I was heartsick to see the images of the beautiful Notre Dame Cathedral ablaze yesterday. Hundreds of years of history swept away in a brutal rush of flames. To think of all the stories it has born witness to: Napoleon walking in and declaring himself emperor, Mary I of Scotland marrying the Dauphin Francois, Louis Vierne dying while playing the Notre Dame cathedral organ (his life-long dream), and the Te Deum Mass to celebrate the liberation of Paris on August 26, 1944 while snipers shot from both the internal and external galleries. These barely scratch the surface of all the…

Someone I love dearly received an unexpected diagnosis. My heart ached to hear it. As this person shared their news on Facebook, one person remarked, "Well, this must be God's will." My eyes bugged out as my blood began to boil. God's will? Really? I've been mulling over this concept for quite some time. When someone receives a medical diagnosis, people often blanket it under the guise of "God's will". When hurricanes drop devastation, we say it was "God's will". When an entire family is tragically taken in a car crash, we say "it was God's will". But was it…

Civil War research is my bread and butter, but every now and then I run across something that throws me for a loop. Not long ago I ran across some research regarding regiments who carried furry (and sometimes feathery) companions into battle. Many troops claimed mascots, usually horses and dogs. Dogs like Sally, the mascot for the 10th Massachusetts Infantry. Sally would run the picket lines and would snarl and bark every time she spotted a gray coat. One of the best-known dog mascots was "Jack," the brown and white bull terrier mascot of the 102nd Pennsylvania Infantry. This unit…

I know. This isn't your world right now, buddy. You're into Mariokart and Legos. Captain America and sharks. But while your mind is busy soaking up the wonders of learning letters, numbers and who put their mouth on the water fountain at school, I'm praying for your future...more specifically, I'm praying for you and your future spouse.  It's important. The people you choose to surround yourself with now determines the person you'll become ten years down the road. The books you read, the music you listen to, the television you watch, the places you go...all of it has a powerful…

It seems like yesterday I was welcoming you into the world. I thought you would always be in diapers, watching Sesame Street and learning your alphabet. I blinked and suddenly we've traded Cheerios and sippy cups for makeup and iphones. And now, much to your father's dismay, your heads have begun to turn when a handsome boy gives you a wink and a smile. Boyfriends will come and go. You'll face heartbreak and joy, tears and laughter. As someone who is, ahem, a bit older than you, here is what I want you to know, so you'll have the happiest…

If my life were different, I would be different... If my job only paid better... If my husband treated me like he cared... If our house wasn't so small... If my health was good... If my kids would listen... Have you been there? It's a tempting way to live life. The "If onlys" provide us with a fantasy world of perfection. A land where all our troubles vanish and then, finally, we can be who we really want to be. Happy. Content. Joyful. There's just one problem. That fantasy land does not exist this side of eternity. Ever since the…