23 Apr 2026 Surrender

April 24, 2026 by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Food, Health, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs

Hello and good evening to you. I’m writing to you after finishing off my Dairy Queen Peanut Parfait. It’s been on my mind for a month now and tonight I decided I was going to surrender to my desire. Like Joyce Meyers talks about with chocolate cake. Once you have it on your mind that you want it, you are going to figure out a way to get it! One way or another I was going to have that Parfait! Now that I’ve had it I can stop wanting it! Mind over matter – harumpf!

What we focus our minds on gains power. Thoughts precede action. We think of something and then develop a plan of action and then we carry out our plan. Even though I have been trying to lose weight and knew the Parfait wasn’t good for me, I still got in the car tonight and went and got it. I think the take away from this is not to make it a habit. I also wonder if the Resilia Oil of Oregano is working at curbing my sweet tooth. I have almost finished a bag of capsules and don’t feel any different. Did I get sold snake oil?! My gut bacteria still wants sweets and won’t let me rest about it. They claim within weeks of taking the oil you should stop craving sweets. Such hasn’t been the case for me. Sometimes it feels like my stomach is more powerful than my brain!

Here is a short, effective prayer for strength and guidance:

“Dear Lord, I come before you needing your strength and guidance. When I feel weak, be my rock; when I am unsure, be my light. Please guide my decisions and grant me the courage to face this day with peace. Lead me on the right path. Amen.”

12 Apr 2026 What God Wants

April 13, 2026 by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Health, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion, Writing and blogging

Hello to you on this rainy Sunday afternoon. Today has been uneventful. This morning was church. I sat with my friends in our usual spot in row J. I like that spot because the floor is more level and it’s easier to stand. My back was not being my friend today! I was surprised to see Jeannie with Roy who has gotten so thin. He is determined to go to church and she is kind enough to help him! I’m always glad to sit with them and my other friends Terry and Cecil. God is definitely at work in Roy.

Today we were in Matthew 19:16-30:

Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

https://youtu.be/m9-eKzm_yWw?si=18iVnOyzP7r_39Vk – Money, Money, Money – Pastor Jason Boyd

The take away from this sermon is that God doesn’t want our money or possessions. He wants our hearts. Jason asked what is it in our lives that keeps our hearts from him. This question calls for reflection and thought. What do I focus on more than God? Honestly it’s my body right now. I used to do more until I hurt my back and had the Weeble wobble stuff going on in my head. Every day I ask God to heal me so I might be a more fit vessel. I wonder what would happen if I stopped focusing on myself and just focused on Jesus! What we focus on gains more power and influence in our lives.

8 Apr 2026 Pushing On

April 9, 2026 by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Health, history, human rights, Nature, photography, Politics and Government, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs

Hello to you. How are you doing? Since Sunday I haven’t been feeling so good. I’m writing to you from bed and it’s only 7 pm! Still very light out. I just feel weak and low energy. This too shall pass and I know I will push on beyond whatever this is. The only thing different I’m doing is I have started taking loratadine which is generic Claritin for allergies. The Flonase hasn’t arrived yet. This is another way of tackling the fullness in my ears.

Dear Jesus please be with my Uncle Bill as he navigates issues going on with his heart. I also ask you be with my cousin Heidi as she continues to heal. I ask you to be with the people in war torn countries- let there be peace. I pray you guide leaders at all levels of government – please give our elected officials the courage to stop the mad king! Amen.

2 Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind”

30 Mar 2026 Palm Sunday and The One With The Pool

March 30, 2026March 30, 2026 by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, dreams, Health, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs

Hello to you. How are you? I was up early after a night of lots of dreams. Dreamt a lot of shadow people but didn’t get scared this time. I had an appointment with the VA first thing this morning. I was there for a weight and ears check up. I gained a pound since my last visit which was disappointing and as I’ve mentioned before my ears didn’t respond to the antibiotic. We are going to try Flonase nasal spray and Claritin. She suspects my Eustachian tubes may be clogged and antihistamine treatment may clear them. My Aunt said she uses Flonase every night. We have similar allergy problems. She had me take a blood pressure cuff home to do a daily blood pressure check as my blood pressure was a little high. I am really disappointed we aren’t keeping her! Now I have to start over again with a new doctor next visit.

This past Sunday was Palm Sunday. We were in John 5:1-15:

John 5:1-15New International Version

The Healing at the Pool

5 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. ²Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda^[a] and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. ³Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. ^[4]^[b] ⁵One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. ⁶When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

⁷“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

⁸Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” ⁹At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

The day on which this took place was a Sabbath,¹⁰and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”

¹¹But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ”

¹²So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”

¹³The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.

