I wrote a post last week about taking my son hunting & fishing. (Btw, it’s always interesting to see how hunting & fishing posts draw strong support… AND fire. Bristol Palin – who, as you know, comes from a great, outdoorsy, Alaska family! – shared my post on her FB page, and then fielded several anti-hunting comments. Here’s one below.) In the same vein as my last post, I wanted to share a video of Aidan’s first pheasant hunt. In the first week of January, we... Read more
“The past is never dead, it is not even past.” ~William Faulkner It’s January 13, and many of us are feeling the sense of possibility that comes with a new year. But, many of us are also feeling a bit blue. There’s not quite enough sun around the Midwest these days, and Vitamin D levels, like daily temps, are in the teens or single digits. What’s more, the holidays have reminded us of, not only the people who are with us, but... Read more
“I do hunt, and I do fish, and I don’t apologize to anybody for hunting and fishing.” – Norman Schwarzkopf I started thinking about being a dad when I was in high school. Fatherhood… what could be more rewarding? Nothing. My earliest thoughts of spending time with my children always included the natural world. From about 1oth-grade on, I envisioned teaching my kids about the great outdoors through camping along the Niobrara River, hiking in Colorado, taking nature walks along the Platte,... Read more
I’ve got nothing but good things to offer today! First, my new book, “In Pursuit: Devotions for the Hunter and Fisherman,” is being offered on Kindle today for free. Yeah, I said “free.” I know… I’m with you… in fact, I’m more shocked than you are. I don’t know how anyone can do this and still make a living. But, alas, it’s still true. Just click this link and you own gold. Sort of. You can pick up an e-book... Read more
A sportsman marks the seasons differently than most people. For me, the arrival of my bow signals a new year. So does a full freezer—I’ve got about 80 pounds of venison, 20 pounds of pheasant, and 15 pounds of turkey in the deep freeze. It’s time to make thick, meaty stews and have friends join our family at the table. It’s also time to launch a new blog. My hope is that Cedars & Sandhills, much like the state of... Read more
Recently, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo made a clear statement that the good people of New York who hold to a pro-life position are not welcome in his state. During an interview last Friday, Cuomo, commenting on problems within the Republican party, said, “Their problem is not me and the Democrats; their problem is themselves. Who are they? Are they these extreme conservatives who are right-to-life, pro-assault-weapon, anti-gay? Is that who they are? Because if that’s who they are and... Read more
My daughter recently learned the word “b*tch” from a stranger named John. Around 50,000 sexual predators are trolling the internet each day looking for a way to connect with our children. My kids were playing the popular video game Clash of Clans recently when a player named “John” requested to join their “clan,” or chat group. I had no idea that Clash of Clans had a chat feature. Not that my kids were being sneaky, they weren’t. This was a... Read more
“I’m bored, Mom. Give me something to do!” The woman standing behind me at the checkout line of the hardware store handed her son her smartphone, and said, “Here…play with this.” Children seem to be growing up bored today. And not because there is less to do, but because there are too many over-stimulating options. As a father (with a smartphone) of three kids (who all want smartphones), I think a lot about what I’m passing on to my children.... Read more
If you’ve ever wondered what motivates men and women to risk their lives to protect our country, Army Staff Sargeant Ty Michael Carter gives the answer. After being awarded the Medal of Honor by the President, Carter told Renee Montagne (NPR’s Morning Edition): “Even though this award is an awesome honor and a great privilege, in order to get such a prestigious award, you have to be in a situation where your soldiers, your family, your brothers, are suffering and... Read more
Miami Dolphins’ Richie Incognito has been bullying teammate Jonathan Martin with racial epithets and threats. When Martin stepped down from the team last week, someone on Facebook asked the question, “Is it bullying if both people are over 300 pounds?” Yes, it is. Because bullying is when someone uses his strength and meanness to intimidate another person. And strong, mean people come in large and small packages, and so do their victims. The great news is that unbullies also come... Read more
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