Category: animals

20 Oct 2026 All the Stars

by saymber, posted in Animal Rights, animals, Bipolar life, Food, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Nature, Short stories, Spirituality and Religion

Hello to you. It’s already dark as I write to you. The sun goes down around 6:50 pm now. Link has been willing to go on walks the past couple of days. He likes to smell things and marks everything so the walk takes longer but I don’t mind.

Tonight I am thinking of a little story I came up with a long time ago. The story is about a group of people standing together under a star filled sky. They are each asked to choose a star. Each person chooses a different star but are reassured that it doesn’t matter that they chose different ones because all the stars are needed to fill the night sky.

This little story illustrates that we are biologically incapable of perceiving this existence in the same way! That’s not a bad thing.

Each perspective is equipped with senses – eyes (sight) are the biggest sense we have in common. Each set of eyes is a way for God to experience existence. Every being with eyes has a life force – emotions. Lately I have been seeing a lot of stories about food animals and how cruelly they are treated. It’s so sad to see the confusion, sadness and fear in their eyes. Some food animals like crab and lobster suffer in silence whilst being boiled alive.

Temple Grandin famously stated: “Nature is cruel, but we don’t have to be.” She also noted: “I think using animals for food is an ethical thing to do, but we’ve got to do it right. We’ve got to give those animals a decent life and we’ve got to give them a painless death. We owe the animal respect.”

From Albert Schweitzer

Dear God, protect and bless all beings that breathe, keep all evil from them, and let them sleep in peace. Amen.

From a Catholic Prayer Book

Hear our humble prayer, O God,
for our friends, the animals,
especially for those who are suffering;
for animals that are overworked,
underfed, and cruelly treated;
for all the wistful creatures in captivity,
that beat their wings against bars;
for any that are hunted or lost or deserted,
or frightened or hungry;
for all that must be put to death.
We entreat for them all
Thy mercy and pity,
and for those who deal with them,
we ask a heart of compassion
and gentle hands and kindly words.
Make us, ourselves,
to be true friends to animals
and so to share
the blessings of the Merciful.

12 Oct 2026 Sensitive

by saymber, posted in animals, Bipolar life, Health, Mental Health, Politics and Government, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs

Hello to you. It’s almost bedtime as I write to you. Today began early with Links grooming appt with Clean Pups groomer Diana. He knows the word haircut and did one of his nervous poops in the house. Poor little man!

I have been feeling extra sensitive these past couple of days. I waited too long to refill the medication that helps me with anxiety. I’m waiting on my prescription of Olanzapine to arrive. According to the automated message at the VA they sent out the order on the 6th. Today was a federal holiday so no mail was delivered. Hopefully it will be in tomorrow’s mail.

Prayer I found for World Peace:

Lord Jesus Christ, You are the true King of peace. In You alone is found freedom. [1]

Please free our world from conflict. Bring unity to troubled nations. Let Your glorious peace reign in every heart. Dispel all darkness and evil, and protect the dignity of every human life. [1]

Replace hatred with Your love. Give wisdom to world leaders, free them from selfish ambition, and eliminate all violence and war. [1]

Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace. Make us sensitive to the cry of the vulnerable, the displaced, and those who suffer. [1, 2]

Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands. Renew our hearts and minds so that our way of life will always be one of reconciliation, hope, and brotherhood. [1]

Amen.

8 Oct 2026 Wish

by saymber, posted in Animal Rights, animals, Bipolar life, Food, Health, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion

The genie grants you a wish. What is it?

Hello there. How are you? Today’ began with the prayer group I go to on Thursdays. Today it was Lois, Jeannie and a new person named Judy and me. We prayed for Pastor Jason and his family to have protection from attacks. We prayed for each other and for the things on the prayer sheet Lois has for us like Leadership and Facilities. We prayed for the elders, volunteers and for a place to go when the lease for Grace House is over in December. There is always lots to pray for and also give praise.

