Many years ago, when I was young enough to think 26 hours on a bus sounded fun, my friends and I rode from Belize, where we were living, to Mexico City for the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

I attended college in Ohio, about a day’s drive away from my hometown. This meant that I was only able to go home for the big holidays like Christmas and spring break.

“Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.”

In 2018, Hurricane Michael left our house unlivable and our community devastated.

Before I became a parent, I thought kids should eat what adults eat, sleep in their own bed all night and only have an hour of screen time on Saturdays.

It all started with my kiddos getting involved in local theater.

I’ve been a youth minister — either full time or part time — for the past 15 years.