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  • Please, please don’t say the “R” word

    This past weekend as I prepared to board a flight, I stood in line at the gate waiting for my section to be allowed to board. I was preoccupied with the same thoughts that often come to mind as I travel. I worried that the weather was going to delay my trip home even further. I hoped there would be room for my carry-on luggage on the full flight. And most of all, in my constant quest for efficiency, I wished I could make everyone around me move a little faster.

  • Learning to say goodbye.

    I sat nursing my newborn son in what’s affectionately called “the yellow room.” It’s been that color for many years, since my mother-in-law was a girl. It was her bedroom back then- where she made her memories as a little girl, a teenager, a young woman. While sunlight danced around the cheerful walls, I nursed my son and noticed how he clenched my index finger with his tiny fingers. With his delicate hands wrapped tightly around mine, I was overwhelmed with love for this new little life.

  • Welcome to Illuminate

    Living in Central Florida for the past 10 years, it has amazed me to see the different people and cultures from all over the world represented right here in my own backyard. Many of the people that call this area home have come from places I've only dreamed of. They speak different languages, have different cultural and religious values and have totally different perspectives on the world around them. I love to hear their stories, get a glimpse into their lives and see the world as they see it.

  • Leading by example

    The other day I had lunch with a friend at one of our favorite mom-and-pop sandwich shops. Well, sort of. We did have lunch, but I only remember this lunch date in flashes of chaos and confusion created by two lively toddlers.

  • The right choice doesn't always come naturally

    I have a friend who makes natural medicine at home. She buys various herbs, soaks them in vodka for several weeks, and dispenses them to friends and family to treat and prevent illnesses like common colds and the flu. When I asked my friend why she chose this particular therapy, she replied: "It's natural. It's good for you."

  • Which type of milk is right for your kids?

    It sounds like a silly question. Is there a “right” and “wrong” type of milk? Not really. But, your child has different nutritional needs depending on their age. The type and amount of milk they consume plays a vital role in helping them meet those needs.

  • Bringing hope and happiness: Tyler's story

    The fight of a lifetime

    On April 14, 2005 Tyler was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma, an aggressive childhood cancer. He was two weeks away from his fifth birthday, and he had no idea that he was about to embark upon the fight of his life.

  • Living life to the fullest: Colton's story

    Colton is as wild and unpredictable as the bright red curls springing from his head. He loves life, and by life I mean sports, of course. As he bounds around the house, football in hand, it is hard to imagine that this lively 2-year-old was born with a disease that nearly took his young life.

  • On Father’s Day, remember the fathers of sick children

    When I was a little girl, my dad was my hero. He was strong and brave, and it only took his presence to make me feel safe and secure. I thought he understood everything there was to know in the world. I believed he could solve any problem, slay any dragon, protect me from all harm.

  • Amber teething necklaces: what's all the hype about?

    There’s no question about it: teething is a hard time in the life of a little one. Teething is painful and frustrating for both parents and children. And as we watch our children suffer, we parents feel the responsibility to ease their suffering any way we can. Could amber teething necklaces be the answer?

    What are amber teething necklaces?

    Baltic amber teething necklaces are marketed as a ‘natural’ healing remedy for infants as young as 3 months old. Retailers claim that when the necklaces are worn, the amber beads are heated by the child’s body temperature prompting the release of healing oils that penetrate the skin. They claim that these oils then relieve the pain and discomfort associated with teething.

    Should I try them for my child?

    There are two very basic problems with amber teething necklaces:
      They don’t work They aren’t safe
    It’s as simple as that. If you aren’t convinced, I would challenge you to stop and think for a moment about the plausibility of a gemstone emitting invisible oils that seep into one’s skin and target tooth pain. It’s a magical, mystical idea that sounds nice, but just isn’t reality.