It’s October and the temperatures are fluctuating from 70s to 90s.
Life is speeding by! And I have ten minutes left to get this paper to press.
My daily bible verse said, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Proverbs 4:23.
I noticed the other day when I didn’t sleep much through the night and coffee wasn’t helping the next morning, irritation after irritation started mounting. Old hurts from the past came up and it felt as if the world was darkening before my eyes.
Recent celebrity deaths added to that. Why? I didn’t know these people personally.
But it added onto an already stressful time.
Then a few friends were hurting about more serious things. My heart became heavy.
I looked at the calendar and saw Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins tonight, October 2.
I learned that Rosh means head. It is the head of the year.
Then I saw a video that each day we should begin with writing ten things we are grateful for.
I know I am a night owl because I try to do this at the end of the day. ha.
But how we start our day, our year, all adds up.
I was awake in the night again and I started praying for people.
With so much going on in our lives, it is easy to look over one another. It is easy to take offense when someone says something off the cuff that hurts.
So much in today’s society is about not offending others, adding trigger warnings, etc.
But what if our job is to center ourselves with God and let go of the outside world ?
What if all these frustrations and irritations are meant to distract us from the bigger picture?
It can be hard to center myself when I didn’t sleep well, my child a little tired and cranky, and something ticks me off.
But it is easier to walk through life when I am at peace within.
I let go easier. My judgment is clearer, and I can make better decisions without being irritated and offended.
No one is perfect. Everyone falls short. Where are you in your walk?
When there are hard times coming your way how do you handle it?
I personally tend to get angry, need to vent to a friend, maybe workout, eat some chocolate, and take a nap.
I was out of town and had a nail appointment at a new place.
The nail technician shared a tremendous amount about herself and then began what felt like an interrogation into my personal life.
Throughout the appointment, I sat quietly smiling. Inside I prayed for her and thought about what I should say.
Ultimately I decided silence was best. For those who may not believe in God, there was a miracle. LOL.
Later, I replayed the afternoon and found it was uncomfortable but I think I handled it well.
What was supposed to be relaxing and a treat to myself didn’t work out that way.
My thoughts and attitudes shape my health, my day, my life.
How is your mind?
How do you handle pieces of life that are out of your control?
I don’t do it well but I am doing it better than I used to.
We can get so busy we forget to check in with ourselves.
So I am stopping for just a moment to say I hope you get a chance to look up at the sun today and say thank you.
And if it is possible, encourage someone today. We never know the battle someone else is fighting.
As Walt Whitman said, “Keep your face always toward the sunshine, and shadows will fall behind you.”
It’s a snowy February day here in western Kansas as I write my column before it heads to print. We had a couple of inches of beautiful snow to blanket our area with white. However the farmers are disappointed that there wasn’t any moisture in it. As always,... [More]
It is an icy, foggy winter morning, a far cry from the 82 degree sunny day we had just a couple of days ago. While the weather in western Kansas can be baffling, I enjoy the variances. It makes every day exciting. What will happen next? I feel like that is the climate... [More]
It’s the end of January 2025. I spent a couple nights trading shifts with my husband watching one of our ewes waiting for a lamb. She gave birth on Tuesday afternoon on a beautiful, sunny, 50 degree day. She had a long, hard labor but was blessed with... [More]
Happy mid-January! I am not excited for the below zero temperatures coming as we are waiting on a lamb to deliver her baby. We thought she was close the other night. My husband and I traded off checking every couple of hours. It was a long night with little sleep. It was... [More]
It is Tuesday morning and I am scrambling to get things finished for this week’s paper to go out. With the National Day of Mourning for Jimmy Carter, post offices are closed on Thursday. We were able to move printing to Tuesday morning to publish Wednesday.... [More]
HAPPY NEW YEAR! It’s 2025! Well it’s New Years Eve as I write this lol. It is the 140th year of The Syracuse Journal and my fifth year as editor. For someone who was always on the road, the only roots as a vagabond, I think it’s cool that I landed... [More]
Here we are, Christmas! Temperatures in the fifties and sixties doesn’t make it feel like Christmas. I feel like it should be cold, wet, and white out. There is a good chance of rain on Thursday. Moisture always makes farmers feel good. My... [More]
Here we are. Ten days left until the end of the year. While this year has flown by, I am so busy trying to complete these end of year tasks, I am not focused on Christmas. Yes the stockings are hung, the tree is decorated, and most of the presents are here.... [More]
Small but Mighty! That is the name high school Head Cheerleading Coach, Marcos Valadez put on the 2024-2025 squad last summer, “We may not have the numbers, but our team has overcome adversity and is always stepping up to the challenge.” Proving this, the Syracuse... [More]
