My 5-year-old son and I tiptoed over rancid puddles of water inside a ladies' room, somewhere on the road between Agra and Jaipur. “Breathe through your mouth,” I instructed so as to avoid gagging on the stench in the air. We had gotten the red alert…

Thousands flock to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, but just steps away is something quite amazing. “They say it’s always Christmas in Bethlehem,” said Michele Bowe one recent evening from Bethlehem during one of her many yearly trips. She…

It's a miracle that she survived long enough to be born, and now the baby who has defied all the odds is turning 2 years old. It’s been nearly a year since Pope Francis was in Philadelphia during his historic visit to the United States. Some may…

In our exclusive interview, Parker shares how she works to forgive, heal, and find beauty after losing her daughter, Emilie. “I couldn’t believe my eyes. In that moment I was overwhelmed with love and happiness. I felt Emilie again. She was here with…

Blogger and author Michelle Madrid-Branch, who was adopted, was called to be an advocate for orphans worldwide. Fairy tales, even the real-life ones, always have a sorrowful beginning, and the story of Michelle Madrid-Branch is no different. The…

One family’s experience with obsessive-compulsive disorder and its shocking root cause. When middle school student Connor Odom road-tripped with his family from their home in Charlotte, North Carolina to Atlanta to play in the U.S. Basketball…

Partly because technology and high expectations have pretty much ruined everything. There’s nothing like a little validation, right? The latest research reveals what many of us already knew: a lot of parents are pretty stressed out these days. And,…

One family's roller-coaster story of loss, hope, and even some humor through it all. As their minivan hurtled down the highway, Amy Walsh* panted and struggled in the front while her husband Michael tried to keep his eyes on the road. Their children…

Set your DVRs: The story of Mary you've always wanted to know “What’s the deal with Mary? Do you worship her?” Catholics around the world are used to these questions from non-Catholics and, unless you aced your Catechism classes in your youth,…

But there's still a little more to be done ... Women and equal pay is a hot topic in the U.S. lately, but it’s always interesting to hear what people around the world are saying about it. To that end, an interesting survey of nearly 149,000 women and…

Remember those lovely bathtime memories from childhood? We were on to something! “So what stories are you working on right now?” My dermatologist asked during a recent checkup. I paused, knowing what I was going to tell him would sound completely…

Ellen Willson Hoover Ellen Willson Hoover is a freelance writer and former Capitol Hill aide and lobbyist. She writes about travel, healthy living, parenting, and social issues and is a contributor to The Wall Street Journal, Martha's Vineyard…