“Do you want these left out of the bag?” the cashier says, holding up two bottles of water.
“That would be great,” I say. “We need those for the flowers. We’re stopping at the cemetery.”

I believe God created dogs so he could be with us more. He has gifted us with these marvelously loving animals, which are emotional, expressive and tail-waggingly happy, and placed them in our homes.

Sports are a bridge to new experiences, to unfamiliar faces, and can unite young people to each other in a unique and powerful way.

Although I grew up way back in the 1900s, as my children like to say, I often feel I failed to absorb much of the pop culture of the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. And arcade games are definitely on that list.

Please join me in praying for all those affected by the tragic shooting at the Capital Gazette.

We cannot simply say, “Have a nice day,” to someone who is clinically depressed, and expect that to change his or her situation. But we can learn to identify warning signs (see box) and get help for those who are hurting.

Summer doesn’t always match the picture-perfect image of summer in my mind. Often, instead, it’s full of dripping popsicles, scraped knees, and overtired children who are up way too late giggling under the covers. But it’s full. And there is a richness to that.

A hot day without air conditioning helps keep things in perspective.

As the rhetoric heats up, people who work at the White House are being kicked out of restaurants. Entertainers make lewd jokes and hurl obscenities at the president. What’s happening to us?

Going away on vacation is always amazing, but I am a huge fan of staycations, which is how the boys and I have spent our week.