The month of February is always a contemplative time for me. It’s the birth month of my biological mother, who died when I was just four years old, and also of my amazing stepmother, in my life from age six until her passing in 2010. Valentine’s Day brings more memories, as both my stepmom and my husband’s late mom loved to send cards and bake cookies.     My best memories of my stepmother are of her faithfulness in reading the Bible and teaching me the importance of doing so

Does anyone else ever need a break from the constant barrage of news, much of it divisive and bad? Let me suggest something that can provide that break and open the mind to creativity rhythm, and thankfulness: Poetry.    As often happens, several circumstances combined to help me rediscover the value of poetry. One was our vacation last summer, when we visited the Concord, Massachusetts, area and the Old Manse, where several American writers gathered in the early and mid-1800

The storytime theme for Monday, February 23, is “Let It Snow!” featuring stories about fun in the snow. 

These days, one probably has to be living under a rock to avoid at least some interaction with artificial intelligence. Whether it’s Alexa playing your favorite music before you ask, your phone recalling that you go to church on Wednesday evenings after work and putting it in your maps function, surgeries done with robot assistance, quick fact-finding for a report, or the dreaded robocall; most of us are impacted by AI.    AI can be a timesaver to quickly summarize factual in

Fast-forward to now: We tend to expect people to either answer their cell phone or get back with us right away.

The beginning of another calendar year seems like a good time to consider general principles for success in life, growing in wisdom and as a follower of Christ. Many of those can be found in the Book of Proverbs.    Recently, a young friend who is “deconstructing” used a verse from the Book of Proverbs to assert that God is inconsistent and the Bible should not be trusted. Unfortunately, the example she picked is frequently taken out of context, leading me to ponder the quest

While her family tried to be supportive during the crisis, they were understandably not equipped to handle something of that magnitude.

“Nana! This is TERRIBLE! Why aren’t they helping?” 

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve seen and heard lots of New Year’s resolutions, through personal conversations and a variety of media. I enjoyed reading the Globe’s list of local people and resolutions, many of which involved commitment to family, personal goals and community involvement—some of my own thoughts for the new year as well.    There has also been considerable devotional material about spiritual goals for the new year, but during my quiet time a few days ago, o

Possible theological concerns aside, the story’s theme of giving our best to Jesus resonated with children and parents.

Written on Christmas Day, 1863, the poem is Longfellow’s personal reflection while hearing church bells during such a tumultuous time in our country’s history.

What is less encouraging to consider, however, is the waiting; there, we can look to those involved in Jesus’ birth on earth for inspiration.

You might wonder what is so bad about these books. So did this writer, so Sen. Moon referred me to a sample, from the book ‘Thrones 2: A Clash of Kings,’ by George R.R. Martin. Unfortunately, after reviewing the excerpt, it was not acceptable for this column in a family paper—and yet, it’s one of 119 books with language deemed unacceptable at a school board meeting, but within reach of students in one of our local public schools!  –CT 

Advent is a perfect time to begin, or renew, study of the Bible, seeing its thematic unity from Creation to the Fall to renewed hope, masterfully developed by divinely-inspired individual writers over centuries.

Dr. Denison gave examples of successfully applying this advice during his own tough times—the loss of his father, a child diagnosed with cancer.

I have not had time to thoroughly research these various connections, but after prayer and discussion with my husband over the years, we have agreed that on Halloween night we will have the porch light on and a generous basket of good candy.

In addition to the morning events, Kimberling Area Library will also host a monthly Lego Club on the first Tuesday of each month at 4:15 p.m., starting on Tuesday, December 2. 

One thing I will gladly give a positive review for, though, is God’s faithfulness. Over several decades of life, my ups and downs have helped me identify more and more with the writer of Ecclesiastes.

The book and the class are of inestimable value in giving students perspective on the history of the Vietnam conflict, helping many better understand their grandparents and other family members who served during that time.

During Branson’s Veterans Homecoming Week, I am always inspired by the number of veterans I see serving other veterans. From staffing the welcome booth at the Veteran Village to coordinating reunions to working tirelessly behind the scenes to coordinate one of the nation’s best Veterans Day parades, plus much more I probably don’t know about, they prove that “esprit de corps” was not something to be laid aside after leaving active duty, but a lifestyle to be carried forward.