A month after we decided to adopt a 4-year-old, my wife said ‘We should give her back’

By
Monica Pop
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Claire and I tried for a baby for too long. Tiring doctor visits and IVF treatments became our reality, and when we both felt like we were too overwhelmed by everything, we decided to adopt – 4-year-old Sophie was everything we have ever dreamed of.

She was the most beautiful little girl who had spent her life in the foster system since the day she was born.

From day one, she started calling her mom and dad. Finally, life seemed perfect, until I returned home one day and Sophie clung to my leg and said she didn’t want to leave our home.

Her words confused me. “You are not going anywhere,” I assured her.

A month after we decided to adopt a 4-year-old, my wife said 'We should give her back'
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But then I saw Claire. She had tears in her eyes and looked at me as though she had done something wrong.

“We need to talk,” she said, “I think we should give her back.”

“Claire, what are you talking about. You wanted to adopt, it was your idea in the first place. That little girl calls us mom and dad,” I said, her words feeling like a knife in my chest.

Claire started crying. She said she didn’t think she was good enough of a mother to Sophie.

I assured her she was awesome, the mother every child could ever wish for. And then, she opened up and revealed that it was her mother who planted the seeds of doubt in her.

A month after we decided to adopt a 4-year-old, my wife said 'We should give her back'
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Her mom said we rushed with the decision to adopt a 4-year-old, that we should have tried harder for a baby, or at least we should have adopted an infant. She said that older children have issues, like the one time Sophie threw a tantrum at the supermarket, but it wasn’t anything big, just a typical 4-year-old child’s behavior.

As we talked, we noticed Sophie at the door of the kitchen. She probably overheard our conversation.

In the days to come, she didn’t come to our bed for a silly story before going to sleep. She just stood at the door of her room as though she waited us to tell her she would no longer be part of our family. Seeing her like that broke my heart into a million pieces.

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Eventually, we sought counseling. Claire did her best to overcome her fears of failing as a mother. Day by day, things became better and better.

It took some time, but the family we’ve always dreamed of overcame the obstacles.

Sophie regained our trust. With each passing day, she knew we wouldn’t return her anywhere. She was there to stay.

One day, as we were having lunch, someone knocked on the door. It was Claire’s mother. My heart stopped for a second. I had a feeling that her presence and her words would take us back to the beginning. But I was wrong.

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Claire’s mom held a stuffed rabbit in her hands. She approached Sophie and said, “Hey little one, sorry I wasn’t around for so long.”

As expected, Sophie wasn’t sure if she should get any closer. She had only seen her grandmother once or twice, but I told her she should approach closer.

Claire’s mom apologized for everything. For ever doubting in her daughter’s ability to give love to a child she didn’t give birth to.

Things finally fell into place.

The decision to adopt Sophie, the most loving and caring 4-year-old girl there is, was the best we could ever make.

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Michelle Obama sets the record straight on divorce rumors in new podcast

By
Monica Pop
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On a new podcast alongside her brother, former First Lady Michelle Obama opened up about details of her personal life, reports The New York Times.

The podcast, titled IMO, premiered on Wednesday and the trailer featured insights into Michelle’s marriage as rumors of her divorce from former President Barack Obama filled headlines.

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“I couldn’t have gotten through eight years in the White House without my big brother,” Michelle said speaking of her role as a first lady between 2009 and 2017.

“… being married to the president of the United States [is a] thing that that none of us kind of banked on. We knew Barack was smart and ambitious, but, you know…,” she added.

She explained that on their podcast, she and Craig, who serves as the executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, would be answering questions from viewers about “the challenges you’re grappling with in life… whether you’re navigating the gray areas of marriage and raising kids, or dealing with a little friend drama—or even figuring out how to put yourself out there in the dating world.”

Michelle Obama admitted she has always disliked politics, but it was her brother, Craig Robinson, who convinced her to support her husband in running for president.

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The hosts will speak of Robinson’s divorce from his first wife and his marriage to current wife Kelly McCrum Robinson. They will also address the rumors surrounding the alleged divorce of the Obamas that has been a much-discussed topic in recent months.

The rumors of their separation spread so far that some media outlets claimed Barack Obama was dating Friends star Jennifer Aniston. The actress, however, denied the rumors during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, saying she has only met the former president once.

Michelle and her brother will eventually introduce celebrity guests, some of whom appeared on Obama’s previous production The Michelle Obama Podcast, including director Tyler Perry; and new guests, like actors Seth Rogen and Keke Palmer.

On Wednesday, the former first lady was a guest on Sophia Bush’s podcast, Work in Progress, where she discussed life after her daughters have moved out.

