Shortly after 15-year-old Anna Thompson was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis as a newborn, she had to spend thirty minutes three times a day participating in what is known as chest physical therapy. For the first years, her parents had to…
Charlotte Cavanagh’s parents were thrilled when their daughter was born. She was the couple’s first child, and everything about the delivery and their new baby seemed typical. But just two days after her parents brought Charlotte home, she wouldn’t eat…
A week after my grandmother passed away, a friend asked if my children were doing okay. “I’m really not sure,” I told her. “I don’t even know how I’m doing.” When we first learned of my grandmother’s sudden but peaceful…
Resistance! Ignite the spark! Light the fire! Those are the orders for fighting the First Order that kicked off my family’s journey into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Okay, so I admit I haven’t seen all the…
A string of hardships three years ago left Shante and her family homeless for a year. She and her sons stayed with friends and family as much as possible to avoid being out on the streets. A young mom, Shante…
As the guests at a party in the opening scene of The Nutcracker, boys and girls dance with one another in formal, synchronized movements, as their parents mingle and watch admiringly from the sidelines. A similar scene plays out…
Every parent gets it. One December, out of nowhere, there’s a knocking at the periphery of our thoughts demanding to know Why, oh why? are you racking up so much debt for more stuff? Why not – this voice…
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and sharing a delicious meal with family. And the best part? Unlike many other holidays, there is no pressure to buy gifts for anyone. Thanksgiving is about…
Army veteran James Howard considers his spinal cord injury to be a blessing by misfortune,” he says. “It helped me find a new purpose in life – to help the disabled.” Howard began his military service after graduating from Virginia…
Every state has its fair share of peculiar landmarks – like the World’s Largest Ball of Twine in Kansas or the Lucy the Elephant sculpture in New Jersey – and Virginia is no exception. From the World’s Oldest Ham to…
