Amanda Irtz

Ingles Hall is a spacious, open room with sounds that bounce off walls and the cement floor.  The ceiling is adorned with rustic cast-iron chandeliers of pine-cones, birds, and of course, warm yellow lights.  A fireplace is framed by a hearth of bricks.  The hall itself is surrounded by pine trees that smell like chocolate, […]

The last birthday party I remember attending with my son was at least 365 days ago.  The day was ordinary – beautiful blue Colorado skies, a breakfast of gluten free pancakes and almond milk, and an hour of Saturday-morning cartoons (streamed cartoons, mind you).  We were gearing-up for a birthday party and the day was […]

When my son was 4 years-young, I told myself I wasn’t doing something right.  Maybe I didn’t have enough know-how about this so-called parenting gig.  The moments when my son trapped himself into his own world, thinking about the same thing over-and-over again, became more than just moments.  Transitioning from the car to home and […]

Our Aussie, a beautiful black Labrador, officially entered into our lives this week.   She brought with her a beloved, familiar toy: a stuffed rainbow llama.  Her eyes, a gentle brown, communicate her love for my son (and my daughter, of course) and her undeniable attention in everything he does.  My home, a place where the […]

Buddy loves neon green, forest green, 10 various shades of green.  I do believe that he would live in a forest green room with shelves and tables filled with his lego world creations.  And if he could, and I could buy him an endless supply of athletic socks and footwear, they would all be hues […]

After twelve cool, spring-air soccer games every Saturday, my daughter announced she was officially done with soccer all together.   Not only were there not enough smooth paths for her to glide on her scooter, but my son’s soccer team had yet to win a game (after playing for two seasons together).   For her, these soccer […]

Ten months ago we learned that my son would be getting a service dog.  Excitement bubbled up as my son quickly began to prepare for his new dog.  He put thought into where his dog would sleep and what color ball he would enjoy catching.  He pondered the size of the bowl for drinking water […]