Tag: family

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Ten Takeaways from Kristen Welch’s Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World

Posted on by Joy

Let me start with a story about something that happened in my own life while I was reading Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World by Kristen Welch. One afternoon, I was sitting on the sofa, taking a little rest after doing my chores for the day, when I received a text from my 13-year-old son: “The bus driver missed our street AGAIN.” He had been spending an hour on the bus every afternoon because the driver consistently missed the turn on to our street, only coming back at the end of her route to drop him off last. I Read more…

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Summer Bucket List

Posted on by Joy

School will be out soon and our family is looking forward to a fun and restful summer break. I made a list of 30 things to do this summer, and my kids wholeheartedly approved it, so here is our summer bucket list… Go strawberry or blueberry picking Go to a water park or pool Go bowling Build a campfire and make s’mores Go to the beach Go for a bike ride Have a picnic Go to a playground Go to a concert, play, or movie Do a science experiment Visit a library Bake cookies Make popsicles Play miniature golf Invite Read more…

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War Stories from my Uncle Louie

Posted on by Joy

On December 7, 1941, Japanese fighter planes attacked Pearl Harbor, sinking five battleships, destroying 188 aircraft, and killing 2355 U.S. servicemen. Four days later, the United States declared war against Japan, Germany, and Italy. My Uncle Louie was 20 years old at the time, living in Springfield, MA, and working at the Bosch plant there. He was engaged to his sweetheart, Betty, and they were planning a summer wedding. Louie Gentile married Betty in July 1942, and soon received his draft notice. No one in the family was particularly concerned about Louie being drafted. He was blind in his right Read more…

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Reflections on a Southern Snow

Posted on by Joy

When 2018 began, there was snow in the forecast for Charleston, SC. The meteorologists said we could get up to three inches, but I was skeptical. I couldn’t imagine anything more than a dusting – not even enough to cover the grass. This is my fourth winter here in Charleston. Every year, my six-year-old asks, “When is it going to snow?” Every time, I tell him, “It isn’t going to snow, sweetheart. We live in Charleston. It never snows here.” We lived in Norfolk, VA, when he was a toddler, so he has seen snow, but he doesn’t remember it. Read more…

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The House on Hancock Street

Posted on by Joy

Antonio Gentile packed his personal belongings and left the tiny Italian village of Atena Lucana, bound for a new life in America. He arrived in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1919, and was greeted by his brother, Alfonso, who had recently emigrated as well. Antonio trained to be a machinist like his brother, and worked diligently for Van Norman Machine & Tool. He learned to speak English and became a U.S. citizen. In 1920, Rosina Mango (also from Atena Lucana) joined Antonio in America and they were married. Over the next eight years, Rose gave birth to five boys: Luigi, Alfonso, James, Read more…