¹⁴Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” ¹⁵The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.

Whenever I hear “Do you want to be healed?” My resounding answer is “YES!” I can imagine Jesus laying his hands on me and my being completely healed.

https://youtu.be/kf6K3NbOOyg?si=kghCMC40nQllvQ2B – The Chosen – Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem – Palm Sunday

https://youtu.be/JMj1ggINLe4?si=w2V8GPwp37mUN8A6 – The Chosen – Jesus Heals At The Pool

https://youtu.be/Qg7SQeASmMQ?si=AiaKwzBLlgONKXep – The One With The Pool – Pastor Jason Boyd

28 Mar 2026 Reaching Out

March 29, 2026March 29, 2026 by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Health, Home, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs

Hello to you. I hope this finds you well. Today was good. I woke up with my usual problem – anxiety and I didn’t want to be alone. I reached out to my Aunt and she had Link and I come over. She helped me make a delicious cup of coffee and made me a toasted blueberry bagel. She gave me a much needed hug. She just knows what I need! Almost every day I have anxiety in the morning and instead of fighting my way through it today I reached out. I am so blessed to have an understanding Aunt and Uncle! At times I really don’t like living alone. Thank God for Link! Am I going to be alone for the rest of my life? Sometimes I think so! The dating scene for my age group is pretty dismal. I always said that if I couldn’t make my second marriage work that I was destined to be alone. There is a large void in my life not being married. I will just have to let God have the final word on this.

Favorite song before bed: https://youtu.be/h9hILKB9qZQ?si=8gwxivXqomrWUX7j – Vangelis – Come to Me

John 16:33New International Version

³³“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

27 Mar 2026 Blooms

March 28, 2026 by saymber, posted in animals, Bipolar life, Health, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs

Hello to you. How are you doing? I hope well. Today is day three of taking the Oregano oil – no real change yet. I am in the supposed clean out phase but don’t feel it yet. My Aunt recommended my talking to my doctor about a drug called wegovy. It can help with weight loss. I’m not happy with the side effects I read about- it supposedly slows down digestion which could affect the effectiveness of Depakote I take for being Bipolar. I am pretty sure I would have to pay out of pocket for it too but can’t hurt to ask about it. When I was prescribed a multi vitamin and vitamin D3 through the VA and had to pay out of pocket for both of them.

During the walk today I noticed lots of flowers – especially dandelions. I learned a while back that dandelions are not weeds but natural medicine. Also the bees rely on dandelion as an early food source. I saw but couldn’t capture actual images of bees visiting the yellow flowers. I am grateful to my neighbors who just let them bloom and don’t spray poison on them.

Dear Jesus I pray for this world and all the life within it. May there be peace in the war ravaged regions. I pray especially for the innocent children in these places- shield them from harm. I pray for you to make your presence known – illuminate the dark places. Please be with those dealing with the destruction of their homes after natural and man made disasters. I pray you be with all those who are suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia. I pray for your presence with the sick, healing, recovering and the poor. Please be with all animals that are suffering needlessly. Amen.

Romans 15:13New International Version

¹³May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peaceas you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

26 Mar 2026 Parasites Within

March 27, 2026 by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Food, Health, Home, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion

Hello there. It’s bed time as I write to you. How are you? This morning was my weekly prayer meeting. LOTS to pray about! I am hoping I will get a good sleep tonight. I am on my second day of taking Oil of Oregano with Black Seed Oil by Resilia. I am hoping it will help me with my bloating and sugar cravings. The reviews have been good so we shall see! I feel with certainty that I have parasites in my gut. After every meal my belly bloats up like I’m pregnant. I know part of the sugar cravings isn’t just parasites begging to be fed but is also the medication I’m on. Depakote and Olanzapine are known for causing weight gain. I am hoping the oregano oil will help me in spite of the medications.

I have been asking Jesus to heal me and I feel like he has been leading me down a path of possibilities to do just that. It’s been a struggle at times as I have gotten so out of shape. Becoming more active each day with Tai Chi and a longer walk each day and changes to what I’m putting in my body are all holistic approaches to healing. I just have to surrender and believe we are on the right path together.

A good prayer for these days we are in:

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi (Prayer for Peace)

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

24 Mar 2026 Beauty

March 25, 2026 by saymber, posted in Health, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion

View from my back door today- the fruit trees are in bloom. When you get close to them you can hear the humming of the bees.

