Author Archive for Warren Pfohl

Just a quick blog to invite you to join Brenda and me tonight (11/7/18) at 8:30 PM EST for a Facebook Live event. November is National Caregiver Month and David’s Refuge will be hosting 4 Empowerment sessions to encourage, teach, and support you in you role as a mom, dad, and caregiver.

It almost feels like it was yesterday.  In my mind’s eye I can see my bride, Brenda, walking down the aisle, gorgeous, white dress, veil covering her face, her dad … Continued

  “1988, that was the year I was born!”  Eight little words, a short sentence spoken with no malice and my heart and emotions were immediately hijacked.  Fighting back tears, … Continued

I love a great party!  People laughing, celebrating, eating and drinking, storytelling, dancing, and yelling with arms raised high as your team scores the winning touchdown.  Who doesn’t enjoy a … Continued

Today’s Blog is brought to you by Sarah Watson – David’s Refuge Event Manager   Definition: proud/ adjective 1. Feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction as a result of one’s own … Continued

Yesterday my doctor looked me in the eyes and said, “You have to work on your hygiene!”  No, I’m not my talking about my personal hygiene.  My appointment was with … Continued

  I’m working on developing a new habit.  It’s going to take time and effort, but I am confident that I will succeed.  You see,, for the past five or … Continued

Today’s Blog is brought to you by Sarah Watson Year yir/ noun 1. the time taken by a planet to make one revolution around the sun. 2. the period of … Continued

“Hey Warren…wanted to text you…Just talked to doctors…test indicate positive for rhabdomyosarcoma…Finn’s cancer is back.” Come on God!  We prayed for the Schafrans.  Finn was in recovery.  He was getting … Continued

Apart from the occasional humorous anecdote or good-natured jab at his expense, I don’t often write about my husband. Sure, I write a lot about life and family in general, … Continued

I need your help!  Last year I dropped the ball big time.  I’m sitting in my office, sipping coffee, checking out what’s happening that day on Facebook, and I start … Continued

Today’s post is brought to you by Sarah Watson – David’s Refuge Events Manager Mom. What does that word mean to you? To me “mom” is pretty much everything. A … Continued

Yesterday I had the following symptoms: I had this nagging feeling I didn’t belong I was more emotional than usual I had a hard time getting motivated I was a … Continued

I’m back!  It was good to step back and take a few weeks off.  We enjoyed Christmas in New York with our whole family and just sent Dan and Katie … Continued

  As you are reading this post we will be gathered with our family to celebrate Christmas in New York.  I can’t wait!  We will all be together on Christmas … Continued

I posted this last year and wanted to share it with you again this!  It is a great one to share with folks who ask the question, “What can we … Continued

Today will be my final blog entry on the “The Story of David’s Refuge.”  It has been fun, therapeutic, and at times difficult to wade through some of the more … Continued

I am not much of a shopper.  The moment I walk into a shopping mall something happens to me physically.  My eyes start to dry out.  My mind goes numb … Continued

“How can you say you are grateful for your son’s death?”  This father’s anger and grief over his son’s diagnosis was raw.  All he could see and feel as we … Continued

It was 3:02 and our first guests had not yet arrived.  Pandora was playing a quiet jazz station.  The flower arrangement was placed in the vase in the bedroom.  The … Continued

  There is only way to live and never be hurt and that is to choose to never love another person.  If you are in a relationship with anyone, you … Continued

Do you remember the first “stupid” argument you got into with your spouse?  I do!  It was about whether chili is considered a soup or not.  We had only been … Continued

I would like to introduce you to my new grandson, Asa Rowan Pfohl!  Asa and his mommy and daddy will be home in about an hour.  His brothers, Ezra and … Continued

Today I want to introduce you to a fellow blogger, a mom of a child with special needs, a David’s Refuge guest and host, and friend, Lara Capuano.   I love … Continued

To stand or to kneel, a question that seems to be dividing our country.  Turn on your TV, open your Facebook News  Feed, or listen to the radio for just … Continued

Often you will hear me say we live in a beautiful yet broken world.  Sadly the brokenness surrounds us here in Bonita Spring, Florida.  Hurricane Irma was vicious and destructive. … Continued

Rocky Balboa got it!  He didn’t try to hide it; he didn’t pretend; he simply admitted he had “gaps.”  In fact, when asked by his brother-in-law Paulie Pennino why he … Continued

More often than not moms and dads who have enjoyed a weekend at David’s Refuge ask the question, “What can I do to give back?”  Our normal response is to … Continued

