31 Aug 2025 The Light Of Eternity

August 31, 2025 by saymber, posted in animals, Bipolar life, Health, Home, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

2 Corinthians 5:17New International Version

¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creationhas come:^[a] The old has gone, the new is here!

Today has been good even if I overslept! My Aunt Ruth came over and went with me to church. It was the first time she has joined me since we moved to the high school. It was so nice to have her there! Even though we were later, we still got a good seat near my friends. The message that stood out to us today from Pastor Jason was seeing people through the light of eternity. Not just for now but for forever. This is something Ruth does with people and she models for me. It’s not just living through what Christ did for us but living for Christ. We are to be Doulos (Greek for slaves) to God. It doesn’t have a negative meaning that slavery typically does.

After church we went to the Sunrise for breakfast and it was good as always. Emma took good care of us as always. It was so nice to have company today! We were talking that it will be 3 years this November since I was in the Idaho State Hospital in Orofino and Link had to be rescued from being locked up after escaping from a boarder. I remember this because of pictures I have on my phone. He escaped the same day I left the hospital which stressed us all out! I am so grateful he was picked up and not lost. I also so grateful that Ruth and John came and got me! Otherwise I would have been stuck there. They had no plan for me to have a ride home. One lady I was there with got released to a homeless shelter. So sad! I hope I never have to go through that again – never have to put my family through all that again. Being Bipolar can put such a strain on the family.

Picture I took of Ruth and John leaving Orofino in November 2022

My poor baby boy after we got him out of the shelter

4 Aug 2025 Joy

August 5, 2025 by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Health, Home, Mental Health, photography, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Describe one habit that brings you joy.

Hello to you. I hope this finds you well. Today’s prompt isn’t easy for me to answer. It should be after all Joy is literally my middle name! There isn’t one habit that springs to mind that brings me genuine joy. Ever since the divorce and changing from Lithium to Depakote feeling genuine emotion has been hard for me. Sometimes it feels like I am an actress playing a part of a human being. Prior to what happened to me about three years ago, I was a very emotional person. Tears and belly laughs came to me easily and that’s just not the case anymore. I have become a very serious person in my old age. I miss the silly and youthful woman I used to be!

The things that use to bring me joy and fulfillment aren’t a part of my life now. I use to crochet, make wire jewelry, experiment in my kitchen, draw, write poems and short stories, take lots of pictures, spend time with nature, sing and dance. The only things I still do is this blog and from time to time is take nature pictures! I guess I just haven’t found a way to completely fill the void getting divorced left in me. Loving Jesus is gradually healing me but it’s taking time! He is the great physician and I know in his time he will restore me to my best self again.

Picture from a walk with my cousin Laura a couple years ago

James 4:8-10New International Version

⁸Come near to God and he will come near to you.Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts,you double-minded. ⁹Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.¹⁰Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

31 July 2025 Appearance

August 1, 2025 by saymber, posted in Food, Home, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

How would you describe yourself to someone who can’t see you?

Hello to you. Hope this finds you well. Today began with prayer with Pastor Jason and Pastor Jim. Always lots to pray for. We prayed for our church and its people. I read the prayer from yesterday’s blog. I talked to Pastor Jason about getting baptized. It’s been tugging at my heart for quite some time! So we are going to do it the last Sunday in September. My family knows so they can be there for it. After prayer I finally got groceries – $200 for just me! The cart was filled with mostly stuff to drink. I am glad I got it over with! I went for a walk after I put everything away and it was kind of a struggle but I made myself do the half mile loop.

Today’s prompt makes me think of Little House On The Prairie. Laura wrote her books in a very descriptive way so that her blind sister Mary could see what she was talking about. I would describe myself as sort of tall and curvy. Short hair with hazel eyes and olive skin (I tan easily). My head is smaller than my body – heart shaped face. I have long arms and long legs. I have a very short waist. Can you see me?

Isaiah 53:2New International Version

²He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

30 July 2025 Changing World

July 31, 2025 by saymber, posted in Animal Rights, animals, Bipolar life, Food, Home, human rights, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs

Hello to you. It’s Wednesday evening as I write to you. It was hot again so I am glad I got a walk in early. My lower back and hips have been bothering me again so I am going to sit out the second walk this evening. My mind is kind of scattered right now. I’ve been following the headlines and there is so much going on – especially praying for all those in the path of the tsunamis! Living here in Idaho we are pretty blessed in the weather department. We seldom have extremes certainly no tsunami’s!

I’ve been putting off going to the grocery store as long as I can. My fridge is empty except for some yogurts and potatoes- couple frozen meals in the freezer. I don’t love grocery shopping. I looked into having them delivered from Walmart but changed my mind. If I were to start that it would be one more thing to keep me isolated and stay out of shape. Getting groceries, even though I hate it, keeps me engaged with the town I live in. So tomorrow, after meeting for prayer, I will force myself to go get groceries.

