immediate family

Blood makes you related, loyalty makes you family.

Victim, Survivor or Fighter?
This is not a story for the weak minded or for those of a softer nature. This is the short biography of a women who has struggled through more hardship in her young life than most have gone through in the span of a lifetime. Although she herself is also flawed and has made mistakes. Some may be so bad, they will surprise you. But it is all true. And it is through these trials, tribulations and sins that she finds out exactly how strong she is and what amazing things she is capable of. It may have some sad moments, and it may make you angry at times. But this is not what I want you to take from it. By the time I have finished telling this story, I hope you have found the "Fighter" within yourself, and the determination to keep your head up no matter what life throws at you.
By Tessa McGarity8 years ago in Families
Bad Luck Like a Lightning Storm
It was June 2014. My family finally had enough of my maternal aunt causing us nothing more than grief with her criminal activities in my maternal grandmother's home. My stepfather, late in the night, woke my mother, my little sister, myself, and twins. The twins were less than 2-years-old. He had us pack everything we could and stuff it into our tiny little 1990's van the best we could. We fit everything we could get, leaving only a couple of things behind... including the backseat.
By Ady Friel8 years ago in Families
Does Time REALLY Heal All Wounds?
When I was 18-years-old, I met my daughter’s father. We dated and although our relationship was very tumultuous (he was abusive), we planned and had our daughter. I was 20 when she was born; young and so very naive.
By Lisa Pantoja8 years ago in Families
Dear Family
Dear Mom, I don’t understand why you hold grudges for so long, aren’t you tired of being angry? You stay mad at your brother as if he really hurt you. If he did why don’t you tell him? Put your pride aside and let him know how much he hurt you when my nana died and he took everything that was supposed to go to you for him. Why don’t you talk to me about what happened when I was a teenager in high school. Why you stood by and did nothing as my aunt lied and framed me? She said I did drugs all because I was skinny. You knew it wasn’t true and you stood there and let her tell everyone those lies. I was hurt but I didn’t hold that grudge against you. You are still my mom and I love you so I don’t want you to keep all this toxic negativity in your body. You are strong, and you raised me on your own in that house with my nana. I wish you would learn to be happy. I wish you would find it in your heart to forgive your brother. You only have one, so don’t wait until it’s too late and one day he’s just gone. You will hold more anger and pain that you will not be able to cope with. Go tell your brother, my uncle, that you forgive him.
By ****8 years ago in Families
Caring for Our Mothers
Recently, my mother, age 52, has undergone two spinal surgeries on her neck since March 8. The first was to correct bulging discs that were pinching nerves, causing numbness in her fingers, and after waking up in excruciating pain at 10 days post op she was admitted to the local emergency room for pneumonia and they also tested her TWICE for the flu, now, if you've never had the flu test before you should hope you never have to! She was given these tests once in the ER and once after being admitted and taken to the pulmonary wing. These tests made her jerk her head back so hard that we are convinced this caused her to move too much after her spinal fusion operation and it pulled the hardware loose from its position. We were not able to make it in to see her surgeon until she was four weeks post op from her first surgery; he was very upset that he was never notified about her being admitted, and was concerned that her hardware had shifted. Come to find out after several appointments with primary doctors and pulmonary doctors, she actually did not have pneumonia or the flu while she was in the hospital, and was formally diagnosed with sepsis, which she had no symptoms of while she was admitted.
By Carrie Hranac8 years ago in Families
Joseph Holland of Somers Keeps Perseverance in the Family
A 125 pound Pop Warner Football player probably feels pretty good about his chances on the gridiron. But when a league weight limit is leveled and permanently sidelines that youngster from participating, hopefully the disappointment is managed into an enduring life lesson. The school-aged child was Somers' Joe Holland and becoming an Academic All-American at Cornell, graduating Harvard Law School and having numerous professional successes shows that the right man was definitely in his corner.
By Rich Monetti8 years ago in Families
How to Be Polish
Here is a list of to do's to fit into a Polish family: 1. Always come hungry to a Polish person's house. We will feed you many things! Even if you are not hungry, we will insist that you try one or two things. At the end of the day, you will end up eating anyway, so you might as well be starving.
By Ada Zuba8 years ago in Families
My Favorite Men
On January 2, 2018, in the early morning hours, my wonderful father took his last breath. This man was our family patriarch. He took the role of father and husband seriously. He was hard-working, faithful to the love of his life (my mother), devoted to his children, respectful to his parents, sacrificial for his students, and committed to his Savior. My daddy was not perfect, but he was pretty close. He instilled, in me, a love for education and a passion for family. Integrity and morality was of the utmost importance to him. Men like my daddy are rare these days. His passing has left a great void for many who loved him.
By denise knight8 years ago in Families
Childhood Memories of Easter
Both Christmas and Easter have an equally important story to celebrate. However when we compare the gift and spending aspects of the two festivities, we generally perceive Easter as being the lesser celebration.
By Rebecca Sharrock8 years ago in Families
Childhood's Worst Nightmare
Thinking back to when I was young, my childhood wasn't the greatest. It was more like Hell, but on Earth. I was young and fragile, I wasn't supposed to see the things that I've seen, not at a very young age. They say your parents are supposed to be your protectors but not mine... they were cruel. What do I mean by when I say cruel? Angry, abusive, alcohol addicts cruel. Most of the time they drank until they passed out and when they were out of alcohol my dad would take it out on me! They didn't have a care in the world when it came to me. I felt alone, scared, rejected, and used. I did all that I could to get love from them and all I got was nothing but hate, from my dad especially.
By Emma Shelley8 years ago in Families
Growth: In & Out
Is a four-year difference in age too big of a gap for some? Perhaps. Let's say in a perfect world that this is the absolute ideal age gap for all pairs of people: couples, parents, friends, colleagues, and even siblings. Eventually, something would break. The paradigm would shift and no one would be challenged, no one would be uncomfortable, and no one would grow. This is what has been on my mind lately.
By V O I C E | Omniverse8 years ago in Families
From Having Nothing to Loving Photography
I was born in Newcastle, UK. I never had the best upbringing in life. I know a lot of people who had a worse upbringing than myself but this is my story.
By Lindsey.8 years ago in Families