Columns

There are three Casten kids: Ava (12), Henry (11), and Ella (9). They each need our attention, and will ask for it periodically. Our life is quite crazy. Lindsay is still recovering from the amputation of her lower right leg and is facing a complete…

I looked up the definition of “minority group” the other day, and it was defined as “a group that is different racially, politically, etc., from a larger group of which it is a part.” I was prompted to think about the term…

It’s my favorite time of year. I love the fresh autumn breeze that brushes past my face every time I go outside and the fact that it’s socially acceptable to run around in Freddy Krueger and Darth Vader masks. I’m…

Summer has drawn to a close, and Mother Nature has begun painting the trees in beautiful fall colors. As fall arrives, the temperatures also begin to change. Unfortunately, cooler weather tends to be hard on my body, and it takes a while for me to adjust. As temperatures…

Last weekend, my friends and I celebrated my 29th birthday with a brunch that was arguably too classy for us kids. The Champagne endlessly poured, the laughter continuously ensued, and my heart overflowed with feelings of togetherness and gratitude. To complete the first-time experience at this rooftop restaurant, our table…

The excitement of baby news for novice grandparents rivals that of the soon-to-be parents. Giddiness pervades the pondering. Who will the baby look like? What strengths and interests will the little one inherit: academics, arts, sports, creative thinking  … common sense? Names, nursery decor, baby projects, and pregnancy updates…

The Casten household has a tight budget. I have been a teacher for 19 years, and Lindsay is the director of children’s ministries at our church. We are a family of five — plus two dogs and a bunny! Years ago, I began using a program…

For this week’s column, I’m going with something more lighthearted: existential dread. I’m kidding. My last couple of columns have been a little dreary in nature. Sometimes that’s what life throws at you. How about we talk about fall and Halloween? Because I’ve been…

The auditorium filled up quickly for a Monday night. Everyone was bursting with excitement. I sat in the back with my friend Jacob and posted on Facebook that I was about to freak out like a teenage fangirl at a Jonas Brothers concert. Yes, ladies, I’m…

In January 2011, I had a period of illness that sparked an emergency tracheostomy surgery. It also marked the time that home nursing care was unexpectedly thrust into my family’s lives. In the years since then, my nurses have become an important part of our household.