Lately I have been a little lonely and bored but things will change as I get into August. I have some medical appts and this next Sunday, after church, I’m looking forward to seeing Tawna and having breakfast and going to Babby Farms animal sanctuary. It’s kind of sad that I have lived here in Middleton going on 5 years and I still don’t really know my neighbors all that well. All the friends I have made are at church! Thank God for that! At least it’s not like it was in Texas – 12 years and just one friend! It’s harder to make friends when we grow up.

A prayer to close:

Dear Jesus I pray for all the lives both human and animal affected by the earthquake and subsequent tsunamis. I pray for all of those affected in our world by violence and war. Especially the children who are not getting their basic needs met each day. Please help the animals in the food systems throughout the world. Let there be mercy and compassion. Help consumers demand more humane treatment of all animals who die each day that humans might live Please help the sick, the poor, the hungry and the homeless of our world. Through those of us that are blessed, may we be your bodies to do your good works in this world. Amen.

John 15:5-8New International Version

⁵“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

16 July 2025 The Now

July 17, 2025 by saymber, posted in animals, Bipolar life, Home, In the News, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs

Hello to you. It’s another sunny and hot day here as I write to you. I hope this finds you well. If not I hope somehow God will show you how loved you are.

My thoughts this afternoon are about keeping my thoughts in the now. What sparked this was thinking about Link getting older. He’s showing signs of his age already- he will be 11 this December 9th. I can remember all too well how many pieces my heart was shattered at losing 4 pets in close succession when I lived in Texas. Two dogs and two cats – my fur babies Sam, Blondie, Amber and May. I think it was losing them that contributed to my many manic episodes that lead to my frequent hospitalizations. I never had children so they filled that maternal void in me. Losing them was so painful I could barely stand it!

Link is my second son and I try to avoid thinking of how losing him will break my heart again! I am trying to keep my thoughts in the now about him. Cherish each day the good Lord gives us together. I have said I don’t know if I will have another dog or cat after Link. As I stand here now, I don’t know if my heart will be able to take it! I say this now but who knows what God will have for me. Taking in Link helped heal my broken heart!

Dear Jesus I come before you to pray for this world and all its inhabitants. I pray for all the animals and those who are pet owners who may be on the verge of having to say that most painful of goodbyes. I pray for the flood victims and their families in Texas. I pray for the children of war torn regions of this world. I pray for the families struggling to make ends meet in this American economy. I pray for the world’s sick, poor and hungry. We need you now more than ever. I pray all this in your precious name. Amen.

11 July 2025 Answered Prayers

July 12, 2025July 12, 2025 by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Health, Home, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs

Hello to you. Hope this finds you well. I just wanted to give out a praise for answered prayers and God showing me his love through my family the past couple of days. As I mentioned in my previous blog I ran out of Olanzapine and it had been a couple of weeks. I was starting to have a real hard time using Benadryl to get me through. Well after some phone calls today my beautiful friend (my cousins wife) Tawna offered to drive me to the Boise VA to get lab work and pick up refills. Wow! That meant everything! Tawna is another person in my life that God works through and has for quite some time. We enjoyed having time to visit as with her busy life we don’t get to see eachother as much as we would like. The visit to the VA in Boise went really smoothly and took no time at all. Very friendly people there! We got a dose in me and went to our new Dairy Queen for lunch which was really nice and took a little walk. She visited with Link and I for a bit on my porch before she left. I love being with her!

I found out the reason my Dr. has been reluctant to up the dose of Olanzapine is because there are a lot of negative side effects the higher the dosage like weight gain and blood sugar for example. He upped my daily dose by taking it two times a day instead of just once which isn’t too much. I noticed today that it relaxed me quite a bit. With being Bipolar there is a fine line between being high and being low. Without the Olanzapine I was running fast and it’s very uncomfortable!

Bottom line today – God hears our prayers and uses us to help eachother! So blessed!

From my Aunt Ruth today:

“He remembered us in our weakness. His faithful love endures forever.”

Psalm 136:23 (NLT)

Lord, I am so grateful that nothing is impossible for You. Even when I feel overwhelmed by events going on around me. When I feel weak, defeated, helpless, or hurting I am not alone. You already knew I would be here and You continue to show me that You can handle anything. Nothing is a surprise to You! Today, please forgive me for the time that I have not trusted in You. Give me the courage to do Your will and show me how I can glorify Your Name. Thank You for always being there especially when I need You most! Jesus’ Name, my Lord, my God, Amen.

19 June 2025 A Psalm For World Peace

June 20, 2025 by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, history, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs

Hello to you. As I write to you this evening I wanted to find a psalm of peace. There is so much going on – every day it’s something. It’s hard to find comfort anywhere but in God. I hope this psalm I found helps you find some comfort!

Psalm 46New International Version

Psalm 46^[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.^[b] A song.

¹God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
²Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
³though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.^[c]

⁴There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
⁵God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
⁶Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

⁷The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

⁸Come and see what the Lord has done,
    the desolations he has brought on the earth.
⁹He makes wars cease
    to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields^[d] with fire.
¹⁰He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

¹¹The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

15 June 2025 Fathers Day

June 15, 2025 by saymber, posted in Home, Spirituality and Religion, Writing and blogging

Happy Fathers Day to all the men in my life! Yesterday some of us had a cookout at my Aunt and Uncles house and that was really nice! The weather was beautiful. We had hotdogs and hamburgers and chocolate cake for dessert. We sat on their porch and looked at a couple picture books my Aunt is taking with her for her upcoming visit with my Uncle Bill in California. My cousins and I took a walk at a park nearby – it was harder than it used to be but was good for us after a big meal.

I went to church today and as I sat there I got teary eyed thinking about my dad who is in heaven now. I was thinking how happy it would make him that his little girl was in church for this special day. He can rest easy knowing I believe in Jesus. For so many years I wasn’t going to church – my parents are Catholics and I was a Catholic for much of my life. I have been thinking about my dad a lot lately. My grief has been gradual these past couple of years and days like today especially make it stronger.

The messages at church today came from 1 and 2 Thessalonians- talking about the rapture. We don’t know when it will happen – just how. So many people I’ve known and loved are already with Jesus and someday it will be my turn.

How Great Thou Art

Song by Carrie Underwood ‧ 2014

Overview

Lyrics

Other recordings

Oh Lord, my God
When I, in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration
And then proclaim, my God, how great Thou art

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
How great Thou art, how great Thou art

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Stuart Keene Hine

How Great Thou Art lyrics © Kassner Associated Publishers Ltd., Pt. Nadaku Musik, Manna Music Inc, Stuart Hine Trust, Emerald Music (ireland) Ltd

11 June 2025 Sharing Experience, Strength and Hope

June 12, 2025 by saymber, posted in history, Home, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you! I hope this finds you well. I had a nice visit with my Aunt Ruth and her niece Niki that lives with her today. We had lunch and read from devotionals and I sang the song The Goodness of God . I love that song! Each of us have been through life altering ordeals and find it very therapeutic to share our testimonies of how we came to believe in Jesus. Sharing our experiences, strength and hope reinforces our belief ! Through our individual stories we see that Jesus had a plan for each of us and through the Holy Spirit the doors were flung open for each of us. We just had to see and recognize which doors to enter and which ones to let shut.

Spending time with fellow believers fills a void in me that can only be filled by such gatherings. Today’s gathering was like food for me and we are talking about making it a weekly occurrence.

Goodness of God

Song by CeCe Winans ‧ 2021

Overview

Lyrics

Other recordings

I love You, Lord
For Your mercy never fails me
All my days, I’ve been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

‘Cause all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
In darkest night You are close like no other
I’ve known You as a Father
I’ve known You as a Friend
And I have lived in the goodness of God, yeah

‘Cause all my life You have been faithful, oh yes You have
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me
Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me
With my life laid down, I surrendered now
I give You everything, oh Lord
Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me
Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me (oh yeah, oh yeah)
Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me
With my life laid down, I surrendered now
I give You everything
Your goodness is running after, it keeps running after me

And all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I’m gonna sing of the goodness of God
I’m gonna sing

All my life You have been faithful
(All of my life You’ve been faithful)
All my life You have been so, so good
(So good with every breath)
every breath that I am able
(Every breath I’m able)
I will sing (I’m gonna sing)
Of the goodness (of the goodness of God, yes I am)
I’m gonna sing of the goodness of God
Oh, I’m gonna sing of the goodness of God

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Ben Fielding / Brian Johnson / Edward Martin Cash / Jason Ingram / Jenn Johnson

1 June 2025 Joy

June 2, 2025 by saymber, posted in history, Home, Leading Life by Example, photography, Spirituality and Religion

Describe one simple thing you do that brings joy to your life.

Hello to you. Hope this finds you well. Today has been simple. I woke up to my alarm after tossing and turning much of the night and went to church. I’m glad I went. I got to sit with my friend Mark and keep him company as his wife Beth is still healing from surgery. He is the sweetest man! Today Pastor Jason touched a bit on what heaven might be like and it nearly made me cry! He had a little bit of the “almost fifty” health scare which made him reflect on his own mortality. As I get older I too am hyper aware of the fact time only goes forward and waits for no one!

My neighbor Diana always has something blooming in her yard

One simple thing I do that brings me joy is to stop and notice beauty around me. I’ve always been the person that notices change in my surroundings- good or bad. For example, when I look back at living in Delaware when we lived in apartments that were made section 8 after we moved in – if you were to look at the pictures you would never guess it was filled with trash much of the time. I looked for and found beauty and overlooked the dump it really was!

2 Timothy 4:1-9New International Version

4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:²Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. ³For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. ⁴They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. ⁵But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist,discharge all the duties of your ministry.

⁶For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. ⁷I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Personal Remarks

⁹Do your best to come to me quickly,