“[Life] is whatever I want, Sophia, It’s whatever I want,” she said, adding that life of an “empty nester” is liberating.

“It’s the first time in my life all of my choices are for me.”

Scott Olson / Getty Images

Michelle Obama then discussed the position of the woman in society, saying that when they give themselves the permission to prioritize themselves, they face struggles and issues.

“That’s the thing that we as women, I think… we struggle with disappointing people. I mean, so much so, that this year people were… they couldn’t even fathom that I was making a choice for myself that they had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing.”

The rumors came as a result of Michelle’s absence from Jimmy Carter’s funeral and Donald Trump’s inauguration.

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8-year-old takes action over friend’s school lunch debt

By
Monica Pop
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If you feel like you have lost your faith in humanity, fear not, because eight-year-old Cayden Taipalus is here to restore it.

When this young man noticed that one of his friends was denied a warm meal at school, he decided to take matters in his own hands.

8-year-old paid off his friend’s school lunch debt after he was denied food.
Ella Olsson/ Pexels

Namely, one day, at the Challenger Elementary in Howell, Michigan, Cayden saw his friend being handed a sandwich instead of a hot meal due to insufficient funds in his lunch account. This broke his heart, and he knew he needed to make a difference.

Once home, Cayden was quick to share what he saw with his mother, telling her that the entire situation made him feel sort of sad. His mom, Amber Melke-Peters, agreed that they needed to do something in order to prevent things like that taking place in the future so the two came up with the idea of founding a fundraising webpage called: “Pay It Forward: No Kid Goes Hungry.”

8-year-old paid off his friend’s school lunch debt after he was denied food.

Cayden sought help from friends, family, and neighbors, requesting donations to pay off his friend’s lunch debt, and that of other friends.

However, his initiative went beyond money as his story spread around, inspiring many.

He even started a recycling campaign to raise funds independently and approached the school’s lunch staff with the request that these funds be directed to the accounts of students experiencing financial difficulties.

Since the start of Cayden’s initiative, over $41,000 have been raised, enabling him to provide lunches for plenty of struggling students.

Cayden’s ultimate goal is that no child goes without receiving a hot meal during a school day.

Speaking to ABC News, his mother said, “I am so very proud of my son. He is only 8 years old, and to grasp the concept around this is just amazing in my eyes. He has a heart of gold.”

The stirring sensation in Cayden’s stomach evolved into a project with the capacity to ensure that plenty of children receive hot meals during lunchtime.

He inspired many to contribute to his initiative.

“We contributed to this and think it is a wonderful project you chose to do. I hope that someone has nominated your project to the Make a Difference program. Cayden, you have truly made a difference,” a person wrote, and added: “You have done a wonderful job of helping a lot of kids. You wouldn’t think in a land of plenty that there would be hungry kids, but the reality is, for many children, what they get to eat at school may be their only meal of the day. It is heartbreaking. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and this is a way of us helping to raise a few kids, and let them keep their dignity.”

8-year-old paid off his friend’s school lunch debt after he was denied food.
Yan Krukau

Cayden’s story of going to great lengths to pay off his friend’s lunch debt is yet another reminder that nothing is impossible, all it takes is will and determination.

It is because of people like this sweet boy with a heart of gold that this world is a better place.

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Fears faulty ‘Jesus nut’ caused helicopter crash that killed entire family

By
Monica Pop
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Following the tragic helicopter accident that claimed the lives of an entire family of five, as well as that of the pilot, aviation expert Julian Bray suggests a possible cause.

According to him, the reason of the crash and the helicopter breaking apart in midair and plunging into the Hudson River, landing upside down, could be a faulty “Jesus nut.”

“Jesus nut” is a single bolt that holds the entire rotor system together in helicopters. In case this nut fails mid-air, nothing else holds the rotor on and the aircraft becomes uncontrollable. The name comes from the idea that if it falls off, Jesus is the only hope. That’s how vital this part is.

Expert believes the reason behind the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of six could eb a faulty "Jesus nut."
Reuters

Speaking to The Sun, the expert explained, “What appears to have happened with this particular helicopter is that the rotor, the main rotor… had detached, because in one video we see the blades spinning away from the helicopter.

“But this appears to have sliced through the back half of the helicopter, so the fuselage then drops like a stone into the river Hudson right opposite Pier 41.”

Expert believes the reason behind the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of six could eb a faulty "Jesus nut."
Wikipedia

He then spoke of the Jesus nut and the possibility of it being the cause of the tragic helicopter crash.

“There is a particular procedure which has to be checked every time it’s serviced, and it’s known as the Jesus Bolt… because without that the whole thing will fall apart,” he said.

