3rd Quarter 2026

Dear Readers

Dear Readers

It has been a wild and crazy ride this summer, and as much as I love the season, I find myself looking forward to fall. Hopefully, by then, everything that has gone completely bonkers will have settled down.

I remember when COVID first hit. Almost overnight, both my upstairs and downstairs dishwashers decided to quit at the same time. To make matters worse, everything cost nearly twice what it had before. It seemed like every replacement, repair, or household necessity came with a shocking new price tag.

Then, just when I thought I had survived the worst of it and the economy was finally beginning to stabilize, one of my air-conditioning units decided to say “arrivederci.” You would think that something that cost $11,000 just five years ago would last a little longer—or at least be repairable at a reasonable price. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. The parts were difficult to find, and the repair estimate was so high that replacing the entire unit made more financial sense.

That was the icing on the cake.

After a few moments of disbelief, I did what many of us do when life throws one challenge too many our way. I bought a case of wine, took out my Bible, and reminded myself that worrying never fixes anything. Sometimes all we can do is have faith, keep moving forward, and trust that better days are ahead.

As we head toward fall, I hope you find time to enjoy the changing seasons, spend time with those you love, and remember that even when life seems a little chaotic, there is always something to be grateful for.

Until next quarter, enjoy the issue and all the wonderful articles our contributors have prepared for you. Warm regards, Pamela Rizzo, Publisher

As always, thank you for being part of our growing community of readers. Wishing you a blessed year filled with peace, love, and happiness.

Thanks, Pamela