The smile started at my eyes. Then, with the speed of a prairie fire fueled by high winds, it spread across the whole of my face. It was that rare kind of smile for which the word ‘smile’ itself fails...

How do you manage your grief during the holidays? Are you dreading the approaching holidays? Fearful of being alone or without your loved one? Or have you been thinking about the possibility of receiv...

This time of year can bring stressful times for children who endure traumatic experiences. As we approach the end of the year and with the holidays of celebration occurring, OICA is once again assisti...

Alynn LeBlanc, a National Honor Society member, and her father Kenneth gather donated food items to be distributed to local families for the holidays. As part of her community project, Alynn invited 1...

DEAR ABBY: We have a mutual friend who’s very dear to us. He’s a kind-hearted and generous disabled vet who’s too proud to ask for help. Unfortunately, due to his ill health and physical limitations, ...

Preston softball students show off their decorated turkey cookies during a lighthearted Fast Food Friendsgiving, where each participant brought a favorite fast food item to share. Standing, from left,...

DEAR ABBY: I’ve been married to a narcissist for 28 years. He has gaslighted me for our entire 30 years together. He has had a “work wife” and a flirtation with the next-door neighbor hottie, and he p...

I was tired. Attending college and taking a full load of classes doesn’t leave a lot of room for outside activities. On top of that, I was working in the school cafeteria. There wasn’t any income or m...

My friend from Asia had come to faith while studying at an American university. I smiled as he later shared an account of bringing Jesus along to a game of poker. The family member who invited him for...

DEAR ABBY: My daughter won’t allow me to have a relationship with my toddler grandson without constantly interfering. Everything is “no.” She says things like: “Don’t bring him a toy every time you co...

With the beginning of December and upcoming celebrations, stress is an inevitable part of the season. Holidays are often portrayed as joyful and exciting, but many children experience significant stre...

DEAR ABBY: I’m struggling with my integrity and an important friendship. My friend “Beth’s” husband, “Jerry,” came to my house to help with a construction project. After discussing the project, we sat...

My friend, a fellow pastor, shared this story. He told of a woman in his congregation who came to him, sorrowfully sharing that she was going to divorce her husband. Naturally, my pastor friend wonder...

The exercise of talking with God (praying), was invented by the Lord Himself ... to make way for both communion and transformation. God talks. He has worthy things to say. All His communications are t...

A quick reference to probably the most well-known Bible verse ever recorded sums up God’s motive for sending Jesus to what has been called “a world of sin and woe.” We read it in John 3:16, “For God s...

As we just celebrated Thanksgiving, I would be remiss to not express appreciation for those who work tirelessly for the youth of our state. Each year, the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) ...

DEAR ABBY: I am a stepgrandmother of a disabled granddaughter, “Laura,” who has Down syndrome. She is 38. A few years ago, she weighed more than 300 pounds at only 5 feet tall. She ended up in the hos...

Oklahoma has consistently lingered toward the bottom of state rankings when it comes to reading comprehension with elementary-aged students. Some leaders have offered solutions, and we at the Oklahoma...

DEAR ABBY: I had a child with “Richard,” whom I met 10 years ago. I was married at the time but had been separated from my husband, “Eddy,” for nine months. Richard and I hit it off well; I was very a...

• Okmulgee Rotary Club Secretary Darryl Raley was honored with a five‑year Paul Harris Fellow pin, recognizing his ongoing contributions to Rotary International. The club also held a raffle, awarding ...