Category: history

20 October 2023 Lazy Days

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

Do lazy days make you feel rested or unproductive?

Hello to you. Hope this finds you well. God has been at the wheel of the stuff I’ve been going through lately – extremely grateful for the prayers of family, friends and even strangers! My Aunt met a elderly veteran who gave her this cross for me and said he would pray for me. The wagons of Gods people have been rallied! I’m so, so grateful!

I don’t usually wear crosses because of what they represent – the murder of an innocent man but understand what it means in Christianity.

When I think of todays prompt I think of my life right now gradually getting in place. It’s taken me three years to get where I’m at. Many of the days leading up to this one were littered with fear, sadness and grief – lack of faith! A lot of my days have not very productive and could be perceived as lazy days. I was in such a state of shock leaving Texas. I have been retired from active duty longer than I was in (21 years). When I was active duty I burned the candle at both ends. I was usually the one leadership turned to when a program was a mess. I worked a lot of long days cleaning up messes. Lazy days meant more to me then they do now. I don’t have a specific purpose when I wake up each day! When I was active duty I was up at 4:30 am and worked til after 5.

I haven’t completely found a fit for me here yet in being useful again. A lot of what holds me back is driving. I hate driving! When I was married, Kyle used to always drive and I got used to that after 12 years! I was spoiled! I keep my eyes open for things I can do – little things. When my back is not hurting I would like to help set up at the church again. I don’t want to feel like I’m wasting the gift of my life. A lot of people I’ve known haven’t even lived as long as I have.

One of my favorite passages from the Bible – makes me think of a Palladian (class I played in FFXI video game). In these trying times we must put on our armor!

Ephesians 6:10-13New International Version

The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

18 October 2023 Good Neighbor

by saymber, posted in animals, Bipolar life, history, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion, Television, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

What makes a good neighbor?

When I saw the prompt for today I immediately thought of Fred Rogers Neighborhood program. He showed through that program all the ways to be a good neighbor. He used puppets and people to make his points. One of the most powerful things he did was share a child’s swimming pool with a black police officer – https://youtu.be/v4recJ6qXyk?si=HcUP2OLkmIn4sWkt

He was so gentle and kind. The kind of neighbor I would love to have. I have nice neighbors but they mostly keep to themselves except Marlene. She is an older lady who walks her dog she calls Number 6 and pretty much knows everyone.

Number 6 – she gets lots of walks

https://youtu.be/NB5uSHCIgS0?si=CB8SrUlm6MdV2IAp – Mr Rogers Helpers

I know I have shared this a couple times before but it is so relevant right now. We are getting toxic news at every turn. Mr. Rogers was and remains a helper to this day.

Luke 10:27New International Version

27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”

15 October 2023 Putting Off

by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Health, history, Home, human rights, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Money, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion, trust, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

What have you been putting off doing? Why?

Hello to you. How are you? I am doing ok considering what’s going on in my life right now. I can’t really talk about it but let’s just say it’s life changing. I am leaning on my faith, family and friends right now. Yesterday my cousin came and whisked me off on an little adventure. We had Dickeys BBQ and went for a walk.

The big thing have been putting off is end of life planning. I know at some point I’m going to die and I will have property, finances and stuff that will be left behind to deal with. I have a will but it’s old so I need to get everything up to date. So I need to deal with it and hopefully I can do it through the VA so it won’t cost me anything. Ideally I just want to leave everything to my brothers daughter but need to get everything in writing and official.

Yesterday my beautiful cousin Laura came and whisked me off on an adventure. This is one of the sights we saw on a walk together.

Jeremiah 29:11New International Version

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

14 October 2023 Grown up

by saymber, posted in history, Home, human rights, Leading Life by Example, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

When was the first time you really felt like a grown up (if ever)?

Hello to you today. How are you? I’m having that weird feeling in my ears again which makes me freeze up and not want to do anything. My cousin is coming over for a visit and I know that will help!

The first time I felt grown up is when I joined the military and left home 13 August 1986. I had to fly to San Antonio Texas and go to Basic Training. Prior to this I had been a child cared for by my parents. I was scared and nervous as I didn’t know what to expect. The military training instructors were not especially friendly! They were not there to be our friends that’s for sure. I was my training instructors “house mouse” they called it. I made sure to keep her quarters clean. Her name was Barbara Washington and she was a powerful black woman. I can remember drill with her saying “I want to hear you say pop! “ The sound of us pulling our heads out of our butts!

Ephesians 4:15New International Version

15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

12 October 2023 Guaranteed Success

by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, history, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion

What’s something you would attempt if you were guaranteed not to fail.

I would write my biography if I thought I could be a success at putting it together and publishing it. I have an interesting story to tell but am overwhelmed at the thought of trying to go through everything like journals etc. I would want an objective outside person to put things together and help me do it.

Joshua 23:14 (NIV)

Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.” If we fall off the path God has set for us, we should not worry about not fulfilling God’s plan.

8 October 2023 Lost Possessions

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

What would you do if you lost all your possessions?

It’s hard to imagine what my life would be like if I loss all my possessions. I think of all the natural disasters where people have lost everything and have to file insurance claims. It can take a really long time to return to some sort of normal and nothing is ever the same again. So much in the way of memories is lost! I think I would be in a severe case of shock! I would, as with anything happening like this, lean heavily on my faith in Jesus and my family, friends and church family. I would have to accept nothing was going to be the same again.

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

1 October 2023 Hard Work

by saymber, posted in history, human rights, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

In what ways does hard work make you feel fulfilled?

The way hard work most fulfills me is physically. When I think of this prompt I think of manual labor being like exercise. When I used to cut my lawn, weed whack and edge it I would get pretty tuckered out but in a good way. I liked having a Shiner Bock beer afterwards or some carbonated drink.

Matthew 20:1-16 International Version

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.

“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’

7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.

“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’

8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’

9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius.10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’

13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

30 September 2023 Best Trait

by saymber, posted in history, Home, Leading Life by Example, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

What’s the trait you value most about yourself?

The trait I value the most about myself is honesty. It’s a trait I value in others as well. I can’t stand being lied to. This was something I grew up with. If I got caught lying to my parents there were repercussions. I got caught a couple of times as a teenager doing things I wasn’t suppose to! I can remember saying I was at track practice but really I was going over to a friends house. There was an older guy there who I witnessed get into a fight. The cops had to be called and our parents had to give permission for the witnesses to give testimony. That’s the only way my parents found out what and where I had been! Boy did I get in trouble!

Colossians 3:9-10

9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

29 September 2033 Jobs

by saymber, posted in Art and Poetry, Bipolar life, history, Home, Mental Health, Money, photography, Science (Keshe Foundation and other innovations), Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

List three jobs you’d consider pursuing if money didn’t matter.

The three jobs that came to mind were an artist, photographer and scientist. I’ve tried all three for “free” already and found them enjoyable. The only person that it cost anything was me – supplies to make paintings, drawings, wire and beads to make jewelry and wire coils. The one free thing I made was my organic orgonite bowls – plenty of clay soil out back. When I made epoxy resin orgonite it was buying resin and making molds. The scientist came about by my playing with Keshe Foundation technology which was very interesting. I used to have a camera and took lots of pictures with it until it stop functioning. Now I use my cell phone.

John 2:1-12New International Version

Jesus Changes Water Into Wine

2 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

4 “Woman,[a] why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.[b]

7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine.He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

25 September 2023 Advice

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

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Hello to you. Hope this finds you doing well. One of the best pieces of advice I’ve been given through the years is never price your own stuff. When I was considering selling my own work I was practically giving it away for free. Kind of a case of not knowing my worth. When it comes to creativity, all the glory goes to God. I don’t like charging money for my creations. Anytime money has been involved in my making stuff, it’s not gone well. The best way I like to do things for someone wanting me to make something for them is them providing the materials and I then make the item. I did that for a couple paintings I did for my therapist. She gave me money to buy paint and canvas and I did a couple paintings for her office.

Paintings I did a few years ago

Genesis 1:28New International Version

28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earthand subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”