When I was growing up, I had many dreams that evolved into goals, but other thoughts were dismissed as foolish ideas of an immature girl. By achieving these goals, I thought I would be happy. more

Growing up, volunteering was a way of life for me. Whether it was Dad going to the nursing home to conduct a religious service or Mom teaching at VBS, our family members volunteered. For our family lines, it’s like needing to drink water. Everyone volunteers. I hope that we have passed that down from our kids to our grandkids. more

As another Independence Day approaches I am mindful of the patriot foundations and shared heritage of our celebration. more

My older brother was one of those guys — a fireworks guy. Do you know one? A guy who loves fireworks so much that the 4th of July becomes more like Christmas — the most wonderful time of the year. For fireworks guys, “wonderful” goes “boom.” more

One thing for certain, now that I’m a white-haired old man, none of my neighbors will likely call to see if I can help haul in a few hundred bales of hay. more

If you have spent many summers in Buffalo, this time of year, the firebirds can be seen loading up the tents and boxes to set up firework stands across the country. What I call the Firebird migration is a mass dance that involves firework vendors traveling to towns with their campers and setting up large tents to celebrate Independence Day. more

I think we all want our kids to grow up and be successful. Whatever that may look like: relationships, spiritually, finances. But what about their health? I think that is another faucet that sometimes doesn’t get the prep work that it deserves. I am sure that you have heard “give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for life.” People love to apply that to different areas of life, but what if we apply it to the health of our children? What if we teach them what healthy is, model it, and then they are prepared for life? more

I’ve met several people since the first of the year. A couple of them are Negative Nellies. It makes me question the theory that everyone is seeking happiness. Negative Nellies act bitter and unwilling to make a better life. I’ve researched the pursuit of happiness and will share the findings I’ve discovered. more

One week in June 30 years ago I was on a life-changing journey, but I didn’t know it at the time. I thought I was just on my way to a writers’ convention. more

As I was waiting to be seen at a medical center, I watched as a woman was helping her husband get his overall strap straightened out. Another woman was helping a confused husband tell the doctor what he needed. more

I think all feet are gross. Could you explain to me the Ilmeda Marco obsession that I’ve been living with for most of my adult life? more

Firstborn of four boys, I was always close to my dad. more

A couple of articles ago we talked about leptin and how it is the protein hormone that regulates hunger. A person can become leptin resistant. That means the signal from your fat cells to the brain is reduced and does not tell your body that it has enough energy stores and lacks the feeling of fullness. This can lead to obesity. Leptin also plays a larger role in the body such as bone formation and reduced immune function. There are many scientific studies on leptin’s impact on the brain (and the body). more

I know it's not Thanksgiving or Christmas, but the cooler temps we have had lately made me think of those festive holidays. more

When I was a young woman, the word engage seemed to have only one meaning. Couples became engaged when they decided to make a promise of marriage to each other. more

When my husband died ten years ago, I was advised that an intense mourning period would last up to 18 months. At the time, it gave me hope that that empty feeling would fade. Well, they were wrong. A decade later, my heart still mourns. more

How did I get here? more

My automobile, more than just a mode of transportation, serves as a comforting counseling office on wheels. more

Some tasks just seem too big, too daunting, too intimidating. I have people in my life that look at health that way; and I understand, I really do. The amount of things I have cut out of my family’s life (or introduced) in the name of health would be hard to imagine if we were to have done it all at once. But thankfully, that is not the case. It has been one step at a time for about six years and now I will return the jelly my husband bought by accident because it has ingredients that I don’t approve of. more

Springtime, when I was a boy on the farm, would find me at the river at least one day or evening a week. more

A couple of years ago, my daughter brought up the concept of guerrilla gardening. At first, I thought that believing that gardeners could perform covert activities was ridiculous. Then, the more she told me and the more I confirmed her statements in research, I could see the Buffalo Garden Club go crazy around town, planting seeds and cleaning up weeds. more

Sixty years ago I was a 17-year-old high school senior in what now seems another time and country. more

A year ago, a tornado hop-scotched through our town. It was past midnight, and I was watching a movie at home with our teenagers. When our phones screamed a long, loud beep, we switched to local news to see a meteorologist — sleeves rolled up to the elbows — urging viewers to get into a safe place. A tornado had been spotted in the heart of town. more

I sat on my front stoop this weekend, soaking up the warmth of the spring sunshine. Nothing feels better than the cool breeze hitting your face while the sun warms your exposed skin. I felt like the little blue lizard whose habitat is in the cracks of the three-step stairs to the porch. more

You’ve probably heard it said that muscle weighs more than fat, but what does that really mean? A pound is a pound. Let’s think about it in terms of volume. Picture it as comparing a pound of rocks versus a pound of marshmallows; now which one is going to take up more space? more