grief
Losing a family member is one of the most traumatic life events; Families must support one another to endure the five stages of grief and get through it together.
Where did the Devil's Chair Urban Legend Come From?
The devil's chair became an urban legend when the benches that were so beautifully sculpted became no longer used over the years. Kids started to use them as a place for dares at midnight or on Halloween to see if the dared friend can stay there before the spirit gets them. Also known as legend tripping.
By Kerrie G.Diaz4 years ago in Families
Discovering Found Families
“But none of that really mattered. I had found my tribe. It felt like a family reunion for the family I'd never really known, a homecoming at the place where I was always meant to be but hadn't known how to find.” – David Levithan, Hold Me Closer: The Tiny Cooper Story
By Jennifer M. Ward4 years ago in Families
Baptized By Death
The call I’ve been expecting for more than a decade came on Saturday afternoon just after St. Patrick’s Day. Looking down at my phone buzzing on the bathroom vanity, I see ‘Aunt Theresa’ and our photo from twenty years ago displayed somehow more intensely on my screen and I know it is here. All awareness left my body as I stood in my apartment, staring blankly into the bathroom mirror as my aunt heralds the message that the time has come to say goodbye to my father. In the midst of the long-awaited news flooding my hazy awareness, I’m ashamed of myself; ashamed the news Daddy’s time has come to cross over Jordan is not enough to keep me from noticing how dirty the bathroom mirror is and I need to do better about cleaning it.
By Brittany Shelby-Phillips4 years ago in Families
Lily Love
Mom was always vivacious and full of life. She loved to dance, play cards and socialize with friends. When she danced, her eyes lit up and there was a smile so big you couldn’t help but smile back. She loved to watch sports and was known to bet on a game or two. She was always alive, until she wasn’t. Mom passed away in 2010, it was then that my life changed in more than one way.
By Sue McGaughey4 years ago in Families
My Mom's Memorial Service Was Full of Beans. Top Story - August 2022.
My Mom’s memorial service—not what you’d expect to be one of the funniest times of our lives, but whenever we think of it, we laugh and high-five each other. And that’s just the way she would have wanted it.
By Catherine Kenwell4 years ago in Families
losing a child from a car wreck and donating your organs
A few weeks ago, my brother lost his 15-year-old son in a car wreck. The funeral was hard enough to handle, but when I heard that they had taken all of his organs, it made the tragedy even more real and painful. I decided to write this blog post because if it can help just one person realize that organ donation is something they want to do, then writing it will have been worth the effort. Here are some common questions about organ donation and how you can start the process of saving lives in honor of your own child or someone else’s child who has passed away.
By Liesbeth Mokoena4 years ago in Families
The Empty Chair
There is a saying that goes something like, "You find out who your friends are." Often times, our first friendships are formed within our immediate family and what I have come to find is that when the going gets tough, the family bond can weaken. I believe that statement is generalized for anyone whose loved one was always expected to show up, but then chose not to. It's not just about friends, it could be your cousin, your Aunt, even your brother.
By Emily Beck4 years ago in Families
