Throwing Away the Man Card

Like many parents around the country, my head and heart have been ricocheting between helpless desperation and new-found resolve since the t...

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Why You Should Save the Forest

A couple of weeks ago, my son shared with me that he was writing an essay about the forest for his fourth grade class. I didn't press hi...

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Finding Her Pack

A few weeks ago in Dubuque, Iowa, I saw my sister Monica for the first time in two years. I can't say I ever expected our reunion to hap...

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The Sound of First Steps

"We don't receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us." --Marcel...

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Getting Creative on Halloween

Seven years ago, when my son had just turned three years old, we were planning to go to a Halloween party as a family. My Halloween costumes...

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Scouting a New Trail

On Thursday night, I stood on stage imploring the boys in my son's Cub Scout pack to join us on an upcoming camping weekend. From the cr...

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Barefoot in October

Today was gorgeous. Simply gorgeous. After a windy, wet weekend, a crisp stillness settled in our neck of Illinois today. I felt the call of...

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Le Creuset Challege: Chicken Sausage and Kale Stew

When I was given the opportunity to participate in P. Allen Smith's Garden2Blog 2013, my taste buds started to tingle. The wonderful rec...

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Sunset Date

With our son on break from school and visiting his grandparents, my wife and I have a week to ourselves. After a wonderful evening of dinner...

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