One thing I know for sure about raising children is that every single day a kid needs discipline.... But also every single day a kid needs a break.

The problem with God - or at any rate, one of the top five most annoying things about God - is that he or she rarely answers right away.

I've seen prayers answered. But often, in my experiences, if you get what you pray for, you've really shortchanged yourself.

Your experiences will be yours alone. But truth and best friendship will rarely if ever disappoint you.

I don't remember who said this, but there really are places in the heart you don't even know exist until you love a child.

We are going to die, as is everyone we adore - I hate this! But the question is, how do we live as women and men in the face of this? Why do we let ourselves be so distracted and obsessed by meaningless B.S. in light of having one short, precious life? When are we going to wake up and be fully alive to each other and nature and magic and wonder and Life with a capital L? When will we stop hitting the snooze button? And then, how alive are we willing to be?

This is what separates artists from ordinary people: the belief, deep in our hearts, that if we build our castles well enough, somehow the ocean won't wash them away. I think this is a wonderful kind of person to be.