A few summers back, I took the kids to visit the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Here, America's most treasured historical documents, including original copies of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, are on display.

The word tragedy is overused in our society, but the word has perhaps never been applied more correctly than to describe what's been uncovered at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, also known as the VA.

We awoke one morning in Kabul to the sound of not-too-distant explosions, marking the start to the fighting season. But bombs were not the foremost takeaway from our Mother's Day trip to Afghanistan -- the women fighting to stop the bombs left a more lasting impression.

If your family is anything like mine, it's a constant struggle to find new ways to decrease the monthly electricity bill. I can't even begin to count how many times Bryon and I tell the kids "turn off the lights if you're not in the room" or "shut that refrigerator door!"

With more than a quarter of a million people living on or supported by Fort Bragg, I take it personally when outside agencies tread on Fort Bragg's ability to carry out its operation or affect the livelihood of those living on post.