Joe Cramer got off the highway and took the road less traveled. He drove east for a good hour until something caught his eye. It was a small hand-made sign that said, "Rudweg." It was barely visible and nailed to a tree. As Joe tells it: "The good … [Read more...]

I cried the first time I saw my newborn son lying in the plexiglass bassinet in the Howard Homan Children's Hospital NICU. My tears were not tears of joy. Jonathan was born weeks before expected; he weighed less than our Golden Doodle's chew … [Read more...]

Harry was a carpenter by trade and a servant of God by passion. The community often called upon him to help with their service projects. "Can you build us a backdrop for the church play?" Or, "A refugee family needs bunk beds for their five … [Read more...]

Simon is the first in his family to go to college. It's his moment, and he doesn't want to blow it. Some would say Simon had a challenging upbringing. But Simon would argue with that. He and his Mom are alone with no biological family nearby, but … [Read more...]

Marian Lawrence is elated and teary-eyed today. Her great-grandson just called to tell her he earned his first paycheck working at Lawrence & Sons Home Service. If only her husband Kenny were alive to see this day. But then again, Marian knows he … [Read more...]

One thing Joey will never again take for granted, is the ability to get up and go to work. He is one of the lucky ones. Or unlucky depending on how you look at it. He contracted the Coronavirus, and with God's grace, he survived. Now Joey is … [Read more...]

The military hero in our family is Uncle Sig, though none of us had the chance to call him uncle. Sigmund Diamond was killed days before the cease-fire in Europe, May 1945, signaling an end to World War II. Sig was the eldest child of Eva and … [Read more...]

Andrea had a milestone birthday. It was the final birthday of her thirties, and she was still single. There was no man to call her “honey” and equally as disappointing, no child to call her “mom”. After two decades (plus) of dating unsuitable … [Read more...]

My eyes are still closed from the night before, and the early morning light seeps through the lids of my eyes just as I’m about to open them - convincing me: Yes! God has given me a new day...again. Canadian geese are early risers too. I hear … [Read more...]

She was on vacation with her parents. Dad was on the golf course that day, Jorie and her mother were together both enjoying the relaxing vacation pastime of reading at the pool. With a drowsy brain and droopy eyelids, Jorie fell asleep on the … [Read more...]