Voices of Adult Learners

Family


My Family

by Lawrence Winstead, Jr.

feel that my family is one of the most important things in my life. I have been married for eighteen years. The whole time has not been a bed of roses, but my mother always said, "True love never runs smooth."

I have two children, a girl, nine, and a boy, thirteen. This is my family of eighteen years. The children are growing up so fast. We try to teach them right from wrong. I try to let them in on some of my thirty-nine years of trial and error.

I try to teach them the common sense things, the things like one screwdriver from the other. They need to know when to follow and when to lead. I'm my children's best friend. I like doing things with them and they like doing things with me. We often go on family outings.

I hope my children will take the common sense things along with knowing the difference between right and wrong, and use them all through their lives. The best part is to watch them grow, and see that you have given them the tools needed for today's world.

I feel that one of the biggest dreams is for my wife and me to have a long life together. The time will come when our children will leave and set out on their own. I want them to finish high school.

The thought that, at some time, I will be a grandfather is a dream. I love my family and I hope that the time spent together in their wonder years will always be remembered.

These are a few lines about my concerns, hopes, and dreams for my family.


Family Values

by Mike Harmon
y family is very supportive about my life and what I do. I love my family very much, but I can't see them all the time. I live 750 miles away from them, and have to see them when my vacations come around.

Last year I almost lost my uncle because of a heart attack, and I was devastated. That turned my life around because now I know what family values means. I am very concerned that I may not see some of my family members again before they are dead, and that bothers me very much. My family means more to me than life itself.

Another concern is my cousin. He is a country singer. He has made a demo tape and is looking for a backer for an album. He has worked too hard to be turned back now. My concern is that if he doesn't make it, that will destroy his life long dream about becoming a singer and that worries me.

I met a beautiful woman in June of 1989, when I left my family. Her name is Susan Lynn Hicks. The first time I saw her I knew right then that she was the woman of my life. I married Susan on September 9, 1997 and began a new family. We are planning to have kids in the future and that will make our lives complete. I love my wife more than she could ever imagine, and that is more love than love itself. We plan on buying a house together and raising our children there. I really want my children and my wife to be very happy with me for the rest of our lives, because that's what a loving family should do.

I wish for once that my dearest family would come to see me for a change where I live. Then they would know what accomplishments I have made in life. My dreams are that we can live beside one another before our lives are up, because family needs to stick by one another.

To Matt With Love

by Faye Tyree

Dear Lord, I come to you today,
My heart is filled with sorrow.
I know not what today may bring,
Nor what you'll send tomorrow.

You told me in your sacred word,
Our load you'd help us bear.
And it's because of the love we share
I know how much you care.

I held your gift of love today,
So tiny and so sweet.
It breaks my heart to know he's left.
And yet again we'll meet.

The hello was so shortly lived.
The good-by lingers on.
The only peace I still have
Is to know of his new home.

I ask Dear Lord to mend my heart
And to help us through each day.
I love him, Lord, with all my heart.
There's nothing more to say.

Love always and not forgotten...

Mama, Daddy, and Brandon


Wings of Power

by David Raines
he night was dark. Everything was quiet. The Mother and her baby were walking along through the dark woods. All of a sudden a red light fell into the hills. It was fast, so fast she couldn't believe her eyes. Did she see a red light cross the dark blue sky? She thought she was seeing things. She walked along, singing to her baby.

The moon was pretty. She pointed to the moon. She laughed with her baby. "You know, you are my favorite baby girl?"

About that time, three men jumped out from behind the trees. One stood in front of her, and two stood in back of her.

"Lady, give us the baby, and we will spare your life," said the man in front. He had a knife, and his friends had guns.

"No, no, no! You're not going to have my baby!"

He kind of grinned. He was getting closer and closer to her.

"Young lady, you're going to make me trouble. I think I will throw this right into your heart, blue eyes. I can get $25,000 for that baby. You're not going to stop me."

She held her baby close to her breast. Her eyes were big and blue. She backed away from them. She knew she was dead. She backed against a tree. She was afraid of them.

"You're not going to get my baby. You've got to kill me first." They thought, well, that's not hard to do. They surrounded her; he had his knife to kill her.

One guy looked up. He saw an angel standing on a big rock. She was looking down on them with her wings spread open. Her wings were pure gold. She had a white sheet around her. The wind was blowing real hard. The sheet was waving through the air.

"Look boys! There's an angel on the rock," the man they called Snake said.

"Shoot her, fool! Don't leave no witnesses behind! I will grab the baby away from the mother."

The angel was watching them. She saw the man in red approach the mother with the baby in her arms. She heard her scream.

"No, you're not going to take my baby. No, no, no, leave my baby alone."

