27 May 2022 Times in the Valley

May 27, 2022 by saymber, posted in Art and Poetry, Bipolar life, Health, history, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Nature, photography, Politics and Government, Social media, Spirituality and Religion, Television, trust, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. Another week has come and gone. Today doesn’t find me on top of a mountain but down in a valley. I’m just finding it difficult to right myself after the latest goings on. Last night I was falling asleep and heard a loud noise inside and outside of my head and it startled me. Then I felt this presence fill the room and seem to be standing right next to me. There was a cold chill and I felt like I was being touched. Whatever was happening was not comforting and made me feel really anxious! When I asked if Jesus was there whatever it was went away. This kind of stuff happens to me and it’s so hard to understand.

As I write to you, I’m not feeling very rested but I can’t go back to sleep. What is my mind and body doing or is it something else? Someone else? I just don’t know! Praying and hoping Jesus will reveal some answers!

https://youtu.be/o5OnF3sg0cY – The Chosen Scene Jesus Gives The Beatitudes

Matthew 5New International Version

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ²and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes^(A)

He said:

³“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.^(B)
⁴Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.^(C)
⁵Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.^(D)
⁶Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.^(E)
⁷Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.^(F)
⁸Blessed are the pure in heart,^(G)
    for they will see God.^(H)
⁹Blessed are the peacemakers,^(I)
    for they will be called children of God.^(J)
¹⁰Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,^(K)
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.^(L)

¹¹“Blessed are you when people insult you,^(M)persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.^(N) ¹²Rejoice and be glad,^(O) because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.^(P)

20 May 2022 The Difficulty of Releasing Earthly Attachments

May 20, 2022May 20, 2022 by saymber, posted in Art and Poetry, Food, Health, history, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Money, Nature, photography, Politics and Government, Science (Keshe Foundation and other innovations), Social media, Spirituality and Religion, technology, Television, trust, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. For me it’s Friday again and I say that because it feels like time is moving so fast! Yesterday I came across a video taken from one of my favorite animated shows called Avatar: The Last Airbender. It was when Aang, the Avatar learns about the energy vortexes in our bodies called chakras and how to clear them when they are blocked. The one part that brought me to tears was thinking about letting go of all I love that attaches me to this life. When we are overly attached to things of this earth we suffer when the inevitable happens – change….loss. We can’t hold on too tight and this is a lesson I’ve struggled with almost my whole life.

https://youtu.be/StrbppmsZJw – How to open your 7 chakras as explained in a children’s show (Nickelodeon Avatar the Last Airbender)

Buddha taught that “the root of suffering is attachment” because the only constant in the universe is change. And change often involves loss. When you allow yourself to become attached to someone or something, you’re more likely to dwell on the pain of losing them.

9 Ways Attachments Play Out In Your Life To Make You Suffer – Mindful Zen

In the Bible you can find a variation of this message. We are encouraged to store up our devotion to God not to people, places and things if this earth. Our souls, the energy within us, will care nothing about the world once set free of the flesh:

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

https://chop.bible.com › bible › mat….

Matthew 6:19-34 NIV – Bible.com

Think of great storms that have happened and how grateful people are to come away from them with their life and those they love – their neighbors. Their home a pile of wreckage or ash but they praise God that they still live. In those moments reminded about what truly matters.

We are taught from a very young age living in the world structure in which we live to work hard and acquire things. Things representing the fruit of our labors. We associate memories and feelings to the things we acquire…..this leads to attachment. Then comes the time when for whatever reason we have to let go of what we have acquired and then comes the feelings…the loss….the suffering. How to live in a material world without getting overly attached but not live like everything is just disposable….expendable. What a paradox we are asked to live in our material world!

