February 14th observes the ultimate, hyped-up holiday of ‘love.’ My first Valentine’s Day after discovering my husband’s unfaithfulness, he spewed, Continue Reading
#I Am Peace, #I Am Terror
This first appeared in The Havok Journal on February 4, 2015. Although the article refers to events occurring years ago, the premise of the article Continue Reading
A Simple Heartfelt “Thank You” from a Ranger Gold Star Mom
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on November 11, 2015, and is updated regularly. _____ It’s been five years and 20 days Continue Reading
Boer War to Blade Runner: A Soldier’s Assimilation Into Society
Boer War to Blade Runner: A Soldier's Assimilation Into Society by Jonathan Baxter, author of The Ghosts of Babylon As the New Year brings in topics Continue Reading
Trigger Happy
After I discovered letters from my husband’s mistress, I bought an imaginary .357 Magnum. Wanna know why I chose that gun? One bullet goes Continue Reading
Prisoner of War: A Memoir — Tiny Terrorists Unleashed
This first appeared in The Havok Journal on December 16, 2014. _____ My sons are experts in the art of enhanced interrogation, better known as Continue Reading
What’s It Like to Kill a Man?
I know I’m not supposed to talk about this, so here goes . . . . I sensed a mom is not supposed to ask her son, “Have you killed anyone?” But I Continue Reading
The Ghosts of Babylon: An Interview with Army Ranger Jonathan Baxter
Written from a fresh, bold perspective, in his new book The Ghosts of Babylon, an Army Ranger expresses the complex emotions all warriors feel while Continue Reading
The Gifts of Brokenness
Brokenness was not on the top of my Christmas list. The ornaments defining our family tree lay shattered. The ragged edges of devastation replaced the Continue Reading
Motherhood and Brotherhood: A Simple Heartfelt Thank You
As a Gold Star mom, I often wonder whether my mind will ever stop trying its best to reject the “ultimate bereavement.” Words spoken to me by soldiers Continue Reading
“Sex is Like a Cheeseburger”: The National Sexual Menu
Sex is like a cheeseburger. Today’s X-rated society has reduced sex to the value of a fast food cheeseburger—hot, fast and cheap. Order it any way you Continue Reading
Making More “Mandelas”: A Call for Healing
Homicide. No mother wants to read that on her firstborn’s death certificate. And there it was. My son Kristoffer’s death certificate read: Continue Reading