We often don’t realize how the events in our lives are launching points to greater outcomes. These outcomes may manifest 10, 20 or 30 years later. My next chapter began when Cody was 6 years old. I held his precious little hand in mine as we stepped across the grey concrete floor, through the cold…

March 2015 Colton CA. Action Star Games Paintball was thriving back then. Every Saturday and Sunday 100-200 happy paintball players showed up to do what they love, play paintball. “Karen, Bridgette is here, she wants to talk,” said Wayne, in a tone of voice that made my nerves shudder. I walked out the single tree…

I shuttered from the thought of hearing Dad’s angry voice when he came home from work. With a window-shaking slam of the kitchen door as he entered the house, I could just imagine his heavy work boots stomping through the house leaving a trail of mud clots from working out in the fields all day.…

When your heart speaks, listen. Even if it makes no sense. I was sitting at my desk scanning through emails, hitting “delete” and stopped. “Writers Conference Los Angeles. October 26, 2016” I had never been to a writers conference before. With no formal training and rusty writing skills, how could I call myself a writer?…

Too often we don’t know how our own stress patterns and negative self talk beats us down, blocks our dreams, or make us sick. My dear sister Kathy requested that I post her story in hopes that “at least one” would seek help and assistance before it’s too late. Reading her story brought tears to…

“We have to find a new home,” said Wayne. “We don’t have much time” It was January 2015. Wayne just heard the news that we had to move our then thriving paintball field. The landlord announced that the property was sold. He stood silently for a moment staring at the floor,  pushing his lower lip…

“We’re going to climb up that?” The sun was shining brightly in cloudless sky on a hot November afternoon in Hawaii. Koko Crater had no trees. It wasn’t wet with last night’s rain to offer any relief from the heat. It was a hot dusty dry trail, dotted with a sprinkling of low dry shrubs.…

It was 6 a.m. Sunday morning. As the dawning sunlight lit up the sky, Wayne, Cody and I drove into the parking lot at Qual Com Stadium San Diego. I looked across the vast empty lot, that would soon be filled with cars. Vin, David and Bejan were standing at the trunks of their cars,…

Mom, Cheryl, Kathy, Derrick and I stood silently huddled around Dad’s bedside while the sound of spattering raindrops splashed on the rooftop overhead. “Isn’t my family beautiful?” he said to the nurse as she walked in. “Yes they are,” said the nurse. “I am a fortunate man to have such a beautiful family,” Dad said…

It was one of those days when my nerves were frazzled. Every muscle and every limb was hardened and tensed. I couldn’t hold back the frustration that was building in the pit of my gut. The pit of my stomach began to shutter as a rush of tears spilled down my face. Cody was just…