Can We Truly Know Peace Without Also Knowing Fear?

Thursday, June 14, 7:15 a.m. The storm has turned the highway into a river. White-knuckled and blinded by the pounding rain on my windshield, I want to be anywhere but here. I pray for the rain to stop. This is what fear feels like. Friday, June 15, 8:15 a.m. My stagnant little creek bed has…… Continue reading Can We Truly Know Peace Without Also Knowing Fear?

Free Mastectomy Pillows for Individuals and Medical Clinics

We have sent FREE mastectomy pillows to individuals in 39 states and medical centers in four states. My mom and her friends (The Bosom Buddies) get together regularly to sew pillows to give to women in need. In fact, they have a sewing day planned this week. The lovely woman pictured above is one our…… Continue reading Free Mastectomy Pillows for Individuals and Medical Clinics

The Vietnam War and Sacrifice Gave My Brother His Name

  (I originally wrote the following post about freedom and sacrifice for inspireafire.com last year. I thought Memorial Day was an appropriate time to publish a slightly revised version.) Keith. That’s the name of my dad’s best boyhood friend. It’s also my brother’s name. My brother carries Keith’s name because Keith Kahlstorf was only allowed…… Continue reading The Vietnam War and Sacrifice Gave My Brother His Name

Cancer Gave Me The Gift of Knowing Human Frailty

I was 40 and already had a head of prematurely gray hair (I hide it well) when Dr. Testroet called with the crappy cancer news, but the following words from Jen Wilkin’s 27-year-old experience ring true inside of me. Once you hear a cancer diagnosis, you can’t unhear it. Even with successful treatment, it changes…… Continue reading Cancer Gave Me The Gift of Knowing Human Frailty

8 Women Weigh in on the Hardest Part of Breast Reconstruction

When people are comfortable enough to ask me about breast reconstruction, one of the things they want to know is “What was the hardest part?” It’s a tough question to answer because there are so many hard things about it both physically and emotionally. The following eight women (who represent a variety of breast reconstruction…… Continue reading 8 Women Weigh in on the Hardest Part of Breast Reconstruction