I never know what I’m going to find when my brother shoots me a text. Recently it was a photo of a spittoon at the Bates County Courthouse. It made me chuckle for a lot of reasons. I knew right away he was in the middle of a trial back in God’s country. Some of the...
There’s a funny story about a man from Texas who liked to brag about how huge his ranch is. He told his friend that if he set off in his truck at sunrise, the sun would be setting by the time he got to the other side. His friend replied, “I had a truck like that...
A couple nights ago, Lindsey and I got the kids to bed and we sat down on the couch to watch some TV. I started to flip through the channels trying to find something we could agree on. On the screen was a show called “The Real Housewives from Somewhere or the Other.”...
I love this time of year. Things slow down, I get to see the kids more and the cool weather makes me nostalgic. As I write this the last of the negative election ads are playing on the TV. I want to tell them to save their money. Can there be anyone who hasn’t...
Many years ago, my dad thought it would be a good idea for my brother and I to help a local farmer roof his house. While it seemed like a great idea, when we started climbing across that felt-covered roof in the July heat I think we all started having second thoughts....
I have attempted to hunt or catch my share of critters and fish in my day. Sept. 1 is my annual “changing of the guard” when I pull my fly rod out of my truck and trade it out for my shotgun. This date marks the annual opening day of Missouri’s dove season, one of the...
As someone who married way above my paygrade, I’ve watched more than my share of Hallmark movies. So many, in fact, that I’m pretty sure I can write the plot for one. Hallmark, this one’s for you ... On her way from Chicago to Kansas City, an up-and-coming account...
Growing up, I was always taught that the Good Book tells you not to work on Sunday. It is supposed to be a day of rest and for good reason: We work hard enough all week long. Everyone deserves at least one day of rest and reflection. While we tried to avoid working on...
Mother’s Day is a special time of year around the Jones household. Most years it involves me scrambling around the house trying to find the gift I bought the month before, finding a way to sneak my kids away from Mom so they can make homemade cards, last-minute phone...
The call from my brother made me laugh. He had just bought a new pair of cowboy boots and had a question for me: “Can I get you to wear these until they are broken in?” Back on the farm, that was my job whenever Dad bought us new work boots. You would think the second...