My husband, Jared, and I were recently captivated by the valedictory of Val Llamelo, the 2023 top graduate of the University of the Philippines. His address garnered widespread attention on social media for its criticism of “inspiration” and the societal issues it masks. These points resonated deeply with…

Last Friday, my youngest son, Caeleb, finished the first week of his final year in high school. He’s a mighty senior ready to conquer the world with his incredible artistic abilities. Growing up, my son experienced hemophilia-related medical issues that most people could never imagine. I think of his…

I’d enjoyed several months without any bleeding problems until I experienced an unexpected ankle bleed last week. The elevator at my condo was out of service, so I had to climb four flights of stairs multiple times a day, which put additional strain on my joints. Just when I…

My youngest son, Caeleb, and I made the 500-mile journey from our home in New Mexico to Alpine, Texas, last weekend to see my oldest son, Julian, in his professional theater debut. We drove there on Friday evening and returned on Saturday; on Sunday morning, I had to summon…

I recently watched a video by a feminist content creator that struck a chord with me. She discussed women’s empowerment and the importance of not letting our entire life revolve around our partners. Women like myself, she said, must retain their identity and values and pursue their own career…

Oh, my goodness! My youngest son, Caeleb, is preparing for a wonderful senior year of high school. It seems like yesterday my wife and I carried him home from the hospital as a baby and dove into uncharted waters regarding his hemophilia diagnosis. So far in my son’s…

Modern psychology often emphasizes the importance of letting go. In a world constantly pushing us to hold on tightly, learning to let go can be surprisingly liberating. As I get older, I’m realizing the significance of discerning what truly matters in life and cutting out the fluff. Our capacity…

The past two weeks have been especially busy as I produced and directed the musical “Honk! JR.” in my community. Many children who’ve worked with me for years participated in the production. I can’t count the number of children’s theater programs I’ve directed over the years, but I do…

My husband, Jared, and I have a great connection. In the nine years we’ve been together — five as a married couple — we’ve never run out of things to say. Every day brings a new topic to discuss. Conversation flows easily between us, even if it’s about a controversial…

When a spouse or partner has a bleeding disorder like hemophilia, occasionally there may be situations that make us wonder if they are at fault for an injury they’re battling. Perhaps they went beyond their maximum physical capacity in sports or at work. Maybe they got caught up…