Put on the Brakes
When my daughter was born, my heart nearly exploded with a love so deep, it's practically impossible to verbalize. When she was three months old, I handed her off to…
A Morning Feeding the Hungry
Her hair was wrapped in a modest bun and the apron over her long dress was clean and pressed. She carefully filled plastic cups with water and arranged them neatly on…
Raising Piper
We didn't plan on getting another dog and certainly not a puppy. But sometimes fate steps in the way and you've got no choice but to follow.It started with a…
View something beautiful everyday
A Collection of Happy
Rough patches. You know: a landslide of discouraging events that just bring you down and it all seems to happen at once. Illness, injury, frustration, stress, exhaustion... I doubt that few people…
Ode to the Trees
I have always loved trees. Not just an "oh, aren't they pretty" kind of reaction but a deep reverence for their stoic beauty and dignified peace. They provide a haven…
Save the Chickens
The Great Chicken Debate
The moment my daughter spotted the crate full of fuzzy little chicks peeping happily at the local hardware store, she was smitten. Every year near Easter, the peeps appeared. And…
#snOMG
This week something unusual happened here in Raleigh, NC: a full-blown snowstorm. Normally in our region, we get a bit of snow and ice, schools will close, businesses will be…
Wonder and Joy
Today I had the ultimate pleasure of helping out at a food drive hosted by a local television station. The ABC11 "Heart of Carolina" campaign has been held for over…
A Boatload of Gratitude on Thanksgiving Day
A Big Day of Thanks
It's Thanksgiving Day and I was delighted to find this fun and engaging craft in the most recent issue of Family Fun Magazine: a "Boatload of Gratitude!" Making this creative…
Heroic Efforts and Noble Causes
Coming down to the final week of "Be Thankful" month, I've been fortunate enough to stumble upon some extraordinary efforts to create change in our communities and support some of…