February is Black History Month, and we want you to meet Amanda Gorman.  She is the first Youth Poet Laureate of the United States.  She recognizes the importance of that.  She also acknowledges that she’s the first woman to serve in the role and the first African-American to serve in the role.  That’s a lot…Read more »

Hannah and Marissa Brandt are sisters.  Growing up together.  Doing everything together.  Including playing hockey together.  They’re even at the Olympics together.  Both are at the Olympics, both are playing hockey, but they’re on different teams!  What an exciting time for their family!  What an interesting journey to the Olympic Games! Click the link below…Read more »

For Valentine’s Day, we’re bringing you an unusual love story.  Paul Kalanithi wrote his memoir, When Breath Becomes Air, as he battled lung cancer at 37.  Nina Riggs wrote her memoir, The Bright Hour, as she battled breast cancer at 39.  After Paul and Nina died, their surviving spouses began an email conversation.  Lucy and…Read more »

On the way to work one day last week, I heard a news report that disturbed me.  When I arrived at the office, I looked up the text of the report to confirm that what I thought I heard was accurate.  The reporter said that “higher percentages of voters say they’d be disappointed if a…Read more »

  The Opening Ceremony for the Winter Olympics is today.  What an exciting time for athletes from around the world!  Many of those athletes, however, struggle against prejudice.  With the support of family and friends, folks face all kinds of bias.  If you’re watching the Olympics, you’ll probably see the following ad a lot.  While…Read more »

The Super Bowl is over, but Stories of Joy has one more football story for you to finish off this season.  Danny had one dream.  To be a Rebel!  Since he was a little boy, he dreamed of playing on the Moose Lake High School Football Team.  How do you stop a kid from dreaming…Read more »

You may have seen Ryan and Rebecca Holets at last week’s State of the Union Address. They, along with their baby named Hope, were guests in the First Lady’s box. Ryan is a police officer in Albuquerque. While on duty last fall, he encountered Crystal Champ, a homeless drug addict. That may be a regular…Read more »

Sometimes joy is found in the darkest moments that life presents.  It can serve us, carry us, and even offer us a moment of rescue when there seems to be no other reason to smile.  This story is an example of joy breaking through darkness, and it exemplifies the unbending power it can offer each…Read more »

Before we close the books on January, let’s look at an interesting statistic from 2017.  There were more organ donations last year than any year yet.  The organs of 10,000 people were donated to save the lives of others.  Victoria Arias and her family gave one of those gifts.  The Atencio family is incredibly grateful…Read more »

This story could be one that is happening in your own city.  It is important that we find community, a place to belong, others to share our struggles and celebrations with.   This restaurant owner recognizes that…”As different as we are, we are a family.” This couple and the business they started is making a difference in the…Read more »