Changed for Good
Not the day we expected
Last Saturday morning, June 21, was a beautiful morning in the Midwest. Mary Beth and I were enjoying the relaxed pace of the weekend over coffee and the morning news. Andrew was scheduled to play in a baseball tournament so we decided to go for a run before breakfast because we probably wouldn’t have time later in the day.
When we returned our son was in the kitchen watching SportsCenter. His baseball team had won the night before and Andrew played well. He was excited to resume play.
My wife went over to her computer to check email and I was watching last night’s baseball highlights on ESPN with Andrew as I sipped water trying to cool down from the run. Mary Beth’s cell phone rang. She walked across the kitchen to retrieve it from her purse and commented it was her mother calling.
Seconds into the call I knew it was the type of telephone call no one ever wants to receive. I placed the glass of water on the bar and walked over to where my wife was standing. At that moment, she let out a terribly anguished look and uttered the words, “Oh my God.”
She closed her cell phone and gripped the counter in front of the sink with both hands. Mary Beth managed to tell me her father had just died of a heart attack. She collapsed to her knees still holding on to the counter. I knelt down placing my hand on her back for additional support. Read more
23 Heartfelt Reasons I Will Always Love My Husband
“When a wife has a good husband it is easily seen in her face.” - Johann von Goethe
On a Personal Note: The following was written by my wife, Mary Beth. This Sunday, June 22, is our 23rd wedding anniversary. I can’t think of a more special gift she can give me than this list. I have not edited or changed what she wrote. Read more
Essential Things about Life My Children Have Taught Me
“It is a wise father that knows his own child.” - William Shakespeare
Having children is an amazing and life-changing experience! When Brandon was born, our first child, the excitement Mary Beth and I felt about having the opportunity to give life and nurture another human being was both incredible and humbling.
Along with feelings of happiness and pride, we also understand the tremendous responsibility it takes to raise a child. My wife and I are still learning that no matter the ages of our children, or what’s going on in their life, they will always be dependent on us. That’s just how nature works - and that’s just fine with us.
After Brandon, along came Caitlin, Andrew and then Emily. We often comment about how remarkable it is that our four children, who share the same mother and father; and who slept within 20 feet of one another; and who received the same parenting (more or less), are each so appropriately unique from the other.
Sunday, June 15, is Father’s Day. This day is intended to give children the formal opportunity to thank and honor their fathers. It’s also a day to acknowledge the contributions their dads have made in their lives. Read more
An 8-Step Approach to Coping with Your Pet Peeves
Sometimes it’s the little things that can irritate us the most. We go to pour our coffee in the morning only to find there are no clean cups, the slowest driver on the face on the planet is just ahead of us travelling in the left lane - under the speed limit, or we take our seat on a crowded airplane only to have someone with a bag of smelly fast food sit down right next to us.
These irritations, or pet peeves, may seem minor at first but can lead to more significant stress in our lives. There are ways to cope, and perhaps eliminate these pet peeves, before they develop into something more serious, more stressful, and more harmful. Read more
