Angel Tree Christmas
It doesn't seem possible that Christmas is only 5 weeks away. It feels like just yesterday that we were rushing around trying to get to as many family functions as we could. I can't believe that it's almost that time again! I want to share with you the joy of Angel Tree…
Past mistakes
As I was laying on my couch, with my two-month-old baby girl on my chest, flipping through channels, I saw that the movie, We Bought a Zoo, was on. I remember going to see it in theaters with my family - we cried like babies. :) So, I turned it on. Let me…
I can remember the day Ron went to jail so vividly!
We woke up that morning and got ready for the day, just like any other day. We showered, brushed our teeth, got dressed, ate breakfast, and even had a small disagreement about a wet towel on the floor. As far as the boys knew,…
I never felt so alone or insignificant as I did when Ron went to prison.
Most of my family and friends had abandoned me. The future looked dark, bleak, and cruel. It seemed to be calling me into a life defined by social isolation, poverty, and hopelessness. I was overwhelmed! I was drowning in responsibilities—taking…
Over the course of my life, I have conquered many fears.
Growing up, I went from being fearless to becoming fearful. I battled fear of being alone, fear of driving, fear of riding in a car, fear of flying, and many other fears that would often paralyze me. Over the course of time, I have…
“I want to stay here with Daddy!”
Every time I heard those words, pain would shoot through my heart. Not just the pain that comes from knowing your children are hurting and you cannot fix it, but also pain from the terrifying picture of my sons in prison. I knew they did not understand what…
Let’s face it, holidays are hard.
Independence Day is coming quickly, and everyone I know is making plans to spend time with their families for the holiday weekend. I am reminded of all the holidays we spent with Ron in prison. When Ron first went to prison, I did not want to celebrate at all.…
Why can’t I be proud of my dad?
This was a question I found myself asking a lot growing up. When I was two years old my dad went to prison. I didn’t understand why he wasn’t home with me or why I couldn’t stay with him where he was. All I knew was my…