Trauma comes in all shapes and sizes. People often associate trauma with physical injuries, such as a horrific accident, amputation, or burn wound, but it can be caused by many other situations as well. For example, early childhood trauma can develop when kids grow up with an abusive parent. Trauma…
When my boys were little, I dreamed about what their chosen activities might be — band, swimming, theater, or maybe soccer. I wanted to be a soccer mom, cheering on my sons from the sidelines and bringing orange slices for the team. My oldest son, Julian, did play soccer…
I remember watching “The Wizard of Oz” as a little girl. While the visual effects now appear primitive compared with today’s high-tech productions, the movie scared me when I was a kid. The scene where Dorothy was trapped in her house as the tornado lifted it into the sky seemed…
I often put myself in uncomfortable situations, especially when the health and well-being of my sons are at risk. There was a time when my youngest son, Caeleb, 17, was in the hospital more than he was at home. During those years, dealing with his hemophilia and inhibitor became…
I love the smell of a freshly painted room. The roller soaks up the new color as it moves around in the pan, waiting to be rolled onto the wall in big, broad strokes. The walls must desperately need a fresh coat of paint to soak up the new color…
Everyone experiences anxiety, yet not necessarily at the same level. When getting on an airplane, making a doctor appointment, or otherwise triggered, the anticipation and worry about what will happen can get the best of people. Some would argue that they do not have anxiety. It’s often these people who…
I have fond memories of my dad sitting at the kitchen table on Sunday mornings. After attending church, he read the newspaper while the radio played his favorite Tejano music. He always read articles to my mom as they sat together, enjoying the morning. The crisp newspaper would buckle as…
After worship on Sunday, the church I serve as pastor has a fellowship hour, when everyone comes together, enjoys coffee and snacks, and visits with one another. It’s a beautiful time and a great way to start the week. Snacks and goodies are a treat — and then there’s the…
One of my favorite programs is CBS “Sunday Morning,” which my husband and I record and watch on Sunday afternoons. One of its recent stories brought me to tears. At Glen Lake Elementary in Hopkins, Minnesota, several students have physical disabilities. The children in Betsy Julien’s fifth grade class…
In the early days of a diagnosis, emotions run wild. Anxiety, helplessness, and anger are a few feelings that cloud the mind, and it’s difficult to even begin to understand what lies ahead. In 1996, my first son, Julian, was born and diagnosed with severe hemophilia A. In…
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