All Roads Lead Home by Kim McCully-Mobley

This was another tough one. I apologize for the heavy breathing and the emotions.

This version is the best I can do for now. I kept trying to get it just right in one sitting.

This is one of those Paul Harvey "rest of the story" moments that some of you are old enough to understand.

This is a story about friendship.
This is a story about God's gifts.
This is a story about Heaven, art, legacy and ultimately LOVE.

I spent some time reflecting on loss, growth, healing and moving on this past week. February is sometimes hard.

February of 2024 taught me not to get too comfortable as some of those close to me continued to deal with some tough stuff.

I lost a couple of good friends, gained a couple of angels, saw some former students, lost another first cousin and heard some not-so-good news about a couple of other friends, as well. 

I texted a good friend. "We're droppin' like flies," I said. He responded. "Because we are old." "Well, you are," I said.

This life. It's wonderful and messy, sweet and humbling, harsh and kind. 

I'm not giving up. It's not my nature.

I'm ready to go fishing.

Here is a lesson plan called My Perfect Day.

Ironically--the steps of the process made for a magical day.

In fact, the students managed to write my column/podcast this week all by themselves.

I'm still looking for a few mud puddles, bargains and backroads.

Now that the Super Bowl is over and our Kansas City Chiefs are Back To Back Champions, let's explore some Aurora connections to Chiefs Kingdom. I'd like to pay special tribute to Pat Talburt, one of our local hometown heroes.

I love talking things over with former students and colleagues who hold a variety of positions in the business/professional world.

At least once a week, someone shoots a dilemma my way for me to weigh in on and offer up some sage wisdom or advice.

We talk about dishonesty, mismanagement and even green-eyed envy from time to time. Sometimes I get to talk about leadership and success. I talk about not being afraid to fail. I love talking about forgiveness and grace. I enjoy giving advice on eye contact and body language, too.

Most of the time, I get to chime in on common sense, self-care and moving forward.

Take a listen to this week's podcast. Maybe there is something there you'll like.

It was an honor to join forces once again with the Alumni Center, the Aurora Basketball Program and local fans wanting to welcome the 1993-94 Boys Basketball Team back home to pay homage to their skills, accomplishments and the overall legacy they helped to instill in our community some 30 years ago.

The names of Journagan, Floyd, Thullesen, Turnbull and Calhoun still resonate in the hearts and minds of die-hard fans.

Join me in another trip down memory lane as we honor some well-deserving fellas.

GRO Aurora is in its eighth year of existence as part of an ongoing partnership with the Community Foundation of the Ozarks.

While we have graduated to a more independent level the past two years, the shared resources and the collective energy continue to bring Aurora to the spotlight for all of the good things going on here in the Summit City of the Ozarks. 

Hats off to those who have relentlessly kept it going to make sure we follow our code of conduct and amplify the efforts of those who continue to do things for the right reasons in the right way.

The year of 1965 might seem like a long time ago to some.

To me, it seems just like yesterday. I love reading about the books, the music, the cars and the people who were making the headlines for us back then.

Ironically, a few of them are still around making headlines today. Cindy Munday is still student of the month material for serving her church, school and community. Bob Journagan is just as tough today as he was on the 1965 football squad that were dubbed champions by the Kansas City Star. T.A. Morrison is still a local feisty doctor--even if he is supposedly retired these days.

Close your eyes. Take a listen. See what you think as we travel back in time.

A tragedy struck my community shortly after the new year got underway in January. With the tragic loss of a 16-year-old boy--Evan Boettler--we have all managed to come together to love, serve, grieve and somehow move forward.

Please join me in paying tribute to his legacy.

Chase a few sunsets.
Take a few hikes.
Make a new friend.
Go fishing.
Find an adventure.
Pick up some pine cones.
Hunt for that big buck.
Give yourself some grace.
Love your people.

The boisterous Ethel Merman sang "Everything's Coming Up Roses" in 1959 for the Broadway Musical "Gypsy." It was a memoir of sorts brought to life on the stage. The show sent the message that sheer will and determination can put the rose-filled mindset in place to be successful. The show was based on the life of Gypsy Rose Lee.

