Blog

Please check out this blog written by a friend of mine, Kateri Allard.  She is a nurse and gives a very interesting perspective of caregiving from a nurse’s point of … Continued

Four years!  Some days it feels as if it never happened, others like it was just yesterday.  As a family we huddled together in the hospital room.  Waiting.  Praying.  Struggling.  … Continued

One of the most common cries we hear from parents who come to David’s Refuge is an overwhelming feeling of isolation and loneliness.  Without fail when I tell our Moms … Continued

Today I experienced the power of generosity.  Brenda and I had lunch at Gordon-Biersch at Destiny USA in Syracuse.  We had a wonderful conversation with Matt Swanner, the General Manager, … Continued

Have you ever learned a new language?  Almost twenty years ago I learned to speak Polish while living in Wroclaw, Poland.  We learned by being totally immersed in the culture … Continued

Many moons ago I studied Greek in seminary.  Sadly I have forgotten most of it, but today I want to introduce you to a Greek word I really like: συνέργια … Continued

How many of you remember reading in the child rearing text book you had to read before having children that they would add extra stress to your marriage?  I think … Continued

Thank you to everyone who stopped for a few minutes and joined me in thinking about David!  I hope you laughed and cried as hard as I did as you … Continued

I’m often asked by our guests if it is hard to talk about David over and over again.  His life and death is an integral part of David’s Refuge.  There … Continued

Last week I met with an incredible group of parents who were part of a pilot project called CHAT, Communication Hope through Assistive Technology. Its mission is to assist youth … Continued

This is a picture of a painting that hangs in David’s Refuge.  It was painted and given to us by our dear friend, Alison Fisher Cullen the day after David … Continued

I want to introduce you to some new friends of mine, Mark and Bethany.  I have known them for close to two year now.  We have laughed together, cried together, … Continued

My church has been doing a series on hospitality for the past four weeks.  One of the pastors defined hospitality as a tangible expression of God’s love.  He said hospitality … Continued

On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it … Continued

Today marks the fifth international Rare Disease Day.  It is a day that unites families, communities, and nations together with the common hope and belief that one day the disease … Continued

Today I am writing to share with the world my love for my wife, Brenda Pfohl!  She has been my partner, wife, and best friend for close to 28 years.   … Continued

Whenever I meet a family who has a child with a special need or who has a potentially life threatening disease it doesn’t take me very long to start talking … Continued

Guest:  “One who is a recipient of hospitality at the home or table of another.” David’s Refuge’s success rises and falls on having guests.  No guests, no hospitality.  No guests, … Continued

I love the Christmas season because it is filled with traditions we have been forming for the past twenty seven years.  Whether it’s the stringing of popcorn and cranberries, putting … Continued

Just a quick post to let you know about the article in the Syracuse Post Standard.  Please let those you know who could use some respite about the article! http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/12/couple_opening_manlius_bed-and.html … Continued

One of the challenges we are facing at David’s Refuge is getting people to actually sign up and make a reservation to stay at the Refuge.  When we explain to … Continued

Often people will ask us, “What do you hope the couples who stay at David’s Refuge will walk away with.”  Our response is always the same, “We want them to … Continued

In an hour we are driving to pick up our son, Daniel at SUNY New Paltz for Thanksgiving.  Chris and Brit will arrive late tomorrow night.  I can’t wait to … Continued

If you and your family are looking for a practical way to give thanks this year during the Thanksgiving and Christmas season I would love to encourage you to give … Continued

Last week I received a letter from the Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation letting us know David’s Refuge had been awarded an $8,000 grant to help pay or offset the … Continued

November 2nd would have been David’s 23rd birthday.  To celebrate his life and to remind ourselves that we are not alone we had an Open House for David’s Refuge.  We … Continued

Welcome to You’re Not Alone!  My hope is that you will come here often, and as you pause to read and reflect that you will discover community, friendships, and hope … Continued