Growing Bolder Community

This story is about the trip we took to see my mom at Christmas, 1982. She lived in Evans, Colorado and we lived in Page, Arizona. We had decided to take our four sons in our Dodge van not knowing what the weather had in store. We packed several bags, blankets, water and our cosmetic case for what we though was a two or three day vacation. We were supposed to be at my mom’s house...

It was a quiet, calm evening. Christmas eve. The “Pythia” was sailing under a full moon. On board, captain Hessel Westra did his shift and drinking his coffee that the cook had brought to him in the stirring cabin. “Another Christmas at sea,” the cook sighted. He gleamed outside. Hessel didn’t speak. He shivered. Every now and then a beam of light flashed over the water from...

Well, the trip down to Phoenix went smoothly, no snow, no ice and plenty of sunshine. Right after the Christmas program I was all packed and ready to go. I said my good-byes and headed to a much warmer climate. I arrived at my son Steven’s for the night and stayed until Christmas day. While there I managed to finish wrapping presents and sending off a few more cards. Steven and Eileen had...

2010 was coming to an end and I was happy that my year-long challenges were resolved. My health reports were all good and my professional goals were new and exciting. The entire month of December was filled with parties and social events. My husband and I were looking forward to a quiet holiday week to relax and rejuvenate. On Christmas Eve, a Friday night this year, we ate dinner in, then went up...

I'm not sure where the thought came from - probably an episode of Oprah. I found myself wondering if the Middleton’s have enough family holiday traditions. Like any good dad, I want my children to cherish the memories of this wonderful time of year. In a world where nearly everything's disposable, traditions remind us that some things are meant to last. The really good things can last for...

Strategies to Survive Holiday Stress By Dwight Bain, Nationally Certified Counselor & Certified Life Coach Have you ever wondered why traditional holidays are so stressful? Instead of being called the ‘most wonderful time of the year,’ it seems that we should rename it to be more accurately called the ‘most difficult time of the year’. I believe you can break the pattern of...