Value of Opposing Views

Despite some gorgeous New England September weather, I found the past week to be pretty depressing. Between the 24th anniversary of Sept. 11, the assassination of a controversial American political figure and the passing of a beloved neighbor, I was feeling a little low. Getting out on Friday night to hear what could be a... Continue Reading →

A Gift of Life

Every few seconds, someone around the world needs a blood transfusion. It might be due to an accident, during surgery, or even as part of cancer treatment.  While medical innovations have led to everything from artificial limbs to devices that keep the human heart running, there’s still no true substitute for human blood. The first... Continue Reading →

Honoring the Workers

Labor Day weekend is here, a time for Americans to enjoy a holiday intended to honor the achievements of our workers. Because this holiday comes late in the summer season, many of us coordinate our celebrations with a wrap-up of summer fun before fall temperatures kick in. I plan to spend a day at Cape... Continue Reading →

Camp Friends

My son Hank is having the bittersweet experience of acclimating back to life at home after I picked him up on his last day of summer camp earlier this week. As the youngest in our family, all three kids have now officially aged out of camp, and we have mixed feelings about that. For those... Continue Reading →

Sometimes You Need to Walk Away

Not all friendships are meant to be, and walking away can sometimes be in our best interest. You may be surprised to read that statement in this blog that champions friendship, but it's true. When a friend becomes a harmful or negative presence in our lives, we may have to prioritize our own well-being and... Continue Reading →

When It’s Time to Go

Saying goodbye to a beloved friend can be every bit as heartbreaking as a romantic breakup. When the bonds of friendship have a firm grip on you, facing a goodbye can be a painful reminder of how much your friends mean to you. My exchange student Lea returned home to Sweden a few weeks ago.... Continue Reading →

Honoring Fathers

On this Father’s Day, we pause to honor the steadfast presence that so many fathers, and father figures, bring to our lives. They’re the early morning alarm clocks, the after-hours homework helpers, and in the case of my dad, the person who always made sure my car was full of gas. Dads teach us resilience... Continue Reading →

More Poems About Friendship

Our first post about friendship-themed poems continues to be one of our most popular to date, so we're adding a few more to our list. We hope you enjoy them - and please add poems you like in the comments so we can build on this list of favorites! On Friendship by Kahlil Gibran--A meditation... Continue Reading →

Appreciating Moms 💐

One of the most important relationships in all of our lives is with our mothers. These relationships can certainly be complicated, but there's no question that they are powerful and impactful. Julia and I have written before about our moms and also about being moms. Since today is the day for celebrating moms, we would... Continue Reading →

Surprise Guests from Sweden

Our family has been hosting an 18-year-old Swedish exchange student named Lea since she arrived back in August to begin experiencing life in the United States. She fits right in with our family and has been enjoying her year, which has been flying by. Lea quickly made close friends at the local high school in... Continue Reading →

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