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family

FaithFamily

Four Generations of Service

On Earth as in Heaven, Right here in my heart I held her worn, yet wiry hand.  Minutes earlier, her great-granddaughter Emma had been crowned the May Day queen.  Although […]

HealthNatureParenting

On the Trail With My Kids – A River to River Summary

It was almost four years ago on December 23, 2019 that my four oldest kids, Zach, Emma, Matthew, Noah, and I, took off on an unseasonably warm day with a […]

FamilyHealth

Their Spirit Lives On

I stepped outside on a cool, calm Thursday evening.  Days removed from the busyness of the prior weekend, I sat down with a couple of books, and pulled a thin […]

Family

A River Runs Between Us

“It is those we live with and love and should know who elude us.” – Norman Maclean I was sitting on the couch in our family room, and it was […]

FaithFamily

Catholic Life & Family: Are We Missing Something?

Recently, my wife and I received the local Office of Family and Life e-newsletter through the diocese.  As often is the case, it is full of interesting articles, resources, and […]

Faith

For Better, Or For the Better

For Better, or for the Better Matthew Battiato stood pensively in front of the large congregation at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.  As the familiar song started playing and the people […]

FamilyHealth

The Scourge of Suicide

A few months ago, I got the news that an extended family member had died by suicide.  As someone whose family had been blessed to not experience this during my […]

Parenting

The Extraordinary Gift of a Stay-At-Home Mother

It is 12:30 on a Tuesday afternoon.  Our 8-month-old, Kate, has just awoken early from her nap after being unintentionally aroused by her 8-year-old brother, Will, who was determined to […]

HealthNature

Players Needed

It was a hot, steamy Friday evening.  Two hours earlier, I had received an email at work from my oldest son, Zach.  The message read as follows: Hey dad,  This […]

FamilyHealth

Avenues of Memories and Dreams

Brandon Schafer was two years old when his family moved to 1308 South Grand Avenue, just a couple of blocks from Akin Park.  Most of his formative years would be […]