Without a doubt he is my best friend.  We shared a common womb, we were born on the same day, we both came to faith in a God who loved … Continued

I spent sometime this week reading through comments our guests made after their weekend get away with David’s Refuge.  As I read them I couldn’t help but think of how … Continued

Do you realize you were created to make a difference?  You are a force to be reckoned with.  Out of the 7.5 billion people who call planet earth their home, … Continued

A couple weeks ago Brenda started working on a puzzle.  She loves the challenge of finding all the flat pieces, forming the frame, gathering all the same colored and patterned … Continued

Last week I watched my nephew and my niece’s boyfriend riding a paddleboard on some very wavy water.  They balanced and paddled and battled the waves, both enjoying the challenge. … Continued

For the past four weeks I have shared some very personal letters I wrote to David.  As Brenda helped edit my posts she would often quietly cry as she was … Continued

One of the greatest blessings I have in my life is my wife, Brenda.  For 33 years we have enjoyed the highs and lows of living together in this beautiful … Continued

For the next four weeks I am going to share some letters that I wrote to David near the end of his life.  One of the greatest struggles I faced … Continued

My daughter-in-law, Brittney is from California.  She pronounces apricot as “āprəkät.”  I pronounce it as “aprəkät”  Who is right?  We both are!  There is no right way.  No matter how … Continued

Today I am believing in the phrase, “Shorter is Better!” Tomorrow we are returning to Florida so we can pack up and fly to Costa Rica with our church on a … Continued

w How do you calculate the value of a volunteer?  According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, last year about 63 million Americans gave 8 billion hours of volunteer service … Continued

Last week I was talking on the phone with a potential board member for David’s Refuge who would bring great value to our organization.  During our conversation I shared how blessed we … Continued

I want to introduce to you two good friends of mine, Jeff and Bitsy Namy.  Jeff and Bitsy have been volunteering with David’s Refuge for the past several years and … Continued

Have you ever heard of the “Bonita Bay Shuffle?”  If you had to guess, what do you think it is?  If you guessed a new dance move Brenda and I … Continued

I love and hate this quote on grief. “Grief is not a disorder, a disease or a sign of weakness. It is an emotional, physical and spiritual necessity, the price you … Continued

Like many of you I have a morning routine that helps me enter into the day. I get up, grind my coffee beans and make the coffee. While the coffee … Continued

Have you ever had a day like Alexander’s, a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day?  From the moment Alexander wakes up everything goes south.  He finds gum in his … Continued

ex·haus·tion [iɡˈzôsCH(ə)n] noun a state of extreme physical or mental fatigue. the action or state of using something up or of being used up completely drained of one’s physical or … Continued

For the past thirty three years I have had only one Valentine, my beautiful, wonderful, talented, godly, funny, artistic, kind, and generous best friend, Brenda Bell Pfohl.  We have lived … Continued

On Sunday I watched a video in our church that told the story of D’Brickashaw and Kirsten Ferguson.  D’Brickashaw played left tackle for the NY Jets.  Like many of us they … Continued

Have you ever been really sad but at the same time filled with a sense of incredible joy?  It’s a really a strange feeling.  Yesterday an article in the Daily Orange … Continued

One of my personal goals this year is to do a better job of taking care of myself.  I am slowly starting to realize that I am no longer a 23 year … Continued

How would you like to experience the following? Improved physical, emotional, and social well-being Greater optimism and happiness Improved feelings of connection in times of loss or crises Increased self-esteem … Continued

Six years ago Brenda and I bought a pound of bacon, a dozen eggs, some fresh fruit and a gift certificate to a local restaurant to prepare for our first … Continued

Every Tuesday I sit down at my computer and ask myself the question, “What should I write about this week?”  Often I have been chewing or ruminating on a thought all … Continued

For some reason the video message I posted did not appear in today’s blog.   I am going to try and post it again here.  Sorry for any confusion!

