extended family
All about how to stay connected, strengthen ties and talk politics with your big, happy extended family.
The Maternal Family Tree of Jonathan Van Ness
Jonathan Van Ness was born on March 28th, 1987 in Quincy, Illinois to Jonathan Lyle Van Ness and Mary McDonald Oakley. Van Ness has been openly gay since he was young and he was one of the few openly gay students at his school. He later became the first male cheerleader and received a scholarship for cheerleading from the University of Arizona. He would later drop out of the program and pursued a career as a hairdresser at the Aveda Institute in Minneapolis. He is now the grooming expert on the Netflix show Queer Eye and hosts the podcast Getting Curious. He married his husband Mark Peacock in early 2020.
By Bradley Greenland5 years ago in Families
Budding Artist
There was a time, art was all there was...besides my faith, I was totally immersed in creating art of many kinds. Drawing, Charcoal, Pastels, Graphite. Painting, Acrylic, Oil, Watercolor. Silk Screen Printing. Photography. Photo Silk Screening.
By Attila Jacob Ferenczi5 years ago in Families
The Anatomy of My Heart
As a craft artist and maker I love process. I love handling different materials and merging them together in unlikely pairings or compositions. One of my favourite material categories to work with is found objects, of which I have many boxes worth labeled and tucked away in my art supply closet. When I need the perfect stone, feather, piece of bark or bone, coupled with random bits of vintage wallpaper or photographs I can go to my collection of found objects and know I will find just the right thing.
By Kari Woo Contemporary Art Jewellery5 years ago in Families
Why Are We So Inspired By Royal Families?
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, The Duchess of Sussex, have been seen as an inspiration since the revelation that they spent last Easter delivering food to the needy. However, they aren’t the only royals that people find inspiring, and there are a number of reasons why so many of us look up to royal families around the world. From their major responsibilities to their ability to make significant change in the world, here are just a few reasons that royals are so admired by much of the world’s population.
By Saanvi Seo5 years ago in Families
Legacy of Creators
Connection is the first thing we, as humans, ever experience. Before birth, we are literally tethered to another person. It is no wonder why we spend our whole lives seeking out relationships: human connection is at the core of who we are and what we need. For most of us, our families offer this first taste of connection and if you are lucky, they are the ones who teach you how to form and foster deep, meaningful, relationships. My dad left when I was young, around 5 years old, and I have only recently connected with him. We have minimal contact, but typically, no contact at all. His leaving required my white mother to raise three biracial daughters, who she had all by the age of 21, primarily alone in Bakersfield, California. And if you don’t know anything about Bakersfield, it is a rather conservative town in the Central Valley. In general, and even within my family, I was surrounded by more people who did not look like me than any that did.
By Bree Alexander (she/her)5 years ago in Families
Happy Birthday
It was my eighth. On December twenty eighth. A day no one remembers or cares to celebrate. Three days after Christmas, and three days before New Year’s Eve. Mom and Dad are broke. My large family is tired, and with two of my sisters and an uncle who lives with us, having birthdays the week before…well…no school kids to celebrate with either…holiday vacation. This could’ve been the worst day of the year for me…but it rarely was, because…
By Trisha Simmons5 years ago in Families
Old Fashioned Grief and Coffee
It was a mundane Thursday when we met up for coffee and donuts. Little did I know, coffee and donuts would soon become our thing — a thing that became a “thing” in 2018 as I paced inside the Manila Airport waiting to board my flight.
By Akina Marie 5 years ago in Families
Ruthie the Amazing
My mother sits on the goldenrod shag carpet in front of me as I pull the brush through her thick, curly brunette hair. Miss America plays on the console television, and we are rooting, of course, for Miss Colorado. My sister says it’s her turn to brush, and I reluctantly give up my spot.
By Ginger Worthington Casebeer5 years ago in Families
