1 August 2023 Helpers

August 1, 2023 by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, history, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Money, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you – how are you? I’m awake early this morning – second morning in a row. The abilify doesn’t make me feel as sleepy as the olanzapine did. I’m still taking Depakote and it makes me hungry! I want to make breakfast but the ants have returned to my kitchen again – pain in the butts! The All Natural Pest Control people are scheduled to come out this morning.

This morning my thoughts turn to people in survival mode – so many! I am so blessed to have a roof over my head, food to eat, clean water, clothing, reliable transportation, medical insurance and even a dog! So many people in our country – in this world – don’t have any of these things! I watch reels on Facebook where a guy named Knate reaches out to people on the street who are struggling. It’s beautiful and sad to see. I used to work at a food bank in Melbourne Florida called The Daily Bread. I helped bus tables, prepare and serve food to the poor and homeless. It was very rewarding but sad at the same time. So many people came there – needed shower facilities. Families with young children were especially hard to see. The people on staff were so pleased with my work there that they asked me to join them in a managerial position and I just couldn’t do it. I just wanted to help not take on a job as I was transitioning out of the military at the time.

We are a world filled with more consumers than helpers – is that because more people need help? I wonder! When I think of the word helper I think of Mr. Fred Rogers. I was raised to be a helper but I have always had enough of everything. Both my parents worked so that was possible. I am white, was born in the Midwest and was raised as an only child in the Roman Catholic faith. I had everything I needed except may be my parents time – they worked so much. I didn’t know homelessness or hunger – poverty except through the church and it’s missions. Now the streets of our major cities are lined with all of those things AND substance abuse. It makes me think of the videos of The Great Depression.

https://youtu.be/-LGHtc_D328 – Fred Rogers: Look for the Helpers

Galatians 6:2New International Version

²Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

31 August 2023 Description of Self

July 31, 2023 by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Health, history, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Movies, Music, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

How would you describe yourself to someone?

So how to answer todays prompt?! I would describe myself as a deep thinking, spiritual, funny and very sensitive person. I like to think I am basically a good person. I am a survivor. I have been through a lot of difficult things in my life – some of my own making and some not. I have been through and continue to go through the earth school of hard knocks! I am currently trying to get my medications right and find balance in my life. I get excited about things like the latest news about extraterrestrials! I could be considered gullible about some things but I am learning to keep myself in check though – keep a healthy perspective on things. It’s so easy to get lost in the hype of things in the news! To be a sheep!

Hello to you. How are you? I hope your doing well. We are living in weird and trying times – testing times and sometimes it’s hard to get through each day without reaching out for help. I am reaching out more and more to Jesus and I find comfort there. When everything in the world seems unsteady I find hope and steadiness in him and ambassadors of his words – way of life. Yesterday I was seeing more positive reviews of the movie The Sound of Freedom – another hit from Angel Studios. I haven’t seen it yet – I haven’t had the courage. It’s not a subject for the faint of heart! People are seeking new hero’s – real ones and actors like Jim Caviezel and Jonathan Roumie are coming forward. Both have portrayed Jesus – they answered the call and continue to do so in both their personal and professional lives.

Hebrews 12:1-3New International Version

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ²fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

I was looking for scripture about turning to Jesus and found this song:

https://youtu.be/CtSpOIpD_A8 – Katy Nichole Turn to Jesus

Turn To Jesus

Lyrics

In the morning when I rise
I lift my head and turn my eyes
To the window where the light is shining through
When my feet hit the ground
I know a place where love is found
So I go where I know I’ll find the truth

I turn to Jesus
I turn to the One who knows my name
I know He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am safe
And honestly, I could give a million different reasons
For why
I turn
I turn to Jesus

When the night starts to fall
And I’m worried I won’t see the dawn
And my heart is afraid of what’s ahead
There’s a voice through the chaos
That comforts me and gives me rest
When I’m weary and I’m longing for a friend

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace
Ooo oh oh

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Jonathan Smith / Brandon Heath / Katy Nichole

Turn To Jesus lyrics © Centricity Songs, Be Essential Songs, Forbidden Island Music

30 July 2023 Perspective

July 30, 2023 by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, In the News, Mental Health, Politics and Government, Science (Keshe Foundation and other innovations), Spirituality and Religion, technology, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you! How has your weekend been? I’m just back from church – there was a good message and a good turnout. Pastor Jason emphasized perspective about life. He had a good way of sharing it. He had a spool of twine he wound through all of us and that symbolized our connection to the eternity of being in heaven with Jesus. He cut off a tiny sliver that symbolizes our individual life and he blew it away. Our lives are short compared to eternity! He also talked about us not really having control over what happens to us but we can control how we react to what happens. Old wisdom for current times! What I know about perspective is we are biologically incapable of all perceiving this world in the exact same way.

