Most Wednesday evenings, our church hosts over 100 elementary and middle schoolers for the BLAST program. This Believing, Loving, And Serving Together ministry includes snack, recreation, dinner, and class learning time. In addition to driving the bus, my main responsibility is to teach Bible lessons each week. Since the themes…
I still get goose bumps every time I remember that warm summer day in the White House Rose Garden. I was privileged to represent the Virginia FFA Association at the State Presidents’ Conference in Washington, DC and what an incredible week it was. We met with our Representatives and Senators,…
Having grown up in a taxidermy shop, one of my lifelong dreams is to take an African safari to see the variety and abundance of game and to experience all that continent has to offer. I recently visited with a friend who has been on two such trips and admired…
Many readers are familiar with the Food Network Channel’s culinary competitions. One of the longest running and most popular of these is Chopped. In this fast-paced reality show, four contestants are given a basket of four identical mystery ingredients from which they must prepare a dish in limited time. They…
It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since Nicolas Cage starred in the movie, National Treasure. The action packed thriller features the hunt for a fabled stash of incredible riches from antiquity that had been hidden by our nation’s founders. Cage’s character, Ben Gates, searches for clues in our…
Thirty-eight years ago this month, I started my career as an instructor of Agricultural Education. I taught my first two years at Culpeper Jr. High School and was thankful to make my beginner mistakes away from home. In 1988, I returned to my alma mater, Central High School, to teach…
Another Fair Week will soon begin in Shenandoah County and festivities are gearing up. The days to come hold much excitement, entertainment, entrees, and exhaustion. While children gravitate toward the rides, most adults enjoy the livestock, poultry, and exhibit buildings. Many of us just like catching up with friends we…
Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where are we going? Nearly every person asks these questions at some point in our lives. The search for their answers has motivated some of history’s greatest minds to consider all manner of possibilities. Because we all bump into reality every…
Imagine your child coming home from school reporting that her teacher told their class that women were too weak to become managers and that people with black skin were inferior to whites. My hope is that you would be alarmed and even outraged by such teachings and contact the teacher…
Hansle Parchment is competing in this year’s Summer Olympics representing Jamaica. At 34, he is one of the oldest athletes participating and will be running in the 110 meter hurdles. He won the bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics but he is in Paris this week to defend the gold…