by Vyckie Bennett

If you were looking for the Nebraska Civic Digest, you've got the right paper: makeovers are so much fun - and our paper has been long-overdue for a new look. We've devoted a great deal of time and energy to this "renovation project" and I pray you're as pleased as we are with the Nebraska Family Times.

Many of our readers have told me that they enjoy this paper, and especially my column, because it's "like getting a letter from home." For that reason, I always try to share a bit of personal news about our family - with seven children there's usually plenty going on: Angel's graduation, surgeries for Chassé, homeschooling lessons learned, family Christmas traditions, Lydia Jean's amazing wit, the passing of Warren's dad....

Our primary goal in changing to the Nebraska Family Times is to make the paper more inviting and comfortable for our readers. This publication is an outreach - the Bennett Family's hospitality project. With our home business and homeschooling seven children, we don't always have time to invite you over for supper - but we do want you to be a part of our lives. With this in mind, we've redesigned the paper to model a home - our home. This is where we live, what we love, how we serve each other and our Lord.

Come on in ... let me show you around!

The hub of our home is the kitchen - this is where the whole family comes together at least three times a day for food and fellowship. Here we teach the children, discuss current events, celebrate birthdays, bake cookies, and more. The kitchen is also a place to sit down with a cup of coffee and write a long letter to friends - that's what my column is all about.

Here is where we welcome friends and neighbors ... a place to relax and enjoy good company. We will use this space to encourage one another - our new column, The Good Life, will highlight short stories of ordinary Nebraskans doing ordinary, daily activities in an extraordinary way. We'd love to print your story too!

We all need some down time now and then - a little rest and relaxation. Rolly's popular column, Believe It or Don't, provides just the break we're looking for. Here we try to keep the atmosphere light and even a bit outlandish.

Baby Wesley is The Prince in our home. Yes, I admit, we all cater to him. Life is so precious - and new life must be protected and nourished. Pro-life activism is primary to the Nebraska Family Times as we seek to keep readers informed and involved.

In real life, our house is a bit too modest to include a family room - our livingroom would be the comparable place where we gather for family worship, learn to get along, practice our lessons, and generally live, love, and grow together. We will use these pages to provide articles and resources to strengthen and build families.

Those who want to really dig into the issues of the day will feel right at home in The Study. Rolly Church fills this page with sound, often prophetic commentary - but watch out! Rolly does not mince words. Those who've grown accustomed to political correctness and pluralism may deem our senior editor "intolerant."

As long-time homeschoolers, we find it natural to have a School Room in our house. Deut. 6:6-9 teaches us that parents are responsible for the education of future generations. Here we offer practical information to assist parents in fulfilling that obligation.

With nine people in our home, it's best not to get me started talking about laundry! Heaps. Stacks. Piles. Mountains. It's a never-ending, tedious job - one that must be done regardless. Our culture, likewise, is inundated with soiled, filthy practices which cannot be ignored. So roll up your sleeves and let's get busy sorting and scrubbing.

Oh, I wish our home did have a library - one central place to keep our wonderful collection of books! My favorite books are nonfiction: reference, how-to's, history, science, economics, and, of course, politics. Tom Teckmeyer has faithfully provided financial information for several years in his column. We also want to use this space for book reviews to help you build your own library.

I couldn't think of a clever heading for these pages. Nebraska Family Times sponsors and advertisers enable us to support the household - they truly are our "bread & butter." Please be sure to thank them for their faithfulness.

I hope you've enjoyed the "tour" - please, make yourself at home.