I’ve been processing more about the latest news about aliens. I was over at my Aunt and Uncles yesterday to spend some time with them and my cousin Laura. My Aunt is healing from her shoulder surgery. We all agreed that this news doesn’t change much for the average American. They were relieved to hear me say that as my blogs were pretty full of excitement about it lol. They were a little worried about me. I haven’t lost my perspective! What frustrates me and other UFO enthusiasts is when people say the extraterrestrials are demons. I don’t believe that. I believe they are of Gods making too. It’s all his design. My Aunt and Uncle don’t think they are here to help – they think we are like ants to them – observing.

My Aunt is doing well and enjoyed having my cousin and I over to visit. The boys went to see Oppenheimer – 3 hour movie! She wanted to watch Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga so we watched different performances of them together on YouTube. It’s funny how much of a bridge was built by those two with genres of music.

https://youtu.be/PcbJt0GqJJ4 – 60 minutes Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett

One the psalms we read today:

Psalm 37^{[a] NIV}

Of David.

¹Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious of those who do wrong;
²for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.

³Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
⁴Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

⁵Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
⁶He will make your righteous rewardshine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.

⁷Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

⁸Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
⁹For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

¹⁰A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
¹¹But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy peace and prosperity.

¹²The wicked plot against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them;
¹³but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.

¹⁴The wicked draw the sword
    and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
    to slay those whose ways are upright.
¹⁵But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
    and their bows will be broken.

¹⁶Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked;
¹⁷for the power of the wicked will be broken,
but the Lord upholds the righteous.

¹⁸The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,
and their inheritance will endure forever.
¹⁹In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

²⁰But the wicked will perish:
Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.

²¹The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;
²²those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,
but those he curses will be destroyed.

²³The Lord makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in him;
²⁴though he may stumble, he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

²⁵I was young and now I am old,
    yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
    or their children begging bread.
²⁶They are always generous and lend freely;
    their children will be a blessing.^[b]

²⁷Turn from evil and do good;
then you will dwell in the land forever.
²⁸For the Lord loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.

Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed^[c];
the offspring of the wicked will perish.
²⁹The righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it forever.

³⁰The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,
and their tongues speak what is just.
³¹The law of their God is in their hearts;
their feet do not slip.

³²The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,
intent on putting them to death;
³³but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked
or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

³⁴Hope in the Lord
and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.

³⁵I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,
³⁶but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found.

³⁷Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
a future awaits those who seek peace.^[d]
³⁸But all sinners will be destroyed;
there will be no future^[e] for the wicked.

³⁹The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
⁴⁰The Lord helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.

29 July 2023 Now What?

July 29, 2023 by saymber, posted in animals, Bipolar life, Health, history, Home, human rights, In the News, Mental Health, Movies, Politics and Government, Science (Keshe Foundation and other innovations), Social media, Spirituality and Religion, technology, Television, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you – how are you? I’m sitting out on my porch with Link right now. It’s nice and cool out. I’ve been waking up earlier the past couple mornings. I am no longer taking the olanzapine (zyprexa) and taking abilify instead. I am paying close attention to how I feel – being vigilant about mania. I have been sleeping so that’s good. When I have had mania in the past sleep was an issue.

Good morning! It’s another day! Now What?

So yesterday I wrote a lot about what we found out about aliens and through the day I watched several posts on Tik Tok to see what other peoples reactions were. A lot of them were the same. Clips of the highlights and this common thread – now what?! I still have to go to work, pay off student loans, inflation is through the roof for everything we need to live and our government wants us to think about aliens! How does this news change anything for the average American? Other posters brought up that our finding this out probably means there is bad news coming. For Christians we are seeing the end times playing out. The shit is hitting the fan all over the world environmentally – the oceans are hotter than ever before. What I saw in the responses yesterday is if it doesn’t affect their immediate life they don’t really care. Ironically all this IS affecting their immediate life. What isn’t being acknowledged is perhaps having help from extraterrestrials would affect their immediate life if we really reached out and were open minded. I believe they might have answers to help solve our day to day lives – especially the environment. It can’t be just about the military and national security that they are making themselves more and more visible.

I can remember watching movies like Close Encounters and the wonder I felt if meeting them would go that way – seeking to communicate peacefully. Then there are movies in recent times about scary alien encounters like Aliens, Thing, Predator movies and Prometheus where the first encounters are terrifying. Remember the television series V where the aliens wanted to eat us?! War of the Worlds where aliens wanted to take over the planet?! I personally want to see Gene Roddenberry Star Trek kind of world – a world where we evolve past what struggles we face today and have a world of peace. A world where we have peace treaties with species from other worlds.

