Maggie the Rose

mheller — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:49:30 -0600

Maggie appeared in the doorway, ready for a trip to the park. She was dressed in the height of four-year-old fashion: fancy velvet dress over an old striped turtleneck, flowered tights and black boots.

“Look, Mom,” she said, gesturing toward the sparkly red headband in her blond curls. Tucked beneath it was a toothpick. “I'm a rose. This,” she said, pointing, “is my thorn.”

Findings: 5 Tips for Fueling Your Child’s Faith

mcherkezian — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:56:14 -0500

As every parent knows, children possess a very active inner life and can be surprisingly curious about religious and spiritual matters.

Consider a few of the questions our daughter, Katy, and her little brother, Brinck, asked when they were young:

Housing Them in Her Heart

admin — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 11:27:00 -0500

The irony isn't lost on Diane Nilan. She voluntarily became homeless to try to end homelessness.

Her first exposure to poverty was in childhood, through her family's maid Minnie, who supported 13 kids on a salary of $8 an hour. "It started getting me to ask 'Why?'" says Diane. "I realized that the happiest times in my life are ones that are centered on others."

Down Payment on a Dream

admin — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:08:16 -0600

My teenage daughters, Sara and Reneé, and I were living on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in the late 1970s. I was a single parent, scraping by on a Social Security disability check. We were grateful for the row house I was able rent in Chestertown. I had learned how to make ends meet so we had just enough for rent, food, utilities and clothes.

Mini Marathon Runners

mcherkezian — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:37:55 -0600

An eight-year-old running a marathon? Impossible, you say. But what if those 26.2 miles were broken up into short increments, run over several months? It’s called a kids’ marathon, and it’s catching on all over the United States, where childhood obesity rates having tripled in the past 30 years.

Airport Angel

batch — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:22:56 -0500

It was the band trip of a lifetime for my son—marching in Florida's Gator Bowl. The day before the bus left, I went to help Jeremy pack. He was sitting on his bed. "I feel crummy, Mom." I pressed my hand to his forehead. He was really burning up.

"But, Mom, I can't miss this trip!" he said.

The day after the bus left, Jeremy felt better. "There's still time to get him on a plane," my husband said. We booked an evening flight.

Voices in the Darkness

admin — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:23:41 -0600

I stand at the window and look out into the yard at our daughter Natalie playing on the jungle gym. When she sees me, her eyes light up, and she waves. My right arm is still partially paralyzed, so I lift it with my left hand to wave back. "Hi, Mommy!" she calls, her voice carrying on the spring breeze.

Easter is coming, and I cannot help but think of those in our family who are no longer here to share it with us. Natalie's four brothers and sisters. Her paternal grandparents. All of them dead as a result of a huge earthquake last August, in Turkey.

Wedding Shower

admin — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500

June 6, 2003, was going to be a special day for my husband, Dan, and me—our 45th wedding anniversary. Not only that, it was also the day our son, David, would marry his fiancé, Kris. They'd picked a gorgeous spot to say their vows—a terrace near the falls at Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis.

Better than Ever

admin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:57:39 -0600

Our daughter, Kendra, dreamed of having a perfect wedding. When she got engaged to her college sweetheart, I was thrilled.

From a trip to India, my husband and I brought home 25 yards of delicate hand-spun silk for her gown. "Oh, Mom, it's beautiful!" Kendra said, gasping. "The color looks like candlelight." She had been sketching wedding-dress designs for years, and I knew how much fun we would have making sure hers was just right.

Better than Ever

admin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:57:39 -0600

Our daughter, Kendra, dreamed of having a perfect wedding. When she got engaged to her college sweetheart, I was thrilled.