After prayer Jeannie and I went to the Sunrise. It was so nice to have quality time with my friend! I ordered something different – no meat. I want to stop eating meat. I can’t stand the cruelty in the food animal system! Every-time I eat meat I am conscious that more than likely the animals whose flesh I’m eating has experienced trauma and maltreatment. I don’t buy milk or meat anymore. I buy Amy’s frozen dinners and they don’t have meat in them and taste really good. I’m doing what I can by voting with my pocket book.

Today’s question is pretty easy for me to answer. If I had one wish it would be to not bipolar – to have my health restored. So much of my life has been wrecked by this condition. Both of my marriages ended badly because of this diagnosis.

Spin of the World Prayer Wheel:

Believe more deeply.
Hold your face up to the light,
even though for the moment you do not see.

bill wilson – cofounder alcoholics anonymous

13 Sept 2026 Fishers of Men

by saymber, posted in animals, Health, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion

Hello to you. I hope this finds you well. Today at church we were in Matthew 4::18-22:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%204%3A%2018-22&version=NIV

https://youtu.be/9h6Z-xYM_1I?is=_wM9HPVNGVIxwwRP – Fishers of Men – Pastor Jason Boyd

It was good to see everyone. Jeannie said she almost didn’t come – just feeling so sad. She is having to say goodbye to Roy’s dog Pepper as she is being rehomed. She doesn’t get along with Jeannie’s dog otherwise she’d keep her. We were going to go to breakfast together but she had to go and get Peppers things together. I went to the Sunrise anyways. It was good as always. I also got to see Missy Burke whose husband has been in the hospital for bleeding on his brain. She said he’s doing better. So many to keep in prayer!

Spin of the World Prayer Wheel:

Each day is a blessing
of epic proportions.
I give thanks for
what might seem meager comforts:
real cream in my coffee,
a day without a bill in the mail,
the Paso Doble.
Sometimes life is a dance
a woman has to do backwards
pushing against the wind
and obstacles in the way.
Thank You for being the partner
who always leads.

paso doble – ruth williams

12 Sept 2026 I Love You

by saymber, posted in Animal Rights, animals, Bipolar life, Health, Spirituality and Religion

If your pet could talk, what would be the first thing it says?

Hello to you today. How are you? I’m feeling a little sad. Yesterday being the day it was and finding out the Tik Tok creator I’ve been following, Steph, decided it was time to put her dog Clover to sleep. Clover had a tumor growing behind her eye and it was inoperable. All this triggered old wounds in me to open a bit! Saying goodbye to our fur babies is the worst of heartbreaks.

Farewell sweet Clover

Thinking about my Link I think if he could speak to me the first thing he would say is I Love You. This is something I say to him nearly everyday! The other thing he might say is when will we see Ruth and John again?! He loves going with me to their house to visit. Some people have set up little buttons that their dogs use to speak to them. I think a popular button he would push is “hungry!” He is such a foodie!

Spin of the Prayer Wheel:

When my time has come
and impermanence and death have caught up with me,
When the breath ceases, and the body and mind go their separate ways,
May I not experience delusion, attachment, and clinging,
But remain in the natural state of ultimate reality.

tibetan nyingma master – longchenpa rabjampa – 14th century

8 August 2026 Uniquely Link

by saymber, posted in animals, Bipolar life, Home, Spirituality and Religion

Share a photo of your pet and tell us one thing that makes them uniquely them.

My sunbeam boy

Hello to you. Hope this finds you well. It’s Saturday as I write to you.

Today’s prompt asks me to point out a unique thing that makes my dog Link who he is. Something that comes to mind is when he hides his favorite toys – babies- in plain sight:

One of his favorite babies he recently “hid”

The other thing that is unique is his weak or nervous bowels. When he gets nervous he poops wherever he is. He has a booty butt! The vet always brings that up when we visit. One other thing he does is nips at the back of the heels of men he doesn’t know. He’s very protective of his domain! Most of all he is a good boy and my best buddy.