I didn’t get many pictures yesterday. The energy outside has felt “weird” to me lately and I have felt disconnected:

Trying to eat better

A quote from Robin that resonated

The sun looking like a bright moon again

Another “victrola” flower opened – In 1901, Eldridge Johnson of the Talking Machine Company created the Victrola. The Victrola is a type of early phonograph that used an internal horn. It was patented by the Victor Talking Machine Company, and only refers to internal horned phonographs.Nov 24, 2010

http://cultureandcommunication.org › …
The Victrola – Dead Media Archive

We all have different gifts God has given us for a purpose

If you look really close on the upper right it seems I captured a bird flying by lol

Lovely Willow with winds blowing her long green locks of hair

This picture really caught my attention – the artist did a great job of illumination – the eyes are filled with light seeing this

16 May 2022 Steps

May 16, 2022May 16, 2022 by saymber, posted in animals, Art and Poetry, history, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Music, Nature, photography, Social media, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. How are you today? I hope you are well. This morning I’m thinking about steps…..steps of faith. This is from church yesterday when Pastor Jason illustrated it so well. Standing in a space and seeing the next step God has called us to take and actually taking it not knowing really what it will all mean to take it….. that’s faith. I’m also thinking about the smiling faces that greeted me when I got to church….hugs and smiles. There were a couple faces missing I had hoped to see and I pray they are alright. The longer you go to church the more connected you become! Like a family….dear friends.

I was looking at more videos from Master Shi and came across one of him doing a 20 minute Quigong practice. The song in the background was so beautiful that I had to find it to share with you. I hope you’ll give it a listen:

https://youtu.be/Zrxdgat3y9c – Lotus By Secret Garden

Step……breathe…..step

I’m trying to commit myself to breath in movement each day even if it’s just for the length of one song.

Make sure you are kind to who is looking back at you today!

Didn’t take many pictures yesterday but that’s ok. Sometimes sitting by the water under clouded skies means you will meet someone walking home after a hard day as an in- home healthcare worker. So tired but still having a kind word and a smile on her face.

My growing eclectic mixture of inside flowers

Glimpse of the sun – we got more wonderful rain

Another tree by our post office – it’s like they are dancing

Falling rain – there was lightening and a bit of thunder in these clouds – loved it!

When I was looking for lightening in the Bible I found this passage

I found this painting and it was so perfect in light of so much “weather” stuff going on in the world

Some cute for you – I love how his ear is sticking straight up!!

14 May 2022 Make Better Choices

May 14, 2022 by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Food, Health, history, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Native American Culture, Nature, photography, Politics and Government, Science (Keshe Foundation and other innovations), Social media, Spirituality and Religion, technology, trust, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. How are you? It’s overcast. Gray and wet here but I’m not complaining! I am so grateful we are experiencing this type of weather and not the kind so many are experiencing lately! Yesterday I found out the Midwest, where I am originally from, has been experiencing wild dust storms: https://www.argusleader.com/story/weather/2022/05/13/south-dakota-storm-met-definition-derecho-what-haboob-severe-weather/9759725002/ – this is from my hometown newspaper. They do a good job of explaining two weather terms I hadn’t heard of before. A derecho and a haboob:

It’s really strange to have noticed this type of stuff going on in the Middle East a few posts ago and then to see this show up at my parents doorsteps!

The title of this blog today is a message for me and I think for others. On the small scale for myself is health related. I had a couple blemishes show up on my face and I messed with them and I know better! I was laying in bed and noticed how much belly fat was there and at the same time was feeling pain in my lower back which is one of the main parts of my body that carries that belly! I went to the mirror and the message that came to me about all of my meager issues was, “This is your fault! Make better choices!” Thinking of all that is going on in our world in all the principalities I don’t think that message is just for me. Bad choices can come from initial well meaning intentions and then they just compound on themselves making new problems on top of old ones. A good example is Roundup or weed killers. We use poison that ends up in our bodies through various means and we wonder why cancer shows up.

https://youtu.be/ZQYPlEoU9ko – Life is a Walking from Good Buffalo Eagle

The next images are kind of random but may be something is for you:

With the pain I’ve been experiencing, I’m very grateful to George!

