Some of the most common pet toxins include chocolate, grapes and raisins, certain plants, household cleaners and human medications.

The old short bed Chevy blocks the way to the weedy gravel in front of the old repair shop. Tires are stacked against the old metal building, rims swimming with mosquito babies. A beat-up side door is blocked open and from inside comes the sound of metal on metal and occasional swearing. The big elms sway in a breeze somewhere between spring and summer. The sound of a Sawyer Brown song lilts from a cassette deck covered in cobwebs. Across America, a thousand-upon-a-thousand s

Joe Shearrer, CPFA® is Vice President and Wealth Advisor at Fervent Wealth Management. Last weekend, I was coaching my kids’ youth baseball team in a tournament. They didn’t play perfect baseball, far from it. There were a few errors and missed opportunities, but they kept showing up each inning, putting the ball in play, getting walked, stealing bases and finding a way to stay in the game. They were resilient. Not dominant. Not flawless. But steady enough to keep moving fo

I have resided in my previous address for around 11 years in the city limits of Branson and not once did I ever find a tick on myself, even though my little house was MORE than surrounded by trees. The country has always been my perceived place of contentment and solitude—where I want to spend the “last quarter” of the ballgame, so to speak. But as they say, “To get something, one must give up something!” My sacrifice for now getting to live in quiet beauty, serenity and soli

That sounds impossible, you might say. I would agree, but we believe in the God of the impossible, don’t we? He wouldn’t ask us to do something unless He’s also willing to empower us to do it. So ask for His help.

Dr. Richard Baker, AIF®, is the CEO and executive wealth advisor at Fervent Wealth Management. My dad caught my brother and me having a BB gun war. I hid behind a tractor tire trying to shoot my brother's baseball cap off, and my brother was using his Daisy BB gun to try to give me another cowlick. When Dad came around the corner, there was an immediate ceasefire. Hopefully, the Middle East ceasefire won't be as painful as our BB war. Shortly after news broke about a two-

While pursuing her education, Lunda accepted the teaching position at Garber in July 1905, with classes starting in September for a four-month term.

Old and worn highway winds next to the creek, a creek now obscured by green leaves and the falling dark. Frogs peep. The old town’s yellow street lamps cast globes of light in the creekside forest, illuminating clouds of flimsy Mayflies. The darkness is close, the water down below running over limestone. Springtime in the Ozarks is here. Heavy traffic whines on the big six lanes. Not long ago, the anachronists of the Ozarks would have stumbled over the idea of big road and

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about maintenance. My husband and I are blessed to have a paid-for place to live and a couple of reasonably decent paid-for vehicles. While we are immensely thankful to be in that situation, we are also keenly aware that just because you have something, that doesn’t mean it’s entirely and forever trouble-free. We have a special section in our budget for our home, for example—insurance, pest control, regular maintenance visits by the HVAC pr

These days, one can’t be too careful when navigating social media, email, or those dreaded spam/scam robo-calls. Although all people face safety risks that affect their well-being, older individuals may be particularly susceptible and at higher risks due to physical, mental, or learning changes related to aging. Learn to navigate those risks and “Be Aware to Prepare,” by joining Sergeant J.J. Goulbourne of the Kimberling City Police Department to participate in the May 13

First, she waited for the groom to come. She didn’t divide her affections to things that would distract her for longing to be with the groom.

I’m fascinated with my current study of the Old Testament books of Ezra and Nehemiah, which describe the return of the Jewish exiles to their homeland. As often happens, I’m also finding parallels with current events, plus applications to my own life. Ezra opens with the amazing story of God’s timing for the return, just as prophesied; the support received from King Cyrus of the Persian empire, including retrieval of Temple objects seized years earlier by Nebuchadnezzar; a

Cleaning products are also worth paying close attention to. Some common household cleaners contain chemicals that can irritate or damage a pet’s skin, eyes, or digestive system.

Anyway, let's see what Mr. Ross has to say in his “Garber Gleanings” column, 120 years ago, April 13, 1906.

But all jokes aside, it was about time that Branson had a proper flag of its own.

I’m flipping through the magazine, looking at pictures of a traveling circus, documented as it wound its way through the Upper American South sometime in the late 1960s. The photos are in color and a little grainy. The performers magnificent, but a bit worn. The photojournalist had been embedded, traveling with the troupe as they left their warm Florida winter quarters and made another arduous journey north in the spring, battling rain and storms and winding, rocky, mountaino

What I have seen or heard without fail is that the caregiver ends up “succumbing” (by losing their health, quality of life or life) long before the care recipient.

If that’s all there was, that Jesus died a horrible and painful death for that in which He believed, most of His followers would have considered Him a hero.

It was unveiled at a ceremony in Omaha, Nebraska, on July 30, 2005, officially named UP 1982.

Since my regular Bible study has a “weekend wrap-up” without introducing new material, I enjoy spending part of my weekend devotional time in the Psalms and Proverbs. Reading Psalm 27 recently, I could still quote some of the verses I memorized as a child, including v. 1: “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—whom shall I dread?” (NIV) For years, that verse gave me comfort in scary situations ranging from Kansas torn