Sweet Sixteen

image of birthday cakeMy daughter turned 16 years old today. Amazing – where have the years gone. It seems like almost yesterday that we were racing down County Road 42 from our home to the hospital pacing through my wife’s contractions. Then just a short time later, our one and only daughter arrived into our lives. Twice, we had experienced the birth of a son, and three times later we would again share that similar experience (though each one was unique and special) but this was something totally different.
 → Read the rest

A real work of art

image of ben in sand art

My son, Ben, attends a university in central Florida. This is his freshman year and he is doing very well. Of course we miss him a great deal, but as his father, I am especially proud of his independence and ability to “make it on his own.” He is coming home for Thanksgiving soon; the airline ticket for his flight home and back after Thanksgiving break was atrociously expensive. → Read the rest

Taylors Falls – A Fall Tradition

image of family at taylors fallsWe spent a beautiful autumn day north of Minneapolis and St. Paul in an area called Taylors Falls. There is a state park named Interstate Park where you can hike and climb the rocks surrounding the beautiful St. Croix River separating Minnesota and Wisconsin. My family loves this adventure and looks forward to it every Fall. → Read the rest