This is the time of year when many people look at their debt situation and shudder. They dream of what it would be like to be out of debt. And, if they're brave, they begin to plan a strategy to reduce the amount of debt they carry. They'll begin with high hopes. But many of them will quit before reaching their goal, disappointed, discouraged...

The Christmas season is always a time to fit in as many family functions as possible. Many families have relatives come to town from all over. It’s a busy time for everyone. All families have to prioritize their time. With divorced parents, those priorities can be a struggle. When parents are divorced, the holidays can become a game of shuffling...

My daughter, Michelle, opened the oven – the cake was a flop!  It was supposed to be a layer cake.  She had planned a luscious filling, and either fluffy frosting or flowers created with fondant.  It would have been almost too beautiful to eat.  But an ingredient was too old, or the oven temperature was wrong, and there it was, flat and...

One of the simplest ways to reach out to your community is start with what you are already doing.  Generosity doesn’t have to be a grand sweeping gesture.  Generosity, at its core, is simple saying: This is what I have, do you need some? It’s that willingness to make it stretch, the open hand that breaks off a piece and offers it to another. When...

Regaining Control of My Life

Stress can do a lot to our bodies. Sometimes it causes physical pain. Sometimes it’s caused by emotional pain. After years of feeling rejected and abandoned by her mother, for Michelle Aguilar, food had always been her comfort. Her way of coping with pain controlled her life and made her feel guilty. It wasn’t until Michelle appeared on the reality...

The Top 10 Gifts You Shouldn’t Buy Your Wife This Christmas OK, let’s be honest. Sometimes men are bad at choosing gifts. Your intentions are good, but pick the wrong gift and you send the wrong message. So before you go out and buy a present for your wife, girlfriend or whoever that lovely lady is in your life, be sure to read these gift...

'Tis the season to be … gloomy? Feeling low this Christmas season?  You’re not alone.  Amid cheery songs, festive parties, gifts and good wishes, many lonely people are crying or dying on the inside.  Maybe you’re one of them.  I was. During a horrible year, my wife of 20 years divorced me, my employer of 25 years fired...