“We threw the idea around for a few weeks. ’It’s always been my dream to leave it all behind.’ I mean, we had just met. That would be crazy, right? But we did it. We bought a VAN!”
‘We’ve been robbed. All our stuff is gone.’ This only cemented it for us. Material possessions AREN’T important.’: Couple ‘hit the road’ in van, ‘It’s been the ride of a lifetime’
‘One day, I opened up her cookbook. Inside was an inscription. I cried tears I didn’t know I had.’: Woman honors late grandmother with tattoo, ‘I love you forever and always’
“Naming my child after my grandmother never seemed like enough. It never seemed like it was enough to pay tribute to the woman who meant more to me than I could ever express in words.”
‘I took a self-care getaway without my kids. For the first time in 10 years, I had nothing to do. I anticipated a flood of guilt. It never came.’: Mom stresses self-care, ‘We are all one step away from crumbling’
“We overthink and overanalyze. We fear we aren’t good enough, our kids don’t feel loved enough. Nothing is ever our own. Dinner, television, radio are all taken over by tiny people. We’re always one step away from crumbling. I so desperately craved a slice of life that was simply my OWN.”
‘I’ll just get a few to hold me over.’ That one trip turned into 4 years. I couldn’t believe that little pill had total control over my life.’: Woman overcomes addiction, ‘You’re not alone’
“On days I was running low on pills, I’d be so irritable and on edge. I wanted help so badly, but I was so ashamed. I’d go to his house to steal pills. How did I let this happen? Oh my God, I am a drug addict.”
‘I’m gay, so what does that mean? I can’t be a Christian anymore?’ I BEGGED God to take this away from me.’: College student details self-discovery journey, ‘I’m unapologetically myself’
“My mom and I would do devotionals before I went to bed and pray together. I knew she’d never accept me, which hurt more than anything. I was one person, but somehow at opposite sides of the spectrum.”
‘I grabbed my stomach. ‘Call the doctor!’ The nurses whispered over my charts. I couldn’t wrap my mind around it.’: Mom births rainbow baby after stillbirth, ‘Find beauty through ashes’
“’Really? Haven’t I been through enough?’ I stared at him blankly. The flashing lights and the cold temperature of the metal board my body was put on led me to a profound peacefulness.”
‘You’re going to be fine. Stop overthinking.’ My worst nightmare came true. I woke up and I couldn’t see.’: Woman diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, ‘You can get through ANYTHING’
“Fear of my own health stopped me from leaving the house, meeting new people, and taking a job. I was only 17 and every day, I thought, ‘Today is my last day.’ I’ll never be the same again.”
‘It’s the next worse thing to dying.’ Most doctors don’t believe us or don’t know how to help. Covid didn’t kill me. It took my life.’: Covid ‘Long Hauler’ urges ‘please be part of the solution’
“I can’t see straight, my ears are ringing. I forget what I’m doing while I’m doing it. How am I supposed to be the mom I pictured when I can’t even get out of bed?”
‘I let only one of my four children open their Christmas present early. ‘Why, mom? It’s not fair!’: Mom teaches important lesson on kindness, ‘It’s far better to give than receive’
“They whined and whined. I honestly thought the complaining would never end…until it did.”
‘Oh my gosh, there’s a HEARTBEAT! I’m a MOM!’ The doctor looked puzzled and NOT happy.’: Couple experiences infertility, NICU, ‘I’m enjoying life as a mom’
“I caught my breath. I asked the doctor, ‘Is that a heartbeat?’ He didn’t look happy. I couldn’t understand. He then answered ‘Yes, but I’m sorry.’ I was completely numb.”
