By Ashley McIlwain When I look around me, I realize how blessed I am with inspirational, successful marriages. My parents just celebrated their 37th anniversary. My sister and her husband their 11th. My husband, Steve’s, parents just celebrated 42 years. Just last month our board members, Greg and Rosemary, hit the 40 year mark. Steve’s
By Ricinda Perry I’m so blessed. The past couple of months have brought about a number of celebrations in our home … Mother’s Day, my birthday, our anniversary and Father’s Day. What stood out the most to me was the genuine outpouring of love from my daughter and husband. Stephen set the tone for a
By Carol McIlwain Summer is almost here and who doesn’t want something cool and refreshing for those hot, lazy afternoons? Here are a couple of quick recipes to satisfy your thirst! Watermelon and Mint Refresher 4 cups watermelon, seeded and cubed ½ cup water 24 mint leaves ½ cup sugar 6-8 slices lemon (or lime), quartered
By Ashley McIlwain I feel like everywhere I turn someone is attacking or doubting the validity, significance, benefits, and splendor of marriage. It grieves my heart because marriage rocks. It really does, and I think a lot of why we’ve lost our sense of appreciation for it is because we’ve screwed it up so badly.
By Tomas M. Figueroa In 2003, following the completion of my initial six years of Ready Reserve duty, I was waiting on transfer orders to be placed on Inactive Reserve status (this is when you have an obligation with the Army Reserves, but does not require monthly participation or annual trainings—you’re essentially on standby and
By Rick Poleck After what feels like a long and dreary season, winter is always somehow coerced into giving up its shades of steely gray to peeks of warming sunshine, welcome blue skies, intermittent dots and splashes of color, and the fragrances of floral displays called “spring.” The senses come alive, awakening a body’s dormant
By Ricinda Perry I have really enjoyed our time together over this series, and my family has definitely benefitted since it made me more aware of my own bonding opportunities. In concluding this series, I want to share with you the center hub of family bonding … the dinner table. What do these things have
By Ashley McIlwain I had gone to the post office and was met by a line of people out the door. My shoulders sank at the reality that I couldn’t just come back and was sure to be waiting for quite a while in this long line. Sure enough, over 20 minutes later, I finally
By Coleen York I don’t know what it is about the mind of a woman, but it seems like we struggle with worry way more than our male counterparts. Our female psyche is able to simultaneously think of 75 different outcomes for every decision and situation. Usually 90% of them are ways things could go
By Ashley McIlwain It had been a long day, and I was trying to figure out what I was going to make for dinner. I didn’t want to have to run to the store, but I also didn’t really have any specific ingredients to make a planned out dinner. So, I opened my fridge and
