Awaiting Jesus With Dogged Anticipation
Thirty years ago this week, I was blessed to become the father of a sweet little girl. Over the years Mary has grown into a beautiful young woman and wife. She and her husband now live near Dallas, Texas and we don’t get to see them nearly as often as…
An Earthquake for Your Etch A Sketch
Anyone who follows me on Facebook knows how much I like corny humor. Many of the memes I share include puns or slightly twisted cartoons. In the midst of life’s seriousness and struggles, laughter is vital to maintaining some sense of sanity. One cartoon I shared a while back featured…
Restoring Old Cars and Wrecked Lives
The Shenandoah Valley has some of the most scenic roads anywhere. What a treat it is to enjoy this natural beauty on routine commutes and errands. Too often, however, we get accustomed to the beauty and take it for granted. Some items that occasionally mar this setting are junk cars.…
Our Common Sense and Ukrainian Justice
As I write this column, Russian troops are bearing down on the capital of Ukraine as well as other cities throughout that country. Just last night I watched as doctors failed to revive a little girl about the same age as my granddaughter. The images and stories coming out of…
The Purpose and Pain of Winter Pruning
It’s hard to believe that March is just a few days away and that 2022 is already two months old. As we move into this new month, we will be seeing more warm days and more spring flowers announcing their victory over winter’s long siege. Gardeners realize that their busiest…
Our Local Version of Oak Island
Last year I was privileged to acquire another book of local history entitled, Welcome To Fort Valley by Jeanette Ritenour, James Trott, and Margaret Trott. This 600 page volume is chocked full of anecdotes, photos, and background of the Valley Within a Valley. Although I’ve just started reading it, what…
Shenandoah County’s Race Riot
A few months ago, I mentioned a great book of local history, Shenandoah Iron by Norman H. Scott that details the incredible industry that once flourished in the Shenandoah Valley. This thriving enterprise has left its mark not only with the now cold and silent stone crucibles throughout our mountains,…
An Update on Weekday Religious Education
As January has turned into February, we know that spring will soon be here! And this spring brings renewed hope and optimism for public school children in Shenandoah County! The School Board officially voted at their first meeting of 2022 to allow released time for Weekday Religious Education and plans…
A Ski Trip To Remember
Although it seemed to take longer than normal to get here, winter has certainly arrived in the Shenandoah Valley as evidenced by snow cover and single digit temperatures. Such frigid conditions set the stage for some excellent skiing, or so I’m told. My last skiing excursion was during my college…
Of Eagles And Babies
What a blessing to catch a glimpse of a Bald Eagle soaring here in the Shenandoah Valley. After an absence of many years, it’s refreshing to know that they are reproducing again in this part of their former range. It is important, however, not to destroy or even tamper with…