Soul Stories

Guest Blogger Series

Refined not defined

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guest blogger

by Nancy Chamberlain

I forgot how hard my kindergarten teacher was, until my mom reminded me one day. “She would yell at you everyday, give you a pokey puppy stamp while she gave everyone else a happy or well done stamp at the end of the day.”  Oh yeah. I had forgotten since she always smiled and said hi to me in the halls. I now realize she was just happy I was no longer in her class. This reminded me of my experiences with basketball. I forgot just how often I was on the bench and how I scored a point for the other team… Continue reading →

Small Town Perks

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Not everyone likes the vibe of a small town.  Although I argue the point that the majority of us live in small communities.  Even when I lived in big cities I still lived in rather small communities.  I lived, shopped, and spent my leisurely down time within a few block radius.  There will be those that refute my point but I maintain it for the majority of people.  There is something about a community feel. Continue reading →

My First “Dad” Card

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guest blogger

by Marilyn M. Irwin

Today I did something that I have never done before. I bought a card from the “Happy Birthday Dad” section. See, I was brought up by an amazing, single mother and never needed to peruse the card options with the “dad” labels. It was never something I longed to do or something that made me sad or filled me with a concern that I was missing out. I was always perfectly happy skipping those cards and moving on to other options labeled “Uncle” or “Grandfather”. These card options have always been ones I read and chose from twice a year- birthdays and Father’s Day. The men with these titles hold a special place in my heart. They were the male figures I admired and went to for any type of paternal advice that the matron of my home couldn’t give because she was, well, the matron. My uncle and my grandpa both raised quite amazing kids of their own so I figured, they had enough experience to help me with my life too. They had good references if I ever needed them. They have always been there for me and I am blessed that they could make up for one’s lack.

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