Then a red light came from her wings. It hit the man, and he screamed like a baby. It turned him into a ball of ashes. The other two men saw what happened to him.

"She turned him into ashes. Let's get the heck out of here!"

The angel was standing there looking at them.

"How about the baby?" He looked at the young mother the baby in her arms.

"Give me the baby, you witch," he reached out for the baby. The other guy laughed and laughed.

"We've got your baby now, mother!" One of the guys looked up to the rock but the angel was gone.

"Hey, Larry. There's no angel." He reached for the baby. The young lady had no one to help her. He hit her in the face and knocked her down to the ground. He took the baby and laughed.

"Thank you for the baby!" About that time, the angel came around the tree with her arms crossed. She had blue eyes. She could see right through you.

She pointed right at Larry. She said, "Give the baby back to her." She pointed to the mother lying on the ground with blood on her mouth.

The mother couldn't believe her eyes. The angel had wings, golden wings, and golden hair. She heard the angel telling the man to give her baby back.

"Larry, she's telling you to give back the baby, and I think you'd better do what she says." Larry looked around and looked at Ed. His eyes were wild looking.

"Give this baby up? You must be crazy." Ed looked at Larry and Larry looked at the ground.

"Give the baby back to the mother, for heaven's sake. Don't look at me like that. She's going to make ashes out of you. Give the baby back to her mother! Give her back or you will be ashes."

"That's $25,000 I'd be leaving behind." Both of them looked at the angel.

She was just standing there looking at them. Then she smiled as she said, "I have to teach you boys a lesson."

When those two saw her smile, they got the heck out of there. They threw the guns away and ran as fast as they could go.

The angel turned around and looked at Karen. She walked over to her.

"I'm Angel. What's your name? Don't be afraid of me. I'm your friend. I saved you and your baby girl."

The angel reached for her hand. She looked at Karen and smiled at her. Karen smiled back and took hold of her hand.

"You held my hand. Can I hold your baby?" Karen watched the angel as she played with her baby. Karen didn't say anything. How did she know my baby was a girl? I will never forget this night.

The angel gave Karen back her baby.

"My baby is very happy. Thank you for saving me and my baby."

The angel put her hand on Karen's right arm and said to her, "You will be alright going home. Nothing will hurt you or your baby. Don't be afraid. Your baby is an angel."

Then she smiled at them. Her wings spread open, and she flew away into the dark night.

Karen looked down on the ball of ashes at her feet. She would never forget the pretty angel who saved them tonight. Karen walked on with her baby.

THE END

My Family, Then and Now

by Rudolph Cooke
met my wife in 1975. We were married in 1985. Our first child was born in 1983 and is now fourteen. Our second child was born in 1990. She is now eight years old. Our third child was born in 1992. He is now five years old, and when he was born our family was finished. We live in a rural area and are very hapy. We are looking forward to many more years together, and that is my family.

Family

by John Shelton
have a wife and two children; the youngest is eighteen and the oldest is twenty-two. I would like to live long enough to see them grow up and raise a family of their own.

I would like to find my family history tree to see how far I can go back. I can remember two of my grandparents, but I would like to go back farther still.

Winning a real big lottery, so my family and I could have everything we always wanted, would be the dream I want to come true for us.

Family

by Gary Cooke
ver the Christmas holidays, we went riding around just to see some Christmas lights. We saw all kinds of lights and decorations, and my mother-in-law's house.

On New Year's Eve, we watched the Ball Drop on Times Square in New York at midnight. Then we went to bed.

Family

by James Davis
love my family very much. I enjoy taking my family out to eat. I also enjoy taking my family on vacation. My family will always be number one!

Family

by Charles Jackson
y family members are my best friends. They are very important to me. My main concern is the welfare of my family. I hope my wife and I can live to see our daughter grow up, get married, have a nice home and some children. I hope that my health will last so I can enjoy my grandchildren. I would like to help raise them, read them bedtime stories, take them fishing, and, most of all, just be a good grandfather.

Sometimes I take a walk to the back of my property. I have an old bench there that I sit on, and dream about how it would be if I could do more for my family, give them more than I've already given them, and make life a little better for them.

At times, I think about how my wife was so sick that the doctors had given up on her. Now, as the years have come and gone, she is doing fine. She lives a normal life now, and is wonderful.

It was not hard to write about my family because it is the main issue of my life.


SACRIFICE

by Melissa Carter
lack History is a part of my history.
A part of me which has existed for more than four hundred years.
Years of pain which still remains.

Husbands and wives and children torn apart.

Husbands sold to pick cotton,
Wives made to wash a master's floor,
Daughters used by married men as whores.

Not to be thought of us as people,
But as animals.

