A mom in our neighborhood has become a family friend. She has spent time in our home. She has shared meals, and we have had the opportunity to talk. She has observed our four-generation family, our little ecosystem, as my daughter calls it, from inside and out.

Not too long ago, she said, "I wish you were my mom. You're the best mom. My mom didn't share love; she was a stone." This comment has caused me to ponder my past, my in between, and my now.

I could understand some of what Christy was feeling when she made her comment. However, as genuine as what she said was, I realized that she only knows the person and mother I am today.

Join me as I share the legacy we can and will leave our children as we learn, grow, and let go of our baggage.

The day of my hip surgery, September 3, after returning home, I was going up and down our two stairs, caregiving, and managing as if I had never had surgery.

At the end of the first two weeks, reality descended. I fell into extreme fatigue and became depressed. What had happened?

I was desperate for answers. So, I did what I do. I prayed for help, resources, and thoughts. As I knew it would, help came. I had a thought that when heard, trusted, and followed through with, was life-changing.

Join me as I share this very odd thought, where it led, and why it made such a difference.

Here's an informative article from my friend, Laura Pearson. She's taken the time to dive into a topic that can seem tricky for parents. It's an easy read, contains useful information, and has helpful links. I loved her section on Entrepreneurship. Most of my grands have had small businesses of one type or another before going to or completing high school, a great way to practice resilience and gain confidence. Enjoy and learn!

Sometimes it can be a challenge to get kids to talk at the dinner table, especially teens. But having dinner conversations helps create a culture of togetherness and is worth the effort. This year marks the Year of the Horse. It begins on February 17, 2026, and will end on February 5, 2027. I know that seems odd compared to our calendar, but the moon cycle determines the dates each year. The Chinese New Year is a great jumping-off place for some happy dinner conversations.

Join me as I share a plethora of ways to help your family enjoy the Year of the Horse and have fun and interesting conversations.

On March 9, 2025, I shared truths that I had written when I was 62. I shared them again because from 62 to 75, they hadn't changed. I had lived them, and they were still true. I ended the article with these words:

Our dreams can come true. We can live up to our expectations. There is a plan, and we fit perfectly into it. It may not happen in the time frame we want, but if we hold on to hope and believe in ourselves, we will win.

As I've shared in past articles, I wanted to be a writer as early as age 8. I wanted to be a speaker even earlier. In my late 50s and 60s, these two dreams came true. I had a book published and spoke on stages all over the country. I taught workshops and mentored other adults.

Then my life took an unexpected turn. Join me as I share how these dreams were put to bed, and new dreams took their place. A very unplanned and unexpected turn of events that has blessed my life. How it happened can bless you!

I mentored parents for many years. One of the issues for all parents was how to help children/youth want to learn, enjoy the process, and take responsibility for their learning. No one system insulates parents from this dilemma. I began writing a series of articles titled The Education Adventure. These articles contained real experiences, from real families. Their stories are helpful when working to help children take on the adventure of education.

Join me as I share a family's story and how they began answering two important questions -

• How do you help them want to learn?
• How can you help children/youth take responsibility for their learning?

To a post I made about my Sept. 3 hip surgery, a friend responded with: Hope you both recover quickly! I love how you make the best out of any situation. Kristine A.

Two weeks later, my life went into the dumpster. After a lot of thought, I decided to share what happened, why, and what I finally did about it.

If you want five great tips on how to take control of your response when life is tough, join me and welcome.

Join me as I share the magic of Christmas in our lower-middle-class home and how the anticipation my parents created can bless your family, even when it comes to Family Work. Don't believe it? Listen in and be converted.