4 August 2023 Random Act Of Kindness

August 4, 2023 by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Health, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Nature, Science (Keshe Foundation and other innovations), Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Write about a random act of kindness you’ve done for someone.

Hello to you. How are you? I’m feeling pretty good. I spoke with my doctor yesterday and we worked out a plan. I will be doubling my dose of Depakote (1000mg) and going back to 10 mg of the Olanzapine at night. I’m not going to be taking the Abilify. I will also have the olanzapine for as needed as sometimes that happens. I was grateful he called me back! It felt like an answered prayer as I was feeling pretty left out there. Prayer said out loud in a group really works fast!

I like todays prompt but I can’t remember specific times I’ve done it! It’s a combination of it being a long time since I’ve had a *mission and being taught not to toot your own horn! Don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing kind of thing. I’m sure I’ve done good things but I’m so in the moment I forget later what I’ve done. When I was younger and had more energy I used to do a lot more – my ex and I liked helping people together. On my own I can remember paying someone’s toll. When I was working with the homeless I can remember giving them a ride a couple times. I remember my ex telling me a couple stories. He helped a guy at a gas station with a ride and once he was at the video game store and the person in front of him was short a dollar. He paid the dollar. Well that very same day I was cutting the lawn guess what blew into the yard? A dollar bill!

*When I talk about a mission I’m talking about those times when I’ve spontaneously decided to go somewhere and it’s like a God thing. I’m exactly where and when I’m supposed to be there. It’s usually meeting someone who needs me or that person will have a message for me.

Matthew 6:3New International Version

³But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

I was looking through my spiritual playlist on my YouTube channel and this was at the top. Dr. Emoto’s work with water is very inspiring:

https://youtu.be/tAvzsjcBtx8– Water, Consciousness & Intent : Dr. Masaru Emoto

3 August 2023 Prayer Team

August 3, 2023 by saymber, posted in animals, Bipolar life, Health, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Music, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you – how are you? I’m just back from meeting with our church’s prayer team. I asked the members to pray for me. I am having problems with my new medication which causes anxiety. I tried to get in touch with my doctors nurse yesterday but was unsuccessful! I was able to get an appointment scheduled earlier which is good.

I’m grateful for our prayer team. Going each Thursday gives me a purpose. I walk there and walk home. Going gives me a reason to pray and connect with Jesus with other followers. There is such a beautiful fellowship. We are up to four members now! Today we had a lot to pray for to include several people that have been missing due to health related issues. Our group leader has a call list and checks on many of the people. Today was our youngest members Briana’s 29th birthday!

1 John 1:7New International Version

⁷But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all^[a]sin.

https://youtu.be/jqlQIJWIT5o – Chris Tomlin Yes and Amen

27 July 2023 Someone Cares

July 27, 2023 by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Health, Mental Health, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hi there! How is your week going this far? I’m just back from the Thursday prayer meeting – so glad I went. I got to meet a new person and as a group we talked about something we all had in common – a family member committing suicide and mental health. The pain of the loss be it fresh or a few years down the road never really goes away. Time numbs the wounds, faith restores hope. Some day we will see each other again! Mental Health is so hard to understand. It’s not like a broken bone or a one time problem you can just snap your fingers and fix. Suicide attempts are not just attention seeking but a legitimate cry for help.

Along these lines it comes to me to put it out in the cosmos that no matter what life may seem to be someone cares. For example, in a little gathering of four people just today, strangers to you, lifted you up in prayer. Someone cares about you no matter how it may seem. You are not alone! God has shown me this through my family both blood and not.

Exodus 33:14

¹⁴ The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Psalm 139:7

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?

I was happy to see the return of these purple flowers

Matthew 26:41New International Version

⁴¹“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

*RIP Sinead O’Connor – they haven’t said how she died but I have my suspicions from her history. I hope she has found peace.

26 July 2023 No Travel Plans

July 26, 2023July 26, 2023 by saymber, posted in animals, history, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

What are your future travel plans?

Hello to you today. How are you? I woke up really early this morning with anxiety. It’s probably because I know my Aunt is having her shoulder surgery today. I am hoping everything goes well. I suggested to her to ask the doctor and nurses to pray with her beforehand – sometimes they do that.

Todays prompt makes me think of the good old days when I used to travel when I was in the military stationed overseas. We used the base MWR (Morale Welfare Recreation) services and got to see and do a lot that way. They chartered buses and that’s how we got around much of Europe – and trains. We weren’t saddled down with pets yet. When we were overseas the only pet we had was a cockatiel named Cheeky. She didn’t need to be boarded. Once we got back to the states I got May and Amber my cats and that put a damper on travel. We still did it but not for great lengths of time. Having cats and dogs and boarding them costs about as much as the trip without them! It’s expensive to travel having pets – there are extra fees to hotel rooms. Just traveling from Texas to Idaho with Link wasn’t cheap.

Someday when I don’t have a pet, which I don’t know if that will be ever, (lol) I wouldn’t mind taking another cruise to Europe and seeing parts I didn’t see when I was over there like Ireland and may be Norway and Scotland. May be I’ll have a traveling buddy by then?! It would be nice to share an experience like that.

This psalm is beautiful for all kinds of travel – thinking of my Aunt:

Psalm 121New International Version

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

¹I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
²My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

³He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
⁶the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

⁷The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
⁸the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

21 July 2023 Quality vs Quantity

July 21, 2023 by saymber, posted in animals, Bipolar life, history, Home, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. How’s your week been? It’s Friday morning as I write to you and already hot – 89 degrees! I went and got groceries at Ridleys here in town after I got up. Their ice cream section was completely empty! Their freezer must be still broken. I didn’t need to buy ice cream anyways lol! Just tastes good when it’s hot.

Today my thoughts turn to life in terms of quality versus quantity – the number of days we live versus how we live the number of days we are given to live. I feel so blessed to have made it to 55 years old! It hasn’t always been easy to get to this point but despite all the things I’ve been through I’m grateful for my life and the bumps in the road along the way. It’s like my body with its knicks and dents – all the imperfections showing the character of the life I’ve lived. Each flaw and scar tells a story about me and my journey. It’s important to live in a space of gratitude for the time we are given however long or short that time may be.

A little yellow rose – made me think of my mom and dad.

Our animals that we share our life with teach us these lessons. For every day we live is a week in their time. No day is wasted. I can be gone for just a few minutes and when I come back Link expresses his joy and gratitude at my return. Each morning there is a wagging tail to show how glad he is to wake up next to me. Dogs, cats and birds are the epitome of making each day count!

Romans 8:18New International Version

Present Suffering and Future Glory

¹⁸I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

20 July 2023 Dogs or Cats

July 20, 2023 by saymber, posted in animals, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion

Dogs or cats?

Hello to you. It’s a smoky hot day already. I walked over to our prayer meeting at Grace House and back – got my 10 minutes plus in for today. I’ll probably still go later this evening. I spoke with a recreation therapist yesterday from the VA and we established a goal of walking at least 10 minutes each day.

As for todays prompt I have had the honor of sharing my life with both species. I would say of the two, cats are the lowest maintenance but I love each equally. There are pros and cons to sharing life with each of them. Dogs can’t be left alone for more than a day whereas cats can. I don’t miss cleaning up cat litter but I still have to pick up dog poop! It’s more convenient to just scoop it out of one place. Both species can be very affectionate and love to play. May, my Russian Blue, loved to play ball with me. I would toss a small fuzz ball to her and she would hit it with her paws like a bat. So cute! Link loves to cuddle and sometimes we play with his toys. He hides his favorite fur babies and challenges me to find them. Sometimes he acts like a Dat – a little bit dog and a little bit cat. Amber and May were his first cat family. So as you can see, I can’t settle on whether I favor dogs or cats- they are pretty much even in my books!

These flowers make me think of an exotic location like Hawaii or something

Proverbs 3:3-13New International Version

³Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴Then you will win favor and a good name
    in the sight of God and man.

⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.^[a]

⁷Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.
⁸This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.

⁹Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
¹⁰then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.

¹¹My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,
and do not resent his rebuke,
¹²because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in.^[b]

¹³Blessed are those who find wisdom,
those who gain understanding,

19 July 2023 Time

July 19, 2023 by saymber, posted in animals, Art and Poetry, Bipolar life, drawing, Mental Health, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Which activities make you lose track of time?

Hello to you. How is your week thus far! My week is going ok. I’m sitting on the front porch with Link as I write to you. Its still pretty nice out. I wish it would rain so my car would get rinsed off! Its pretty dirty! I know as soon as I wash it pollen and dust will cover it again.

Todays prompt makes me think of when I was being creative and crafting. When I made jewelry, did drawing in chalks on the back porch and also when I used to be play video games. When I get in the flow, the zone where I’m focused on something so completely I am not operating in time and a place. When I’m doing something I love to do it’s such a good feeling. It’s been a couple years since I had this feeling. I can remember when I used to draw portraits of people I would sit for hours and be totally focused but that was mainly when I was younger.

Psalm 145:9New International Version

⁹The Lord is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.

13 July 2023 Bedtime

July 13, 2023 by saymber, posted in animals, Health, Home, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

What time do you go to bed and wake up currently?

Hello to you. I’m just back from Grace House where we have a prayer meeting each Thursday at 9:30 am. Today it was Lois, Brie and me. We are hoping that may be this fall our group will grow some. I walked over and back. My lower back wasn’t happy but the prayers helped. I have been having some vertigo/swaying spells the past couple of days. I hope this isn’t a side effect of the new medication I’m on! We prayed for my Aunt and Dad too. Just found out my Aunt is having shoulder surgery later this month.

So bedtime and getting up are something I’ve been having to work on. I try to start going to bed at 9 pm and I usually wake up around 8-9 am. It takes me a long time to fall asleep and I don’t like getting out of bed right away. I think the reason I have trouble falling asleep has to do with being on screens before bed time. Last night I didn’t have anything on after lights out and I don’t remember falling asleep! Just takes good practice and consistency I think.

Today was good because I needed to be up early to go to the prayer meeting. It’s good to have a reason to get up and have something to look forward to.

Psalm 4:8New International Version

⁸In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, Lord,
make me dwell in safety.

7 July 2023 Afternoon Light

July 7, 2023 by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Home, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. How are you? The past couple days I’ve been having a lot of fullness in my ears and with that has come anxiety. I don’t know if it’s the new medication or what.

Have you ever noticed how things look during different phases of sunlight? I can remember reading Walden by Henry David Thoreau and his talking about taking objects from inside his house outside when he cleaned and how different they looked in the sunlight. I can remember when I was really into photography with my first husband Ken how important light was to taking pictures. Early morning and dusk were the ideal times for pictures – the most color saturation:

This is an example of a picture taken at dusk – really saturated color

The cameras we used, like a Nikon, had light meters and everything wasn’t automatic like it is today . Who could of imagined cell phone cameras! They can take still photos and videos like devices we used to use that were much more complicated.

John 9:5New International Version

⁵While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

6 July 2023 Romantic

July 6, 2023 by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, history, Home, Movies, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

What’s your definition of romantic?

Hello to you. I’m just back from meeting with our little prayer group at Grace House. We had a nice turn out! There were four of us. The walk over was nice yet tiring. I push myself even though I feel like a Weeble Wobble! Do you remember those toys?

Some roses still blooming despite the heat

Now to the prompt – what do I feel is the definition of romantic. I know this will seem weird but when I think of romance a couple movies come to mind and they both have to do with never ending love – Somewhere In Time and Brahms Stokers Dracula. There is something so romantic to me about love that transcends time and space. I can’t watch Somewhere in Time without being a mess afterwards! Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour did such a great job. The dinner date with absinthe and turning tears into diamonds in Dracula is just so romantic! Love the music for both films.

I can remember having an experience like this during one of my hospital stays. There was a young woman named Yamila I met and she seemed so familiar. I asked her if we had ever met before and she said “perhaps in another life.” Such an odd thing to say and it really stuck me. She reminded me of a girl I supervised in the military. Yamila walked, talked and did other gestures just as if I was with Eveline again! Eveline was Dutch and just such a sweet girl – my first troop!

1 Corinthians 13:8-13New International Version

⁸Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹²For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

¹³And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.