This past week, the Senate took another huge step to ensure all Oklahomans have access to the technology they need to succeed in business, education and overall communications. For the past year, both in my capacity as chair of Business, Commerce and Tourism and as co-chair of the state’s Rural Broadband Expansion Council, I’ve been working with all stakeholders in the telecommunications industry, with government entities, tribal representatives and others on improving rural broadband in our state.

There's no denying that we live in a very busy world. The pace of life has never been faster and, it seems, the demands on our energy never greater. We seem to be spending more and more time working and less time doing the things we want to do, and that can't be a good thing.

Why is it so hard to put your spouse first, without expecting anything in return for your absolutely selfless kindness and generosity…sigh? (Yep, I have my tongue tucked way back in my cheek on that one.)

Dear Editor, Rebirth of the Woodland Queen The Bristow Tabouleh Festival and Wildflower Run are sure signs that Spring is here, but it is more than that. As I walked the Wildflower route, the Bristow I remember was everywhere.

1. Prayer is not a “spare wheel” that you pull out when in trouble; but, it is a “steering wheel” that directs the right path throughout.

Some years, and quite a few Coffeetime Columns ago, we wrote an article called Hellion Alert. It was about Andy recounting a true incident of eating lunch in a restaurant where a small, undisciplined child was wreaking havoc while the mother ignored it all.

"Is Life A Straight Line Or A Spiral?" As one examines nature, one finds very few straight lines in its creation. Although this can be debated, more often than not, the spiral is the center point of nature's organic structure. You might say, what about trees? They look pretty straight. Certainly, many stand tall and straight, until you cut a tree down and its spherical growth rings are made visible to the eye.

Someone has asked, “Would the boy you once were be proud of the man you are now?” This may be a troubling question for some of us. Of course, no one is perfect in this world of ours. Each of us has failed in some way. Most of us are ashamed of something we have said or done.

I always plan to hide on Mothers' Day. To bury myself under imaginative covers and avoid the flood of Mothers' Day messages on Facebook and all lovey dovey stories about Mothers. To lose myself in books and movies, and pretend this emotional day doesn't exist.

Our family traveled a lot years ago, singing on Sunday morning in churches in another states. Back in those days, when you attended church you were expected to dress more formally than is accepted today. Therefore this entailed having to pack suits, ties, and dresses, along with ‘non-church clothes.’