"Would you like to redo this assignment?" my math professor asked me as he handed back the work that I had turned in to him the previous day. There was no grade at the top of the paper. He smiled kindly at me. "Just review your work." … Read more

My son loves waffles. He enjoys them each day as an after-school snack. However, this year during the Lenten season, he decided to forgo this treat. One afternoon, as we drove home from school, we discussed the meaning of the season, … Read more

The crowd collectively held their breath as the "black belt" entered the tournament arena. The young man had defeated other competitors to achieve the chance to win a Grand Champion trophy from his martial arts school. This was his moment. … Read more

My son received several Lego sets for his last birthday: a boat, a race car, and a train track. My husband and I helped him build each set per the instructions. Once the sets were finished, my son proceeded to dismantle them until all the … Read more

Thunderstorms with tornados are common in Indiana, USA, where I spent much of my childhood. Blaring sirens would ring out, disturbing a peaceful dinner or interrupting a night's sleep. My family would cross our lawn to the neighbourhood … Read more

Earlier this year, the government of Peru mandated that all group homes for children and youth be closed. The officials wanted at-risk children to be placed with family or friends. A non-profit organization, New Hope Peru, immediately … Read more

The older gentleman approached me in the crowd of bustling shoppers. Wispy, white hair curled around his ears. "Ma'am," he said. "Can you help me find something in this store?" I paused from my work and smiled at him — a wide, beaming, … Read more

When I was a child, prior to the invention of the Internet, I lived in Europe. I missed my family, who still lived in the United States. Once a week, though, my grandparents would initiate a phone call to us. When the phone finally rang, … Read more

My brother David and I rode our bikes all over the countryside of Germany where we grew up. Usually, we followed a clear path through the forests, over the fields, and around our village. However, one day, we abandoned the path, and ended … Read more

I have 83 journals. At the age of twelve, I first put pen to paper. Now, 24 years later, I have tomes written about family gatherings, answered prayers, hardships, and blessings. The ritual of writing these remembrances has been well worth … Read more