If you ask Andrea Spencer what Mother's Day means to her, she'll say, "Another year with Mallory." And that's enough -- because life with Mallory has been full of surprises, both good and bad. Born Dec. 2, 1986, at just 32 weeks, Mallory's lungs were underdeveloped and seizures, which likely began at or shortly before birth, caused substantial brain damage. Caring for Mallory has been a full-time job, 24/7, 365 days a year for 21 years. 

Kristen Friesen offers her reflections of the State Capitol Building during a field trip with her daughter.

With tax rebates arriving in bank accounts and summer fast approaching, many families are thinking of taking a get-away with their economic stimulus check.

I couldn't help but think how spring is supposed to be a time of rebirth -- how all of humanity cheers its budding testaments to resiliency in prying open winter's icy grip. If ever a season could bring hope, it would be spring.

When I retired, I said "yes" to requests that I had said "no" to while working full time. Now, my time is free but I don't have a lot of extra time.

"Metamorphosis" is the word to remember for the Teen Summer Reading Program this summer.

At the end of last week's column, because I had more on my mind, I said I would write about memory this week. Do you think I can remember what I wanted to add? Sorry, more "memory information" will just have to wait on my memory.

More like TV Turn-down Week. Sometime or another each evening, Cathy asks if I think it's loud enough for the neighbors to hear, too. So turning down the set was as close as I got to observing this annual event.