Category: Bipolar life

4 Nov 2025 Sisters

by saymber, posted in animals, Bipolar life, Leading Life by Example, Spirituality and Religion

Hello to you. I hope this finds you well. Today began with meeting with fellow Sisters in Christ for Bible study. Today’s study was about the story of Joseph. We learned about how his story is very similar to the story of Christ. The Bible study we’ve been using is God of Covenant by Jen Wilkin. The study is taking us through the book of Genesis. I didn’t get the book as I’m terrible about doing the homework – I get easily overwhelmed. I read the Bible that the study is covering and participate in discussion. The ladies are so welcoming and kind!

We start at Marie’s kitchen table going over homework
Then we watch the video with Jen Wilkin
Some Link cuteness! He is so used to getting his picture taken!

Part of what we covered today:

Genesis 37New International Version

Joseph’s Dreams

37 Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan.

2 This is the account of Jacob’s family line.

Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age;and he made an ornate[a] robe for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

5 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. 6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 7 We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”

8 His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.

9 Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

10 When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

One of my favorite songs by Dolly Parton is from the story of Joseph:

https://youtu.be/w_-YbWHs6DE?si=RT3d8PXqWzI20oLz – Dolly Parton Coat of Many Colors

1 Nov 2025 Hello November

by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion

Hello to you on this crisp first day of November. Can you believe how fast the year is going?!

Thinking of my mom and dad when I see yellow roses
Trees turning gold
We have such beautiful trees in our neighborhood

Last night was uneventful. I watched one of my favorite live streamers on Tik Tok NYCTHRASHER stream the New York City Halloween parade. There was quite a turnout! They even had the Michael Jackson Thriller dance. Afterwards I watched an old classic Rosemarys Baby. The night before last I watched original The Crow . Both were free with ads on YouTube. I wanted to watch something spooky but not too spooky! Did you hand out candy? My Aunt said they had about 50 kids! When I first moved in I tried doing it but there were no kids so I stopped participating. Halloween used to be one of my favorite holidays!

Psalm 8:3-4: “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”.

29 Oct 2025 Hurricane Melissa

by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Health, In the News, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. How are you? I am having one of those days that I’m going to have to push through. Even with taking my medication I’m still having a little trouble! The thing that happens with my head and ears is strong today. Writing about it helps.

Today my prayers go out to the people of Jamaica and those also in the path of Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean. I can remember what it was like having to evacuate when I lived in Florida and was at technical training in Mississippi. It was so scary! The aftermath and cleanup was so devastating!

https://www.cnn.com/weather/live-news/hurricane-melissa-cuba-bahamas-landfall-wednesday-climate-hnk

Matthew 8:23-27New International Version

Jesus Calms the Storm

23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

23 Oct 2025 Sleepy vs Tired

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

Hello to you. It is evening as I write to you. My thoughts are winding down and soon it will be time for bed. I’m trying to do what my therapist and I talked about on Tuesday. I told her about my troubles falling asleep and her suggestion was that I go to bed when I’m sleepy not just tired. Her advice really resonated with me. I had never really thought of going to sleep that way. When you’re sleepy you will feel it whereas when you are tired it’s more of a cerebral thing. For example I start going to bed at 9 pm and won’t fall asleep til 1-2 am! I usually have to have a nighttime meditation from YouTube on. The one I listen to the most is from the Relax For Awhile Channel with Joanne: https://youtu.be/204EcI6-9Vo?si=_NM2VlXI8PvdFgWZ

I wanted to mention that I am deeply disappointed about what is being done to the east wing of the White House. He’s acting like it’s his own house and can just do whatever he wants to it without permission. It’s our house! Very sad!

John 1:5New International Version

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.

15 Oct 2025 Walk

by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Mental Health, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion, Writing and blogging

Hello there! How are you today? I’m just back from a nice walk. My head condition (I get a tightness in my ears that affects my balance) bothered me but I kept on walking. It’s currently a crisp 60 degrees- perfect walking temperature. I was going to get groceries today but decided I’ll go tomorrow after prayer. I have started a list on my phone. It’s going to be expensive as I will picking up toilet paper and Links new food! Even for just me it’s almost $200 and that’s not even a full cart!

One of my favorite color combos in roses
Cheerful yellow roses
Some uplifting orange flowers

Isaiah 43:1New International Version

Israel’s Only Savior

43 But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

14 Oct 2025 Restful Sleep

by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, dreams, Health, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion, technology, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. How is your week so far? Good I hope and if it’s not I am praying for you. I am hoping you have a good support system surrounding you to help you get through whatever you’re facing. There have been several natural disasters – namely flooding in Alaska, Mexico and Arizona and places I haven’t seen reports on. Climate change is wreaking havoc everywhere it seems. I’m glad I live in Idaho as we rarely have extreme weather.

As I write to you this evening, my thoughts are turning to the upcoming battle I am going to have tonight with the darkness – sleep. I can feel tired and turn out the lights and it’s like an invitation for my mind to start racing. It’s not as bad as it was when I was working but it still happens. I have tried different things like trying not to be on my phone so much before bed but I like to have something to listen to which means still interacting with my phone. There is a creator on YouTube named Jason Stephenson I like to listen to but sometimes after his 3 hour meditation an loud ad at the end will wake me up! The same sometimes happens when I listen to Abide audios that have scripture and spiritual messages.

