Kathy Yoder

5 days ago | desotocountynews.com | Kathy Yoder |Bob Bakken

By Kathy YoderThis spring, the apple trees are blooming with a beauty I’ve never noticed before. White and fuchsia blossoms are bursting in splendor. The more I see, the more I see. One tree caught my eye, and suddenly, they were everywhere, as if they’d been waiting for me to notice. They were there all along, of course, hidden in plain sight. People bloom like that, too. A young person, once a small child in our memories, steps forward as a graduate, their dreams in full flower.

1 week ago | desotocountynews.com | Kathy Yoder |Bob Bakken

By Kathy YoderWe all recognize the signs of a big storm approaching. Sometimes, the wind howls at an alarming rate, sending lawn chairs tumbling past our windows or even snapping large tree branches. Other times, an eerie silence blankets the world—the calm before the storm. Birds fall silent, seeking shelter. Squirrels vanish into safe havens to ride out the tempest. Though we hear nothing, we sense a shift in the air. We check the forecast, and sure enough, something big is coming.