Hello to you. How are you? Today has been long for me. The fullness in my ears has been really intense the past couple of days but I am pushing on. I have an appointment with my doctor next week. I am curious as to what she is going to say since the ear drops/ear infection treatment didn’t get rid of it.

With my physical discomfort aside, boy is it beautiful outside these days! The fruit trees in my neighbors backyard are literally humming with new life. The bees love fruit trees! We have cherry, apricot, plum and apple trees in our neighborhood. Sadly most of the fruit ends up on the ground or the squirrels and birds eat it.

Matthew 7:16-20New International Version

¹⁶By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?¹⁷Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.¹⁹Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Ai interpretation of this passage:

Matthew 7:16-20 teaches that people’s true character, especially that of spiritual teachers, is revealed by their actions and life outcomes (“fruit”), not by their words or appearances. Jesus explains that good character produces good deeds, while corrupt hearts produce bad fruit, urging followers to evaluate and avoid false prophets.

https://youtu.be/HAbwGTcPA_k?si=FVOMvUOjN2Q7_hEl – The Chosen – Nathanael under the fig tree meets Jesus

Dear Jesus thank you for yet another day of life. I pray to you for all in this world that need your healing and loving touch. All that need reassurance that you are present in their lives. For with you no one is truly alone in whatever it is they are going through. Amen.

9 Mar 2026 Spring and Multiplied

March 10, 2026 by saymber, posted in Health, Leading Life by Example, Spirituality and Religion

Hello there how are you today? I’m doing ok. Today was warm again. I think spring is here! We had a very mild winter with little to no snow. With more water demand due to growth in our state that’s not a good thing! I have been trying to make sure I get out and walk and do the Tai Chi video for 9 min. I want to wish a happy birthday to all the March people in my life!

This past Sunday we were in Matthew 25:

Matthew 25:14-30New International Version

The Parable of the Bags of Gold

¹⁴“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.¹⁵To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,^[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. ¹⁶The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. ¹⁷So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more.¹⁸But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

¹⁹“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. ²⁰The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

²¹“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

²²“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

²³“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

²⁴“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. ²⁵So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

²⁶“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? ²⁷Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

²⁸“‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. ²⁹For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. ³⁰And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

https://youtu.be/0QWb-XBYJEY?si=tLbjZZwWtrW0KWMO – Multiplied – Grace Bible Church Middleton – Pastor Jason Boyd

Which servant are you? I can be all three at times!

1 Mar 2026 Humility and Birthday

March 2, 2026 by saymber, posted in Food, Health, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Politics and Government, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs

Hello to you. I hope there is love and peace in your corner of the world. There is a lot going on in this world that needs our prayers! I am not happy with what is going on. It’s like we don’t even have a Congress! Thank God for my church and blood family!

Today Pastor Jason was in Matthew 18:

Matthew 18:21-35New International Version

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

²¹Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

²²Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.^[a]

²³“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.²⁴As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold^[b] was brought to him.²⁵Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

²⁶“At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ ²⁷The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

²⁸“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.^[c] He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

²⁹“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

³⁰“But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.³¹When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

³²“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. ³³Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ ³⁴In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

³⁵“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

https://youtu.be/50mzUwYBsTk?si=ktuc9aFiugADmptK – Unforgiven Pastor Jason Boyd

He gave a quote from C. S Lewis that really resonated with me: True humility is not thinking less of self but thinking of yourself less.

The root of forgiveness is love:

1 Corinthians 13:5New International Version

⁵It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

After church I drove over to my Aunt and Uncles to ride with them to Olive Garden in Nampa to celebrate my cousins wife’s birthday. It was very busy and we waited about 35 minutes but it was worth it. The best part of the meal was us being together to celebrate my beautiful friend! We are the same age but she is the more mature of the two of us. She had good news about her work situation – fewer hours and getting to work from home one day a week. They were going to lose her so they worked out this deal. We are so happy for her!

My Aunt and I had chicken Alfredo and everyone else had soup and salad. Our waitress wasn’t the most attentive but it was very busy so we tried to be understanding. Everyone is excited for me and the healing journey I am currently on with giving Tai Chi a try. It means a lot to have their encouragement and support. We are happy that my cousin Heidi is home now. She is on a big healing journey and we are so proud of her! My Uncle John is doing really well from his knee surgery and it was wonderful that he joined us today. He was happy to actually be able to wear regular pants for the first time since his surgery!

Dear Jesus I pray for this world and all the life within it. Please be with the leaders of this world in these trying times – let them seek peace not wars that never end. I ask you to put a hedge of protection around all those who serve. I pray that you would wrap your loving arms around the sick, those trying to heal, the poor and the hungry. Thank you Lord. Amen.