Not getting good sleep causes me to get into an unhealthy pattern. I will want to sleep during the day to make up for not sleeping through the night. It’s very rare that I have dream filled and restful sleep when I’m in such a pattern. I toss and turn a lot trying to get comfortable and poor Link stirs every time I do! Something I will do sometimes is I will ask Jesus for his help in getting to sleep and that helps sometimes. Another thing that I learned long ago when I was doing yoga is to talk to each part of my body. I tell each part to relax and I usually fall asleep before I get through my whole body.

Dear Jesus I pray for all those in the world who need your help in their lives. Whether it be natural disasters or tragic loss of loved ones for whatever reason – please use your body of believers to reach them. Let the lost souls of this world see your power through your body of believers. Jesus will not be mocked!

Galatians 6:7New International Version

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

7 Oct 2025 The Answer

by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Health, history, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Social media, Spirituality and Religion, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. I’m just back from a beautiful walk. The weather is just perfect! It felt good to walk off the lunch I had with Ruth and John at Burger King after Bible study. They are getting a new roof put on today. When I left them it looked like it was nearly done! Looked good!

Well my prayers were answered regarding yesterdays quandry about whether or not I should share my story here online. The answer from my family and Bible study was a resounding no. It’s just not safe or in my best interest to share so much personal information about myself online. I have already shared bits and pieces in previous blogs if people are curious about my journey. I think what happened when I got baptized was I had some layers of me stripped away. It really was a profound experience that is going to be with me for the rest of my life! It’s like being reborn in a way.

What’s interesting to note is how quickly Jesus answered my question of what to do. I have only been praying and my family has been praying about it for a couple of days. He used the people that love and care for me to give me my answer quickly. I truly believe from experience that believers are the bodies God uses to do his will. I also think the quick answer was to protect me and also give my Aunt Ruth peace of mind. She was really worried about me.

If it is only going to be like a journal it’s not handwritten- it’s on my phone using the notes application. My Aunt and I were trying to figure out if I should print it out or not. She thinks it should only be family that reads it. She is worried other people that aren’t family might treat me differently if they read it. I will continue to talk to Jesus about it as long as it’s on my mind.

Psalm 91:11New International Version

11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;

Baptism- Symbol of New Life (Romans 6:3-4): Paul explains that being baptized into Christ means being united with him in his death and resurrection, so that, “just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life”. 

6 Oct 2025 Safety in Sharing

by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, history, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. I’m just back from a cool walk around the block. It’s really starting to feel and look like fall. Yesterday my Aunt and Uncle had me over for some cozy beef stew and a new episode of one of our favorite Britbox shows Sister Boniface. It was kind of sad as it seems like the show may be ending by how the episode ended.

The topic today is because I have finally, after many years, started putting to words my experiences as a Bipolar person. Specifically what has happened to me through manic episodes. I had started on it a year ago and picked it back up yesterday. It was like my brain just was dumping all kinds of memories. I could probably write a book there is so much! Anyhew I was talking about this thing I’m doing with my dear friend Tawna and she was wondering what I was going to do with it. I said I wanted to share it in my blog and she expressed concern. She suggested that may be I should get an impartial party to read it first – for safety’s sake. I just don’t know who. She suggested somebody like my Pastor Jason but he’s already got so much on his plate! What I need is an editor to read it and get it streamlined. I will continue to pray about it. I will say putting together all these things really stirred me up. Once I got started everything came back. I keep thinking that what I’ve been through wasn’t for no reason. I’ve been through so much these 57 years. It’s been about 23 years of those 57 of being Bipolar. Maybe sharing my story will help someone? How much is too much to share on social media? Your feedback is welcomed.

Matthew 24:27-31 (NIV):

“For the Son of Man will come with the glory of his Father in the company of his angels, and then he will reward everyone according to what they have done… “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory”. 

    28 Sept 2025 Baptism

    by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs
    I was so nervous doing this but God lead me through it!

    Hello to you! I’m home from breakfast at the Sunrise Cafe with family celebrating a big milestone in my walk to Jesus – baptism! I was so nervous taking this step but God surrounded me with his people to help me through it. When I sat down in the trough the water was very cold. I was shaking as Diana read my testimony and a part of me did not want to do what I was about to do. I felt the enemy trying to tug at me and question my decision but Pastor Jason, Diana and Jim helped me stay seated and be in the moment.

    My testimony:

    I love Jesus and taking this step today is so special to me. I was raised Roman Catholic and have always believed in God but have never truly surrendered to Jesus. Since getting here to Idaho 5 years ago I have been surrounded with evidence of Jesus’s love for me. My family and both the Nampa and Middleton Grace church’s have shown me the way! God is good!

    My Idaho family
    My dear friend Jeannie

    27 Sept 2025 Red Tree

    by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Home, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion, Writing and blogging
    Fall signs are here!

    Hello to you! It’s another beautiful fall day. The tree across the street has turned a beautiful flaming red. I wanted to share it with you. Tomorrow I get baptized and I’m both looking forward to it and nervous at the same time! I’m making a big statement about my faith doing this. Thankfully some of my family will be there. The day also is special because my cousin Heidi will be turning 60! She is such a beautiful lady inside and out. She doesn’t look her age at all.

    Daniel 4:11-12New International Version

    11 The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches;from it every creature was fed.