Featured WIRL of the Moment

Reality – What It’s Really Like

Reality – What It’s Really Like

This post is part of a series titled, “A-B-Cs – What It’s Really Like”. Each week a new letter and its word will be revealed. Each word’s explanation will illustrate significant personal meaning, application and ultimately demonstrate, What It’s Really Like… Back in 1998 MTV debuted the reality TV s... Read More »

Previously Featured WIRLs

Growing Up Without Grandpa and Grandma

Growing Up Without Grandpa and Grandma

  One of the hardest things that my wife and I have had to endure is coming to grips with the fact that our children will likely only ever have a limited relationship with our parents.  We relocated to the South in 2011 for job opportunities that were non-existent near our hometowns.  At the time we were excited about beginning a life together and setting out on our own.  We knew that the 800... Read More »

Looking for Affordable Artwork

Does anyone have any recommendations as to where I can find affordable artwork and possibly a mirror and sconces for my family room?  I would like to stay with earth tones. I live near Erie, PA, but don’t mind ordering from somewhere online. I checked Kirklands, but they didn’t have a lot to offer and the closest one is about 80 miles away :/ !! Read More »

King Cakes.. recipe adapted from Saveur.com.. for Fat Tuesday.. Shrove Tuesday.. Mardi Gras Celebrations

King Cakes.. recipe adapted from Saveur.com.. for Fat Tuesday.. Shrove Tuesday.. Mardi Gras Celebrations

I made the dough exactly as written but cut the dough ball in half to make 2 cakes and then only made/used 1/2 of the cream cheese filling for this cake and divided the frosting between the two cakes also.. plus I baked them on Pampered Chef pizza stones INGREDIENTS FOR THE DOUGH: 1 (¼-oz.) package active dry yeast ¼ cup sugar ½ cup milk 2 tbsp. light brown sugar ½ tsp. vanilla extract 1 egg 1 egg... Read More »

Type 1 Diabetes

Stronger Because Of It

My oldest daughter, MJ, has type I diabetes.  I don’t write about it frequently although it is very much ingrained in our daily lives, but nowadays life just rolls along without much incident as far as the disease goes. I can’t figure out how something that drives me nuts multiple times a day and has a good bit of control over some of the function of our days has become sort of ho-hum ... Read More »

Paper Towels, Medical Reports and Basket Weaving, Oh My! (My Real Absurdly Unique Dad)

Paper Towels, Medical Reports and Basket Weaving, Oh My! (My Real Absurdly Unique Dad)

It’s a random title, right? Yet that’s what pops into my head when I think about my Dad. He’s a simple man with a complex witty mind and I am often bewildered by the things he does and shares. Most of the time I laugh or shake my head at the stuff he comes up with, but then sometime later I realize how it truly connects to him and resonates with me. When I was younger, my dad often said “Sho... Read More »

Too Many Choices!

Too Many Choices!

Over the last year my wife and I have attempted to emphasize the importance of making good choices with our toddler. It has been an extremely daunting task to not only teach him what a choice is, but help guide him toward decision making that we find acceptable. We both feel that the quickest way for him to learn is to have a high level of autonomy over minor situations so that he can practice the... Read More »

Children Bodily Fluids 101

Children Bodily Fluids 101

  The other day my 4 year old told our roofer proudly she could wipe her own bottom now when she poops. I was only slightly surprised she said this to him knowing her personality. I laughed it off and began thinking about the ugly process of teaching her and her two older sisters how to properly wipe. No one prepared me for this! I thought of parenting as moments in hallmark movies. Boy was I... Read More »