Today, down on the plains of my hometown. In the wheat belt where combines roll, devouring golden stalks of grain. There, where ground lies cold, lies hard and fallow, they

It was a 90-cent Twix bar that did it. That, and a real short fuse. According to news reports, a 27-year-old Iowan was fired after an unfortunate incident involving a

It’s my dad. Static crackles on the line. They must be out driving somewhere. But then it settles, and his words, they come clear, “Their daughter was killed today in

He was in his pajamas, my own little boy was, and we had gotten the Bible story book. Starting at the beginning, going one at a time, we settled in,

It’s a Saturday morning. We are still in our pajamas, as is our wont, starting the day real slow. I glance over at Little Schrock, a cozy, little cat in

“She makes me laugh,” he says, distressed. Mama listens. “And then I get in trouble.” Pressured sigh. “I’m behind on my work. I have so much work!” I nod. “She

It’s been coming for weeks. Snow, drifting, piling, packing and plopping. Faster than one can shovel, it falls, burying mailboxes, cars and, in one reported case, a smallish, sluggish, decaffeinated

Trials and hardships and fire come to test us. And weren’t many of us walking like that? A classmate, now widowed. A friend, divorce looming. Someone else, single parenting. And

Congratulations to Barb Snyder, winner of this small, caffeinated American mama’s favorite coffee, Salted Caramel! Thanks for participating. It’s Valentine’s Day (as though you could miss it). In the coffee

This post was written in the glorious light of the springtime sun. Today, the sun breaks golden on The Three, casting diamonds aglitter o’er the snow-encrusted land. And Father’s heart,