| This is the 551st story of Our Life Logs® | The year was 1981. I was fresh out of high school in Las Vegas, Nevada, and I had just turned 18. People started calling me an “adult” and the world began to open up for me in ways it had never opened up before. This included love. I met a man who showered me with attention and, though he was 5 years older than me, I was in love. He looked so mature and so handsome, and it seemed like he adored me. All he had to do was smile and h

Coming from an area where many are illiterate, we had no idea what the virus truly was or how deadly it was. All we knew was that it was

But it is also known for being smack in the middle of the Bible Belt, where children say “yes, ma’am,” and “no, sir,”...

Growing up, my mom was always the one I talked to. Then, she passed away when I was only thirteen...

As a little girl, I observed the life of my mother and vowed to be different. Better. More intentional. I promised myself that I would...

My childhood was a tangled mess of emotions that I still have a difficult time unraveling. There were some good memories...

All of us have been given a purpose—I believe it. Finding it is the challenge, and once finding it, taking the risks necessary to fulfill...

There were strict rules, which included the expectation to live chaste and obedient lives. Because of these teachings, I grew up thinking...

Sometimes our plans are not “our” plans. Life has a funny way of showing you that. Buckle up, because you’re in for a wild story...

While many women in their 20s were enjoying college life, my mom was trying to keep up with her classes and work two jobs all while she...

As with everything in life, we plan ahead, and things appear to be completely fail-safe. But sometimes the unexpected happens, and it...

Big or small, everyone makes plans for their future. As a girl who loved to dream, I had made plenty. Whether we lose ourselves in...

I wanted to live a better life. I made plans and took action, thinking I could create my own future. But I now realize now that things...

My parents fought throughout my whole childhood. The very first memory I have is sitting in a car seat by the front door while my parents...

There were seven of us children in the family, and I was the fifth one. The life of our parents was one of compassion and giving...

I had a normal, Catholic upbringing. My mother’s family was Irish, and my father’s family was Italian, creating a melting pot of heritage...

Motherhood was all I ever dreamed of while I was growing up. My boyfriends were all evaluated through the lens of whether they would make...