Kansas Kindness: What you look for is what you’ll see
You know what’s better than one third-grade boy in the back seat of your car? Three third-grade boys in the back seat of your car. In the course of a 15-minute ride, my son Ben will ask at least 150 questions, including, “Mom, does Area 51 really exist?” “Mom, do you think there will be
The F Word and High School: my basketball coaching husband lost his job
He turned in his keys, his parking pass, and his staff ID. My husband is no longer employed at Ohio University. I won’t say he was fired because as a general rule I don’t use the “f” word. His contract was up and the Athletic Director decided to go in a different direction. A gentlemanly
Winter provides unique weather for kindness — and surprise Dairy Queen cakes
Are you sick of winter yet? I know. Stupid question. I’m in Ohio, so we’re seeing promises that spring will indeed arrive, but I remember all too well the 10 winters we lived in Fargo. Even if there are signs of new life, another cold spell comes blasting in and March feels like the dead
Treasures in the darkness
I woke up this morning and knew I couldn’t write. As a general rule, I don’t like to write for public consumption (for other people to read) until I have processed my thoughts and feelings about an event. Sometimes writing helps me think things through, but in general, I have to come to a conclusion
Fargo family goes above the norm to extend kindness
My kids had a few special baby sitters when they were little, and Desire’e Larson was one of them. We’ve moved away and the kids have gotten older, so it’s been awhile since we’ve been in touch. I got a message from Desire’e recently and I wasn’t surprised to find that the Larson family is
The Simple Question that Saved My Faith
Before my dad had a stroke, he loved verbally jousting. Politics and policies and people, my dad had an opinion and he enjoyed hearing what other people thought about those subjects too. It was like his own version of sudoko, it kept him mentally sharp. One day, shortly after I had rediscovered a relationship with
True kindness allows for unlikely friendship
Would you rather have 100 casual acquaintances or one special friend? It’s a no-brainer, right? We all long to have someone special in our lives. But that can be tricky when the world only sees your disabilities. Ciera Ball is mostly nonverbal, was diagnosed with autism and has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). That can