Anyhew – it’s baby steps for now. It’s disappointing that the direction being taken is what’s happening is a threat and not an opportunity.

Luke 21:25 NIV

²⁵“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. ²⁶People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. ²⁷At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

28 July 2023 “We are here to help”

July 28, 2023 by saymber, posted in animals, Art and Poetry, Bipolar life, drawing, history, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Politics and Government, Science (Keshe Foundation and other innovations), Spirituality and Religion, technology, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. Hope you are doing well. Yesterday was a busy and good day for me. As I mentioned in my blog yesterday I had the prayer group and then later I participated in an online craft class through the VA which was fun and good for me. We wove a basket. In the later part of the day I found out they are finally letting the American people and the world know that extraterrestrials are real and not just the stuff of conspiracy theorists and tinfoil hat wearing people. FINALLY! I think it’s interesting this is happening during the hottest Julys in world history. It’s going to take technology, much more advanced than what we currently have, to reverse this trend. We need it fast and we need it now and I think it’s going to take a collaboration with these beings milling about observing and interacting with us to get it done. My hat is off to the whistle blowers that have the courage to come forward and give us the truth – to give the people in Congress the harsh truth. I told my Aunt that during my last episode there was a night I stood looking out my window into the night sky crying. I was praying and begging for Jesus to return. I visualized the entire sky filled with ships and he was in one of them. I know that sounds nuts but my logic behind it was that if Jesus would come back he would come back with reinforcements! Go big to come home! It’s interesting how Jesus is taking over Hollywood right now through Angel Studios! There are things in the Bible that seem like encounters with aliens – they described them in the terms they had for their times. Things are doing things! Usually anyone proclaiming to be Jesus gets locked up and drugged in a mental ward!

https://www.foxnews.com/media/ufo-whistleblower-praises-historic-congressional-hearing-non-human-craft-inflection-point

A little basket weaving project – great place for change

Anyhew, I have been interested in aliens most of my life. I had an experience during one of my hospital stays in Texas that involved two gray aliens. In the span of a short dream-like state I was with two grays and I asked them what they were doing to my face and then I saw an image of my face being half gray and half human. Then I was shown a picture of my dog Spot barking at things I couldn’t see. It was so real! I woke up and felt a bump on my nose. I told the staff about it as I was concerned about the bump and they said something cryptic like “let’s just leave it there.” The bump eventually went away. This was all in the span of a short nap that this happened – it was like a real encounter not a dream! Was it medication or something else going on? When I got home Spot and Link both were barking at stuff Kyle and I couldn’t see and more than normal – like something was at the windows they could see but we couldn’t. In the stuff I have heard and read, there are many ways these beings can communicate with us. A lot of strange things happened to me living in Texas and that was by far the strangest.

I am interested to see what comes of these hearings – especially that they have recovered actual bodies. Have they got any still alive? Has there been contact? Are they already helping? There isn’t a moment to lose! I am wondering if they have aliens currently in captivity. How long can aliens live in our atmosphere? I think one of two things is going on either they want to help or they want to take over. I want to believe the best case scenario – they want to help but have to overcome our superstitions and fears. They don’t look cute and cuddly and communicate differently which can be scary. We have a lot of people in our country like “preppers” that might take news like this as what they have been waiting for. A lot of fear – shoot first and ask questions later. I think, as do many, that it’s arrogant to think God only made us. There are so many life sustaining galaxies and planets! They have been saying for most of my life that there is no way other beings could get here – it would take too long. I think with the things we are finally being allowed to see, there are ways to travel that don’t take so long – we just haven’t got the technology or know how to figure it out. Some of the travel being discussed is inter-dimensional.

So anyways – I’m excited as are many people like me, to see and know more. I was happy to share this news with my Aunt and she actually looked into it herself! I really feel with what we are seeing happen around the earth it’s time to acknowledge we need help. What’s happening is happening in faster and faster cycles. We as a species have disrupted the entire cycles of our planet in just a short time!

Matthew 24:30 NIV

³⁰“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth^[c] will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.^[d] ³¹And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

15 June 2023 Passion

June 15, 2023June 15, 2023 by saymber, posted in Food, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Nature, photography, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

What are you passionate about?

Hello there, how are you? I’m just back from our Thursday prayer meeting for our church, it was Pastor Jayson, Lois and me today. There may only be a couple of us but it matters! I walked over and back. I picked up a breakfast burrito on the way home from Tacos El Rancho – they are so filling. I was only able to eat half of it – eat the rest when I get hungry again!

Some lovely blooms from the walk this morning.

Todays prompt asks what am I passionate about and I have to say the controversial – gun control. I don’t like guns! I feel like being able to own a gun should be as tough if not tougher than being able to drive a car. I have always been passionate about this topic as I lost my birth mother and a cousin to guns. I don’t have a problem with responsible gun owners – I have several in my family. The main thing I focus on is keeping guns from those who would harm themselves or others. I don’t have all the answers but putting more guns in the world doesn’t make sense to me.

Matthew 18:20New International Version

²⁰For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

29 May 2023 Memorial Day

May 29, 2023 by saymber, posted in history, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. It’s another beautiful day and a special one at that – a day to remember all those who have given their lives for this country while serving in the military. One of the best memories I have of celebrating this day was going with my ex in-laws and family to Arlington National Cemetery where they played Taps. Each horn player took a position around the cemetery and at precisely 3 pm they all played Taps.

Taps Across America Returns For 2023 The National Moment of Remembrance is an annual event that asks Americans, wherever they are at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day, to pause for a duration of one minute to remember those who have died in military service to the United States.

Taps Across America

The last Memorial Day I celebrated with him

Matthew 11:28-30

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

My Uncle Bill came by my little house before he flew back to California

25 May 2023 Collections

May 25, 2023 by saymber, posted in Home, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Do you have any collections?

Hello to you. How are you? I hope we’ll. Today would have been my birth mothers 80th birthday. Hard to believe how much time has gone by. She passed when she was 26 and I was barely a year old. Also a shout out about the death of the musical legend Tina Turner. She was a big part of my musical life growing up in the 80’s.

Todays prompt is asking about collections and I really only have a couple. I have collected some crystals and when I was married we collected My Little Pony ponies and dragons. When the divorce happened he got most of the dragons as they were his when we married and I got the ponies (they are in my storage room) . In my little place there really isn’t space for displaying collections. I have my crystals in a couple different places – by my bedside and in the kitchen. One nice thing about living in a small house is it doesn’t leave a lot of space for clutter. I am not encouraged to buy more stuff to collect. Just no place to put it!

A good psalm for today:

Psalm 23New International Version

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

¹The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
²    He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³    he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
⁴Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

⁵You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
⁶Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

19 April 2023 Never Visit? (Daily Prompt)

April 19, 2023 by saymber, posted in history, Home, human rights, In the News, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

What place in the world do you never want to visit? Why?

Hello to you. How is your week so far? In a couple hours I’m going in for an MRI of my head to see what’s going on in there. I’m not really worried about it. If I in fact have Mal de barque syndrome the scan will not show anything. If the scan is negative that means whatever is going on is something I’m just going to have to learn to live with.

Todays prompt is about deciding on a place I would never want to visit and why. I honestly can’t think of just one place! Any place that has high gun violence and that could be any place in the states. The same for overseas – I wouldn’t want to visit Russia or the Ukraine with what is going on there right now. The Middle East always seems to have something going on so I don’t think I would want to go there either. Like I said, it’s hard to choose just one place. When I was stationed in Europe I felt safe to travel but I have heard things have changed since I left.

Here is a beautiful and popular psalm for travelers:

Psalm 91New International Version

Psalm 91

¹Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.^[a]
²I will say of the Lord, “He is my refugeand my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

³Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
⁴He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
⁵You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
⁷A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
⁸You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.⁹If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
¹⁰no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹For he will command his angelsconcerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
¹²they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
¹³You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.¹⁴“Because he^[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
¹⁵He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
¹⁶With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

17 April 2023 Dreams

April 17, 2023 by saymber, posted in dreams, history, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Politics and Government, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. How are you? Today my thoughts turn to dreams. Not the kind when you sleep but the kind you have when your awake. Like having dreams for your life – your future. The reason I am thinking about this is because we had another tragic mass shooting at a teenagers birthday party. Four young people who had dreams and goals for their future were killed. When I have spoken of shootings before I mention that time is taken from first responders. What is taken from the victims and their families is dreams…goals…hope for the future. Phil Dowdell was one of the victims in the Dadeville Alabama shooting. He had dreams of persuing a football career – he had a scholarship. In the passion of one moment – poof! Gone! He was only 18 years old. All that promise, hope and plans for the future erased. My thoughts and prayers go out to the community of Dadeville. I hope those critically wounded and others that were wounded at the party make a full recovery. I hope they will have resources for grief counseling.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65298018

Isaiah 40:31New International Version

³¹but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.