married
The most important four words for a successful marriage: 'I'll do the dishes.'
Item Forty-One
We stood in the corner of the bedroom in the old house at the end of Pick Street. Anthony put his hands in his pocket and looked at me. “Forty-one?”
Anne EmagiePublished 3 years ago in FamiliesThe Baker and the Witch
Chapter one “Thank you miss, have a good evening.” A male customer smiled widely at Serena as he wheeled his grocery cart away from her. “You do the same.” She reluctantly retreated to the store’s bakery where she worked. The young woman finished cleaning up, flicked off the fluorescent lights, then headed up front to clock out and go home for the night. Forcing a smile and a courteous manner was very draining on her, it wasn’t that she was incapable of smiling and being friendly to people it was just her current state of mind. Serena has dealt with struggles and mental illness for most of her life and there’s only so long you can stay strong externally.
Amber HenningerPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesMy Little Black Book: from the Little Black Book Angel
Recently I went to a local bookstore to pick up a small notebook to keep the contact information in and passwords for use on my computer. I keep forgetting them and needed a way that I could retrieve them when necessary. I was now mostly at home…with three kids not in school and an angry husband who’d also lost his job. Since that time, he’d become more angry and aggressive than usual and began verbally abusing the kids and me. But, now he was physically abusing me in front of the kids. It scared them…and me. I began trying to escape…but he had a watchful grip on me. I was also sporting a recent black eye and some facial bruises I tried to disguise with makeup.
Jennifer SpencerPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesThe Freckled Indian
Today marks the day one month after my grandma died and three weeks after my grandpa died. My grandma died just one week after my grandpa from a heart attack. The doctors say that her body might have given up due to the stress from the death of my grandpa. She loved him so much that her body simple would not let her live without him. My brother Aloo and I decided to go through their attic today.
Miranda Mandadi LaxmanPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesThe Baker and the Witch
“Thank you miss, have a good evening.” A male customer smiled widely at Serena as he wheeled his grocery cart away from her. “You do the same.” She reluctantly retreated to the store’s bakery where she worked. The young woman finished cleaning up, flicked off the fluorescent lights, then headed up front to clock out and go home for the night. Forcing a smile and a courteous manner was very draining on her, it wasn’t that she was incapable of smiling and being friendly to people it was just her current state of mind. Serena has dealt with struggles and mental illness for most of her life and there’s only so long you can stay strong externally. As she started up her frosty cold car her mind swirled with worries and narratives from her day. She found herself feeling more and more resentful toward her coworkers and managers, but it wasn’t their fault, they’re all just pawns in the game like she was. This “real world” was too much for her, her soul yearned to travel, find refuge in nature and be free. Yet she felt incredibly stuck and like her dreams were a childlike fantasy. She drove home on autopilot, too distracted by her suffering to pay much attention to the repetitive details of her daily commute. As she shut her black car door, she noticed the bright shining reflection of the moon in the car paint. She turned around to look up at it. The moon had always brought her comfort, something about it felt very nurturing and safe. Serena could tell the moon all of her secrets, hopes and dreams and she would feel heard and understood in its silent presence. “Thank you for being there beautiful.” She smiled softly and felt at peace, her racing mind ceased, and a calm came over her body. With a sigh of relief, she headed up the stairs to her front door. Upstairs her family was warm and cozy playing video games. “Mommy!” a little boy set down the Xbox controller and ran up to serena with outstretched arms. “My big man! Did you have a good day?!” her face lit up and she embraced her son. “Yeah! Race!” he pulled her over to the desk where he was gaming. “You’re racing Emmie? Are you winning?” she joked, bending down to give her wife a big kiss and hug. Serena’s home life was the best it had ever been she was so blessed to have a loving partner and son, a warm home with plenty of food and entertainment to be had. And yet Serena and her wife Emily were barely scraping by and felt burnt out on the daily. They wondered together how other adults managed to live such full and rich lives, we’re making the most money we’ve ever earned and yet still living paycheck to paycheck. They were optimistic that together they could accomplish anything despite their hardships. That night they lay in bed together talking and cuddling. Emily turned to Serena and said, “If $20,000 fell from the sky tomorrow I would pay off my car loan and we would have so much more money to put into savings for our first home!” she giggled. Serena turned to Emily. “Okay, sounds good let’s do it!” she said with seriousness. She sat up in the dim light of their bedroom, “We already have that money. We already have our home. What we speak comes into existence.” Serena said matter of fact. “I read that if you say things like they’re already done that it can manifest it into existence. “Alright then. We paid off my car loan, saved up enough money to buy a house and property and are planning a trip to another country.” Emily said with a smirk and laced her fingers resting them on her abdomen. Serena gave her wife a warm smile and kissed her forehead before turning the light off for the night. “Sweet dreams.” They sweetly kissed goodnight.
