As we approach the end of the year, I always like to look back over the past 12 months and celebrate the good things that happened. If you read this column regularly, you are well aware of how much jo...

DEAR ABBY: I’m 55 and own my home. “Randall,” 53, lives with me and pays me rent. We used to be a couple, but COVID caused too much togetherness. He’s in the spare bedroom now. My house is cheaper for...

“I would like to change my bedtime on New Year’s Eve,” says Tyler, 11. “I usually go to bed at 10 p.m., but I would like to stay up all night. I would have a great time because we would first party, s...

“There is no new thing under the sun,” according to Ecclesiastes 1:9. It is a given that occurrences and events which may take place in our lives in 2023 have been experienced by others in days gone b...

The apprentice of Jesus is no stranger to the notion of ‘dance’. In one way or other, rhythmic singings (silent or voiced) may naturally and often spring from deep within the disciple’s soul. That is ...

As a parent, grandparent or caregiver, it can be heartbreaking to see a young person in the family turn to substances like alcohol. In Okmulgee County, alcohol consumption is shown to be the most prev...

DEAR ABBY: I’ve been married six years, and ever since we’ve been married, my husband’s daughter has insisted I can’t come to her house that my husband pays a mortgage on. I think he should tell her i...

I have three sisters. They are all older than I. That, of course, makes me the “baby” of the family. My sisters love to make that abundantly clear to everyone. Once, they showed up at the airport when...

Christmas is a time for parties and get togethers! Growing up, I remember Christmas Eve at Granny’s house with the whole family gathered to celebrate. We would bring finger foods and drinks and sing c...

Around this time of year, it is almost impossible to avoid Christmas movies. I will fully admit that I have some favorites, ranging from White Christmas to Die Hard (yes, it is a Christmas movie), but...

On behalf of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Office, we would like to wish a Merry Christmas and a happy and safe holiday season to all of our longterm care residents and their loved ones. While this can...

The reason you haven’t left this marriage may be that you are self-conscious about your age or think nothing is worse than being alone. Life does not end at 60, and THIS is worse than being alone. DEA...

The end of each year allows us to reflect on what is behind us and look forward to what is to come. As we begin this new chapter, thank you for putting your trust in me. It’s a responsibility I will n...

He was a big man. He stood six foot three or four tall. He weighed at least 250 pounds. He was a “rough and tumble” type of man. He was a lumberjack - literally! He worked for the local lumber company...

DEAR ABBY: My ex-wife, “Jenny,” and I were together seven years, married for almost five of them. We have a young child together. We have been divorced for eight months. I have been trying to reconcil...

Gaspar sat atop the moving beast, his body swaying in the rolling gait. Memories stirred. He savored such occasions as this when he could, without interruption, review his past, his station in life an...

It’s cookie time! This week I went with a more adult flair. They are baked though so they are still safe for the kids if you so choose to share. I would think these would make the cookie exchange part...

DEAR ABBY: I am an only child and I love my mother. My father passed away after a short illness three years ago, leaving my mother a widow. My problem is, she calls me multiple times a day. I’m not on...

“God sent Jesus to Mary’s tummy on Christmas,” says Kassandra, 6. What a difference a couple of words can make. Instead of “to,” try “out of” Mary’s tummy on Christmas. “Mary had him, and he was glowi...

DEAR ABBY: I have been married to my wife for a little over a year. I love her. However, right before our wedding, I met a co-worker I’ll call “Alexis.” We hit it off, and I consider her a close frien...