20 years later, everything did come up roses for the Aurora High School Marching Band--who performed in the Rose Bowl Parade before millions of viewers to put Aurora on the map once again.

Join me this week in my trip down memory lane for a special New Year's Celebration.

With the start of a new year comes new commitments, new strategies, new ideas and renewed energy regarding the journey and ultimately, the destination.

I have been pouring over some boxes of newspaper clippings, old letters, vintage photographs and mementos of the past. I ran across some interesting information about my hometown and a pledge people took at the beginning of 1926. 

I am intrigued by the thought of hundreds of people taking a specific pledge of sorts in commitment to their community--a place where quality of life was becoming as important as the local economy.

"...No man is a failure who has friends."

That's the Mark Twain quote that appears in "It's A Wonderful Life," that classic 1946 Frank Kapra classic that features George Bailey, played by Jimmy Stewart, who is down on his luck.

The holidays can be challenging. Even when we celebrate--we are often dealing with stressful situations and challenges. Life is messy and often complicated. Bad things still happen to good people every single day.

But those things just give us another opportunity to show the world who we really are. We also realize that with friends, family and a great community--we are indeed--rich, after all.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

My first hour students and I share a special bond at Aurora High School.

We start the day with each other and have developed a trust. I often share past talents and stories with them in order for them to get a glimpse of the crazy lady I have become.

This ain't my first rodeo and it took me a long time to get this way. My first husband and I used to sing all over southwest Missouri. He tried, more than once, to get me to yodel because he thought there was a need for it.

I also told him I could twirl fire and the stories sort of went downhill from there. 

So, the kids have been asking me to sing for weeks. I've had a cold, an earache and a sore throat. I finally took the honey/lemon/hot tea plunge and recorded this for them this past weekend. It is what it is. But my heart is in the right place.

Again, apologies to Hee Haw fans---everywhere, as well as all of the yodelers near and far. 

My mother, Ina Faye McMorris Estes, would have turned 99 years old today--if she were still here. I know she is celebrating up in Heaven--with just a few of her favorite people. I hope she knows how much she is missed and how often we still talk about her. She was hard-working, strong and regal. She was anchored in faith. I remain grateful for her legacy and for the fact that her blood runs in my veins. 

We will be featuring a variety of local authors from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, December 16th, at the Garden Exchange in downtown Aurora. You won't miss it!
You can support local writers and get some last-minute shopping done at the same time.

Where did it all start?

That's a great question.

Maybe it started in the hills of Northwest Arkansas.

Or maybe it started on the back roads on the steps of a little, log cabin my Grandpa Herman built in the 1920s.

It could have started while I was dancing a little jig to Cripple Creek, while my Grandpa Frank's fingers danced across the strings of an old banjo.

Take a listen to this week's podcast.

Then, you can decide where you think it actually started...this need to preserve, promote and protect these stories about the people I love and the places I call home.

Stories.

They anchor us.

They keep us grounded and focused.

They keep us entertained and laughing.

Stories can cure us and help us.

At the end of the day, stories keep us alive.

Grandpa Herman set the bar for me when it comes to storytelling.

Who set the bar for you?

What stories do you have to share with me?

My Youth Empowerment  Project students attended a Leadership Conference in October at Ozarks Technical College in Springfield.

The keynote speaker was a 19-year-old mayor from the Arkansas Delta who has plans to hit the Oval Office in the near future. 

Take a listen. His story is pretty inspirational.

My students paid close attention.

I was able to celebrate the lives of two women I love this past month. Sharon Benton Whitehill's life was celebrated in Nixa. She was only 67 when she left us, but managed to fill her life with love, growth, opportunity, color and connections. Her legacy remains intact.

Dorothy Dobyns celebrated her 100th birthday with multiple parties and events. Her life is one of courage, resilience and love. Both women have found joy in their journey and have managed to share that joy with others in the process.

For that--I remain grateful.

When the world presents turmoil, confusion and despair...look for the good.

The Paradoxical Commandments tell us to forgive anyway, build anyway, do good anyway and give the world the best you've got anyway.

When I get the urge to tell folks where I think they are missing the boat, stirring the pot or causing dissension in the ranks, I go back to my corner to focus on the good...Anyway.

It works---every single time.