• Contact is currently restricted between Diann and Seth, Jackson, Tahnie and Rosemary. This was due to concerns about Diann’s mental health and also the effect of Diann’s sporadic attendance at visits was having on the children.…
My maternal grandmother Shirley Rae Harrington grew up during World War Two. But despite the war, she lived a somewhat normal childhood. When she was young there were very few other children in the area to play with and her younger sister, Sissy, was paralyzed. So she often played by herself in a stream nearby. Her family also owned several horses, chickens, pigs and a billy goat. Surprisingly she didn't get into much trouble as a child, except once when her family was down in our properties Maryland. People were racing speedboats in the creek, so she asked a neighbor who her family knew if she could go. He said yes and took her in his own boat when they got back her parents were fine but Mimi was upset with her. Her first travel experience…
Now, two years later, the family has become the forever family Ana and Erik always envisioned. Now, they help other parents in similar positions. Not only to help others, but to also teach the children the importance of giving back. “We want to teach the kids to give back what they’ve gotten.”…
Hi!! My name is Jamie Zanfardino. I am an alternate Social Work major. Over this past summer, I took a trip to Hawaii with my high school explorers club. We hiked all over the big island, it was incredible. I took a basic statistics class my senior year of high school but the class was a very quick overview nothing in depth, I definitely have much more to learn.…
Phil Robinson is a Philadelphia naïve, at a young age he was introduced to fashion by his father. His father was very strict on presenting yourself in a classy stylish way. He was about his boys looking neat, being clean and well groomed as we grew from boys to men. I took that guidance and as I got older I decided it was something I wanted to share with just not my son, but with many others also. Style is in my blood, I've been doing it for years for family, friends, etc. Helping kids is my passion and always has been. So here is just my small avenue where I can combine both of the things that I enjoy most to create a positive…
Monday- I am ready to stat week 4!! I like being in the office but I prefer being in the back. It entirely too much drama going on in here today. The woman training me is really on her last strike and she just seems to be getting on everyone nerves (including mines). I look forward to a better tomorrow.…
I moved from Detroit, MI to Ypsilanti, MI, for a better living. It was December 29, 2008. I had just given birth to my daughter. My daughter was born at 9:45p.m, weighing 5lbs and 3ounces. I named my daughter Saphira Parthenia Franks. Saphira died at 36 weeks, due to still born. The doctor told me” Sometimes this happens without a reason and you will be able to have more children”. I already had my mind made up, that I would wait until I turn thirty to have another baby. I was heartbroken and disgusted with myself. I was already going insane from the deaths of my father in November 2006 and my grandma in July 2008. Therefore, I was not able to cope with their three deaths at once.…
Hi I’m Angela Lacy, I was born and raised in the Brainerd Lakes Area. I’ve been a part of one community my entire life. I have grown up with the same people my whole life but have had many chances to travel all around the United States and to a couple different countries, so I have experienced many other cultures and ways of life.…
“I got this! I got this! Just calm down and take position. You have prepared yourself for this race all morning.” “Just take your position and breathe.” “Why is my heart pounding like this?” “Inhale and exhale.” This is normal for UWA freshman Sarah McMillion on race day. She constantly overthinks and worries about her performance. Her nerves even cause her to wake up early to prepare.…
Walking into the locker room about to get ready to go to our last football game of the season. I could smell the sweaty equipment from the kids who never take their pads home. The Hempfield Spartans 7th grade team would be ending their season 0-7 if we didn’t win today. As I was changing into my pads my friend mike walked in the room. I said “you ready for tonight”. “Heck yeah” replied Mike.…
As a family, we welcomed Lucas without hesitation. Although we had hardly any space left in our home, we did not want to separate the three siblings, let alone allow for another child to be placed into the uncertain and often unsafe foster care system. We therefore adopted this baby when he was only two days old, and I received a fourth brother. Our family has since developed an even stronger passion for the institution of adoption. It is harrowing to see how many children today are unfamiliar with true, familial love because they were raised in a broken foster care system with minimal security. These three new siblings have taught me a plethora of lessons about being grateful for mere existence and family. They took the most basic elements of our lives and thoroughly redefined their importance. Prior to this expansion, I believed adopting was merely admirable. However, this experience has inspired me to reach out and show love to the unloved. I quickly learned that adoption is incredibly important and beautiful, no matter how much space it may take…
There has been many cases in which I have helped an outsider feel welcome. One time in particular is when I played tag with this little boy at church since he was new and no one else played with him. Originally, I was outside eating candy and talking to my friends at church. I noticed that this little boy was standing all alone watching all the other little kids play without him. I thought that maybe he was upset so I went over to him and asked if he wanted the rest of my gummy worms. He seemed nervous at first, but eventually he started talking to me. I learned that he was five years old and he was visiting his grandparents for the weekend. His older brother was outside playing basketball with some of the other older boys at the church, and…
I always keep this poem and picture in my wallet. I take it everywhere with me because it means quite a lot to me in two very different ways. One of those ways is because it holds sentimental value. When I was younger I learned to read very late in life and I was always so embarrassed of that. My father knew that I was struggling and bought me the book, Where the Sidewalk Ends. It is a book full of poems and little pictures written by Shel Silverstein. I remember opening the book to ta random page, and it was the page with this poem. I then remember my dad asking me to read it to him. I was so uncomfortable, even thought I was just going to be reading to my dad. He gave me some words of encouragement, and even thought I was not able to read…
For five years now I have had to put up with the sassiest, neediest, most emotionally abusive cat ever. Her name is Melia (mah-ee-ah) and I believe she has an attitude problem. Ever since we first got her she wouldn’t let us pick her up, rub her belly, or cuddle her. All she ever wanted was treats, and to sit in the most inconvenient places. We thought she would change and grow out of it, but we’ve been thinking that for half a decade now and there has been little to no improvement. Now even though she is the “family” cat, she is definitely mine. She sleeps with me and cuddles with me and doesn’t try to hurt me more than she does anybody else in the family (it really is a special bond). She likes to lay on my homework, eat my cheese, and lick…
Ever since I was born, I was a military brat. Not knowing where to call home, or if any place could be home, I moved. I moved six times, four of those places were towns that nobody could think about. Germany, North Carolina, Alaska, North Carolina, Germany, and Alaska, yet no place to call home. May 22, 1999, my first day on this world; Kronach hospital had its first American baby in their hands, yet they acted like I was a different species. The only event I remember was when I was about one. While I was one, I grabbed everything in my reach, even a grill handle. As a baby, I did not know that the handle was moving, the grill top had smashed my thumb. Ever since that event, I now have a starfish mark on the side of my right thumb from where the stiches were.…