2016 was a year of many changes and transitions for Brenda and me.  We are grateful for the many friends who have walked with us through both the good and … Continued

Sadly, fear is a part of being human.  It is always uninvited, unwanted, and limiting.  Ask twenty five people what they fear most and more than likely each one will … Continued

Every year a few weeks before Christmas friends and family would begin to call and ask, “What can I get David for Christmas?”  Each year David would lose more of … Continued

I want to give you a gift.  I know you need it and want it.  In fact, your health and your ability to be a good parent, husband, wife, or best … Continued

It’s story time!  So grab a cup of coffee and take just a moment to find a comfortable place to sit and see if you can find the one simple … Continued

Thursday will mark the 7th year David will not be joining us for Thanksgiving dinner.  Once again I will miss him. I miss his nonstop chatter about girls, the New … Continued

Where’s Waldo?  I’ll be honest I never liked looking for Waldo.  I would spend about 45 seconds looking for the little man with his red and white striped shirt, knit pom pom … Continued

For the past three weeks my pastor in Florida has been preaching a series on the power of encouragement. Isn’t it amazing how one word of praise, an unexpected note … Continued

Have you ever heard of Kintsugi?  It is the ancient Japanese art of mending broken objects with gold, silver or platinum.   I love the way Kintsugi artists actually embrace the … Continued

Have you ever been hijacked by the lie that you are a nobody? You begin to compare yourself to others around you and you think, “What have I ever done … Continued

Every summer I went to Boy Scout camp.  While I enjoyed the hiking and fire building and working on my merit badges, I often felt a little lonely.  Night time was the worst.  I … Continued

  Do you remember the first time you drove a car all by yourself?  Do you remember what you were doing and where you were when the planes hit the … Continued

Brenda and I bought our first real painting for our home in Door County, Wisconsin. It’s entitled “Mischief Afloat” by Pamela Murphy.  She is a local artist who collects old … Continued

Did you know that the saying “Easy Peasy” comes from the phrase “Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy?” It was coined in the 1950s in a commercial for a Sqezy, a British … Continued

I was a very shy boy growing up especially around girls.  One word or a question from a member of the opposite sex and my ears would begin to glow … Continued

This past Saturday we held our third annual Taste of David’s Refuge.  It was an elegant, extravagant, food and fun filled evening celebrating the legacy of David’s life and the … Continued

This Friday is The Taste of David’s Refuge.  Yes its a fund raising event but it is so much more.  It’s a celebration of success, of a life giving mission … Continued

Many of you have asked how Finn is doing.  If you are interested in following their journey and want updates please follow them on their new blog  at www.finnsfans.wordpress.com.  This … Continued

For the past week many of us have been praying for Finn and his family.  Almost daily I think about them sitting down with the doctor and hearing the words, … Continued

Cancer. Just typing the word makes me feel sick. Sadly our dear friends, Dan and BrandiLee Schafran’s little boy, Finn was just diagnosed with a rare malignant cancer called rhabdomyosarcosis. … Continued

I took a stress test online today and scored 443!  When I looked up what this meant it said, “You have a high or very high risk of becoming ill … Continued

I’m sorry but I have to boast about something today.  David’s Refuge is where it is today “Because Of” the support, hard work, and dedication of our Board of Directors. … Continued

10 Fitch understands.  They get it.  Everyone needs a little elegance, tranquility, and romance.  Ask any guest who has stayed at this beautiful bed and breakfast and they will tell … Continued

Have you ever wondered why it is some people can walk through adversity and actually use it to become better, while others go through a trial and they become bitter?  … Continued

This past weekend I was privileged to be a part of a panel discussion on “Caring for the Caregiver” at the 2014 Accessibility Summit.   This is an annual conference … Continued

Have you ever read a book that you just couldn’t put down? Each chapter draws you deeper and deeper into the story as the plot takes twists and turns you could … Continued

Today is Rare Disease Day.  David’s life was shortened by Battens Disease.  We know first hand the affect of living with one of these horrible diseases.   Today I am … Continued

“This place is beautiful.”  Even without sight David knew the potential beauty that Frog’s Whisker Lane, the birth place of David’s Refuge, contained within its borders.  On his first visit … Continued

This past weekend I read the following in a daily devotional I often read called Our Daily Bread: For almost 100 years, a huge piece of flawed Carrara marble lay … Continued

Today I found this beautiful video that celebrates the power and beauty of imperfection.  “Beautifully Imperfect” is a celebration of our idiosyncrasies, and how they can wind up making our … Continued

My youngest son Daniel is an artist.  Specifically he is a ceramicist.  He loves to make pottery.  He loves to throw, beat, mold, and shape clay. His hands, strong yet … Continued

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for my blog.  I thought you would enjoy seeing it.  After looking through their findings I would love to know … Continued

In just a few weeks we will be  opening the doors for 2014!  It is going to be a very exciting year.  Our goals are: To double the number of … Continued

Today is #GivingTuesday.   One website I looked at said that it is: a movement to create a national day of giving to kick off the giving season added to … Continued

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving!  My son is wrapping a turkey with bacon and then slowly roasting it with apple wood chips in his Weber grill!  Excuse me as I wipe the … Continued