Spin of the World Prayer Wheel:

My True Father,
I set my hopes upon You alone,
And I only ask You, God,
For my Soul salvation.

Let Your Holy Will
Be my strengthening on this way,
For my life without You is a mere empty moment,
And only serving You leads to Eternal life.

Amen!

prayer for the soul – st. agapit of pechersk – 11th century

20 July 2026 Break For The Brain and Rosary

by saymber, posted in animals, Bipolar life, Food, Movies, Spirituality and Religion

Hello to you. I’m just back from a good walk. The air quality wasn’t too bad. I checked my mailbox and was pleased to see a small package from Bishop James Long on Tik Tok. I won a rosary about a week ago while listening to his page. I had a couple of rosaries but during my last big manic episode I removed the crosses. Some parts of my spiritual path, being raised Roman Catholic, I hold on to. I listen to Bishop Long almost everyday.

Rosary received today and guide on how to pray

This morning I went to coffee at the Grace House. There was a good turnout. We prayed over the 21 days of prayer cards and Missy lead prayer over our personal intentions.

Later in the afternoon I went over to my Aunt and Uncles house for linner of grilled burgers and potato salad. Afterwards we watched a movie that was kind of dumb but gentle on the brain called Sheep Detectives – it’s on Amazon Prime:

Directed by Kyle Balda, the PG-rated animated comedy The Sheep Detectivesfollows a flock of sheep who leave their meadow to solve the mysterious murder of their shepherd, George. The 1-hour and 49-minute film was released in the US on May 8, featuring a voice cast that includes Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Galitzine, and Molly Gordon. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

https://youtu.be/pyZI5oM6hWk?is=ehgsIGgxQo_T_cOW – Sheep Detectives Trailer

Spin of the World Prayer Wheel:

Prayer is not asking.
Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God,
at his disposition,
and listening to his voice in the depths of our hearts.

mother teresa – in her own words

12 July 2026 Remarkably Bright Creatures

by saymber, posted in animals, Bipolar life, Mental Health, Movies, Nature, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs

Hello to you! I hope this finds you well. I have had a really good day. For church we were in John and Hebrews. Jesus is the perfect bridge and anchor of the soul:

https://youtu.be/zIrqMc2_Fj8?is=2YG6o5Uzo6LzaG3q – High Priestly Prayer Part 1 – Jason Boyd

I got to sit with my friend Jeannie and we got caught up on things. Her brother-in- law Roy is still not doing good – still losing weight. His daughter has been here and that’s made a nice break for Jeannie. He needs practically everything care!

I went over to my Aunt and Uncles in the early afternoon and that helped me so much. Sundays can be lonesome for me ! We had fajitas for linner and watched a wonderful movie on Netflix called Remarkably Bright Creatures starring Sally Field and an Octopus named Marcellus. Sally was perfect for this role as a widow named Tova. This is one of those movies you can watch more than once. My Aunt and Uncle loved this movie and so did I!

Here is from the Internet about it:

The feature film adaptation of Shelby Van Pelt’s 2022 bestselling novel Remarkably Bright Creatures is an emotional drama directed by Olivia Newman. Starring Sally Field as a grieving widow, Lewis Pullman as a wayward young man, and Alfred Molina as the voice of an observant, elderly octopus, the film was released on Netflix on May 8, 2026. [1]

The Plot and Themes

Set in the Pacific Northwest town of Sowell Bay, the story follows Tova Sullivan (Field), an elderly woman who cleans a local aquarium at night to help process the lingering grief of her husband’s passing and the mysterious disappearance of her son years ago. While working, she forms an unlikely bond with Marcellus, an intelligent, captive Giant Pacific Octopus who longs to return to the wild. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Their routine is altered when Cameron (Pullman), a directionless young man looking for his estranged father, arrives in town and is taken under Tova’s wing. Through their intertwining lives, narrated in part by the dry and opinionated Marcellus, the characters help each other navigate grief, family dysfunction, and the search for purpose

https://youtu.be/b14IFe4an5k?is=Rfni_4-ySfoUd7Zs – official trailer Remarkably Bright Creatures

Spin of the Prayer Wheel for today:

I lift these hands, dear God, to You,
in praise and thanks for all you do.
You light the path through all my days
and bless me with your loving ways…

I lift these hands dear God, to You,
in troubled hours when joys are few.
You bear me up on eagles’wings and see
me through each test life brings.

