In middle school, I faced bullies just about every day. I often experienced physical violence during the three years I attended what was then called Burbank Junior High School in Houston. The beatings occurred so frequently that my speech teacher allowed me to stay in her class and…

I’ve previously written about fellow Floridian Kayla Mack, a woman in her 50s who has Type 3 von Willebrand disease (VWD). Her severe bleeding disorder is similar to those who deal with severe hemophilia, as her blood clotting factor VIII levels are nearly negligible. Her von…

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…