After we lost our oldest son, Joshua, I became more aware of how impacting friends and loved ones can be  to those around us when we just make a small effort to be there for them. To shine, when they are not able to. Joshua was a lover, and he shone on everyone around him, friends or strangers. I also found that, in the midst of my pain and loss, I found peace in shining on others. It brought me back to joy.

My middle name is Dare. As a kid growing up in North Carolina, my parents called me SophieDare. They happened to live in Dare county on the outerbanks when I was born. It is an amazing legacy stemming from Virginia Dare and the orignal lost colony. When you go to Manteo, NC, you can see the outdoor play reenactment.

I never thought too much about the name, until I faced the most challenging and gut-wrenching period of my life. As I walked through this last 6 years, and the changes in our family dynamics that grief can affect, I have relied on basic biblical principles that have helped give me a focus and foundation to stand. It is a choice or a DARE, everyday, for each of us to live, speak and act on these principles, regardless of our circumstances or situation or even tragedies. I have included the Dare Poem in the sidebar that links to posts on each of these biblical principles and how they changed my life.

Whether you are currently facing an unsurmountable challenge, or just trying, like we are now, to keep wildboys alive and out of the mud until they become young men, I hope you can relate.

I encourage you to peruse the site, enjoy the Dare poem and posts, and let me know you were here with any comments or suggestions.