Imagine us today back then.
Could we have found the strength to survive?
Would we have given our lives?

We must never forget.


Foster Children and Families

by Jane Dyer
ne morning I was driving to work I heard on my radio that there was a need for foster homes for children. At that time I didn't know there were children that needed homes. I called social service for more information. They said you have to go to workshops for training. My home was approved for foster care. It was one year before we got any children. A foster parent is some one who can assume this responsibility until a permanent home is found or the children go back to their parents. Foster parents are there to help a child through difficult times. I was called for a newborn that needed a home. I went to the UVA nursery and picked the baby up. There were a lot of newborns in my home. I got so attached to the babies when they left me I began to get sick. And my family began to worry about me. But I had to keep in the back of my mind that one day they were going to be adopted. I love them so much just like my son and daughters. Children are separated from their parents for many reasons. Children who need foster care come from all backgrounds. Some have special needs. Sometimes you have to prepare the children to return home to live with their relatives. But when a child looks at me with a smile that is my job and I know that child likes me.

"Beth"

by Anonymous
eth never thought being a single parent could be so hard on one person. Beth never thought she would become a single parent. Till the beater got worse, Beth tried so hard to save her family. Beth left him after 7 years. She left without a penny to her name. She didn't know if she could make it through the night. But still she had to keep on moving. Beth tried to teach her three kids to love and respect everyone. We all have dreams we want to dream. We all have voices that want to be heard. When you grow up and have tough times, you must keep on going. Never let anyone put you down. You must be strong for yourself. You must believe in yourself and in God. Beth also tells her kids if you know what you want in life, and you get on your knees and pray you can make it happen.

You'll never find the answer if you throw your love away. Beth was a prisoner inside herself. Beth know the Lord rain down on her. And wash away the uncertainty. Now Beth is free at last. But still she hurts because the kids hurt. They miss their daddy and their home. Beth cries sometimes wondering could she have try harder to save her family. Beth watch her father beat her mother till he got shot in the leg by her older brother. She had to break the chain before the kids see something even worse. Beth tries to keep on a front when she is around people. But deep down she just want to die. Because she loves him and miss him. The kids ask about him a lot. She tells them daddy loves you. Beth wish they can be friends. But she knows that it will never happen. She wish she could make her kids happy. They seems happy but at night before they go to bed the older one ask about daddy and then the rest of them have questions that she tries to answer.

But Beth knows she saved them.


My Dreams

by Mary Harris
y dreams are very simple. I am a single parent of five wonderful boys whom I really love and admire. Sometimes it gets kid of tough, especially when you have five children. The only thing I can do is pray that I have made the right decisions on teaching my children right from wrong. My two older sons are very responsible. They wash their clothes, clean the house, and wash dishes. I am very proud of my sons. They mean the world to me. I want all my sons to finish high school and to get a good job or go to college. Also, I would like for them to stay in touch with each other and look after each other as they get older. I try very hard to keep my family happy, and sometimes it is not easy.

I have one more dream and that is that I hit the Big Game Lotto so that I can build my dream house. I would also help my family and donate money to needy families.

She's Here to Stay

by Rita Woodfolk
ineteen eighty-three wasn't a good year for me. On Dec. 31, 1983 I got a phone call at work. Just before I got the phone call my aunt walked in. You have to go home with me. I said can you wait a minute I have a phone call in the office. And my aunt said never mind the phone call that's why I'm here. Cause I have some bad news for you. So I stopped and said what's going on? She said sit here. I said why? The police said they found your mother dead. I said stop lying. She said I'm not so come on with me we have to go and get your brother and sister from the house. At the time my brother was just 10 years old and my sister was about a year and a half.

4 days later was the day my mother was placed to rest. It was like the end of the world and the saddest day of my life. When everything was over the family was comforting my brothers and sisters and me. Then we got the biggest shock of our life. My stepfather took my little sister away the same day my mother was placed to rest. My stepfather took my little sister to North Carolina to live with his family. So we got to see her off and on through the years. When my sister got older she asked my stepfather what was going on. She asked my stepfather why she couldn't stay with her family in Charlottesville. He would tell her lies |ike they don't want you and they don't care about you. Then about a year ago my sister said to my stepfather let me judge that for myself if it happens like that let me find it out on my own. So she packed up and moved back to Charlottesville to live with me.

By her staying away so long it's like we're strangers and sometimes it takes time for us to communicate with one another. I don't know how she feels about being around a bunch of strangers. From what I have experienced it's like being left alone and no where to go. It takes time for me and my sister to trust one another. So now she's a teenager (you know what that means) and it's like I'm the mother rather than the sister. So for all those who still have mothers you should always respect them while they are still around. You wouldn't want to go through what I have.

February 14, 1998

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