the puzzle-solving process itself – things I could apply to my life.

Laurie Lemke Thompson
2 min read


Tariffs: The price hike you didn't see coming
Some estimates suggest that these tariff proposals could cost the average American household between $1,600 and $2,000 annually...

Gary J. Groman
3 min read
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