Nature – To be

20 Oct 2026 All the Stars

October 21, 2026October 21, 2026 by saymber, posted in Animal Rights, animals, Bipolar life, Food, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Nature, Short stories, Spirituality and Religion

Hello to you. It’s already dark as I write to you. The sun goes down around 6:50 pm now. Link has been willing to go on walks the past couple of days. He likes to smell things and marks everything so the walk takes longer but I don’t mind.

Tonight I am thinking of a little story I came up with a long time ago. The story is about a group of people standing together under a star filled sky. They are each asked to choose a star. Each person chooses a different star but are reassured that it doesn’t matter that they chose different ones because all the stars are needed to fill the night sky.

This little story illustrates that we are biologically incapable of perceiving this existence in the same way! That’s not a bad thing.

Each perspective is equipped with senses – eyes (sight) are the biggest sense we have in common. Each set of eyes is a way for God to experience existence. Every being with eyes has a life force – emotions. Lately I have been seeing a lot of stories about food animals and how cruelly they are treated. It’s so sad to see the confusion, sadness and fear in their eyes. Some food animals like crab and lobster suffer in silence whilst being boiled alive.

Temple Grandin famously stated: “Nature is cruel, but we don’t have to be.” She also noted: “I think using animals for food is an ethical thing to do, but we’ve got to do it right. We’ve got to give those animals a decent life and we’ve got to give them a painless death. We owe the animal respect.”

From Albert Schweitzer

Dear God, protect and bless all beings that breathe, keep all evil from them, and let them sleep in peace. Amen.

From a Catholic Prayer Book

Hear our humble prayer, O God,
for our friends, the animals,
especially for those who are suffering;
for animals that are overworked,
underfed, and cruelly treated;
for all the wistful creatures in captivity,
that beat their wings against bars;
for any that are hunted or lost or deserted,
or frightened or hungry;
for all that must be put to death.
We entreat for them all
Thy mercy and pity,
and for those who deal with them,
we ask a heart of compassion
and gentle hands and kindly words.
Make us, ourselves,
to be true friends to animals
and so to share
the blessings of the Merciful.

26 Sept 2026 Choate Farm

September 26, 2026September 26, 2026 by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Food, Health, Home, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion

Hello to you. How are you on this chilly Saturday? I’m just back from a wonderful gathering of Grace ladies at Brenda and Lonny Choate’s farm. There was a great turnout! Missy and others brought platters of meat, cheese, cookies and homemade breads. Missy called it loaves and fishes! Food just kept multiplying! it was chilly out – wish I had dressed more warmly! I am grateful to Missy for the ride- it was quite a ways out.

Brenda shared some of her knowledge of how natures home remedies can heal the body. She is a sweet lady – she said her joy comes out through her eyes. I used to be more like that! I call it having your spirit sticking out. We made sugar balms with some oils she had. She had all different Young Living oils – really good stuff.

What a beautiful property they have. They have lots of chickens and goats. I saw two large hawks fly amongst the giant trees. They have bunches of tomato plants and other herbs. I like how Brenda approached natural healing – God is wise and has given us everything we need to heal our bodies.

One of Brenda’s favorite songs she shared with us:

In the Garden

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear
Falling on my ear
The song of God discloses

And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am his own
And the joy we share
As we tarry there
None other has ever known

He speaks and the sound
Of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing
And the melody
That He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing

And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am his own
And the joy we share
As we tarry there
None other has ever known

And the joy we share
As we tarry there
None other has ever known

Source: LyricFind

Pictures from the event:

13 August 2026 White Flowers

August 14, 2026August 14, 2026 by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, drawing, Health, Home, Mental Health, Music, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion

Hello to you. It’s early evening as I am writing to you from bed – feeling tired. Today I went to Thursdays prayer meeting and got groceries. I almost didn’t go as I was feeling really out of it in my balance. We had a good turnout:

White flowers from yesterday evenings walk

Spin of the world prayer wheel for today;

Dance as though no one is watching you,
Love as though you have never been hurt before,
Sing as though no one can hear you,
Live as though heaven is on earth.

source unknown

https://youtu.be/CvFH_6DNRCY?is=TnDNvZv7ru1bsFws – Claud Debussy – Clair De Lune

30 July 2026 Reason

July 30, 2026July 31, 2026 by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, drawing, history, Home, Mental Health, Nature, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs

Do you think everything happens for a reason?

Hello to you. It’s another smoky and hazy day as I write to you. I’m getting a bit of cabin fever staying inside so much. We stay inside for the winter and stay inside for the summer! it feels like the whole earth is burning.

Do I think everything happens for a reason? The way I’ve come to understand how things work is this existence is like a chess match. Every move of a piece is carefully thought out. Our Lord knows where every single fragment of this existence is going to go. Each move carefully thought out. To answer a single prayer requires the movement of so many pieces. The Lord has all the time in world – he operates in infinity. One day in our time is forever in his. He exists outside of time whereas our mortal coil is limited by time and circumstances.

I can remember sitting out in my back yard in Texas and I would point at a dead leaf or a blade of grass. I would ask “what are you going to do with this,” and then a breeze would come and move the leaf or blade of grass. Sometimes an insect would land on it. I came to understand that God had a plan for everything in creation – even things that seemed to not be of use anymore.

Sometimes things happen in this shared existence that seem to make no sense at the moment. It’s only when enough time passes that we see the purpose. We can often look back and see Gods plan and have an “aha” moment. We are able to see what happened that seemed horrible while we were living in it was actually for our greater good. If my second husband had not divorced me, I would not have the relationship I have with God, my family and church. At the time I was going through the divorce I wasn’t sure I would make it!

https://youtu.be/HuV2ID4PVgA?is=IM4tOhSr-2uwiQNL – Enigma – Why

Spin of the World Prayer Wheel:

I would say to young people
a number of things, and I have only one minute.

I would say — let them remember
that there is a meaning beyond absurdity.

Let them be sure that every little deed counts,
that every word has power,
and that we do — everyone — our share
to redeem the world, in spite of all absurdities,
and all the frustrations, and all the disappointment

And above all, remember that the meaning of life
is to live life as if it were a work of art.

rabbi abraham joshua heschel – 1972

25 July 2026 Evening Flowers

July 26, 2026 by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion

Hello there! How are you? I’m just back from an evening walk. The air is so stagnant which makes it hard for me to breathe. I’ve noticed these flowers for a couple days now and just had to get a picture to share with you!

Spin of the World Prayer Wheel:

The angels dance in your wake
The sun rises for your glory
Stars illume in your light
Magnificent and eternal
My Lord Jesus
My timeless love

justina m. pernetter

12 July 2026 Remarkably Bright Creatures

July 13, 2026July 13, 2026 by saymber, posted in animals, Bipolar life, Mental Health, Movies, Nature, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs

Hello to you! I hope this finds you well. I have had a really good day. For church we were in John and Hebrews. Jesus is the perfect bridge and anchor of the soul:

https://youtu.be/zIrqMc2_Fj8?is=2YG6o5Uzo6LzaG3q – High Priestly Prayer Part 1 – Jason Boyd

I got to sit with my friend Jeannie and we got caught up on things. Her brother-in- law Roy is still not doing good – still losing weight. His daughter has been here and that’s made a nice break for Jeannie. He needs practically everything care!

I went over to my Aunt and Uncles in the early afternoon and that helped me so much. Sundays can be lonesome for me ! We had fajitas for linner and watched a wonderful movie on Netflix called Remarkably Bright Creatures starring Sally Field and an Octopus named Marcellus. Sally was perfect for this role as a widow named Tova. This is one of those movies you can watch more than once. My Aunt and Uncle loved this movie and so did I!

Here is from the Internet about it:

The feature film adaptation of Shelby Van Pelt’s 2022 bestselling novel Remarkably Bright Creatures is an emotional drama directed by Olivia Newman. Starring Sally Field as a grieving widow, Lewis Pullman as a wayward young man, and Alfred Molina as the voice of an observant, elderly octopus, the film was released on Netflix on May 8, 2026. [1]

The Plot and Themes

Set in the Pacific Northwest town of Sowell Bay, the story follows Tova Sullivan (Field), an elderly woman who cleans a local aquarium at night to help process the lingering grief of her husband’s passing and the mysterious disappearance of her son years ago. While working, she forms an unlikely bond with Marcellus, an intelligent, captive Giant Pacific Octopus who longs to return to the wild. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Their routine is altered when Cameron (Pullman), a directionless young man looking for his estranged father, arrives in town and is taken under Tova’s wing. Through their intertwining lives, narrated in part by the dry and opinionated Marcellus, the characters help each other navigate grief, family dysfunction, and the search for purpose

https://youtu.be/b14IFe4an5k?is=Rfni_4-ySfoUd7Zs – official trailer Remarkably Bright Creatures

Spin of the Prayer Wheel for today:

I lift these hands, dear God, to You,
in praise and thanks for all you do.
You light the path through all my days
and bless me with your loving ways…

I lift these hands dear God, to You,
in troubled hours when joys are few.
You bear me up on eagles’wings and see
me through each test life brings.

I lift these hands, dear God, to You,
please grant me wisdom, patience, too.
Then fill my heart with love and caring,
precious gifts you’ve made for sharing.

poet – emily matthews

29 May 2026 Squirrel

May 29, 2026 by saymber, posted in animals, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion

Hello to you. It’s Friday noon as I write to you. I have been having a weird day. I made myself go for a walk even though I still have the vertigo going on. Link and I were sitting on the front porch watching the squirrels. Link thinks by barking at them they will do his bidding lol! I had to go inside because his nonstop barking was driving me nuts. He tuckered himself out.

The Squirrel” by Mildred Bowers Armstrong

This poem is widely taught in schools and is famous for its personification of the squirrel.

He wore a questionmark for tail,
An overcoat of gray,
He sat up straight to eat a nut,
He liked to tease and play,
And if we ran around his tree,
He went the other way.

Dear Jesus please be with all those who need you today. I thank you for this life such as it is even if it’s uncomfortable right now. I pray you be with all humans and animals that are sick, poor, unhoused, abused, addicted, trying to heal and neglected. Amen

22 May 2026 Roses

May 23, 2026 by saymber, posted in animals, Bipolar life, Health, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion

Hello to you in your now. How are you doing? I am writing to you from my favorite spot – the couch with my panda boy Link. I remembered my phone for the first walk today and was rewarded with roses in bloom everywhere!

Now is a time of roses in the neighborhood

I love this picture with his Momma Tippie. He is almost all gray and white now. You can see why we called him panda boy!

I started the new higher dose of olanzapine today. I haven’t really noticed a difference yet – it takes some time for the body to adjust. I am still having the weeble wobble stuff going on with my ears. May be the doctor I will be getting will have new ideas from the doctor I just had!

I asked the internet for positive news about roses and this is what came up as an answer:

Modern rose breeding has successfully solved the historical trade-off between stunning petal colors and deep fragrance. Geneticists have identified the specific pathways that allow new cultivars to produce vibrant blooms without sacrificing their signature scent, while also creating highly resilient, heat-tolerant varieties that require far less maintenance.

Exciting Developments in the Rose World

Stronger Fragrance & Genetics: Molecular researchers have mapped the complex DNA of modern roses. They have isolated the genes responsible for prolonged, repeat blooming and are finding ways to bring back robust fragrance without losing bold, vibrant colors.

Ultra-Resilient Cultivars: Modern varieties are increasingly engineered for heat tolerance, meaning they can thrive in challenging climates without needing constant chemical interventions. Disease-resistant shrub and groundcover roses are now widely available for home gardens.

True Blue Blooms: After years of botanical research, horticulturalists have successfully cultivated and refined “true blue” roses using natural pigment engineering—a color that was previously considered botanically impossible.

Where to Find & Explore the Best Roses

Whether you are looking to plant a low-maintenance garden or just want to admire award-winning blooms, these trusted platforms can help:

American Rose Society: Access official care guides, find local rose societies in Idaho, and browse the latest award-winning rose introductions.

Heirloom Roses: Shop a massive collection of own-root roses that are known for their vigor, fragrance, and disease resistance.

David Austin Roses: Browse the iconic, heavily fragrant English roses that combine classic, old-world charm with hardy, modern disease resistance.

Have you ever noticed how most roses you buy in the store have no smell? I hope that will change.

Dear Jesus I thank you for this day. I thank you for all the beauty in this world and my being able to get out and enjoy it. Please continue to be with my cousin Heidi on her healing journey. I pray for your presence with the elderly, the sick, the unhoused, the poor, the hungry, the addicted, neglected and abused. Amen.

17 May 2026

May 18, 2026 by saymber, posted in animals, history, Nature, Spirituality and Religion

Hello to you. It’s a windy Sunday afternoon as I write to you. I was just at my Aunt and Uncles. We had a nice meal and watched a lovely show about Hummingbirds narrated by David Attenborough. I saw one at the feeders outside. Soon my Aunt will make them something to drink!

Today began with church. Pastor Jason about brought me to tears. He was having trouble with anxiety and I could so relate! I hate seeing him like that but he is so honest – we prayed for him and he did a great job.

https://youtu.be/5oBXAdmVMco?si=HHGSuNzN8KZK0P14 – The Greatest Verse Ever – Pastor Jason Boyd

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203%3A16-21&version=NIV – John 3:16-21 NIV

One of the songs we sang:

https://youtu.be/uHqvw5NQ69M?si=4_oB-iyNXQxnF5OC – Ce Ce Winans – Worthy Of It All

Worthy Of It All

Song by CeCe Winans ‧ 2021

Overview Lyrics

All the saints and angels
They bow before Your throne
All the elders cast their crowns
Before the Lamb of God and sing

You are worthy of it all
You are worthy of it all
For from You are all things
And to You are all things
You deserve the glory

All the saints and angels
Bow before Your throne
All the elders cast their crowns
Before the Lamb of God and sing

You are worthy of it all
You are worthy of it all
For from You are all things
And to You are all things
You deserve the glory

You are worthy, You are worthy
(You are worthy of it all)
You are worthy of it all
You are worthy of it all
For from You are all things
And to You are all things
You deserve the glory

Lord, You’re worthy
From the rising of the sun to the going down of the Sun

Day and night, night and day, let incense arise
Day and night, night and day, let incense arise
Day and night, night and day, let incense arise
Day and night, night and day, let incense arise
Come on (day and night) cry out (night and day, let incense arise) You’re holy
Day and night, night and day, let incense arise
Day and night, night and day, let incense arise
Day and night, night and day

You are worthy of it all
You are worthy of it all, Jesus
For from You are all things
And to You are all things
You deserve the glory
You are worthy, You are worthy

, yes, You are
(You are worthy of it all), we owe everything to You, yes, we do
(For from You are all things), from You are all things
And to You are all things
You deserve the glory

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: David Brymer / Ryan Hall

16 May 2026 Oldest

May 16, 2026May 16, 2026 by saymber, posted in history, Nature, photography

What’s the oldest things you’re wearing today?

Hello to you my friends. Today is Saturday and I hope you are going to do something fun! I am just back from a walk. Something I noticed is the flowers in the neighborhood are all in bloom. Normally the roses and Peonies bloom a little later in the year.

Today’s prompt makes me think of my jewelry. A ring I’ve had for several years now that says “Not all who wander are lost” is one I’ve had for several years now. This phrase really resonates with me and much of my life. The saying comes from the line of a poem in Lord of the Rings. I also have a blue topaz ring that is like an eye that I’ve had a really long time. Here’s what the internet had to say about the phrase:

The famous phrase “Not all those who wander are lost” originates from J.R.R. Tolkien’s 1954 fantasy masterpiece, The Fellowship of the Ring. [1, 2]It appears as the second line in a poem known as “The Riddle of Strider” (or the “Song of Aragorn”), which is written about the character Aragorn: [1, 2]All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost. [1, 2]

Context and Original Meaning
In the story, Aragorn is a Ranger who lives a wandering life in the wilderness. He is not wandering aimlessly because he is lost; rather, he lives in exile to protect the realm and guard his true identity as a rightful king. Therefore, within the context of the book, the line highlights that individuals who appear to live unstructured or nomadic lives often have a deep inner strength, a strong sense of purpose, and deep historical roots. [1, 2]Today, the quote is widely adopted by travelers, adventurers, and free spirits to celebrate the idea of embracing the unknown and finding personal meaning in the journey rather than just the destination.

A song from one of my favorite groups:

https://youtu.be/x-KbNstmJKc?si=_d5HQHsOrCSzJNbH – Voyageur – Enigma