I lift these hands, dear God, to You,
please grant me wisdom, patience, too.
Then fill my heart with love and caring,
precious gifts you’ve made for sharing.

poet – emily matthews

5 July2026 The Art Of The Cast

by saymber, posted in animals, history, Leading Life by Example, Music, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs

Hello to you. Hard to believe another Sunday is here and about gone already. Link and I cuddled our way through neighborhood fireworks last night. He just stayed by my side through it all. I always feel bad for the pets, birds and squirrels! Some of the fireworks sounded like gunfire and sounded like they were in the house. We got to bed about 2 am. Things had pretty much stopped by then

At church today we were in Matthew 6:5-13 again:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206%3A5-13&version=NIV

https://youtu.be/4XAYJpRGGJc?is=vFVH2QPNoUUCmYnh – The Art Of The Cast – Pastor Jason Boyd

How we view prayer matters. Prayer is a conversation not a negotiation.

One of the songs we sang:

https://youtu.be/5_aIauL2xKA?is=1FIDlbTCkjIBdjdr – Hillsong Shout to The Lord

4 July 2026 Reason to Celebrate (250 years)

by saymber, posted in Animal Rights, animals, Art and Poetry, Bipolar life, Food, history, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs

Hello there! How are you? If you’re American you are probably having a cookout and preparing for fireworks tonight. I hope if you are reading from America and you have pets that you secure them. I know a lot of people have to give their pets tranquilizers to get through this night. Thankfully my Link doesn’t get worked up like most dogs. So many people like fireworks! They are pretty to watch but aren’t very eco friendly!

There has been quite a hoopla over today marking 250 years – we made it this far and I have hope for the future despite everything going on right now. Freedom isn’t free! It’s good to see so many people loving our country.

I had a wonderful meal and visit with my Aunt, Uncle, cousin and his wife and two of my Aunts Granddaughters Richelle and Tatum, Tatum’s husband Kyle and baby Liam. We had hamburgers, hotdogs, potato salad, corn on the cob, fruit, watermelon and ice cream and brownies for dessert. Liam was definitely the star of the show. Once he got acclimated to everybody, he had a great time. Great Grandma my Aunt gave him some metal measuring cups he loved clanging together. We all know what he’s getting for Christmas! My Uncle, Great Grandpa said he’s going to get Liam a drum set! lol! 😂 We made a special memory today! So special!

My sweet Auntie and I – Grandma Becker would be so proud! She loved celebrating the 4th in her backyard in Ft. Collins CO
My beautiful Grandma Becker (I couldn’t flip picture!)

If God could talk
it wouldn’t be in English
or Latin or Arabic
It wouldn’t be in Yiddish
or Spanglish or pidgin

If God could talk
the words would crack like thunder
pour down like a torrent of jewels
flooding our basements with shining ideas,
sparkling conclusions.

If God could talk
a thought would be a redwood
a word an ocean
a sentence a century.

If God could talk
I would not have to
for all the words today requires
would flow in on the morning breeze
and find their way to the morning news.

If God could talk
God’s word would be carried
on the wings of eagles
the ankles of gnats
in the pouches of kangaroos
and the paws of polar bears.

It would spread through the sound
of honey bees and hyenas
be translated into a rainbow
by blue herons and cardinals,
blackbirds and yellowjackets
pink flamingos and gray whales,
purple martins and chameleons.

It would cause rivers to flow,
tides to rise, moons to wax,
suns to set, sparrows to fly,
planets to revolve,
universes to expand
if God could talk.

if god could talk – jan phillips