On our recent trip to Costa Rica, my wife and I were eager to escape the daily grind and immerse ourselves in the beauty of my native country. We’d spent the past few days exploring rainforests, relaxing on sandy beaches, and indulging in the local cuisine. But, despite the stunning scenery, the everyday stresses of...
Brandi Benson decided to put her college education on hold to join the United States Army in 2008. After months of basic and advanced training stateside, she was deployed to the ongoing war in Iraq in December. She was placed close to the front lines, where constant explosions and hostile activities were ongoing. She was...
Haven House has been a vital resource in Henry County for nearly four decades, and it is as busy as ever. It was founded to help women going through domestic violence situations who needed support when going to court. A shelter was opened in 1999 as the organization recognized the need for more services, which...
As an eye doctor, daily I educate my patients on rods and cones. Both are photoreceptors present in the retina, but cones are the ones that allow us to distinguish colors. Cones are a little slower, as they have more detail to process from different wavelengths. Cones are also the main photoreceptors of our central...
For decades, Amy Iketani toyed with the idea of being a writer. In her early fifties, she decided to go for it. Her mother’s passing and a trip back to her hometown in Pennsylvania gave her the final motivation she needed, and in September of 2023, she officially became a published author. “I started dabbling...
Covenant Care Services, a state-licensed non-profit Christian adoption and counseling agency, was founded in 1989 with a mission to provide compassionate support to birth mothers, children, and families. Over the past 33 years, this remarkable agency has been a beacon of hope, facilitating over 550 adoptions and averaging 150-200 women cared for each year. Covenant...
Traveling changes you. When placed out of your comfort zone in a part of the world in which there are more obstacles, you grow and never return to the same person you once were. Potosí, Bolivia, is one of the highest cities in the world. It sits on the lower part of the country and...
“…So when tomorrow starts without meDo not think we’re apartFor every time you think of meRemember I’m right here in your heart” As the grueling morning of Sunday, February 13, 2022, arrived, the fear of the morning after kicked in. How will I feel tomorrow, Monday, when he is no longer here to wake me...
On the morning of May 19, 2014, Jackie Taylor’s gynecologist called her with test results from a BRCA test. The doctor ordered the test, which reveals whether a hereditary cancer gene exists in a person who has a strong family history of cancer, because there have been multiple cancers in Jackie’s family. Fortunately, the test...
Jennifer Maddox may call Stockbridge home, but her active lifestyle keeps her constantly on the move. As a member of the Special Olympics USA Equestrian Team, when she is not rigorously training at the Calvin Center, she is traveling to competitions around the country. Her efforts have paid off. She recently returned from the Special...