While I know summer isn’t officially here for a few more weeks, I know that it’s actually underway in reality. That’s because baseball has taken center stage in the Gerlach house.

From sleepless nights to lastminute diaper runs, everyone knows raising children is full of challenges. Unfortunately, millions of families are having to confront an unexpected source of frustration and anxiety – a nationwide baby formula shortage.

Dear College Graduates, Congratulations! You did it! You persevered through a once-in-a-century pandemic to earn your degree. Your disciplined study and hard work have paid off.

Hypothyroidism, the condition of the thyroid gland not making enough thyroid hormone, is a common hormonal disorder. Perhaps because hypothyroidism is common and its symptoms can be widespread and vague, misconceptions abound. Let’s cover the facts.

On Memorial Day, we honor men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in military service to our nation. Time and again throughout our Republic’s history, courageous Americans have ventured into harm’s way to protect the freedoms we hold dear. The liberties we enjoy wouldn’t be possible without their heroism.

"Duty, honor, country. Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be. They are your rallying point to build courage when courage seems to fail, to regain faith when there seems to be little cause for faith, to create hope when hope becomes forlorn.”

For more than a decade now, I have spent my Memorial Day with the same routine. I get up, head out to a Memorial Day Service, take some pictures and take in the ceremony or a couple, then head back to the office for a few minutes before doing what almost everyone does on Memorial Day - grilling and working outside.

I don’t know how you feel, but in my opinion, parenting is hard! Someone must have forgotten to hand me the instruction manual when my children came home. I have yet to meet a parent who wouldn’t appreciate one.

At the outset of the pandemic, the Gerlachs got into the chicken business. Our experience has been anything but mundane. What started as a brood of 20 was chiseled down to a flock of four during the Rhode Island Red riots in late 2020. Ten hens vanished into thin ammonia while six others ran into a fowl finish.

Last Thursday, May 5 , was the National Day of Prayer in the United States. I had the privilege of being the sponsoring senator for the event held in the Capitol rotunda in Lincoln. The prayer gathering was sponsored by Nebraska Family Alliance. Governor Pete Ricketts gave remarks and several ministry, business and community leaders prayed over key prayer focus areas: government, military, media, business, educators and students, the family and the Church. I was asked to pray for government, and here is my prayer from that day: