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Communicating Should Be Easier, Right?

Welcome to western Kansas where it is 26 degrees at night and 85 in the daytime. I went for a walk with my dogs and a good friend. I wore four layers on top and two on bottom, a hat and a hoodie. 
By the time I returned home I was shedding the layers and deciding what season I was going to dress for the rest of the day.
I have been thinking a lot about how we communicate with each other - with our families, employees, friends.
We have so many incredible tools to communicate faster, easier, and more efficiently. Yet I think we are more disconnected, less engaged with each other and sloppy at talking and communicating.
  For example, my husband and I have been married 17 years. You would think we have communicating down, right? Nope. 
We buy livestock feed. I pay right away. He has them bill us.
I thought he was paying right away. He thought we were “charging” it. 
 Charging to me meant putting it on my credit card. It did not with him. 
When I went to pay the late bill, completely embarrassed, the woman at the counter laughed. They have the same issue with multiple husbands and wives.
 I felt a little better, relieved we worked through it and now understand each other about this issue, today, I think. LOL.
  So how are you doing at your job, with your employees, with your partner or children?
Are you meeting them where they are at?  Checking in to see how it’s going?
 Someone in your life is not hearing what you are saying, mishearing you, or you are communicating poorly. 
So I am asking you, are you willing to look within?
   Are you  learning to communicate? If someone is offering help are you willing to take it? 
I took an interpersonal communications class in college. The subject is something I am passionate about. So many times the struggle is in the details. The goal isn’t to be perfect. I think it’s to admit to ourselves where we are lacking, ask for help, and grow a stronger team by building each other up. That doesn’t always mean sunshine and rainbows. But I do think it means connecting and supporting each other.  
Relationships growing stronger means getting real and growing through struggles. 
 But there is also the people that refuse. The ones who don’t need help or don’t want help. The people that can only see where you are wrong. And don’t want to grow. 
I wasted so many years of my life with someone who wasn’t interested in growing. He saw it as a game to see how far he could push me. 
 So no this isn’t for everyone. But I would bet for the most part, people want to commuicate better, want stronger relationships. 
 I read a saying I liked a lot - “No matter how educated, talented, rich or cool you believe you are, how you treat people ultimately tells all. Integrity is everything.”
And we all get it wrong sometimes, do you have the courage to love them anyway?

OPINIONS

40 Days and 40 Nights

Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights and I can’t get through a five minute conversation without getting irritated.    I am laughing - sort of, about this, because in the past few weeks I have had people contact me saying that they “knew I would understand.”... [More]

A Sun Scorched Land

As soon as this paper goes out I am headed to get bloodwork drawn. So I am fasting which means no caffeine, which also means I can’t believe I am able to put words together or function well right now. LOL.  Spring has begun!  As I write this 40+ MPH winds are... [More]

Wonder

I woke up Tuesday from a good night’s sleep and excited for the day to begin. Since I am not a morning person, this was a nice change.  I showered, dressed, and went with my daughter to help her with morning chores at the barn.  Since it hadn’t rained I... [More]

Strong Women

I am writing this on International Women’s Day.  I think about how far women have come but I also love that Syracuse has always had women at the forefront. The first all female Syracuse City Council was in 1887. We have had women mayors, sheriffs, judges, and farm... [More]

Looking Forward

I am writing this on a beautiful Wednesday morning, the first day of March. Snow in the forecast for today, Thursday.  As I write this it looks like a 70% chance of 1 to 2 inches and breezy.   I am always grateful for the moisture but I would be ok with some long,... [More]

Recharge!

I am newspapered out. Is that a word? Certain times of life we are all go no quit, sacrificing self care for what needs done.    On the most beautiful day of the year so far, I had to turn down a walk, give up a healthcare appointment, and watch as many others had those... [More]

What's The Next Move?

Watching the news can be terrifying. Locally, there was an awful car wreck. Nationally, a train derailment causing hazardous chemicals to flow into rivers and release toxins in the air that could affect a large part of the US. Shootings, suicides, overdoses, and war. The world... [More]

ANYTHING GOOD IN MY LIFE CAME FROM HELPING SOMEONE

I heard a quote from an actor Danny Trejo. If you don’t know him, he had a tough past ended up on drugs and in prison.  But that wasn’t the end of his story. While in prison, he found faith, got sober, and cleaned up his life. I admire Trejo for his authenticity... [More]

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SPORTS

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JH BASKETBALL WINS

Junior High Boys Basketball A, B, and C teams travelled to Elkhart on Monday, November 21. The A team won 41-34, B team won 26-21, and  C team lost to Elkhart 13-20. Head Coach Vance Keller said, “Elkhart was a tough win for both the A and B teams but both grinded... [More]

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LADY BULLDOGS BORDER WARS CHAMPIONS!!