My Aunt and Uncle gave me this electric blanket and it really has been helping me manage pain

Sometimes it’s good to just stop and appreciate the world around you. Link likes to walk really slow so he really helps me slow down.

This little trees leaves look like they were painted on

I was happy to see this little one again. The last time I saw them they were running off with a hurt foot! Reminds me of a cat I had, loved and miss named Amber.

One of my favorite spots – isn’t the sun amazing?!

The blooming trees on the walk transitioning to leaves and berries

My favorite pic of the day – as I stood here I was thinking of my Grandma Carol and how much she loved streams like this too. The sound and just watching it glisten in the sun is balm for my soul.

A little deja vu seeing this happening in our times. I can remember my Grandma Schmidt talking about actually living through this. What kind of choices have been made to have this sort of thing happening again?

I Am In Everything – Mei- lan

May 8, 2022 by saymber, posted in animals, Bipolar life, Health, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Music, Nature, photography, Social media, Spirituality and Religion, trust, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

https://youtu.be/KtlJ-28AxH8 – emotional music – I Am In Everything – Mei-lan

Hello to you. How has your day been? My day has been pretty good aside from being kind of grumpy from poor sleep and leg pain. I am posting this tonight as I will be busy tomorrow with church and family festivities. Happy Mother’s Day!

I have been exploring Mei-lan’s music today and thought this was a lovely song and title for celebrating our moms to include this earth. It’s also a beautiful understanding between my Dad and I that God is in everything. My Dad had to be both a Mom and a Dad for me when I was young. It’s important to acknowledge so many men like my Dad – put in the position having to fill both roles in a child’s life. Being a single parent can be so challenging!

This song brought tears to my eyes today. So lovely to hear the masculine and feminine harmonizing without words just sounds:

https://youtu.be/CafKRUvwQ2E – Mei-lan- Eternal Soul – with Ali Pervez Mehdi

A short walk:

The neighbor this tree belongs to was out working today and we got to visit. He said this is his moms tree and she was actually able to celebrate her birthday and pose for a photo with the tree this year! It’s a crab apple tree he said. What a lovely Moms Day memory to have!

There was some wind when we were out and I just had to stand and listen to the music of these trees

I noticed these on a small tree we passed. Not sure what kind of tree it is. Look like little beans!

Some hallelujah on the way home. My cell phone camera doesn’t do what I see justice sometimes lol

A message that is often taught by mothers to their children. It’s easy to pray for, care and love those that give it back to us. We learn from both friend and foe:

7 May 2022 Head in the Clouds

May 7, 2022 by saymber, posted in Health, Home, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Music, Nature, photography, Science (Keshe Foundation and other innovations), space, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. I hope you are doing well. This is Mothers Day weekend. To my mom and all mothers in all your forms to include our Earth I say “I love you and thank you!”

Beautiful music I found yesterday: https://youtu.be/YcR6FB0u6SY – Mei-Lan Maurits – streaming source energy – sound healing

Yesterdays walks and my day were spent kind of with my head in the clouds. On the first walk I was approached by a curious bee! It landed gently on my hand as if saying hello! On the second walk one of the trees I shared a pine cone picture with you dropped another one on my head as I walked by lol! Trees do have their ways of communicating! I had to chuckle at the timing!

Last night we got some more rain and there was even s little lightening! Kind of surprised me to see it as I lay in bed trying to sleep. If you are interested in cloud pictures, I found a group on Facebook you would love: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1464145827194143/?ref=share – The Cloud Appreciation Society

Pictures from yesterday:

Afternoon hallelujah clouds illuminated by the sun. Makes me think of the divine when I see this!

The Iris’s are arriving in the neighborhood

I can’t help but delight in how there are so many of these wild pansies now!

