My worst fear is that I will be unable to reach you when you’re in pain. All I want as a parent, what my whole job boils down to, is to be there when you need me. How can I help you?


13



Writing is re-writing


15, 18



“But what is grief if not love preserving?” - Unknown


18



General rule for health and happiness: avoid excess.


10, 14, 17, 21



Always know where the main water shut-off is in your house.


18



“Pay yourself first” means save before you spend. You never know when you’ll need to tap into savings, so build it up early and heartily.


18



Be extra careful when you’re parking or pulling out of a driveway. It’s hard to see little kids or pets.


16



The more you want, the less you get.


14, 16, 21



“Life is good when you are happy, but much better when others are happy because of you.” -Pope Francis Endeavor to make people happy by the work you do, by the way you treat them, by your contributions to the world. But don’t ever try to make someone happy by changing yourself.


13, 17



That little space between stimulus and response...that’s all the control we get. That space is ours to do with. That space is fertile ground for addiction, for faith, for peace or pain. When the sh*t hits the fan, resist the urge to run away from the pain. Trying to dull it will only make it grow deeper roots.


19



When choosing a partner I think it's less important that you both "believe" the same things and more important that you VALUE the same things and share the same priorities.


20



Don’t play hard to get. Be hard to earn.


16, 21



First date going extremely well? Thinking u might score? Slow down. A woman always wants to feel like she’s worth waiting for.


20



American Sign Language course


15



Sometimes I think the best way to take care of them is to teach them to take care of others: Littler kids, sick or disabled, those who’ve been left out.


5-7, 1Infant-12



"Tough times don't last. Tough people do."


11-14



1

Most times there isn’t a “right decision.” You make a decision and then it’s up to you to *make* it right.


12, 16, 19, 21



The universe is cheering for you!


14, 16, 18, 20



When the poop hits the fan, that's when real discipleship begins.


15-18



Trust me when I tell you that one day you’ll look back and realize you judged people unfairly and you held strong to convictions only to end up changing your mind about in the light of life experience. Leave a little space open for second impressions or the possibility that you could be wrong.


17



Do not be daunted at the world’s grief. Do justly now. Love Mercy now. Walk humbly now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it. -The Talmud


15



Read Elizabeth Gilbert’s book on creativity. Re-read every few years!


17



vaccinate! Science is good.


0, 1, 2, 3, 5



Watch the political conventions every election year. Listen and decide for yourself.


17, 18, 21



Google earth app means there's always a globe at hand. Point out states, countries or oceans when we hear about them.


4-9



There are all kinds of parenting and mommy blogs with good resources. A quick Google search will get you started.


Infant



It’s okay to not understand things. Just be sure the only place your ignorance leads you is to education.


15, 19



90 seconds or less. No one wants to hear you talk for more than that. (In a personal setting like giving a toast.)


17, 21



Beware of those forces that aim to pit good people against each other. Injustices hurt our sensibilities- as they should. So instead of bickering about who’s been wronged worse, let’s join hands and fight injustice on every front. If you get caught up in comparisons, everyone loses.


16



If your car is overheating turn on the heat full blast. It draws heat off the engine.


16