November is National Adoption Month. At my organization, Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI), we take this time to celebrate the families who create bright futures for children in need of adoptive forever homes. But this year, we also want to spend this month raising awareness for the 780 Iowa children waiting to be adopted. more

I was recently invited to join Bob Milford, manager of the prestigious Diamond W Ranch, on a drive-around tour of the place. It’s a huge, private ranch, with tiny ex-logging roads winding around through 13,000 acres of pine trees and rocks. A real paradise. more

Our parents grew up during the Great Depression. Later, they experienced the rationing of World War II. Being prepared for lean times was a way of life for them. Though Mom worked next to Dad on the farm, she always managed to raise and pack away plenty of food for winter. Why buy it when you can raise it? Every little bit helps! Mother adhered to both philosophies. more

It’s time to talk about upcoming family dinners, autumn leaves and Aunt Hannah’s tofu casserole that will be sitting on our dinner table. more

That certain … crispness? … in the air reminds me of one of my favorite story assignments over the past thousand years or so. I was a reporter/columnist/feature writer for The Anchorage Daily News, and since I had a tolerance for eccentricities in others … well, they called me the weirdo reporter. more

It was Saturday night. The north windows trembled as they wrestled with the frigid November gales that buffeted our South Dakota farmhouse. The brown Siegler oil burner warmed the living room (at least one end of it) and some of the family settled in for a night in front of the black and white, ready to share adventures with Little Joe, Adam and Hoss Cartwright. more

“Windy,” she said, “did you know that some Native American people refer to November as the Hunger Moon?” Mamie smiled as she placed some uncooked rolled-up ground fish … more

Two nights ago, just before dark, I discovered a big pile of loose dirt on the back side of the duck cage. Just next to the cage was a hole that led under and into the floor of the pen. Obviously, the chicken wire lining I had installed did not stop this critter. What worried me the most was the way the ducks acted. They did not want to go in. Even though supper (including Cheerios treats) awaited them in their small shelter, the web-footed birds avoided it like the duck-plague. Something had been in their home and terrorized them. more

If you are making less than $40,000 a year then you probably don’t care that single people making over $523,601 pay 37 percent of their income in federal taxes. Married people filing jointly … more

Serving our nation in uniform was one of the greatest honors of my life. It left me with countless experiences, lifelong friends, and lessons that I carry with me every day. It also provided me with … more

Steve was out in the Mule Barn parking lot the other day, tightening something with his wrenches under the hood of his pickup truck. The rest of us stood around, looking wise, and sipping coffee. … more

Cargo ships waiting to unload at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach California could keep some of America’s store shelves bare for a while. These two ports handle the bulk of cargo coming from China. Cargo keeps coming from China, making the congestion craziness only worse. The dozens of ships floating in the pacific are carrying products that used to be some of America’s good paying jobs.  more