Small Town News

At weddings, we all know the ritual: the music swells, the guests rise, and every head turns toward the bride. Cameras click. Tissues dab at eyes. For those few minutes, all the attention in the room belongs to the woman walking down the aisle. The...

Raising only boys was a unique experience — a whirlwind of energy, sports, and non-stop roughhousing. I attended zero tea parties, but I enjoyed light saber battles and deep into the night discussions on what would be the best super power to...

My chickens have taught me a lot, especially about gratitude. They celebrate everything! From the juicy bug they’ve caught for a snack, to the (mostly) daily achievement of laying an egg, they rejoice in all gifts great and small. We’ve...

Recently, I visited an open table discussion that CASA hosted in By Faith Coffee House. I walked in expecting a typical community meeting — polite conversation, a few brochures, maybe a call for volunteers. What I left with was something much...

Last Mother’s Day, before he married my amazing daughter-in-law, Kat, my son Nathan called. The conversation was pleasant enough, but I couldn’t help noticing the stiffness in his voice. You know that sound — the one that says,...

Working with a friend on a creative project is a feeling like no other. I recently had the chance to collaborate with a group of writers on a short story anthology. Each of us contributed our own unique story, and the end result was something truly...

  My mother-in-law, Ottie Franklin, passed away on December 8, 2023 at the beautiful age of ninety-two. I sat in the funeral home reading her obituary, and a familiar thought ran through my head. How does a family take a loved one’s life...

  My husband’s second cousin’s daughter (try saying that three times!) spent the night with us, and we had a blast! John and I had so much fun keeping up with an eight-year-old in our house, forcing ourselves to eat vanilla ice...

The older I get, the more I’ve learned that when a friend says “I’m fine,” there’s usually more to the story. A few days ago, a dear friend and I were swapping updates. Her daughter is facing a tough season —...