You don't have to live very long to realize: some words are helpful at strengthening relationships -- and some are definitely not. Asking your spouse or your child "Do you mind taking the trash out?" definitely tends to work better than saying "Why do I always have to remind you to take out the garbage?"…
Learning from our mistakes
Today our youngest turns 21. With all of our children now in the "adult" category (whatever that means), I can certainly look back at things I would have done differently. I might be tempted to say -- as some have said throughout history: Mistakes were made. While that's true, it's not true enough. I made…
Transitions
Last Thursday, my wife and I took our middle child two hours away ... and left her there. It was the first time we had done something so drastic, but also so inevitable. For we took my daughter to college ... and then came home without her. Honestly, I was surprised at how well I…
Gulping Grace 