A couple messages:

Some space pictures truly look like a place God is thinking and dwelling

For me there was a connection in the words of Amos to this in Revelations

https://images.app.goo.gl/tFT9fZDwwquqT1LWA – Orion Nebula

4 May 2022 Not Alone

May 4, 2022 by saymber, posted in animals, Bipolar life, books, Health, history, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Music, Nature, photography, Social media, Spirituality and Religion, trust, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. How is your today? I hope this finds you doing well and if not, if you are having a rough time mentally, physically and or spiritually I want you to know your not alone. Whether it be good times or difficult times….things will change. With our personal power of perception we are empowered to influence the direction of that change.

I have said and heard other people say “I feel so alone!” This morning I am reminded that No matter how it feels sometimes, I’m not alone. God doesn’t just see through human eyes but through all creation. For example the other day I was walking Link and felt like I was being watched. I look up and there was a dove on a power line looking at me. Lots of birds, small animals, dogs, cats….flies, bees and wasps! Let’s not forget trees and plants that don’t have eyes in the way we do but they do sense and emit energy like that of feelings. It’s in all this, even the sun, moon, clouds and gentle winds! The drops of rain that fall….each drop full of life. If you start to experience life from an energy perspective, to me one of the universal languages of God and creation, you quickly will realize you are never alone. In some way, some how, God is always letting you know this. Least that’s how it is for me!

I wanted to share a couple things today for those experiencing pain in all it’s forms. I’ve been listening to this and though it’s short, it really helps. This is just one of a bunch of these I have found – if you enjoy Bible scripture they have those too on the Abide channel on You tube:

https://youtu.be/L3-SlMJHrms – Chronic pain meditation – Natural pain relief – Relaxation for pain (Generation Calm)

https://youtu.be/TVLMeKPhoXc – I will be with you – Bible sleep talk down (Abide)

Something that I often see that’s missing is Hope – hope in God can help fill the voids in spirit

Again Link and I were able to get out in the neighborhood real slow and these are some of what we saw….God through so much beauty taking away pain and loneliness. Another thing is sharing with my parents and others who can’t get out much some beauty:

My neighbor a couple doors down has been busy! Looks so good!

This tree is literally a birdie high rise apartment! I stand, listen and watch and so many little birds love this tree!

I saw these lovely hydrangeas across the street and just had to take a look!

This picture doesn’t quite do justice to what my eyes were seeing. The light was just right on the flowers.

After walk happy Link face “I’m literally pooped out Mom!”

I had been God to see orange flowers and these are close. I’m wondering if there are any orange wild flowers that grow here

It’s hard to tell from this picture but I was trying to show you three different wild grasses growing in the same spot

We had to go over and see this purple princess!

So much going on in just one pine cone: **You can grow pine trees using seed in pine cone scales that are harvested from female cones**. Female pine cones are considerably larger than their male counterparts. Mature pine cones are woody and brown in appearance. One cone produces about two seeds beneath each scale.Jul 26, 2021

A view of all things, Arbor street. As a tree lover, I think that’s a cool name for a street!

I will remind myself that God makes no junk each time I doubt my value to those around me. – A Woman’s Spirit –

Tanpura – 1 hour meditation music – https://youtu.be/GUPHaaVG_zo

18 April 2022 It Will Be Enough

April 18, 2022 by saymber, posted in animals, Art and Poetry, Bipolar life, books, drawing, Health, Home, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. How are you doing in your where and when? I’m getting a really late start. It took a lot of coaxing to get up today. Last night was another battle of trying to sleep. The lower part of my body has been experiencing a lot of pain and trying to sleep through that pain can be difficult.

What came to me is thinking about old dogs like my Sam and older people in my life both living and passed on. They didn’t complain about their aches and pains. The message of “it’s not what you can’t do but what you can do” came to my mind. I realized I could do some cleaning up this morning – it hurt but I did it!

