Try this easy recipe for bread pudding — Ingredients 6 slices of day-old bread, torn into small pieces 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted ½ cup raisins (Optional) 2 cups milk ¾ cup white sugar 4 large eggs, beaten 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Directions Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place bread pieces…

This book is so good you will want to share it with your friends — I bought this book because I enjoyed reading a few articles on Medium by Deb Palmer, one of the authors of In Spite of Us. Her style is entertaining, filled with humor and heart. This book, co-written with her husband Sandy, fulfilled all my expectations and more. Deb and Sandy…

How I became an idolater — When I started writing about dealing with estrangement from my daughter, my prayer partner said, “People in recovery groups often talk about the sickness, which doesn’t do any good. You’ve got to focus on the cure.” So what’s the cure? You can’t change another person’s heart. You can’t make a…

My solution filled my soul with joy — My daughter turned 37 a year after our estrangement began. For several weeks I mulled over whether or not to contact her for her birthday. Finally, I sent her a brief message wishing her well, and to her credit, she responded. However, she made it clear that she did not…

You’ll love this 3-ingredient fruity frozen dessert — Fresh fruit is plentiful during the summer. The problem is, if you don’t eat it right away, it will spoil. Preserving summer’s bounty through freezing and canning works for some people but not for me. So instead, I look for ways to enjoy perishable fruit immediately. …

Try my favorite way of enjoying summer’s bounty — Summertime is veggie time in the United States, and thanks to our abundant harvests, fresh vegetables are readily available at a reasonable price. If you enjoy vegetables like cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, mushrooms, zucchini, summer squash, bell peppers, asparagus, green beans, and tomatoes, you should experiment with this recipe for…

Who knew that plain old lettuce could taste so good? — My friend Connie gave me this recipe while I was volunteering at Foodnet, an urban gleaning organization in Lincoln, Nebraska, that collects short-dated perishable foods and distributes them to people in need. You don't have to fill out a form or show your tax return to qualify. All you have…

Our kids canceled us. Here's how we've coped. — You are reading the first chapter of my book on reclaiming your life after estrangement. I am looking for feedback and welcome your thoughts. Estrangement between loving parents and their children is nothing new. When I was 13, I babysat for a delightful little boy whose mother doted on him…