The Lady Bulldogs were undefeated during the Border Wars, defeating Eads on Friday, 42-7 and Walsh on Saturday 62-5, bringing their record to 3-1. But the winner wasn’t announced until Tuesday evening. Syracuse Athletic Director Josh Johnson explained, “It came down... [More]

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JH Basketball Season Underway with JH Boys sweeping Lakin

Monday night at home at the Herndon Gym, the Junior High boys swept Lakin! Head coach Vance Keller said, “We’re a young team with only six eighth graders and 12 seventh graders. We’ve had six total that started the season with injuries so we haven’t had... [More]

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Senior Night Volleyball

Three Syracuse High School volleyball seniors were honored on Tuesday, October 5, during the volleyball tournament at Syracuse.  Kaetlin Thomeczek, daughter of Joe and Dami Thomeczek has played volleyball since the third grade, playing with Syracuse Youth Activities Association... [More]

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HS Track

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SHS SPORTS WRAP UP

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Spring Sports Start

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SUBSTATE HEARTACHE

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NEWS

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Questions Surround Veterans Access To Local Care

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FULLMER CATTLE DONATES $10,000 IN MEMORY OF TY FULLMER

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KanCare Members: Update Your Contact Information NOW!

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New Business: S-D Family Reserve Beef

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Hospital Lab Success

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FARM BUREAU 9TH DISTRICT DISCUSSES WATER ISSUES

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PUBLIC NOTICE: FULLMER CATTLE COMPANY SEEKS KDHE PERMIT

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Elementary Carnival Rousing Success

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OBITUARIES

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Nathan “Nate” Hobson

Nathan “Nate” Hobson, 45, of Rose Hill, died Saturday, March 25, 2023. Celebration of Life will be at 1:00 pm, Friday, March 31, 2023, at Rose Hill Christian Church. Nate was raised in Syracuse, KS and moved to Wichita in 2005. Throughout his career he was a funeral... [More]

William “Pug” Eugene Mitchell

William “Pug” Eugene Mitchell passed away at Logan County Senior Center in Oakley, Kansas on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at the age of 83.  He was born April 10, 1939 in Beloit, Kansas. He was the son of William Arthur Mitchell and Edna Sophronia (Colby) Mitchell.... [More]

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Victor D. Mustoe Jr.

Victor D. Mustoe Jr. passed away on February 18, 2023 at age 79. The Celebration of Life, conducted by Brother Scott Moore, is 1 p.m. Sunday, February 26, 2023 in the chapel of Sellars Funeral Home, Lebanon TN. Inurnment in Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery will be scheduled... [More]

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Rose Marie (Jellison) Vana

A celebration of a life well lived and so deeply loved for Rose Marie Vana, will be held on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Valley Memorial Funeral Chapel in Holly, CO. Pastor Mike Lewis will officiate. Rose’s final resting place will be in Walsenburg, CO with her... [More]

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Brayan Leyva-Montes

Brayan Leyva-Montes, 16, passed away Sunday, February 12, 2023 due to injuries from an auto accident near Liberal, Kansas.  Brayan was born on August 24, 2006 in Garden City, Kansas the son of Otoniel Leyva and Veronica Leyva-Montes. Brayan spent his entire life living in... [More]

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Kathleen “Kathy” Weckerly

Kathleen Elaine “Kathy” Weckerly passed away at her home in Manhattan, Kansas on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at the age of 67.  She was born November 24, 1955 at Donahue Memorial Hospital in Syracuse, KS.   She was the daughter of Gene and Eloise (Hughes)... [More]

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Beverly Jane Pollart

Funeral services for Beverly Pollart will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 18, 2023 at Valley Memorial Funeral Chapel in Holly, Colorado with interment to follow in the Holly Cemetery. Deacon Allan Medina will be presiding. Recitation of the Rosary will be held prior... [More]

Leopoldo Penaran Huerta

Leopoldo Penaran Huerta, 66, passed away Wednesday, February 9, 2023 at his home in Coolidge, Kansas.  Leopoldo was born November 9, 1956 in Urireo Guanajuato, Mexico the son of Salud Penaran Huerta & Maria Piedad Salinas. During his childhood years he worked with his... [More]

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