Roberta Watts Beth has a past. A rough, rocky past. Drugs. Prostitution. Living on the street. Not just a short past. A long history. Self-induced suffering. Beth was in an accident which left her with some brain damage. As if things couldn’t get worse. I hardly know Beth. But I know all about her struggles because Beth has a mother. I know Beth’s mother. I know her well. I have watched her struggle for years to find a balance. That fine knife’s edge balances between serving her daughter’s needs without enabling her addictions. I have stood and watched this amazing…

Mira Krahn I’m a talker. Give me two minutes to make an announcement at church, and I’ll stretch it to three. Plan for a one-hour coffee date, but be prepared to return home two hours later. I know my gift of gab has brought moments of exasperation to my family, but I’ve also noticed times that it’s been appreciated. Sometimes, it’s a personal story I share with a friend to encourage him through a tough time. Sometimes, it’s a hysterical account I retell–the kind that improves with each re-enactment–that leaves my aunties in stitches. Other times, it’s a recitation of…

Leslie Dempsey In the spring of 2014, my Mother, who was 90 at the time, was diagnosed with cancer of the mouth. She endured a very extensive surgery to remove part of her cheek, tongue, and throat. My brother, Bill, and his wife lovingly took her into their home to care for her during her recovery. Bill’s retirement last year allowed him to spend quality time with Mom daily: having discussions, reminiscing, and making new memories. Over the past year, Mom’s short term memory has faded. Bill shows such patience and understanding, and reassures her over and over. Earlier this…

Sara Pippus Driving through the Black Hills this past summer, we finished up our holidays surrounded by great rock formations and lush forests. What a fantastic place to explore hiking trails and large stretches of forest. Now and again, around the bends in the road, would be large gaps in the forest. Trunks of trees stripped bare of bark and large stretches of charred land left little of the former beauty. Forest fires, old and new, make their way indiscriminately through these old growth forests each summer. Fire tragedy seems to have no upside and the scar left on the…

Charlotte Kowalson On Labour Day weekend, I had some of my usual gang over for lunch and then to stay to watch the football game. Lunch was the kid’s favourite – chicken strips and my husband’s homemade fries. The kid’s mom, Selena, brought the dessert-a chocolate, quick oats, and coconut confection that we all call fiddle-diddles – an absolute favourite of all, and because we were all going to watch the game she brought lots of cookies, about four dozen for eight people! Everyone had also brought their own snacks and, of course, there were lots of cookies left over…

Janelle Ross It’s not like having the flu or a cold, where I know I will get better, but chances are I’ll get sick again, one day. It’s not like when I cut my hair short for the last time and I said to my friends this will be it because I’m past that age and I’ll never have long hair again. Or the time I graduated from school and said no more to the books and the learning. Or the time I carried that second child in my belly, thinking he would be the last. It’s not even like…