To Whom It May Concern (and you know who you are): more

I am intrigued with the phrase, “It came to pass.” In the NKJV it is used 177 times. Sometimes it refers to the actions of men that conflict with God’s will. But often it refers to an event that fulfills the will of God, like this one. God is faithful. He keeps His promises. This promise is central to all His promises. It began in Genesis in the garden. It continued for millennia. As Hebrews says, “God at various times and in various ways spoke to the fathers through the prophets.” more

There was a time when the only oriental restaurants in my town were Chinese. Back then, if you wanted a wine with your dinner, the choice was simple: Wan Fu. more

A few years ago, I did some freelance projects for an online agency that assigned writers to do work for business clients. Most of it was marketing copy, but the pay was decent. Then, in November 2022, a little thing called ChatGPT was released — one of the first widely used artificial intelligence chatbots. more

One sure thing about gardening is that there will be changes. more

There are two things the French know, and know well — love and wine. I believe we should bypass the love and head straight for a safer subject, the wine. more

Last Sunday, I bundled up and headed out into the dark of early morning to listen for owls.My experienced birding partner and I stood on a gravel road before much of the world was awake, ears perked, cheeks cold. We rarely hear them immediately, but every year we hear them. more

In December 2001, when I was pregnant with our first son, I carried around a tangled mess of emotions — excitement, gratitude, hope, fear, joy, anxiety, and a certainty that the smell or sight of cooked chicken would make me gag. (Thankfully, the chicken thing was a temporary aversion, which is why I now make almost daily trips to Chick-fil-A.) But what I remember most about that pregnancy and the subsequent pregnancies with his younger brother and sister is that I loved walking or waddling around, knowing I was part of a miracle. more

You tell us to be patient. more

The holidays look different when someone you loved has passed away. There’s furniture from the house that is missing. As the family sits in a circle around the tree you just can’t shake the feeling that the circle feels incomplete. When you think about buying presents, you realize there’s one less present to buy because that person is gone. If you have lost someone, what should be a season of hope, peace, joy, and love can actually be quite depressing. It is my goal in this writing to provide you with comfort as you navigate grief in the holidays. more

As the Christmas gift-giving rapidly approaches, I have selected some wines to share that have not only impressed me but have also been added to my personal wine collection. more

No one has ever accused Jay Ashcroft of being a lefty. more

Two of our three kids have birthdays this month. When I was pregnant and people asked about the due date, they always cringed a little when I said we expected the baby to arrive in December. “Oh no,” they’d say. “It’s so close to Christmas!” more

There was almost certainly more than three (tradition gets that part wrong) but these men from the east were certainly wise. Their wisdom and a strange star would take them on a journey that changed their world and ours. The hopes of these Wise Men created a path of faith to Bethlehem that many of us are still traveling today. more

After years of threats, the government has finally discontinued minting pennies because they cost more to make than their face value. more

Until now, I thought hiring professionals to string Christmas lights was all about convenience and saving yourself the time and risk of being up on the roof. But a recent DIY attempt has shown me the (literal) light. more

With Thanksgiving in the rear-view mirror and the leftovers of the feast duly distributed and devoured, we must now turn to the next major feast day, Christmas dinner. more

Hello friends, December has a way of sneaking up on us, doesn’t it? One day we’re raking leaves, and the next we’re knee-deep in holiday schedules, traffic, programs, and expectations. More than a few folks around Warrensburg have told me recently, “I love the holidays… but it’s a lot.” I hear that. And I feel it myself. more

With the gift-giving season rapidly approaching, I am often receiving inquiries on the best gift item for a wine lover that will protect unfinished wine still in the bottle. more

Well, we did it. We thought about it for a long time, but something always held us back – vanity, frugality, perhaps a desperate grip on the last remaining scraps of our youth. But now that we’ve done it, we love it so much we don’t even care what it says about us. We’re the proud new owners of an adjustable bed. more