In the busyness of summer, I haven’t written 7 Quick Takes in a few weeks, so I hope you enjoy these! ~1~ My friend Olivia came to dinner this week, so I made an apple pie. You never need a reason to bake a pie, but having a friend over is special, especially when you […]

But at the end, even when the storm leaves damage and destruction, there is quiet and stillness. There is hope and peace and a promise of tomorrow.

We shared the Catholic faith with youngsters and learned how to capture their attention and help bring Bible stories to life.

I walked to the counter and paid to rent a pair of skates and put them on.

I took this past week off from work for a sort of staycation with my boys.

Sometimes when life gives you lemons, you push them down the garbage disposal and make your own fun.

One of the most wonderful gifts of being a parent is watching your children discover their passions and then pour themselves into them.

Outdoor parties are one of my favorite things to come out of the pandemic.

A few weeks ago, 5-year-old Christian Oakes said to his father, “Hey, Dad, I’ve got a good song just for you.” As Christian played the song, he would give his father a little smile. Brian was a little mystified because he had never heard the song before. He asked Christian where he had found the […]

Last weekend, we hit the road as a family and drove to New York to visit my sister Maureen and her four amazing children.