A $14.99 Piano and a Dream: Jacob’s Musical Journey Begins.
This is Jacob. He’s only seven years old, but already, he carries a spark of something special. Today, at a local thrift store, I happened to hear him trying to play “Chopsticks” on an old, slightly worn piano tucked away…
A Message for Those 60 and Above: Embrace This Beautiful Chapter of Life.
A Message for Those 60 and Above: Embrace This Beautiful Chapter of Life If you’re 60 years old or older, this message is just for you — a gentle reminder to cherish the time you have now and live it…
A Shoutout to Kindness: Woodstock Officer Goes Above and Beyond.
I want to give a HUGE shoutout to a Woodstock police officer whose name, unfortunately, I never got. Recently, my mom was pulling into the Sam’s Shopping Center when her car suddenly ran out of gas. She was stranded, unsure…
More Than Enforcement: Serving Community with Care.
Recently, Crystal Officers were dispatched to conduct a welfare check on a resident who had reportedly not eaten for several days and was struggling with basic daily needs, including preparing meals. Upon arrival, Officer Vang quickly assessed the situation and…
More Than Exes: How I’m Teaching My Sons to Love and Respect.
It’s my ex-wife’s birthday today. I got up early, picked up some flowers, a card, and a small gift, then drove over to her place so our kids could give them to her. I even stayed to help them make…
A Quilt, A Promise, and the Man Who Taught Me to Sew.
My grandfather is 89 years old, and he’s one of the most remarkable people I know. Whenever I visit him, he loves to sit back in his old armchair by the window and tell me stories about his youth. One…
A Farmer, His Dog, and 92 Years of Home.
I still have my old 1966 Chevrolet truck, the one that’s been with me through so much of this long life. Just about every week, you could find me and our loyal dog Gunner riding down the gravel roads, heading…
Sarah Rector: The Unexpected Oil Heiress Who Became America’s First Black Millionaire.
In 1913, deep in the heart of Oklahoma, a remarkable chapter of American history quietly began to unfold. Sarah Rector, a bright, unassuming 10-year-old African American girl, became the unlikely protagonist of a story that would defy the social and…
A Soldier’s Last Letter and the Dog Who Waited.
The Day I Met Tank They told me his name was Reggie. When I first saw the big black Lab lying in his pen at the shelter, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I’d only been in this small…
The Gentle Wisdom of Squirrels.
The Gentle Wisdom of Squirrels Deep in the quiet heart of the forest, where sunlight dances on mossy logs and the wind sings secrets through the leaves, there lives a family of squirrels who teach us more about love and…