Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
A Mother's Love
I remember as a child my mother was always writing away in one of those little notebooks, peering up every few minutes to ensure my limbs were free of bruises. She was comfortable anywhere; a park seat while I tossed my body across all the metal and wooden edges; home on the chair, watching out the kitchen window as I run in circles with our dog Mouse. Mother always told me I had two left feet and that I could sure use a helmet and bubble wrap, especially when playing outside. It was never surprising when I came through the door with scratches and scrapes and she always made sure there were band aids and Polysporin on hand.
By Hailey Thordarson5 years ago in Families
Farewell My Father: Walking the Trail of Beauty in Old Age. Top Story - January 2021.
In his last few years, he sat the entire day in his chair by the big picture window. From this vantage point, dad could survey most of the comings and goings of the ranch. He could watch the majestic Arabian stallion, Axum gallop through the pine trees, his tail, and mane flying.
By Talia Meadows5 years ago in Families
Soul Sisters
I never had a sister before. Sure, I've had female family members, role models. But not a sister. I didn't know what I was missing. Friends that had sisters more often than not seemed to think that their siblings were a nuisance. I could relate with my experience of having a brother but I thought that sisterly bond might be different.
By Liana Hewitt5 years ago in Families
How Hard It Is to Lose a Parent
It's been almost 3 years since I lost my father. My father suffered mental health issues, the same ones I suffer from as well. My father died of suicide, left so many questions unanswered. It was a sudden death, as I was out with a friend after I called my mother and heard her crying. See when my mother would cry, I knew something was always wrong. I figured at the time something had happened to my grandmother, but to this day she's still alive and well, close to the age of 95.
By Michelle White5 years ago in Families
Snake River
Henry Anderson awoke one Saturday morning to the sound of roosters crowing, the same as he did almost every other day on his family’s farm in Ashton, Idaho. The sun was just coming up and Henry knew that if he didn’t get moving his mother would be in shortly to have another one of her famous “talks”, about the importance of starting the day with gratitude and positivity. Henry didn’t mind the hard work that living on a farm demands, but he would much rather be out exploring in the woods or trout fishing on Snake River as most other teenagers were doing during their summer vacation.
By Adam Prill5 years ago in Families
Of Cars and Fences
His daughter locks her keys in her car. She ponders this for a moment, coat hanger in hand, entirely unsure how to proceed. Who knew cars are so hard to break into? She can see the damn keys in the ignition, like a shining beacon screaming, “Steal me! You work in the worst area in Edmonton!” At least it’s summer; she’s not cold. Biting her lip, she tries to wiggle the coat hanger inside the window. Then she sighs and pulls out her cell phone.
By Edith (yesterday4)5 years ago in Families
The Notebook
People die. It’s just a fact. Nothing can stop it from happening. Nothing can really prepare you for it. And surprisingly nothing can prepare you for having to clean up someone‘s life mess. That is what I have been asked to do, clean up someone’s house that just passed. Not just any someone, but my uncle.
By Kathy Stephens5 years ago in Families
Treasure
Growing up in the 70’s meant camping in the summers with my family. And I mean real camping, not “glamping” as people call it these days. We didn’t drive around in an RV visiting RV campgrounds. We pitched an Army surplus tent and all 6 us bedded down.We slept in sleeping bags, not on air-mattresses, so we always prayed there weren’t little (or big rocks) under us. And we learned to never touch the side of the tent if it was raining, because you’d get wet, for sure. Sounds terrible? It wasn’t. There was always a pond to fish in, a pool to swim in, and forests to roam. We cooked s’mores around the campfire and told stories. Often we went with other families so we had friends or we made friends with other camping families. We went to farms and learned how to milk cows and ride horses and just about every time we’d come home with a new barn cat.
By Meg Lagares5 years ago in Families
Small Acts of Kindness
I woke up the day before Christmas, ready to move myself from one room to the other, bedroom to office. My jaw dropped when I saw the gorgeous snow-covered backyard and soft snowflakes gently touching the window before they landed on the ground. Even though I was sure my friend wouldn’t be awake yet, I decided to text her anyway “It’s snowing, I’m awake, let’s go for a walk!” Fifteen minutes later, the doorbell rang. I gave her a big grin and quickly got dressed into my warmest outfit, grabbing a big scarf and a pair of soft gloves to cover my already nearly frozen hands. Together we walked to the moor that was only a five minute walk away, carefully watching every step we took so we wouldn’t go flat on our faces due to the ice on the streets and the slippery snowflakes that were still falling.
By Laura Rosierse5 years ago in Families
