12 GAUGE SHOTGUN MOUTH  The word “consequence” is defined as a result or effect of an action or condition. My fear is that soon, this word will no longer be in the dictionary. We seem more often now than not, to ignore the meaning of the word or it’s existence all together. We have started confusing the word “freedom” with the word “rude”. Our freedom of speech does in no way, shape, or form mean that we can say anything that we want to every second that it enters our mind. Don’t get me wrong, you can certainly bellow out your opinions whenever you feel the need to do so, but there WILL be a consequence. You will in turn hurt someone deeply, lose a friend, and you can even lose your career. So yes, you are “free” to do and say what you desire, but there will be a “consequence”. Seems like a lesson that we were taught in kindergarten, right? So why is it so difficult for grown adults to practice this simple action of being “polite”? The answer lies in the word “intolerance”. ...

UNBURIED TREASURE People make the journey from all over the globe to visit Maysville, Kentucky, yet too many of us are unaware of the beauty that is right around the corner. We are so accustomed to what surrounds us that we take advantage of the fact that we live in one of the most beautiful river towns in America. We don’t spend enough Saturdays on Sutton Street strolling around the Kentucky Gateway museum. When was the last time that you allowed yourself to be mesmerized by that KSB Miniatures Collection? Those little people seem to come alive when given attention. A stroll to the pioneer graveyard behind the museum has its own tales to tell if you will listen close enough. How about a nice long hike at the Cummins Nature Preserve to satisfy your inner wanderer and your need to be one with the rolling hills and creek beds? A trip to Snow Donuts sure would be a well-deserved treat after a five-mile hike, don’t you think? Parc Café is a quaint coffee shop that offers not only you...

The Big Picture In what has become part of my Saturday morning ritual, I found myself brewing a cup of joe this morning and reflecting on the week that was in the rear-view mirror.  After a highly anticipated family vacation to Duck, North Carolina, I wanted to delve into the pictures on my cell phone.  After all, you can't go on a vacation without posting a picture on every social networking site possible, right?  Duck is an impressive little village on the Atlantic with a population of 384 vibrant and charming occupants.  Upon arrival, I was in awe of the number of residents and vacationers that I saw riding bikes through the town.  Automobiles seemed virtually out of place here.  I knew immediately that we were destined to have a vacation that none of us would soon forget.  With a daughter leaving us for college in the fall, we needed this time to move as slow as molasses on a January morning.  Soaking up every second of a worry-free...

Today’s Forecast – 100% Chance of Family Today was just like any other day in small town Kentucky.   My husband and I struggled to force ourselves out of bed and into work mode.   This seemingly endless Kentucky rain has taken its toll on everyone’s mentality.   One gloomy rainy day after another has become all too familiar.   I never realized how much our souls need sunshine until being denied so many days without it.   Trying to stay motivated throughout the cloudy day is as much of a challenge as simply staying awake.   The thought of my couch and endless episodes of my favorite show on Netflix have my workday moving ever so slow.   The windshield wipers on my car hypnotize me as I am driving home.   An array of chores face me as I walk in the door and that’s when the hardest tasks begin.   I don’t feel like making dinner and besides, what would I even cook?   I haven’t been to the grocery store in weeks.   Normally I wo...

The Blame Game If we don’t stop blaming others every single day for our shortcomings, then we will never be able to embrace ourselves fully.   Can we start recognizing our faults?   We struggle with seeing ourselves as having many imperfections.   If we fail a class, it’s our fault.   The teacher is in no way, “out to get you”.   A teacher takes pride in what he or she does every day and they truly WANT you to learn.   Did you do all your assignments?   Did you work, TRULY work, to your full potential?   Did you participate in every single reading that was handed to you?   If you failed, then the answer is likely no.   It’s far easier and fulfilling to admit your lack of work to your teacher than it is to accuse an educator of not caring about your success.   The reality, my dear friends, is that YOU have to care about your grade more than they do. By taking responsibility, you will, in turn, earn respect. Nearly all of us h...

     Dear Graduates,      The bell rang for the last time.  You probably didn't give it a glimmer of a thought.  You bolted.  Excited for your time in those awkward high school hallways to have come to an end.  You didn't embrace that last trip to your locker because you were simply just impressed that you had actually cleaned everything out of it on time.  That teacher, your favorite teacher, said goodbye to you one last time as a student.  You didn't realize how much pride that he or she felt watching you take that walk to the podium to retrieve your diploma.  These past few months have been an intense whirlwind and your precious time as a "child" has now turned into a, sometimes scary, embarkment into adulthood. The petty fights and social battles that you had in high school will no longer matter and will discipate from your mind completely by the time your five year reunion arrives. You now realize that you have a fe...

    And the Trophy Goes To.....  Do you ever wonder why you never hear the term "working father" used in everyday life, yet, "working mother" or "stay at home mother" is a term that rolls off of the lips all too easy?  That's because the term doesn't exist in our culture.  We, as a society, put the emphasis of parenting on the mother.  Are fathers just not getting the credit that they deserve?  We are, without realizing it, discriminating against fathers every single day.  We just do not seem to give them credit for all that they do for our children, and let's be honest, all that they do for us as mothers. They teach our sons how to be respectful, responsible, and hardworking and they teach our daughters that they should always BE respected.  What about the father that works all day outside of the home and then comes home and helps the mother with the cooking and the dishes?  We praise our fellow mothers for working, whether that be i...