Prison Phone Calls
We are so used to just picking up the phone and making a call to whoever we want to talk with whenever we want to hear their voice. With technology today, we are used to having instant and inexpensive access to people 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When someone goes…
Family
When I was a little girl, I would visit my grandparents in Jackson Hole, WY. I would look forward to every trip to their ranch. Everything was new, everything was different from my home. The fresh smell of the mountain air mixed with the scent of horses made me want to live there forever.
The scenery…
When Ron first went to prison, I felt so intimidated by…. well, by just about everything and everybody. It was really hard to stand up for myself. I felt as if I was not entitled to have a voice. This stemmed from feeling like a second-class citizen and unimportant. Read more of my story. I…
10 fun things to do with your family
If you’re anything like me, then you have spent many a night trying to figure out what to do for fun, only to discover that by the time you think of the perfect activity it’s time for the kids to get ready for bed. Ok, so maybe…
If friendship was a cardinal virtue, then I was about to receive sainthood in the lobby outside of the ladies’ dressing room.
I love my wife, my marriage, and my three children, and for more than 20 years I have been committed to helping our family grow and be healthy and successful, even from…
Should Your Absent Spouse Be Your Best Friend?
The question everyone wants to debate: Should you regard your spouse as your best friend?
The answer: It depends on what you mean by “friends.”
The recent New York Times article by Bruce Feiler explores the question of whether or not it’s good for a person to think of…
As a kid, I remember bringing in the new year with my mom and brother.
We watched the ball drop on our huge TV – not a big screen TV, but a huge 1990’s TV that had a pair of pliers attached to the channel changer switch. We had some snacks and played charades,…
Overcoming Stressful Situations
We can probably all agree that stress can bring out the worst in people. The feeling of not having control makes things more difficult and causes a sense of powerlessness.
We all experience stress in our lives from time to time. Parenting, finances, starting a new job, or being overwhelmed by current deadlines can…
Relationship Conflict is Inevitable: What Are You Going to Do With It?
"No relationship is perfect – because there is no such thing as perfect." But as Ron and Cathy Tijerina are quick to point out, “A relationship can be permanent.” Let’s face it, every relationship has conflict. It’s unavoidable. Being physically separated from your partner…
Sneaking Toys into the Visiting Room
Playing little cars with my dad in a prison visiting room was amazing and terrifying at the same time. My dad went to prison when I was 2 years old. So, I never had the opportunity to play with little cars, army men, action figures, Legos, or anything like…