“It looks as though it’s [the] Jesus bolt or Jesus PIN.”

Bray believes that because of some reason, this part was either defective or not tightened up.

The investigation is still ongoing, but videos from the tragic crash show the rotor indeed detaching from the helicopter.

A user commented under the video, “Hudson River Helicopter Crash video shows that the rotor blades were fully detached from the fuselage but still spinning. This likely was NOT engine failure.”

The crash claimed the lives of Agustín Escobar, the president of the Spanish branch of Siemens, his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three children, aged 4, 5, and 11 years old.

Allegedly, they arrived in New York the day prior and wanted to sightsee the city aboard the single-engine Bell 206 helicopter operated by New York Helicopter.

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Just before the tragedy that claimed their lives, the family posed in front and inside the aircraft which was flying around 18 minutes before the deadly fall. They reportedly visited New York and booked the chopper to celebrate one of their children’s birthday.

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Elon Musk criticizes Earth’s 17-mile-long ‘death machine’ once believed it could destroy humankind

By
Monica Pop
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The Hadron Collider, one of the most powerful science tools dubbed “death machine,” stretches for 27 kilometres (17 miles) in a deep tunnel beneath the France-Switzerland border beneath Geneva.

Scientists build it to help them understand universe better, and in 2012, it helped discover the Higgs boson. “It is the fundamental force-carrying particle of the Higgs field, which is responsible for granting other particles their mass,” according to Space. “This field was first proposed in the mid-sixties by Peter Higgs.”

The Hadron Collider (CERN).
The Hadron Collider (CERN)

However, besides the importance of the Hadron Collider, there have been a number of theories about its ability to destroy humankind.

Back in the day, media outlets claimed that scientists could make contact with parallel universes through their discoveries and disapprove the Bing Bang theory.

The Hadron Collider.
The Hadron Collider (Ronald Patrick/Stringer via Getty)

Tech-billionaire and head of DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk dubbed it “a demonic technology” and many believe his post about it on X wasn’t a joke.

Back in 2022, he posted, “Please let me use the CERN Large Hadron Collider. I am normal and can be trusted with a demonic technology unlike anything the world has ever seen,” which according to many only triggered more apocalyptic predictions about this technology.

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All of a sudden, the phrase “death machine” started trending again, with people expressing their fears regarding their lives and humanity.

Some claimed that the logo of CERN, the European particle physics laboratory where the Large Hadron Collider is located, looked like 666.

There have been those who are convinced the scientists at CERN hide dangerous secrets and that the “death machine” could open black holes and tear the universe. Also, they say that the Shiva statue at the facility stands as a symbol of destruction. In fact, India gifted the statue to the facility and it represents the cycle of creation and change.

Also, Musk’s post was likely a subtle reflection on how humans approach powerful tech.

The truth is that with the rise of technology, it is understandable that people have mixed feelings worry of the long-lasting effects on humanity.

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Mom and 4 children killed in fiery crash while traveling to see husband

By
Monica Pop
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Reagan Dougan, a mom of four, was taking her children to Florida to see their dad when a tragic crash happened.

As they were driving down I-95 South in McIntosh County, Georgia, the rented SUV they were in collided with another vehicle and burst into flames, killing all five of them.

The children were aged 9, 4, 2, and a 3-month-old baby.

Georgia State Trooper Christopher Ashdown said the SUV struck the rear of a white Infiniti sedan while driving at a high speed. “Seeing how hard the impact was obviously caused the SUV to ignite,” Ashdown added.

The driver of the other vehicle was left with injuries and transferred to a hospital.

Currently, the exact cause of the tragic accident is under investigation.

Reagan Dougan, a mom of four, was taking her children to Florida to see their dad when they got killed in a car crash.
GoFundMe

Christopher “Jonesy” Butler-Jones, a friend of the family, spoke through tears to WTVD: “I’m still in shock. [Her husband] lost his entire family. It’s just heart-wrenching.”

He described Reagan as a devoted mother and an amazing friend. “That was one of her dreams, is to always have an amazing family and be a mother. She was very dedicated. Her kids were everything to her.

“If you’re upset, you can call her and she’s going to make you happy. She’s going to show you the brighter side of it.”

Lindsey Marie, another friend of the late mother of four who tragically lost her life along with her children, said, I can’t imagine what her poor husband and family are feeling. My heart is broken — tomorrow is never promised. I just have no words.

She added: “Rest in peace, angel. You have NO idea how loved you were by so many.”

Reagan Dougan, a mom of four, was taking her children to Florida to see their dad when they got killed in a car crash.
GoFundMe

The family started a GoFundMe page on the behalf of the devastated father, Christian Dougan, to help with the funeral expenses for the mom and children who died in the devastating crash.