When Sam and I used to go for walks without Kyle in Delaware he did something with me that he didn’t do when the three of us would walk. He occasionally would just stop, sit down and look at me with those eyes…”can we stop for a minute? I need a rest…” he seemed to say. Getting older in all our forms kind of forces us to slow down even though inside we want to go like we are still 20 year olds! Today I will remind myself that it’s ok when I am hurting. I will focus on the things I am capable of still doing even though I’m feeling this way – not focus on all the things I can’t do.

Matthew 26:41New International Version

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

Todays message from A Woman’s Spirit is about approaching life with gentleness:

Our own gentleness is a powerful force in our lives. It is like the gentle flower that grows through granite. – Patricia Hoolihan

We are attracted to women and men who have cultivated a gentle spirit. Their softness nurtured all of us who come into their space. We are soothed and made whole by their caring spirit. Let’s allow our caring spirit to develop too.

The aggression we may have grown accustomed to in our families and neighborhoods need not claim us for all time. We have the power within us to chart a new course. We have examples of gentleness all around us; they are our guides and are here by divine appointment.

Whatever task we are destined to perform in this clean and sober life can best be accomplished if directed by a heart that cares. Being gentle promises each of us the same comfort it offers others. Each gentle act heals our heart and lovingly nurtured the future.

Being gentle today is much easier than being mean-spirited. My gentle side will nurture my inner child and remove my fears.

————————-

Pictures from yesterdays adventures:

9 April 2022 Your Not Walking Alone

April 9, 2022 by saymber, posted in animals, history, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Music, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. This morning when I was preparing to get up, a phrase from a song kept repeating in my head, “I walk alone….” I tried to find it on You tube but found something better. I like the thought of never walking alone better. It makes me think of the scene from The Chosen last night. When Jesus meets the architect Nathanael and tells him “I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael had been sitting under that tree alone burning up his drawings. He had felt abandoned by God. How many feel that today living in the world as it is? I assure you in all the “noise” is God’s presence…you are seen and heard no matter how things may seem. Your not walking alone. Try to find hope today and let it make your steps lighter.

You’ll Never Walk Alone

Song by Gerry

When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don’t be afraid of the dark

At the end of a storm
There’s a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark

Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown

Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone

You’ll never walk alone

Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone

You’ll never walk alone

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers

https://youtu.be/mN8oN8I3lrk – Elvis Presley version of You’ll Never Walk Alone

Some pictures from our walk yesterday:

“Walks are good. When you go for walks you get close to God. If you walk slow like me or can’t walk it’s nice to sit outside for a minute and look at the sky…hear the birds. God is good. May be today you can smile?”

6 April 2022 A Tangible World

April 6, 2022 by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, books, Food, Home, Leading Life by Example, Nature, photography, Social media, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Check out 6 April 2022 Wednesday chat https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1448162389

Hello to you. How are you? I hope you are well. Today I got out of my comfort zone and went to a Middleton Woman’s Group. They had their first meeting at our local bakery called The Rustic Oven. All of the ladies were recent transplants from various parts of California like the Bay Area. It was interesting to hear the different reasons they left California. For some it was the politics and others stuff like the fires. It was a nice first meeting. I went from interacting purely in the digital world to interacting in the tangible world. I got out of my comfort zone!

I had an orange roll here was really yummy. Got a chance to meet some nice ladies!

Today there was a good message in A Woman’s Spirit:

We can say yes to life even at its darkest moments if we can see it as part of the greater reality. – Mary Norton Gordon

We glimpse only the opportunities that bear our name during any experience. We have heard many times in this program that we are never given more than we can handle. We can trust that this is true. We have also heard that God tells us only what we need to know right now; the rest will come to us when we are ready, when the time is right. That too we can count on as truth.

It goes without saying, then, that every moments experience is part of the bigger design for our lives, a design that always has a positive outcome. If we feel scared or confused by the changes in our lives, it’s only because we have forgotten that God is in charge of the plan for our lives. We can say yes and be at peace.

I know that what comes to me today is a tiny part of God’s big plan for my life. I am not alone.

———————-

Some pictures from my walks yesterday and this morning: