All in Columns
I’ve married 45 couples over the last two decades. It’s a joy to help a man and woman stand before God, family and friends, and step into a whole new life: oneness, family, covenant from God. You’d think, since God gave humans the gift of marriage, it would be filled with power, ease and endless delights. In reality, it is a LOT of hard work.
Although I never met Floyd Dawson of La Grange, my wife Sandra's father, we have a photo of him and a fellow soldier standing in front of an ambulance. Sandra’s father was part of a team that went to the front lines of World War II to pick up the wounded and take them to the nearest field hospital.
If you missed the Business After Hours at the Extension Master Gardeners of Lenoir County’s Children Garden (Children’s Garden), you really missed out! Great food, with a summer-time theme, as well as great fellowship was had by those that attended! Many exclaimed how amazing the garden space is, and how they cannot wait to visit again and bring their children, grandchildren, etc.!
According to a 1924 news story published in The News and Observer of Raleigh, Bucklesberry was purportedly opened to colonization in the early nineteenth century. This article claimed settlement commenced in 1825 by brothers John Sutton (ca. 1779-1848) and Hardy Sutton (1803-1861).
Living with adult children is the fastest path to prison for a parent just trying to stay sane.
When the first “Wings Over the Neuse” fundraiser occurred, I was not part of the CSS Neuse Foundation Board. In 2009, board members decided to do something special to raise funds to place a monument for Alton “Doc” Stapleford to recognize and honor all the work and supervision he provided during the construction of the CSS Neuse II.
Neuse Regional Libraries Awarded Cannon Foundation Grant for the La Grange Public Library: Opening the Door to Accessibility Project
Enjoy the bounty of the season without spending a lot of time cooking over a hot stove with these quick and easy seafood recipes. From shrimp to scallops and salmon to crab, these recipes will make using the seasonal harvest from our crystal coast, a breeze! Hope you will enjoy your dinner and support our fishermen!!
As a friend and I ran together, he made a comment that has stayed with me. We were discussing our kids and family, and he said, “The greatest gift you can give your kids is emotional health.”
“You never invite me to your house,” and, “You never come to mine when I invite you,” are two complaints I hear more than I care to admit.
Last Thursday, many observed the latest federal holiday – “Juneteenth.” The term “Juneteenth” is the compression of “June Nineteenth” – the day in 1865 that Union Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of the American Civil War. Roughly 250,000 enslaved people received their freedom that day.
In case you haven’t heard, and I am not sure how you missed it, but the latest trend made popular by Tik Tok is “Sardine Summer.” The last I remember sardine talked about was way back when my Daddy used to open the rather smelly can for a quick lunch, but apparently everything from clothes, accessories, home goods and recipes are now featuring the tiny, sometimes tinny fish.
There’s something deeply humbling about being wrapped in the love of an entire town—a thousand small acts that made our wedding day unforgettable. From the moment my eyes opened on the morning of June 13, it was clear that someone had already come through and smoothed the way.
Yesterday – Sunday, June 15 – marks the 250th anniversary of George Washington’s appointment from the Second Continental Congress to serve as the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army.
There are few fresh seasonal vegetables that bring the business to the Farmers Market than corn. Customers flock to the market to buy bushel bags at a time. The average American eats about 5 ½ pounds of fresh sweet corn every year, certainly making it one of the most popular crops grown in the United States.
We’re supposed to be living the American Dream—hard work, decent reward, nice home and a few fun days at the beach. Yet, so many of us actually have stress and uncertainty: Is my job secure? Will I outlive my 401k? Will the economy tank? Will a medical crisis bankrupt me? Will our children’s generation ever make it?
I had a break from high school graduations after my oldest four grandchildren earned diplomas. Courtney was first, followed by Haley, Taylor, and Jaxen. Jaxen’s graduation coincided with COVID, so he had no real commencement ceremony until he finished his degree at Johnston Community College. As you may recall, I call my first four grandchildren “The Old Guard.”
Tomatoes are hitting peak season and even though tomatoes are available year round they are never quite as tasty as they are during peak season. There is nothing like biting into a vine-ripened red beauty, especially if you grow it yourself!
The North Carolina Baroque Orchestra (NCBO) is a nonprofit ensemble dedicated to performing Baroque music with historical authenticity and fostering community connections across the state. Founded in 2011, NCBO brings together professional musicians from across the United States to perform on period instruments, creating a unique and historically informed sound that transports audiences back to the 17th and 18th centuries.
I was walking down the hallway recently with a young lady who appeared to be about 26 or 27. She was kindly helping me to find my way to an appointment with a specialist. As we walked along, she apologized for her gait, explaining that she had recently experienced knee surgery. She played sports in high school and college and her knees were now bothering her as she aged. Aged? Are you kidding? She had not hit 30 yet.