“While Christian works with his and Reagan’s family to begin mourning these five beautiful souls, we cannot even fathom the financial burden it is going to endure moving his family from Georgia to their final resting place in Florida,” Christian’s step-mother Stoltman wrote.

Photographer Katrina Cusatis, who had captured maternity photos for the Dougan family last fall, shared her heartbreak on Facebook: “My heart is completely broken over this unimaginable tragedy. Their love, joy, and connection were truly unforgettable.”

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Pilot’s chilling final radio message to base before deadly NYC helicopter crash kills six in Hudson River

By
Monica Pop
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A family of five, including three children, were killed in a helicopter crash that happened on Thursday, April 10, at around 3:17 pm, with the aircraft breaking apart in midair and plunging into the Hudson River.

Before it hit the water, the helicopter spined uncontrollably, according to witnesses.

Dani Horbiak, a witness, told ABC News she heard what “sounded almost like gunshots in the sky.” She then noticed parts of metal falling down from the sky.

Radar data showed the helicopter circling near the Statue of Liberty, flying north along the Manhattan skyline to the George Washington Bridge and then back south before the crash after being in the sky for approximately 18 minutes.

A family of five, including three children, were killed in a helicopter crash that happened on Thursday, April 10, at around 3:17 pm, with the aircraft breaking apart in midair and plunging into the Hudson River.
EPA

According to The Telegraph, the owner of New York Helicopter which provided the tour and the chopper, Michael Roth, said the helicopter needed fuel.

“He [the pilot] called in that he was landing and that he needed fuel, and it should have taken him about three minutes to arrive, but 20 minutes later, he didn’t arrive.”

It was another pilot who noticed the helicopter into the Hudson River and alerted Roth.

A family of five, including three children, were killed in a helicopter crash that happened on Thursday, April 10, at around 3:17 pm, with the aircraft breaking apart in midair and plunging into the Hudson River.

“We’re all devastated. Every employee in our company is devastated. My wife has not stopped crying.

“The death of the child, of any human being, is a monumental disaster.”

A family of five, including three children, were killed in a helicopter crash that happened on Thursday, April 10, at around 3:17 pm, with the aircraft breaking apart in midair and plunging into the Hudson River.

The passengers losing their lives were Spanish tourists who were identified as Agustín Escobar, the CEO of Rail Infrastructure at Siemens Mobility, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three children. The pilot, 36, also lost his life.

The family posed in front and inside the helicopter before the deadly flight.

A family of five, including three children, were killed in a helicopter crash that happened on Thursday, April 10, at around 3:17 pm, with the aircraft breaking apart in midair and plunging into the Hudson River.
New York Helicopter Tours LLC

Following the crash, emergency services arrived at the scene and all of the bodies were recovered.

“Recovery operations have been secured for the night. Major parts of the aircraft have not been recovered so dive operations by the NYPD and NJSP will resume tomorrow morning,” Jersey City Mayor Steven said in a post.

President Trump shared his condolences about the lives lost in the helicopter crash over Hudson River. He wrote the investigation is ongoing and there would be answers.

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The meaning of wearing ankle bracelets

By
Monica Pop
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Ankle bracelets have been a fancy jewelry worn for many years. Why these bracelets are still popular among women is because they are discreet yet charming.

However, besides being an accessory, ankle bracelets also carry certain symbolisms that vary across cultures.

For example, in certain cultures, they are a representation of wealth and status, while in others they are related to spirituality and hold religious significance.

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In ancient Egypt, people wore ankle bracelets because they believed it would protect them from evil spirits and would bring them luck and prosperity. Women of lower social classes wore anklets made of leather or strings. Those who were wealthy, wore ones made of precious metals and gems. The richer the husband, the more gems on their bracelet.

Field workers wore ankle bracelets with pendants because it helped keep insects away while they were working on the fields.

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In India, however, this fashion accessory is mostly worn by married women and demonstrates their union and status.

Further, anklets are mentioned in some of the stories of The Arabian Nights, a famous collection of Middle Eastern folktales and stories translated to many languages. There, anklets are believed to be represented as a symbol related to prostitution.

Sumerians and Romans wore it in order to show their wealth and status.

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Ankle bracelets made their way into the Western cultures in the mid-1900s.

Nowadays, anklets are a nice way to add a little spark to our step. They are attractive and appealing, and loved by women from all around the world.

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They can be worn during casual outing, as an accessory for beach vacations and resort wear, at formal events, as well as during weddings, festivals, and other cultural celebrations.

Their popularity has definitely stood the test of time.

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