The opportunity of a lifetime has presented itself to you: Serving in a Japanese orphanage helping to care for the little ones as they await adoption. A delightful mix of cherubic faces, chubby fingers, and adorable coos laid over a foundation of love and sprinkled with the sweet scent of baby powder. What an […]
Mom & Dad-I want to be a Navy SEAL, Part 2
October 17, 2012 By 9 Comments
Welcome to the second half of my interview with a young man who has chosen to pursue a profession that might give most parents pause: becoming a member of an elite Navy Seal team. If you missed the first half, you can read it here. I invite you to read along again, imagining […]
Mom & Dad-I want to be a Navy SEAL
October 15, 2012 By 10 Comments
As a parent, you wonder what your child might be when they grow up: a doctor, a teacher, an athlete, perhaps. Whatever you envision, however, it probably doesn’t include dangerous professions such as law enforcement, demolitions, or emergency response. What if, though, your child sets their sights on the military and especially on […]
What Ricochet the Dog teaches us about parenting
October 8, 2012 By 31 Comments
Are you familiar with the story of Ricochet the Dog? She began “school” as a young pup so that when she grew up she would be a Service dog for an individual with disabilities. There are parallels between what happened during her training and what can transpire as you raise your children. You have […]
A parable of finite love
October 1, 2012 By 24 Comments
There once was a widow who believed each person had a finite amount of love to share. She had a son who adored her, who had moved in with her so she wouldn’t be alone. One day, when this caring man had passed his fortieth birthday, he met a woman who swept his heart away. […]
You are a Writer
September 24, 2012 By 46 Comments
“Kim, could I see you before you go, please?” my teacher requested, as I was packing up my books along with the rest of the class. We were just a few weeks into Critical Thinking, a required inaugural course. I was dipping my toes back into the beloved waters of learning, beginning college a […]
A bridge too far and a bar too high
September 19, 2012 By 23 Comments
Giving is something you love to do. You give of your time, your money, and yourself. This is a wonderful thing, as you love to bring joy to those you care about. Whether you realize it or not, every time you give, you set the bar and pay a price. This may go exactly as […]
Dear Me
September 14, 2012 By 21 Comments
Dear 16 Year Old Me, I have so much to share with you. How I wish I could reach through time to give you a hug and tell you how much you have to offer, that your worth is not measured by gleaming tresses, cool clothes, or a popularity contest, that when you are older […]
Through grateful eyes: a fresh perspective
September 10, 2012 By 20 Comments
As a parent, you have probably experienced close calls and feelings of helplessness with your children. Your toddler disappears from the backyard. The police call to say that your teens have been in a car accident. Your daughter phones from across the ocean, sobbing about how a sadistic old woman—her host mother for her junior […]
Gratitude for body slams, injured knees and crutches
September 4, 2012 By 14 Comments
Have you ever taken time for some rest and relaxation and had it go terribly awry? Like many of you, we took some time this weekend to unwind and ended up spending it very differently than we had originally planned. As a start to the weekend, my hubby and I entered our first 5K. While […]
