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Quiet Fireworks on the Fourth-An Oxymoron that is Catching On
Dear Reader: Traditional fireworks that increasingly brag about being bigger, better, and louder than previous years… are now being re-examined by many Canadians and Italians…can America be far...
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Independence is Always Based on Dependence
Dear Reader: It finally happened! Wednesday evening the booming sounds heard from far off gradually grew closer and closer until lightning was flashing outside my front windows. The electricity...
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The Good Old Days Are Still to Come
Dear Reader: More and more lately I find myself purposefully pausing in the midst of family gatherings (with all the fun and craziness associated with them) to ponder the moment. *Before most of the...
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Happiness and Strength… Go Hand in Hand
Dear Reader: Have you ever considered that happiness and strength are one and the same? Think about it…when someone enters a room whose personality is upbeat and happy…doesn’t a sense of strength and...
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When Freedom Finally Came to America
Dear Reader: I have started reading David McCullough’s The Pioneers and as usual, am riveted to all the history of our country told in good old storytelling fashion. I love learning new things about...
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The High Price of a Day…Each Day
Dear Reader: Some days I think remind us of a past day so we can better understand how priceless the wonder and mystery of any ordinary day can be. This is the beginning of a new day. I have been...
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The Etymology Behind Libby’s Original Catch-Phrases
Dear Reader: When it comes to storytelling…Libby is the champion. Her true stories of just plain daily life in her world will keep you in stitches. Only she can experience the most bizarre...
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Little Eyes are Looking…Mirroring Our Behavior
Dear Reader: Yesterday Ann and I had a conversation (during her last chemo infusion) about how important it is to remember that children and youth’s eyes are watching us to see how we handle different...
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Stop the Helicopter Parenting and Relax!
Dear Reader: As much as we parents and grandparents want to lead…and guide our children and grandchildren around all the daily obstacles that come with the ‘art’ of growing up…the best results at the...
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The “Invisible” People in Our Lives
Dear Reader: Before we get to the “invisible” people in our daily lives…let me share the mystery around the invisible “letter” that disappeared. I went out on the deck yesterday morning and the “P” in...
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Accepting People as They Are
Dear Reader: I usually stop a couple of times a week and go through the mail that needs more time to read and make decisions about…rather to keep or throw away. Time management requires some time but...
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“Life Happens Between an Inhale and an Exhale”
Dear Reader: Just like one letter can take “Hope” and turn it into “Hoe” with a missing “P” …one quick second (between inhaling and exhaling) with our first breath of air…is when the miracle of life...
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Remembering the Magic Moments in Life
Dear Reader: Late yesterday afternoon I went to my bedroom “office” to start today’s blog and sat there wondering what it would be about…I honestly don’t know until I start typing. I am just as...
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The Study of Life Puts Us On “Course” with God
Dear Reader: As a teacher we were always encouraged to instruct to the individual …meeting each student’s needs… over simply throwing out information to the class as a whole and letting it fall where...
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Camp Boo Boo
Dear Reader: Yesterday was Camp Boo Boo! Rutledge has been attending several community day camps and Vacation Bible Schools this summer…until this week- the calendar was empty…so he signed up for Camp...
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Remembering and Sharing Moon Memories
Dear Reader: Fifty years…fifty years? How can that be so? I was home from college watching this once in a lifetime event with mother, David, and Ben…who had been home from Vietnam just a couple of...
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“I Love You to the Moon and Back”
Dear Reader: There are few parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles who haven’t used the expression “I love you to the moon and back” while rocking babies and grand babies. And if we are lucky enough...
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Making Space on Earth
Dear Reader: With so much interest and conversation lately about the anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Walk…we forget sometimes how important it is to bring “space” back to Earth…back into our daily...
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The Train that Kept on Coming and Coming and Coming…
Dear Reader: Engine 8108….what in the world was your problem yesterday? You ended up providing quite a challenge for me and many others “to boot.” Let me start back at the very beginning of my story....
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When We’re “Just Not With the Program”
Dear Reader: Have you ever gotten in a “funk” when you are just “not with the program?” I remember telling my own students (who were day dreaming or writing notes during class) to “get with the...
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