Writing to Someone in Prison

It is so amazing to me how much people take talking for granted. How much I used to take it for granted. I love to talk. I talk to people, with people, at people, and I have even been known to talk to myself. It never occurred to me that there would come a day…

September 29, 20170Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

Family

Dad in Jail

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,…

August 31, 20170Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

Family

Do I Deserve Better

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…

August 25, 20170Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

Family

Teaching Moments

Teaching moments When I read a blog or article that echoes my own beliefs, I feel so affirmed! This is a great article on how to keep your kids safe—by not keeping them too safe. I love it! I watch so many parents overcompensate for the absence of the other parent by doing all these…

July 31, 20170Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

Family

Prison Visits

Prison visits were both wonderful and terrible moments in our lives. Wonderful because we got to be together, hold each other (however briefly) and talk to each other while we looked into each other’s eyes. Terrible for so many other reasons – the location, the atmosphere, and the reminder of the reality that prison was…

July 21, 20170Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

Family

Overcoming Fear

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…

July 18, 20170Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

Family

Why Kids Steal

“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…

July 16, 20170Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

Family

Tips for Traveling Alone

When Ron went to prison, I was absolutely devastated. And not just because I was now a socially single mother, but also because I was suddenly thrust into having to travel alone. And I am not talking about national travel, I am talking about driving. Probably no big deal for most people, and probably the…

July 8, 20170Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

Leadership

How to Facilitate

Whether you are aware of it or not, every facilitator sends a constant stream of unspoken messages directly to their audience. It might be an uncomfortable pause, a perky smile, or even the slight tapping of their toes, but these subconscious cues often deliver conflicting messages to your audience. Body language is the way we…

July 7, 20170Comments

Byinfo

Family Leadership

Single Income

For most of us, spending our money is way more fun than budgeting our money. We view budgeting as something we have to do and spending as something we get to do. We equate sticking to a budget with responsibility, while we look at the act of spending money as frivolous. But, maybe it doesn’t…

July 7, 20170Comments

ByBrandon.tijerina@theridgeproject.com