Children grow more quickly than any young mother or father can ever realize.  When they are babies and you're caring for them night and day it almost seems as if you are in the Twilight Zone and a full night's sleep is eons away.  The grown children in the picture are mine.  I wouldn't trade a moment, but I would spend more quality time with them if I could.  Quality Time can take on many different themes.  Adventurous-Bold-Cuddle Time-Snuggle Time-Reading-Listening.  Paying attention to what your loved ones are saying.  Taking in every detail.  Making sure you praise more than you criticize.  The basic need of every individual is to feel unconditional love by those that are closest to them.  Take time today to do something with your family.  Visit your parents.  Build a snowman with your kids.  Take a walk with your spouse.  Because when it comes down to it ---- what is more important?...

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Every spring the promise of new life surrounds us.  First we notice little green shoots from dormant plants.  Or we see reddish buds bursting forth from bare trees.  But in a country barn you'll find the cutest and cuddliest new life. Last winter a stray striped kitten showed up at our back door.  We named "him" Terrence.  "He" was very shy at first, but soon became friendly.  Kittens are like that. This spring before we could take Terrence to the vet "he" started look like "he" was really putting on weight.  Finally, my 21-year-old son, who happens to be a farmer said, "Mom, I hate to break this to you, but Terrence is a female and is going to have kittens."  "Are you sure?" I said.  I was sure Terrence was a male when I checked.  But everything is so tiny and furry when they are kittens, and I was definitely wrong! But sometimes, when moms are in a hurry. . . . moms are like that. As soon as the chickens were moved ......

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What is the exact meaning of "cabin fever?'  The term cabin fever was first recorded in 1838.  It's meaning somewhat describes one with claustrophobia (fear of closed in spaces).  Cabin fever occurs after being shut up in doors for an extended period of time.  People who suffer from cabin fever may become irritable, distrustful of others, and have an overwhelming urge to go outside even in inclement weather.  But does the term cabin fever take on a new definition in the 21st century?  Could it actually refer to the opposite of the original meaning of cabin fever?  We have become a society that lives and likes a temperature controlled environment.  Many of us don't want to go outside unless it is sunny and seventy degrees.  We go from our temperature controlled homes to our temperature controlled cars to another place with a thermostat set on a desirable number.   Children are spending less and less time outside then ever b......

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In real life country Christmas decorations you don't have to add work boots and cats and homemade wine to make the picture more interesting.  It's just the way we live. Real Country Christmases have a little rust, dust, and trust. (There's usually some mud involved too.) A little rust on the truck you drive to pick out your tree.    A little dust in all of the places you want to decorate with twinkle lights, and trust that you can make some beautiful and long lasting memories by doing things the hard way.  When I say the hard way - I mean real Christmas decorations that are not as easy and quick as the more modern versions.  Every year I question . . . is this really all worth it?  Will my children remember a warm and comforting home with the smell of fresh cedar and pine in every nook and cranny?  Will they remember that I went the extra yard and made pumpkin pie by baking the pumpkins we planted together in the gar......

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When asked what we are grateful for most everyone will stop for a minute and say:  family, friends, God, home.  These are our most prominent things for which to be grateful.  But, what are the intricate things that make us grateful?  Why are we grateful for family, friends, God, home . . . . ? Is it the way your husband embraces you and provides for your family?  Is it the sweet smile of your son saying, "Hi, Mom, what's for supper?"  Or is it the gentle words of your daughter when you need encouragement? Maybe it's watching your baby boy all grown up having fun and learning with friends. How about the way it feels when you pray before dinner and everyone enjoys nourishment for the body, mind, and, soul as you eat and converse with each other.  These are just a few of my personal "grateful things."  To be truly grateful we must be extra-sensory humans paying attention to the little details that make up a fully lived......

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Before we know it, the holidays will be upon us.  We will be running to stores buying gifts and groceries.  Our home, seasonal parties, and people will desperately need us.  Even though our regular schedules will not change.  How do we do it all?????? A delicate balance of alignment is needed for almost everything we do in life.  If the scales are tipped too much one way or another, mechanisms get out of balance and fail to work properly.  Just standing still your body uses 300 muscles to balance itself.  That's a major accomplishment, and standing still is one of the easiest things we do on a daily basis. What about you?  What are you balancing in your life?  Are the scales and mechanisms in alignment?  Chances are you yourself are balancing many different situations.  Children, work, home life, church . . . the list goes on and on. . . . I am amazed at the perfect balance and alignment of stature of women in third worl......

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Why do old-fashioned ways for the most part seem better?  Why are we fascinated with the period in history that spans the 1800's?  Recently, we took a field trip to Conner Prairie, an outdoor, living museum that covers time from the end of the 18th century to the Civil War.  I was amazed at the simplicity of it all and the ingenuity it took just to have a comfortable place to sleep.  Birds had to be killed, cloth had to be spun, trees chopped down ---- just for a bed and mattress.  I was intrigued that there was no such thing as money.  Peering into William Conner's ledger I noticed a peck of apples could buy a gallon of feathers.  If you were smart and talented there was no one or nothing that could stop you from success except laziness.  Everyone would have been vying for your services. We entered into the rear of the Conner Homestead and were allowed to visit each of the downstairs rooms.  There wasn't much furniture and the room......

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AUTHOR: Diane McKeever Social media has made the process of advertising your book both easier and harder. Easier in that anyone can do it, all you need is a little time and imagination. Harder because there are so many outlets and most of us don&rsq...

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AUTHOR: JUDY ALLEN Carrie was in a hurry.  Her nephew, Ray, was waiting in the driveway for their one special day of the year.  She knew he was drumming his fingers on the steering wheel and listening to the music that a teenager loved, bu...

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Father's Day is fast approaching.  Can you believe we have only been celebrating Father's Day for only forty-two years.  That's right the first official Father's Day happened in 1972.    The country music song Daddy's Hands has always touched my heart deeply.  I have never once listened to this song without tearing up.  The lyrics in this song describe my dad perfectly.  In his younger years my father worked until his hands bled.  Today his hands are still calloused from the many, many hours he put in to keep us all fed.  Now my own tough and hard-working husband is an icon of this song too.  It is his strong hands that are gently holding the baby chicks. Without these two wonderful men in my life I would not be the woman I am today.  Their strong hands have held me and picked me up many times in my life when I needed it most.  They have always been there supporting me and ......

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