humanity

Humanity begins at home.

Looking Back On What Really Matters
Who knew that the year 2020 would be so chaotic and that we would be struggling to get by. This year didn't just affect a few people, everyone was affected. Some people lost their jobs, some lost their homes and other lost their lives. People get sick and die everyday but I think this year really made us appreciate life and everything that we still have. I think it made us realize how short life can be sometimes, at least it did for me. It can make you take a step back for a moment and reflect on your life. So I'm taking a step back and pondering what I am thankful for.
By Nicole Lytle5 years ago in Families
The Best Thanksgivings Don't Need a Turkey
I grew up in Midwest farm family. One Sunday each and every month we would all get together with our Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and cousins for a potluck meal. We didn’t gather together on set holidays especially holiday like Thanksgiving that happened during the Harvest. I never attended a “traditional” style Thanksgiving until I was old enough to start to date. We were either working in the field or volunteering to pack meals for shut ins at the Church on Thanksgiving.
By B Sweeney5 years ago in Families
This is us
Hi there! My name is Ashley and I am a mother to 2 daughters 9 & 10 and a son who was born still-born in March, 2018. I have a fiance who i've been with for almost 12 years. The End
By Ashley Parrett5 years ago in Families
“A Mother for Melvin”
During the summer of 1965, Evelyn came to live with us. I was eleven and going to start fifth grade. She was Dad’s latest girlfriend to move in with him, my two older brothers, and me.
By Ashley Kauffman5 years ago in Families
Perspective
What is the saying "when one door closes another one opens"? Or when something bad happens to you people say "everything happens for a reason"? These are things we hear from other people when they feel like we could use a pick me up right? Right. It is about perspective. It is about changing ones perspective.
By Ashley Mattei5 years ago in Families
Thankful for Life
This year has definitely been the hardest year to date. My heart has been heavy for so many and watching news headlines was hard. I learned to turn off our tv and tune into time with family right here within our walls. Not only has the virus had a tremendous impact on our nation but also our daily life and our finances. Also, this year marked the one-year anniversary of my falling off our roof. My emotions have pretty well comparable to that of a busted can of biscuits. Truth.
By Brittany Pennel5 years ago in Families
Life
This thing called life is really starting to get out of hand. I didn't expect shit to get real like this. At the age of 22, I found myself being a pregnant college drop out. Nowhere near close to my goals. Forcing myself to move back home from Atlanta with no degree and a baby on the way and in a relationship with someone that 10 years older than me. Talking bout being unprepared for something I felt way behind the curve of everything. When I moved back home I was 3 months pregnant jobless and moneyless. I left the father back in Atlanta who was to arrive shortly before the baby was to be born. I was sleeping in the room with my grandmother. I started looking for jobs but who wants to hire a pregnant woman. I finally got a job as a homecare worker taking care of the disabled which was cool except for the fact that I didn't have a car. So now I had to catch the bus and walk to places that I needed to go to. Not only that but I also now had to go to doctor's appointments by myself. I was at an all-time low. Let me fast forward this story. Two months later the father of my child moved to my hometown so we can be a "family". Now it's me and him living in my grandmother's second bedroom of her two-bedroom townhome with my cousins living with her as well. It's me and him and a house full of people. Two months after that we give birth to a beautiful baby girl two weeks EARLY. (I still blame him for kick-starting my labor because wasn't due for another two weeks.) This was unbelievable because I thought I was going to be pregnant forever. (that and because my family scared me from wanting to give birth. They always had some slick shit to say. "oh, that baby is going to rip you apart," "OH, they gone have to cut that baby out" like way to give my labor anxiety.) Now it's me, him and our baby cramped into this small ass room. Fast forward a month later it's my birthday and I'm depressed. I have no job, no car no place of my own but I have a baby. This shit was stressing me out. Not only that my boobs were constantly hurting which made me feel like my chest was to explode and milk was going to be everywhere. I was the biggest I have ever been in my life. I went from a size 2 to a 10 in the blink of an eye. I couldn't put on anything sexy to save my life. (shit, I still can't. "this pregnancy shit ruined my body forever") Now I and my grandmother has a fight and I leave in the middle of the night with my newborn baby and her father with nowhere to go really. (I know people think why don't you go to your parents for help. Welp, my dad died when I was 9. Sad I know right? and my mom well we can't get along for anything and she believes I was supposed to wait and have kids in my old age, as well as her and the father of my baby, don't get along.) Thank God for my cousin's having their own apartment. We spent a month there sleeping on the floor. Then I finally swallowed my pride and went back to my grandmother's. After returning to my grandmothers, both of us found jobs. And that's when the grind became real. My grandmother tried to charge us $1200 to stay in her spare bedroom that she wanted to go through whenever she felt like it. So we had to come up with a plan. Why pay $1200 to stay in a spare bedroom when you can pay rent somewhere and have your own. On the 1st of the next month we had found a place and were preparing to move. This was only the beginning of this journey of life for me.
By Shakyla A Mosley5 years ago in Families
TOBACCO FARMING
I got introduced to tobacco as a baby. My Mother took me in basket to the tobacco barn while she looped tobacco on a stick. As my Father was a farmer, everyone in my family was expected to help. It was early in the morning and very late in the evening when the chores got done. Not only did my family grow tobacco but there was corn, cotton, soybeans, wheat, peanuts and sweet potatoes, not counting the huge vegetable garden my family planted every year.
By Barbara Wiler5 years ago in Families
The Runaway
Twisted. Tangled. Smothered. Sweat soaked sheets are clinging to the skin, like another layer stretched out too far. The moisture pressed between the two films is seeping out like water from pores. The air is hot and dry, too thin for the lungs to really grasp. Too harsh for the body to take in.
By Lorelai5 years ago in Families
Art History
Was the cat limping? Since Circe was a rotund Maine Coon who waddled all the time anyway, Stelle was unsure. It seemed to her that the tubby feline was listing to one side and putting less weight on her right front paw as she made her way into the kitchen.
By Valerie Kittell5 years ago in Families
What My Mum Taught Me About Mental Strength
From about the age of 3-4, I grew up without much of a father figure. What I mean by that is that I grew up, waking up, to a Mum and Brother to guide me through my upbringing. My Brother is a supersmart guy who also seemed, and still does, one step ahead of everybody else, he’s a natural born leader, though does lack patience with other people, fantastic with business and money though.
By simon witney5 years ago in Families
It's Not Over Until It Is Over
This is a true story. It did indeed happen exactly as written. It is our story and I hope that it will inspire you, lift you up, encourage you and give you hope that no matter where you are in your life, you are not doing it alone...Trust Him!
By Robin Davis5 years ago in Families