Amber HenningerPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesMarriage Rules of Engagement: Some Can Play More Than Others
Like most young girls, I went through my Prince Charming phase. I dreamed of the day some handsome, dream-worthy specimen would swoop in and carry me away for a royal wedding, and I would rule my kingdom. Fair but just (eye twinkle).
Musing AroundPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesThe Dungeon
I hear footfalls on the old stone steps. I drop the ancient shaping tool I use to shape fallen tree limbs into 1x4s, and quickly hide behind a stack of 10,000 Christmas tree parts.
Thomas AndersonPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesLittle black book
As the taxi pulled up to the house I was flooded with memories. This was only the 2nd time I had been here and yet it was connected to so much of my life. My past and now my future. The last time I was here was before I was married. My fiancé had brought me here for dinner and to meet his mother. Dinner was quiet, almost void of emotion. David had done most of the talking and it was about him more than anyone else. I was nervous and proud of him and so was glad he had taken control as it made it easier on me. I thought he had done so to be kind to me. After the meal I helped take dishes into the kitchen. We were alone and she said to me “don’t marry him. No one deserves that kind of cruelty” just then David came into the kitchen saying we had to leave and I wasn’t able to say anything to her. I thought all the way home ‘why would she stay such a thing? She doesn't even know me and nothing was said at dinner to make her think I was a horrible person’ Did David say something before about me to make her think I was so horrible for him?’ I asked him why his mother didn’t like me and he said, “oh I am sorry she gave you that impression. She has always been a difficult person. I don’t think she likes anyone. She doesn’t even have any close friends that I know of. She seems to push everyone away.” She came to the wedding but only for the service and didn’t stay for the reception. she never smiled once that I can remember and even the few pictures taken of her she wasn’t smiling. So I didn’t mind that my husband let me stay home when he went to visit her or deal with things for her.
Gina SolomonPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesMy Journey
I started college with a boyfriend who went to a college 6 hours away. High School sweethearts. We could make it work...right? Christmas 1994 and I found I couldn't reconcile our belief systems and that it just wasn't working. We agreed to be friends. I'm not sure exactly where he is 26 years later, but I still consider him a friend. I went back to school after winter break, with the idea to casually date. I had very few rules for what I was looking for, but one was that I didn't want to date and then marry a future preacher, because I didn't want preacher's kids. You can laugh. I laugh looking back on it. I went to a small (less than 500 people) Christian college. My odds were not great. Enter Christopher, who my roommate was crushing on hard. Bible major, cute, kind of opinionated and stubborn. I fell hard. So hard that I believed and he believed that he wasn't going to be a preacher. He wanted to teach at the University level. Cool. Little did we realize that Bible professors supplement their income preaching, and life happens.
Deanna Jessee StampflyPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesOur Fresh Start
Last year I nearly got divorced. 2020 started out great for my little family as we planned what holidays we would take and where we would take our boys. We were happy. My marriage seemed like any other; two parents tired of working, tired of routine and parenting. But ultimately happy. 2020 changed that.
The Revealing
Henry Casille was walking down the street on his way to the park as was common for any pleasant spring morning in the quaint little community he lived in. It was important for him to get his exercise or at least that's what he was told at his last wellness checkup. As his phone vibrated, he reached into his pocket to examine it, all without stopping, to see that the message was from his wife, Mara. They had just celebrated their golden anniversary and were honored with a surprise party by their children and grandchildren. Henry smiled as he returned his phone to his pocket. Such a simple endearing text was typical of her, and it was consistent with the loving and loyal aspects of her character that he had enjoyed for all these years.
Vince ColiamPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesWhat is Happiness?
I started reading my third book of the new year. It is called The Book of Joy : Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. I am looking forward to completing this book because I am a Christian; however, I agree with a lot of Buddhist concepts. Buddhism is very much Christ-like anyway. These two incredible figures coming together to discuss Joy and ways to achieve it is just another amazing tool to utilize on the journey of bettering myself.
Samantha KochPublished 3 years ago in Families