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The gift of a smile
If you knew Jeff Nattans, you must remember his smile. He was always pleasant, always upbeat, and always eager to connect with people around him. I didn’t know Jeff personally, so when we talked in...
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The girl on the diving board: A back-to-school reflection
It was a sunny day with a gentle breeze, the kind of summer day you simply can’t spend inside. I was at the pool, soaking up the last bits of summer, holding onto these days of warmth and sunshine. As...
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Dolly, we will always love you
Whenever I’m asked to name someone I would want to meet, I give the same answer: Dolly Parton. You might think I would say that I want to meet the pope, and of course I would be delighted to talk with...
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A blessing on the road
As I was driving home, I pulled off the highway and stopped at a light. I’ve sat at the end of that ramp many times. But today, I glanced up and saw a white SUV slowing down to make room for me to move...
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Ryan, meet Ryan: A glimpse into record-breaking Ryan Meet-ups
Imagine going to a gathering where all of the people there share your first name. What do you think it would be like? What happens when someone calls out your name? Do you have much in common? Do you...
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Two heroes: St. Ignatius and Spider-Man
Some might call the timing of the release of the latest Spider-Man movie on the Feast of St. Ignatius (July 31) coincidental. But I don’t tend to believe in coincidences. Instead, this is a chance to...
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Thwip! Faith lessons from Spider-Man
Spider-Man: Brand New Day hit theaters last week, and it did not disappoint. What. A. Ride. It got me thinking about what Spider-Man can teach us about living as Catholics. Whether he knows it or not,...
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A Birthday Glimpse of Heaven
So many, many times before, people in my life have sung “Happy Birthday to You” to me. But maybe there’s something different about hearing it on your 50th birthday. As my sister Treasa lit the candles...
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The Joy of a Train Ride
Summer goes too quickly, and my husband and I have been trying to fit in some day trips. A few weeks ago, we decided to make a day trip to the Strasburg Railroad in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. And...
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Dogs Go to Heaven
Early this morning our friends lost their beautiful yellow lab. She had been fading recently, so I don’t think that it was a surprise. But when my friend reached out to let me know that their precious...
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A Dinner Disaster
The other day I was determined to make a really good dinner. I found a new recipe for a chicken dish that promised to replicate one of my husband’s restaurant favorites, and I couldn’t wait to try it....
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Happy 250th to the USA, climbing the Empire State Building, a Cookie Monster...
For many years, I blogged every Friday with 7 Quick Takes—snippets of life and thoughts from the week. The other day, my friend Annie was telling me how much she misses the quick takes. And I thought,...
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A Fourth of July Memory
I was making coffee early on the Fourth of July when I heard the ping of a text message. It was my friend Mary. “Do you have a parade today in your neighborhood?” she asked. Her son, Will, is a...
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Relishing a 7th Birthday with Mustard
As we were looking ahead at June, I knew that our niece would be turning 7 toward the end of the month. We would have to find a good gift. But we had most of the month to track it down. This past...
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Not to Burst Your Balloon
It was the morning of a double graduation party, and I had volunteered to get the balloons filled with helium. You might not think that would be a big deal, but that’s probably because you haven’t...
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Little Love Messages from God
I knew our son’s high school graduation day would be a day to remember. These milestone moments are always unforgettable, and we were full of pride and excitement for this next big step. The graduation...
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A Wasp on the Elevator
My son and I were hurrying to an appointment, and the parking garage was packed. We snagged a spot on the top level of the garage and walked over to the elevator. I don’t always have much faith in...
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When Life’s Impossible, Talk to St. Rita
Sometimes you feel like you’re faced with a problem with no apparent solution. You hear about someone with a terminal diagnosis. You’re drowning in life—or are trying to support someone else who is....
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I’m OK, you’re OK…well we’re mostly OK (on springtime transitions)
This time of year is packed with ceremonies and performances. There are sacraments and graduations. There are end-of-year projects and exams. There are assignments that matter and assignments that...
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The Final School Lunch
Forever ago—or maybe it was just the other day—I packed a lunchbox for my 4-year-old to take to school. He took his lunch to preschool and ate it with his friends at lunchtime. Then he brought his box...
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