When I was growing up, Easter was a much bigger celebration than Christmas. We prepared for it weeks in advance by baking endless delicious pastries, purchasing brand new outfits, shoes, and accessories to wear on Easter morning, and planning meals for the big family gathering, not to mention the monetary gifts we received from the grandparents, aunts, and uncles. We also enjoyed Easter because we received a longer break from school and work; we got four days off vs. three days for Christmas, and we celebrated for the four straight days. One of the main traditions was for everyone to…

I’m sure you’ve seen the slogan “Just Do It” it’s printed next to the Nike logo known as the Swoosh. This is one of my favorite slogans, it was created in 1988, and it took Nike to a complete new level of success by appealing to everyone in every age, gender, and stage of life. The slogan was considered both “universal and intensely personal.” This is a catchy slogan that takes away any excuses. It’s simple, it’s concise, yet it’s powerful. How many times do you hear yourself or others tell you to just do it? Or, better yet, when…

Yesterday was my family’s 21st anniversary of coming to America. What a miraculous journey that was! Saddam Hussein released an order to execute anyone who assisted American organizations, including their family members. Even though these organizations provided aid to the war stricken country, it did not matter to him. My family was on that list, not only because we worked with Horizon International, United Nations, Red Cross, UNICEF, and Open Doors, but also because we were missionaries who spread the gospel in a Muslim country. On that same day, President Bill Clinton launched Operation Pacific Haven to rescue us. On…