My dad—Jack Correll—lost his 8-year-battle to colon cancer late January and that brings with it endless thoughts and feelings. He fought valiantly until his very last breath, and while we knew that day was inevitable, it seems to have all-of-a-sudden crept up on us.

Have you ever experienced something that you’re not able to shake? Tuesday I went for a walk in my neighborhood, and as I walked toward home I heard what sounded like an adult/teenage male screaming and cursing. It was horribly loud. Very vulgar. Degrading. Abusive. Terrifying, really.

Closest family members and dearest friends arrived unbelievably early, waiting for little Ro and her mommy and daddy to land in Chicago.

None of us were missin' this moment, I can promise you that!

While man tried to rob her of freedom’s dance, God whispered gently in her ear that her day was approaching. The waltz for a freer tomorrow was unfolding.

What you don't know is that I choke back tears every year

when you say, "Sophie, come here, I want some photos of just you and me."

Sometimes you see God's heart wrapped up in the gift of family. Rebba family, you are truly beautiful, inside and out and for a brief hour last Saturday evening, I saw the face of God.

Without a doubt, the past two years have been the hardest of my life…

Don’t you just wish you could shoulder the sadness felt by your children?

Back in the early-mid 90s, I was crazy about Jack and we were best of friends but he wasn't ready to commit to anything.

I know you by heart, Winter Woods. You are familiar from early childhood all up into my forties.

December 19, 2016 | 3:50pm: I knew it was coming, I just didn't know when. And in my heart of hearts, I knew it wasn't going to be good; I just had that sense. We got the first call on December 8th. Cancer.

As Jack, the kids and I cuddled on our couch after the race,

I told them that this day would go down as one of my very favorite, best days EVER in my whole life. And I've had a lot of really great days!

About a month ago, the little guy decided —out of the blue mind you— that he wanted a surprise party for his March birthday. How does a 7-year-old even know of the concept of a surprise party, let alone ask for one? He really, REALLY wanted a surprise.