We planned our trip for over a year. We would join the school where my son-in-law works on a mission trip to Kenya. Taking a first-time-ever trip to Africa w...

When I was in high school I dated a guy who stole from me, lied to me, and completely disrespected me. He was my parent’s greatest nightmare. He was the cata...

I recently began listening to a podcast called Finding Fred on the suggestion of a friend. It’s a series exploring the life of Fred Rodgers, Mister Rodgers, ...

As a child, I found Playdough stressful. While there was the potential for fun, there was also the potential for failure. My enjoyment of Playdough lasted on...

I’m tired. The holidays will do that to you, and this year’s Thanksgiving invasion of the flu in our family certainly didn’t help matters. But my fatigue is ...

My family and I took a 7-day Caribbean cruise in December of 2012. One of the stops we made was in Cozumel, Mexico. It just happened that we arrived on Decem...

I am not a risk taker. Though I have learned to enjoy adventure and spontaneity, I still need a little time to process and warm up to a new idea. So, when my...

I am a Chicago Bears fan, and as such, I hold tightly to the legacy of the 1985 team in an effort to console myself during the seasons of loss that followed....

I have friends who are of a variety of faiths or no faith at all. I have friends who are sold out to their political party – to the Right, the Left, and thos...

I don’t tend to be a patient person when it comes to completing tasks. When I start working on something, I want it DONE. I think that’s one of the reasons I...

I tend to rehearse conversations in my head. When there’s something important I want to share, I will run the dialogue through my mind, tweaking words, adjus...

I grew up on the southwest side of Chicago. My house was on a block with a LOT of kids my age. After supper on most summer nights, we would gather at someone...

My brother, Scott, was here for a visit this week. We live over 1,000 miles away from each other, so spending a few days together is always a great time. We ...

When my daughter Brittany was about five years old, she had a friend named Blake. One week, when the offering was being collected in the children’s class in ...

I grew up in Chicago. Though I have now lived the majority of my life in Florida, I remain a Chicago girl in my heart. I know what a “front room” is. The tal...

The Fourth of July is a day to celebrate freedom. Freedom from tyranny; freedom from oppression; freedom from persecution. Those of us who have the privile...

“In a labyrinth, one does not lose oneself. In a labyrinth, one finds oneself. In a labyrinth, one does not encounter the Minotaur[1]. In a labyrinth, one en...

Several months ago, my husband suffered a very unexpected and critical heart attack. It was the type of attack called a “widow maker,” with 100% blockage of ...

Though I don’t do much of it anymore, I enjoy working in the kitchen. Cooking up a pot of homemade pasta sauce, experimenting with a new recipe, baking a tra...

Several years ago, my husband and I helped my mother- and father-in-law move into a new home. Though they were excited about the destination, the journey ha...