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Three things we need to hear

There are three things that we all need to hear from time to time. They are:Don't give up.Everyone wants to be understood.You are loved.One evening, I flipped on the TV in time to hear and see a very lively Josh Groban rushing across the stage in a very large venue, singing those words to the crowd. They were cheering for him, reaching up to him. He recklessly reached back, touching hands, encouraging them, his own face radiant with the belief to back up his words.What would it mean to you to hear and experience these three things every day?Here's what I hope they might mean: Don't give ...

Why this country girl loves the City of Warren

Why this country girl loves the City of Warren"Country Girl'A friend on Facebook teasingly called me that not too long ago.He's right. I am a country girl. I was born in a large city -- Washington, DC, but I've spent most of my life in small towns.I love living in the country. I love the quiet solitude. I love the neat little Amish farms. I love the silhouette of a silo on a moonlit night.So why does this self-confessed country girl write so much about the City of Warren? Why do I care? Why do I think others in our county should care?Interestingly, these questions come to me from two ...

Farmers busy with small grain harvest

Area farmers have been busy the past three weeks or so harvesting small grains, including a little barley, wheat and a few oats. Wheat is the main small grain grown locally; some farmers have a market for or want to feed a little barley. We don't grow nearly the acres of oats we used to in this area because they are not a very profitable crop.Straw prices have changed that this year. Straw seems to be a bit scarce and brings a good price. Add that to the income from the grain and it puts a little more money in the farmer's pocket.Local farmers tell me they are generally satisfied with ...

Fresh eyes keep sight of good

Having recently moved into our new home, my wife and I took a Friday and did some painting. Like all novice painters, we removed the tape and found that there was some touching up to do.That was about a month ago.Earlier this week, we had company over for dinner, and I realized to my slight embarrassment that we still hadn't touched up the paint. I have, for weeks, been intending to get to it, but just forgot. It's like I didn't even see the bad spots anymore, until someone was seeing them with fresh eyes.Fresh eyes are absolutely necessary to keen observation because habit and comfort ...

Thanks for the memories and histories

During this summer of holidays and memorials, a flag has adorned our home. It is not the traditional emblem of our nation. Oh, it is red, white and blue, and has stars-and-stripes; but the 35 stars are gold in color. The shape is ''swallow-tailed,'' and thus, it resembles the burgee which is our state of Ohio banner.I purchased the flag in May at the bookstore in the Visitors' Center of the Gettysburg National Battlefield, a sacred place to which I have sojourned often over the years. The label on the package identifies it as replica of a cavalry guidon used by Northern horse soldiers.In ...

Exploring the bullying epidemic

I recently heard about a ''Back to School Bully Buster Bootcamp'' held for families at Kyuki-Do Marital Arts in Huntley, Ill. According to Stephanie Hanes of the Christian Science Monitor, students were trained not only in self-defense moves, but how to stay calm when confronted by a bully; learning what to say, along with other strategic techniques in dealing with bullies, were also part of the training program.An interesting approach.This problem has become a major dilemma in our society. While confining this article to school-age children, the bullying problem has spread throughout ...