I had to learn how to take every day on day-to-day bases. Not to look for those dark moments, appreciate all the small things in life, and to always remind myself that tomorrow will be better. And when I need help I can always look to my wife, my dad and the men I severed with.…
It's Thursday, the day of the Farmers Market in Swansea, Il. This market takes place every Thursday at the Rural King parking lot, during the summer months of April thru October.My grandfather Norm started this event about 4 year ago, with just around 3 vendors. Now the business booming, with approximately 15 vendors participating ,vendors now range from wooden sculptures, to jewelry, and even Shea butter to help eliminate dry skin. Norm was born and raised in Belleville, il where he and his wife Deloris raised four children Mary ,Mike, Tom ,Barb. When Norm was young he attended Belleville west high school, where upon he found his first job working in Sears sales department. Later into his career he found an interest in auctioneering, and created his own family business, called "Geolat auction". After 30 years of being an auctioneer, he retired and began his real passion in agriculture. At his house in Belleville Norm owns around 3 acres of land that he uses to grow peppers,tomatoes,beets,turnip,and even square watermelon. Norm was…
For me I would say that my dad is not supportive to me. My mom and my dad they divorced and then my mom married another person which is the one I live with now. I feel really good with my stepdad, and my mom is happy. My biological dad to me, it just the memories from the past that I hate. I would like to forget about the past memories and it would be easy for me to become a different person. He is the one that I will not ask any help and any supports…
When my step father committed suicide, it was the most shocking yet influential experience of my life. The whole situation expanded my understanding of mortality, spirituality, and of just how fragile happiness is. I can still remember the day that it happened; It was unlike any other day. I was in school when brother picked me up after lunch. We met up with my mother, and brother at my grandmother's house. The entire atmosphere was off. No one was acting like themselves. Immediately I knew something was wrong, even if their expressions and body language were not obvious enough. After sitting in the living room for what seemed like an eternity, I went into the next room where I found my mother who was crying, and when I asked what was wrong…
The client reports she had a normal childhood up until nine years of age. She remembers a wonderful life with her father and mother. She states she remember spending good times with both her parents. When her father was living her mother did not work, and they went on vacation regularly. She said her father play with her every day after coming home from work. Mary said her father would help her with mathematics homework, and she made good grades in school. She states she had a normal happy life when her dad was alive. She reported when her dad was living she thrived in every area of life. Mary said when her daddy died her whole life changed. Her world came tumbling down. The client reported that due to a great dad she had a good…
My parents got divorced in 2008. I was 9. At the time it didn’t bother me, for some reason I was the only one who didn’t cry. I stayed with my mother, and my father would leave San Diego and go back to live in Arkansas where he was born and raised. After he left, I questioned “ What caused my Dad to go back home? What is so good over there?”…
I didn’t know heartbreak until June 28, when my dad told me that he had stage 4 cancer. I didn’t know fear until August 13, when I found out that he would have to undergo radiation to combat a tumor in his brain. I didn’t know weariness until August 24, when everyone at school talked about how great their summer had been, and I had to lie and say that mine had been fine. I didn’t know how deep my love for my dad ran until June 29, when I wiped away my tears, stood a little straighter, and vowed to help him find little rays of light in even the worst days.…
It’s extraordinary to think about how we take so much for granted - another belief we take for granted is that every night the stars will shine. When you wake up in the morning and make plans for the day, you never really contemplate those plans changing entirely in the blink of an eye. I had never thought much about it, personally, until I was faced with Death himself. I don't think anyone really contemplates tragedy until it knocks on their front door. In fact, it doesn’t even knock – it forces itself in and threatens to leave you with nothing but heartache and suffering for the remainder of your miserable life. Traumatic events can occur in numerous ways, at any time in one’s life. Some are lucky enough to get away with them. Unfortunately, I was not one of the lucky.…
When I was in first grade, my father was deployed to Iraq. My whole world changed. We moved to Utah to live with my grandparents while my mother was pregnant. It took forever for my dad to return from war. I missed him so much, especially during the holidays. When my dad came back to the States, I thought that things would be better and that our family would be whole again. Two years later, my parents got divorced. My dad was suffering from PTSD and fell into addiction. I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression while my mother was trying her best to raise us on her own and earn her master's degree. I felt that my whole life was falling apart in front of me. These struggles have made me who I am. I have learned to be more compassionate towards…
It was the year 2012, when I experienced a life-changing event, which led to my transition from childhood into adulthood. This event was my parent’s divorce. During this time I was scared and hurt, because my parents’ separation not only meant the parting of my parents-but parting from the life I’ve always known as a child. The separation moved at an almost mockingly lackadaisical pace. Months tediously dragged on, and even after the legal separation my life was never as it once was. I started to appreciate the people who were present in my life and how precious family stability is. The idea of losing my mother or father to divorce made me realize that this could have easily been a loss due to an illness. I grew to appreciate that I am lucky to have them in my life period. It was at this time that I seriously thought about working in health care; a field that aims to prolong human lives. This event of my childhood that some might even call traumatic, bettered me, and brought me into the adult world.…
This story requires a little back story, it was the spring of 2001. My dad at the time was 69, he had had quadruple bypass surgery three years earlier. I had four children a 17 year old step daughter, nine year old daughter, six year old son and a three year old daughter. My husband was out of town with his father attending his niece's blessing. (it is the equivalent of a catholic christening.) His mom had decided to not go since she was there when my niece was born for two weeks and felt she needed to be home for the weekend. My mom was out of town for the weekend at a womans LDS conference in Salt Lake Ut. My dad was all alone for the weekend and wanted to come down to visit.…
There I was, walking along the road that lead to whatever next town it let to. It was a cold, windy sunny day with no cars around and I was also alone, which to me was a perfect day and I was also terrified.…
I don’t blame myself for what happened to my parents. I may not be the most buoyant about it, but who would be? Going through your high school years without complete parental support can end horribly in more ways than one. High school is the time when you need your parents the most; you are growing up, maturing, and starting your life. It can be hard to know where to start if you can’t even recognize where your parents have gotten in their lives.…
Something difficult I have gone through that changed me. Although, in the beginning it was extremely difficult to cope, I believe this experience changed me for the better. It has shaped me into the person I am today. Being the oldest of three in a broken family has forced me to become a role model, and taught me to take on large responsibilities. I learned how to use my independence for the better of my siblings. I learned how to cope with difficult people, I learned how to put on a happy face, I learned how to leave my family life at home. I learned how to be happy with my friends and at school. I learned how to smile through the day, ultimately being content with my life. I gained the strength to look at the pros and not the cons. This unfortunate situation has caused me to become a more positive person. If I could give one piece of advice to…
Some nights I dream about Michael. He’s coming home from college for christmas break and he’s brought a girl with him. Our family is sitting at the dinner table and he’s giving my sister’s new boyfriend a hard time. He’s sitting in the audience, whooping and hollering as I walk across the stage and receive my diploma. Other times, he’s standing in a waiting room, introducing my sisters and me to his little girl. I dream about all of the moments my family and I never got to have with him and my heart breaks every single time. Michael has been gone for almost 16 years and yet he is still with me every day. I dream about him and what could have been; what should have been. Michael’s death teaches me something new almost every day. I have learned what loss is, how to deal with it, and how to grow from it.…