married
The most important four words for a successful marriage: 'I'll do the dishes.'
What my pots and pans teach me about my spouse
I recently got married (cue celebratory wedding bells!) On a sunny spring day in April of 2020, standing on the side of a creek with hands sweating and shaking with nerves, my best friend got down on one knee and asked me to take this wild adventure called life with him. With the fear of covid in the air, we cautiously visited family to wave a newly-ringed finger through closed windows and commenced with planning the start of our new lives together right away. After cutting the typical wedding guest list by over 90% and switching venues a month before the big day we were those crazy kids who did indeed tie the knot by the end of 2020, allowing us to turn the page into a fresh start together as husband and wife in 2021.
Amanda K. MillarPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesPoverty, Passion, and Plants
When my husband and I were dating, we found that we both had a love for the forest, mountains, and all things natural. After realizing we would be spending most of our free time in nature, we made the decision to make the most of our love for the outdoors, and try our hand at ginseng farming. After six years of sewing seed, the time has come to reap the harvest.
Marianne CotterPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesABOUT 4 MONTHS
You probably saw the pictures. I decorated for the fall this year. Sorry. LAST year. Where does the time go. Not the Halloween portion of the fall but the ‘leaves falling in the fall’ fall decorating. Remember when the only Halloween decorations there were, were on the 10 and under set? What happened? To be fair, who ever heard of decorating for the fall 20 years ago. Sure there was the occasional pumpkin on a porch but only because my dad was too lazy to throw it in the trash. I dunno. I think It’s my favorite time to decorate now.
Mark ManchePublished 3 years ago in FamiliesEternal Happiness
"Em, Did you order something?!" Connor yelled, nearly losing his slippers as he quickly hopped back into the entryway. He shut the door, sealing the biting winter wind back outside where it belonged.
J.B. StephenPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesThe Answer
The mayor of Eureka Springs will soon announce the winner of a $20,000 all inclusive wedding package. He surveys the sea of brides -to-be clutching what they hope is the winning ticket. He's about to make someone's day.
Jayne BedingfieldPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesA view You’ll never Forget
The ocean breeze whips my unmanageable hair in various directions, blocking my view of the light blue sky in the horizon. Where I’m going, will my hair suddenly be tame? Will Ir die of such changes?
Alice’s Wonderland
August 1982 A Tuesday. A hot Tuesday. 14 year old me is riding a bike in circles in the cul-de-sac. Round and round I go, getting dizzy to force out the despair that came with weeks of shouting and then an announcement of divorce. I would be living with my dad because boys needed a father. My sister would be moving across the country with my mum, because girls needed a mother. It was final, they told us.
Raehana HawattPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesThe Agreement
On our wedding night, my husband made me a promise. As long as we are husband and wife, I would never have to work a day outside our home, and I happily agreed. I mean, what new wife wouldn't? How many women can say they get to stay home, take care of their husbands, and raise their family?
Melidee MatthewsPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesThe Book
36-14-22-6-7 and 31. Roy read the numbers over and over again. They been etched in a frail, shaky penmanship; soft lead smudged on the pages of the crisp, black notebook. He held the book in his right hand, while his left hand tightly clasped the Pennsylvania Cash4Life ticket, which displayed the same 6 numbers, but in the digitized Petyka font on the stub. In his direct eyeline, the QLED display in his living room showed the numbers yet a third time—coming live from the local ABC-affiliate news station. The prize was $1000 a day for life. Roy never won anything. But this… this was a life-changing event. The only thing stranger than the actual win was the circumstances that led to the win.
HEALTHY, WEALTHY, AND WISE
Frank and his wife, Miranda are in their late 60’s, living on their meager retirement pensions and government subsidies. Frank goes out for his daily walk after having a major heart attack in his 50’s without missing a day. While he takes his walk around their large energetic town, Frank likes to collect aluminum cans. The town’s people have become so accustom to Frank’s can collecting that many just set the bags of cans on the curb for his walk. When Frank returns home from his walks, he puts the aluminum cans in his classic Oldsmobile Coupe, changes out of his walking sneakers for his relaxed loafers, drives over to the next town to recycle the aluminum cans and collect the money for each can recycled. Miranda and the rest of the town’s people do not really pay attention to the money that he collects for their aluminum cans but feel rather relieved that they, themselves do not have to make the unnecessary and out of the way trip to the recycling center. To most people, the cans are just trash so they discard them but for Frank, it keeps him walking and he has a little extra pocket money. Once he has turned in his days collection of cans, Frank takes out his trusty little black book, writes the date in one column, number of cans that he turned in for recycling in another column and in the last column he writes the amount of money that he received. Only Frank knows about this little black book, that he keeps in his glovebox of his classic car.
Jocelyn WheelerPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesDo You Feel Loved?
I placed myself in a precarious position. What I still consider to be an act of brilliance could, on any evening, turn on me with a vengeance. If my idea were to backfire on me, it would mean a sleepless night and a great deal of soul searching. While my plan could be potentially hurtful, I urge any men reading this to be brave and test drive it. If you are honest and care for your significant other this could bring you closer than you have ever imagined.
Dale AustinPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesThe Choice
She was waiting for the spinach and cheese-paneer to finish cooking. She had already made the chapatis, breads for dinner, so that all Bobby had to do was pick up the girls from school. Sunita had a soccer game today, but Iris could not go, her shift would be starting soon at the nursing home. “Mom”, she heard her daughter's plaintive voice, “did you hear me?”, “Yes, Sunny, I heard you.” Sunita's nickname at home fit her cheerful personality, most of the time. She was tall for an Indian girl of twelve. Lanky with big brown eyes, a child heading fast into womanhood.
A. Ellis JosephPublished 3 years ago in Families