My Vintage Diary
While going through some old treasures, I was surprised to find a five-year diary I received for my 12th birthday. So much fun reading those short snippets, some even into my 15th year. Although most described simple things like going to school or church and daily farm chores, others gave me a memorable look into…
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In Other Words with Dave
Life’s gotten a lot better since I adjusted my social media algorithms. I was overwhelmed with negative news, people’s opinions, and ads for stuff I don’t need. I changed some settings, and now my feed feels lighter, brighter, and oddly peaceful. It’s amazing what happens when you stop doomscrolling and start hobbyscrolling. My formula is…
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SURVIVOR!
If there is one thing I never expected to be known as, it’s a “survivor.” Yet I feel it on this third anniversary of my son, Jay’s journey to heaven. I still look for him and miss him every minute of every day. Having Down syndrome, Jay spent all of his 46 years at home,…
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In Other Words with Dave
Have you heard about macros? No, it’s not short for macaroons or macaroni. I know—disappointing. Macro is short for macronutrient: the three main categories of nutrients you eat the most—protein, carbohydrates, and fats. And if you like math, you’re going to love macros because there’s a lot of counting involved. This might be the next…
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Past and Present
I sometimes find myself comparing today’s world with the past, back when I was young, growing up on a farm. Living in a tin-roof house with my parents and five siblings. No indoor plumbing. No phone. No TV. And it felt very normal. It was life as we knew it and it was good. I…
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In Other Words with Dave
You know how coastal trends usually take a while to arrive in Oklahoma? Like gluten-free bakeries, bike lanes, or those mixed-use neighborhoods where you can live above a juice bar and walk to hot yoga? Yeah—well, they take even longer to reach my household. Which brings us to pickleball. Alison and I are finally pickling……
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Summer Camp
It’s August, my birthday month, so that brings some memories my way. As an adult, my special day was always spent with family, but I have memories of long-ago celebrations, and summer camp was one of my favorites. As a teenager, I spent a few birthdays with our church-youth-group at Falls Creek Baptist Assembly near…
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In Other Words with Dave
I visited an old friend during a recent trip to Orlando, Florida. It had been decades since we’d seen each other. Our meeting place was set: We were to reunite outside the Comic Strip Cafe at Toon Lagoon in Universal Studios. Alright, that’s clear enough; I can handle that. Alison had gently encouraged me over…
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My Daddy My Hero
My father was my childhood hero, a picture of unreserved love. My earliest memory is of Daddy rocking me in a straight back chair, feeling the back and forth, thumping motion while he sang “Bringing In The Sheaves.” With few photos of my childhood, I have little to trigger long ago memories, but many are…
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In Other Words with Dave
Father’s Day, 16 years ago. I opened a gift bag to find a sheet of paper covered in my five-year-old granddaughter Aubrey’s hand-drawn artwork. It was a Father’s Day card accompanied by a questionnaire her teacher helped her complete. Aubrey’s answers painted a portrait that was both wildly inaccurate and surprisingly heartfelt. According to five-year-old…
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Our Story!
On May 29, 2025, my late husband, Carl, will have been in heaven for 14 years. A long time, and I’ve missed him every minute. But I’m thankful for the 45 years we had together and all the wonderful memories we shared. It’s the little things that mean so much in marriage. Day-to-day happenings that…
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