Christine Otten
Escape artist or pushover? | Mark’s Remarks
Okay, I’ll admit it: I’m a pushover sometimes when it comes to my kids. This is especially evident when they are babies. Now that the oldest three are beyond the…
What moms really want | Planet Ryan
Men, let’s be honest. If I could take a poll Saturday evening as I stand outside of a Hallmark or Walmart store, I bet 87 percent of you reading this…
Up and Down | Mark’s Remarks
My kids pitched in some of their birthday and Christmas money and, after money from grandparents and a little extra from their mother and me, they bought themselves a trampoline…
Step Up! | Mark’s Remarks
I am frankly fed up with the amount of parents or authority figures in this world who don’t do their jobs. If I hear that a child has ADHD or…
Is sitting really the new smoking? | Planet Ryan
Several months ago, a trusted physical fitness mentor in my life mentioned to me new research coming out that stated something along the lines of excessive sitting will at some…
Frettin’ and Fussin’ | Mark’s Remarks
I wrote a column a while back about how much energy we put into things that don’t matter. Most of the column was devoted to being angry, holding grudges, and…
Hands Free | Planet Ryan
As you may or may not know, earlier this year in Illinois, it became state law that one must use a hands-free way of talking on their cell phone while…
What would Jesus look like? | Mark’s Remarks
The first time I actually remember “seeing” Jesus was in a country church when I was very little. My family went there most Sundays. The church didn’t even have indoor…