Author: Daris Howard

It had been a challenging year in our rural community. Lots of older people had passed away, leaving their spouses alone. There had also been quite a few farm accidents from which people were recovering. Additionally, farm prices were low, ... Read more

Christmas was fast approaching, and as I sat in church, all I could think about was the many things I needed to do. The lesson was titled “Caring and Sharing,” but I heard little of it. Then the teacher said something that caught my attention. “As ... Read more

The year was 1941. There was news of the carnage in Europe and Asia, and many were grateful America was not involved. The country faced the hardship of the Great Depression, and even though Arden’s little community wasn’t spared, everyone had ... Read more

My daughter, Heather, came out of her room all bleary-eyed one morning. ... Read more

Donna and I had barely started dating. She played in the orchestra for a musical, so I went almost every night. One night after the musical finished, she invited me backstage. As we were mingling with other cast and orchestra members, one of them ... Read more

When I was scoutmaster, we had our meetings on Tuesday nights. The girls of the same age had activities at the same time. On one Tuesday a month, the boys and girls met together and had an activity. The boys and girls would trade off who was in charge, ... Read more

My wife, Donna, wants each of her children and grandchildren to have a beautiful, warm quilt. Over the years, she has made sure our children had one for their bed, one for college, one for their wedding, and one for other times when they needed ... Read more

Two girls sat next to each other on the first day of my class. They didn’t know each other, and their differences were stark. Melanie was drop-dead gorgeous. She had blond hair and blue eyes, her hair was styled perfectly, and her clothes were ... Read more

It was late October, and Butch and Buster, my two friends, had come to visit after school. They weren’t farm boys. They had grown up in the backwoods of a state further east, so when it came to cattle, they might as well have grown up in the city. They ... Read more

I was an offensive guard on my high school football team. We had a good line, and we worked hard and practiced hard. Our running backs were incredibly talented, but they often didn’t practice to their full potential because of their talent. Johnson, ... Read more

Alice loved the chickens. It was her job to gather the eggs each day, and though the family didn’t have names for the chickens, she secretly did and knew each one. She became familiar with the most common nesting places and was good at finding the ... Read more

By all accounts from the hospital staff, Bart had died. He had been in a wreck, and when the emergency crew arrived on the scene, he barely had a pulse. Bart was life-flighted to the nearest regional hospital, and the nurses and doctors did everything ... Read more

The celebration of our pioneer heritage is important in our area. In July there is a musical and a rodeo. But the most significant event is the parade. Every church congregation builds a beautiful float, some taking half a year to complete it. ... Read more

This heatwave we are experiencing showed me that animals like to have fun, just like we do. Some things I saw were almost human-like. ... Read more

We were at a community reception for donors of the college arts programs. The reception was to be followed by a big summer concert. I was visiting with a friend when my wife, Donna, brought a lady over to meet me. ... Read more

I was dating a girl in high school, but I think her family liked me more than she did. Sheila was quite popular, and I was just one of many boys who asked her out. So, one day, when she called and asked if I would like to spend some time with her the following ... Read more

A sweet, elderly lady that goes to our church approached me after the Sunday meeting was over. Her son was helping her walk down the aisle. The son is almost seventy, so this mother was no spring chicken. ... Read more

Celese sighed as she climbed out of bed. She knew it was going to be a long day. She had some critical deadlines for work, and it always seemed like there was more to do than she could get done. ... Read more

Hailee loved her job working at the nursing home, but she had one major challenge. That challenge went by the name of Bob. ... Read more

When we visit our children, one thing I really enjoy is pizza and movie night with my grandchildren. It usually gives their parents time for a date, and it gives my wife and me time with our grandchildren. I always buy the pizza and the pop and rent ... Read more

I have the smartest grandchildren. Of course, all grandparents think they do, but I really do. My daughter and her family came to spend a few weeks with us in the summer, and I quickly learned how smart my grandchildren are. Of course, part of intelligence ... Read more