Writing letters is almost a lost art these days. Even the event of putting pen to paper has somewhat diminished from the universal activity it once was. But before we let it go completely, let’s consider how putting pen and paper together to express our thoughts may actually benefit the writer—even if the person it’s…
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In general, our society tends to frown on adultery, although it does seem to turn up a lot—in both fiction and in real life: Jane Eyre’s Mr. Rochester is only too happy involving himself in relationships with any woman other than his legal wife; Frank Burns and Margaret Houlihan participate in what was undoubtedly one…
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Your loved one has just been diagnosed with dementia, and because the condition is so advanced the doctor has no choice but to declare them “incompetent”—meaning they are no longer able to manage their own affairs due to their medical condition. At this point, someone else is going to have to step in to do…
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The estate planning documents—vitally important but often ignored—can be a bewildering subject to tackle. As a caregiver, I saw firsthand how important it was that plans had been established before my grandparents were both diagnosed with dementia; and the more time I spent caring for them, the more I came to understand how bad it…
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Happy 2022! It’s a brand-new year, and the mental “reset” this affords all of us cannot be overstated. During the Holiday break, my family and I have been enjoying Angel Studios’ crowd-funded hit The Chosen. Watching the very ordinary—yet simultaneously extraordinary—way Jesus interacts with all kinds of people has been deeply moving as well as…
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In January 2021, my in-laws were packing to move so they could be closer to us in Texas. They’d lived in their house since 2003, and now they were downsizing into an apartment in an independent living community. Chris, Faith and I had gone to Memphis to help with the packing. We knew my father-in-law…
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“Chris glanced down at the doctor’s pocket. He saw the top of a book sticking out. ‘Are you studying Spanish?’ [he] asked. …‘Yeah,’ [Dr. Weston] said. ‘So many of our patients who come in here are native Spanish speakers. I just thought I should learn how to communicate with them.’” Excerpt from Goodnight, Sweet: A…
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First responders are some of the most authentic heroes I know. Their job pressures are both physically demanding and emotionally exhausting. They have to quickly gather facts while feeling the pressure to make right decisions in each situation, and they must maintain constant awareness of possible danger to themselves or the people they’re trying to…
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The Initial Problem: Dad is really getting forgetful! We had to remind him that we saw him and Mom just last weekend. But maybe it’s not that bad? Even if it’s bad, maybe we can just ride it out…maybe he’ll get better when the weather warms up and the days get a little longer. The…
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