Dear Nathan-- Look at that smile! It's hard to put into words how happy these milestones make me. To see you changing, growing, maturing... right before my eyes. For parents, we get a few of these magic moments where, in a matter of minutes, you change right in front of us. You become the person that we've only conjured in our minds. T...

Dear Reader-- If you think cheesesteaks are simple sandwiches, you are missing so much of the story. I grew up about 90 minutes west of Philadelphia and I chose to go to college in Philly (go Drexel!). The city left a mark on me in the best way possible. It shaped my view on people, taught me how to live in new places, forced me to be ...

Dear Reader-- If you haven't heard of the Norfolk State University Spartan Legion drumline (known as the Million Dollar Funk Squad), you are in for a treat. This performance epitomizes the skill that these musicians have. I love Southern show bands, and these guys are up there with the best of them. This is, by far, my favorite drum li...

Dear Cole-- Congratulations on being accepted into the blue band! I know I didn't tell you enough how I could hear the improvement in your audition from day-to-day, but it was there. Every frustrating missed note led to an improvement that sounded better the next day. Your effort shown through and I hope that you can see that when you ...

Dear Reader-- I'm planning to steer clear of political entries on this here blog/journal (for the most part). Today, however, I just want to ask the question: where are we going? As a country... does this feel like the right direction? A woman was shot in her vehicle by an ICE agent in Minneapolis today. Some say she was fleeing. Some ...

Dear Cole-- Who knew that 6 years ago, when you chose the trombone as the instrument you wanted to try, that we'd be watching you join every musical group at school this year (concert band, jazz band, symphony orchestra, and marching band) and be bursting with pride every time we get to hear you perform? It has been an amazing 6 years ...

Dear Reader-- I'm not sure what I'm going to do with this blog, but I have some ideas. • Thankfulness journal • Life tips & tricks • Letters to my kids • Sharing my hobbies (I have a bunch!) • General observation posts • Sharing recipes • Sharing goals, achievements, and setbacks • Talking about books I've read, places I've gone, thing...