The Piglet Gets Married – A Perfect Day!

Does having a small, intimate wedding always result in a stress-free day?

From experience, I can say NO!

David and I had a tiny wedding and we had our fair share of anxious moments and hilarious snafus.

Happily, The Piglet and Frenchie … CONTINUE READING >>

Does having a small, intimate wedding always result in a stress-free day?

From experience, I can say NO!

David and I had a tiny wedding and we had our fair share of anxious moments and hilarious snafus.

Happily, The Piglet and Frenchie … CONTINUE READING >>

A Day of Reflection in Nagasaki, Japan

A day of reflection in Nagasaki, JapanOur day of reflection takes us through cherry blossom-strewn, peaceful Nagasaki.

Join us as we stroll through The Peace Garden with its towering Prayer Monument,  wonder at the surviving statues of a church at ground zero of the atomic bomb, visit the epicenter and the Atomic Bomb Museum.

We’ll take you back to the day when the clocks forever stopped at 11:02…  CONTINUE READING >> 

A day of reflection in Nagasaki, JapanOur day of reflection takes us through cherry blossom-strewn, peaceful Nagasaki.

Join us as we stroll through The Peace Garden with its towering Prayer Monument,  wonder at the surviving statues of a church at ground zero of the atomic bomb, visit the epicenter and the Atomic Bomb Museum.

We’ll take you back to the day when the clocks forever stopped at 11:02…  CONTINUE READING >> 

Why Do People Like Us Even Have Kids?

“Tell me why when a person says they enjoy the empty nest another person counters with – Oh, but I am close to my kids. ARGH”

Receiving this sort of frustrated tweet is not uncommon for us, this one came while sitting with our morning coffee in a hotel cafe.

I had just returned from using the lobby bathroom where I overheard a cell phone conversation in the stall next to me.

Yes, I admit I was eavesdropping – but I have two lame excuses.

1) We had just… CONTINUE READING >>

“Tell me why when a person says they enjoy the empty nest another person counters with – Oh, but I am close to my kids. ARGH”

Receiving this sort of frustrated tweet is not uncommon for us, this one came while sitting with our morning coffee in a hotel cafe.

I had just returned from using the lobby bathroom where I overheard a cell phone conversation in the stall next to me.

Yes, I admit I was eavesdropping – but I have two lame excuses.

1) We had just… CONTINUE READING >>

Frankly My Dear, it’s Amsterdam!

Amsterdam has a reputation, but the hedonistic side of this city is just a small part of what attracts so many people.

For us, that aspect was a mere curiosity; the real allure is the entirely distinctive personality of this vibrant, energetic, aqua-centric city.

So did we stay out of trouble? Depends how you define troubleCONTINUE READING >>

Amsterdam has a reputation, but the hedonistic side of this city is just a small part of what attracts so many people.

For us, that aspect was a mere curiosity; the real allure is the entirely distinctive personality of this vibrant, energetic, aqua-centric city.

So did we stay out of trouble? Depends how you define troubleCONTINUE READING >>

Fear Conquering & Hate Mail

A comment on our site:

“In my opinion, anyone who would refer to children in such a disgusting and disrespectful way (adult or not) is an emotionally bankrupt shell of a person…”

BAM! My first hate mail.

I read a lot of blogs. Any of them worth their salt raise strong emotion and spark debate on their message boards. Sometimes it can get a bit heated, but makes for a nice balance.

We have had comments on our website that strongly disagree with our opinions and we relish them, we value every… CONTINUE READING >>

A comment on our site:

“In my opinion, anyone who would refer to children in such a disgusting and disrespectful way (adult or not) is an emotionally bankrupt shell of a person…”

BAM! My first hate mail.

I read a lot of blogs. Any of them worth their salt raise strong emotion and spark debate on their message boards. Sometimes it can get a bit heated, but makes for a nice balance.

We have had comments on our website that strongly disagree with our opinions and we relish them, we value every… CONTINUE READING >>

Helicopter Mom – You Are Grounded!

“A mother is only as happy as her saddest child,” a close friend’s grandmother used to say.

When I first heard her say this, all three of my children were young and safely in the nest so I could totally relate. Somehow I thought once they were grown up this would change.

It didn’t.

Trouble finds its way into everyone‘s lives – and as much as we hate it – trouble finds our adult children. Whether it rears its ugly head in a… CONTINUE READING >>

“A mother is only as happy as her saddest child,” a close friend’s grandmother used to say.

When I first heard her say this, all three of my children were young and safely in the nest so I could totally relate. Somehow I thought once they were grown up this would change.

It didn’t.

Trouble finds its way into everyone‘s lives – and as much as we hate it – trouble finds our adult children. Whether it rears its ugly head in a… CONTINUE READING >>

The Civil Rights Memorial Center in Montgomery, Alabama


It was hard not to let anger be our overriding emotion. Tolerance and nonviolent resistance were the hallmarks of the movement, certainly we should carry on that tradition today. When adding her name to The Wall of Tolerance, Veronica was openly sobbing… CONTINUE READING >>


It was hard not to let anger be our overriding emotion. Tolerance and nonviolent resistance were the hallmarks of the movement, certainly we should carry on that tradition today. When adding her name to The Wall of Tolerance, Veronica was openly sobbing… CONTINUE READING >>

A Powerful Prayer at The Peace Garden of Nagasaki, Japan

Nagasaki, Japan is no doubt best known as the site of the second atomic bombing on August 9, 1945.

The Peace Garden commemorates that tragic event in a beautiful and hopeful place… CONTINUE READING >>

Nagasaki, Japan is no doubt best known as the site of the second atomic bombing on August 9, 1945.

The Peace Garden commemorates that tragic event in a beautiful and hopeful place… CONTINUE READING >>