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Embracing life’s fullness: Family, home and gratitude

Have you ever experienced a time when your heart felt full overflowing with emotions you couldn’t contain? That’s exactly how I feel as I sit down to write today. There are several reasons for this overwhelming sense of well-being, and I’d love to share them with you. First and foremost, I just returned from a week at the beach with my entire family. For those who have tried to coordinate a trip with adult children and their little ones, you know how nearly impossible it can be to get everyone in the same place for an extended time. But we made it happen! The weather was ...

Sometimes it’s okay not to be okay

Have you ever had a time in your life when you just weren’t, okay? If we’re honest, we all have. This Monday morning, I’m in that space. I’m not terrible, not falling to pieces, no tears—just not okay. As I self-diagnose and spend some time in introspection, I think I’ve discovered some answers. For starters, I tend to cram a plethora of activities into a minuscule amount of time. Does anyone else have that tendency? It’s like trying to fit all my Aldi shopping bags into one little bag to save space in my car. It can be done, but my bags aren’t in the greatest shape ...

Trump’s regulation promises

This week, Donald Trump will officially become the Republican nominee. Soon he is likely to again be president, according to the most accurate predictions, which come from people who put their money where their mouths are -- people who bet. They currently give Trump a 67% chance of winning. President Joe Biden’s chances have fallen below 20%. This is good news to those of us who fear America is gradually being strangled by ever-increasing regulations. Trump promises to get rid of bad rules. “Remove the anchor dragging us down!” he said. “We’re going to cancel every ...

The far left won’t be badly missed

The hard-line pro-Palestinian group Within Our Lifetime has been protesting against, of all people, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders. Where did the New York congresswoman and Vermont senator go astray? Didn’t they denounce Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide”? Didn’t they call for halting military aid to Israel? They did both, but Ocasio-Cortez in particular has drawn the group’s wrath for approving a resolution affirming Israel’s right to exist. She also supported funding for Israel’s Iron Dome, which is not a weapon of attack but a system of ...

Paint the sky with colors of freedom and independence

Friends, sometimes you just need to get things off your chest, and today is one of those times for me. You are fortunate (or perhaps unfortunate, depending on how you see it) to be on the receiving end of my current unpacking. This year’s fundraising efforts for the fireworks were particularly challenging. Not only did the funds come in slowly and below the required amount within the usual timeframe, but the Chamber also faced significant criticism on social media. Many of the negative comments stemmed from a lack of understanding about how the event is organized and funded. We heard ...

Nature is not a place to visit, it is home

For years, I wondered what drew so many to the Finger Lakes Region. Friends often spoke of their return trips there, and I was curious to find out what kept drawing them back. Of course, I had heard of the great wine trails but had no concept of its incredible beauty. Last weekend, on a whim, I decided to find out what all the excitement was about. My husband Blain and I stocked the backpack with all the essentials, jumped in the car and headed north. Our first stop was Watkins Glen State Park. At the entrance we faced a choice: take the easy route via shuttle to the top of the trail ...