The Syracuse Bulldogs Ladies Varsity Golf Team took first at their season opener in Stanton County on Tuesday afternoon. They shot a team score of 207 at the Prairie Pines Golf Course in Johnson. The varsity team is Lanee Owens, Bronwyn Lewis, Sammy Schwieterman, Maddy... [More]
Qualifying members of the high school track team traveled to Hill City Thursday, May 16 to compete in the 2-A regional meet against 15 teams, Ellinwood, Ellis, Hill City, Hoxie, Lincoln, Meade, Medicine Lodge, Oakley, Plainville, Smith Center, Stanton County, Sublette, Thomas... [More]
The Syracuse High School boys golf team battled breezy conditions on Monday May 13 competing in the 2-A Regional meet on their own Tamarisk Golf Course. Adjusting to windy conditions and competing at home paid off for the Bulldogs Monday, placing second, qualifying... [More]
State golf on Monday had the Varsity Bulldogs miss playing in the finals as a team by one stroke. They finished seventh out of twelve teams. On Day 1, Brody Keller shot a 92 missing day two by two strokes. Ian Brummett shot a 95, Mason Scott and Johnny TeVelde shot... [More]
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]
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]
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]
If you think you have seen a little spaceship on the streets around town, you are not alone. Many of us have wondered what this new contraption is and how it works. According to City Administrator, Brian Bloyd, it is the new Ravo R5 street sweeper. “This replaces... [More]
In the last year and a half, Dairy Specialists has grown from working with three dairies to 15, and they have quickly outgrown their space. They found a larger facility in Ulysses with 12 acres that is centrally located to the dairies they service. No employees have to... [More]
Scot Schwieterman has been involved in farming his entire life. “I learned how to farm while working for my family. Growing up, I developed a passion for it.” In 2018, YO Farms was established with hay, forage, and row crop farming. Scot’s eagerness... [More]
Looking for a way to serve the community? Looking to expand your knowledge base? Maybe you want to be on the front lines helping others? Maybe becoming a first responder is in your future. Hamilton County EMS Director Alan Hanson is putting on an Emergency Medical Responder... [More]
Many may remember as a kid playing with Hot Wheels, building a town, using items from around the house for buildings, or perhaps building a town outside in the dirt. But it is the kid with farming roots that added fences made from sticks, pulled grass and put in the fence for... [More]
The annual Border Wars Tournament is in the books. This year was larger than last year with 36 total games over three days. Kansas took on Colorado. Coming in from Colorado were teams from Eads, Las Animas, Stratton, Cheyenne Wells, and Lamar (JV only). Kansas teams... [More]
The Great Hamilton County Treasure Hunt ended on December 8 at 10 am when Aaron Plunkett and team solved the mysterious location of the buried $2,000.00. The hunt arranged by Jim Barrett had many teams signing up online to receive clues by mail. Barrett said, “I sold... [More]
The Herndon Gym was filled with excitement for the annual Alumni Scrimmage Saturday, November 30. Admission was a donation to the Hamilton County Food Pantry and fans could enjoy pulled pork sandwiches and homemade desserts with proceeds to benefit the basketball program. ... [More]
A celebration of life for longtime Lamar, Colorado resident, Sharlleen R. Swisher will be held at 11:00AM on Thursday, February 13, 2025 at the Sheridan Lake Bible Church. Interment will follow at the Sheridan Lake Cemetery. Sharlleen Ruth Jensen Swisher... [More]
Wade Henry Dewey, 58, passed away on January 25, 2025 in Wichita, Ks. He was born on November 15, 1966 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He enjoyed working with his hands, he was a skilled mechanic and enjoyed wood working. He was also a champion dirt track racer. Wade lived the nomad... [More]
James “JD” Rice A graveside celebration of life for lifelong Holly resident James Dale Rice, affectionately known to his family and friends as JD will be held at 11:00AM on Friday, January 24, 2025 at the Garber Cemetery... [More]
In Loving Memory of Travis Dion Cheatum September 18, 1978 – January 6, 2025 Travis Dion Cheatum, age 46, entered into eternal rest on Monday, January 6, 2025, in El Paso, Texas. He was born on September 18, 1978, in Garden City, Kansas, to Jamie and Glenda Cheatum.... [More]
Ronald D Munyan Sr of New Braunfels, TX passed away on April 4, 2024, at the age of 77. He was born on July 20, 1946 in Camden, NJ. In 1967, he enlisted in the US Navy. Ron married Ronda K. Purdy in November 1994, enjoying nearly 30 years of marriage. Wherever they lived, they... [More]
“The quickest way for anyone to reach the sun and the light of day is not to run west, chasing after the setting sun, but to head east, plunging into the darkness until one comes to the sunrise.” — Gerald L. Sittser William “Bill” Morris... [More]
Shannon Rose (Hyatt) Chambers passed away January 2, 2025 at the Greeley County Hospital, in Tribune, Kansas. She was the daughter of Albert Hyatt and Donna Marie Strickland-Lopez. She was born September 6, 1956 in Los Angeles, California. Shannon grew up in Guerneville... [More]
Jesus “Chuma” Manuel Apodaca Leyva passed away January 12, 2025 at the Hamilton County Hospital, in Syracuse, Kansas. He was the son of Celso Apodaca and Rafaela Apodaca Leyva. He was born April 10, 1942 in Chihuahua, Mexico. Chuma lived in Mexico for... [More]
©2025 The Syracuse Journal. Powered by Pluto Sites.