President 27 Women

by Summer D Clemenson | Dec 12, 2025 | Life, Opinions, Politics

“16, 26, ~27, and as many as 69 depending on how misconduct is counted women” accused Donald Trump of sexual abuse and STILL some people made him president. 27 women. That is a lot of women to be lying. But 27 women. I think I should start calling Trump, President 27 Women. We really fucked up somewhere. That is just irresponsible on our part as a nation because we do not support victims of sexual assault.

The families of 3 young men accused Michael Jackson of sexual misconduct. It was never proven but people still talk about it. I don’t know if MJ hurt those boys, but I would never let my children spend the night in a grown man’s bed, that wasn’t family, especially if I wasn’t there, so if they were hurt, some of the blame is on the parents for being irresponsible.

Nearly every person I know has been molested or raped at some point in their life. Women and children go missing every day and they are never found. We know human trafficking is a real thing yet we don’t seem to have a solution. 27 women have accused our current president of sexual misconduct, yet people still voted for him. When I told Nana that one of grandfathers touched my breast when I hugged him, she laughed and said he was a handsy guy. He had done that to her; that is how I knew she would not be able to advise me on this situation. Nana was intelligent, classy and beautiful, but she also accepted that men would take their advances.

Society has created laws against sexual assault, harassment and violence. Society has created consequences too. But somewhere in between, the laws don’t seem to protect the victims as much as they do the perpetrators. And if the bad guy does serve time, they tend to get out early, they don’t have to prove themselves rehabilitated, and society still has to pay for them in monthly installments, because no one wants to hire them unless they are well educated.

The other day I started a new LinkedIn. My old one was hacked awhile back and I just didn’t feel like starting over until I was helping a company with their marketing. For some reason LinkedIn showed me a profile of someone I hadn’t seen in years. He was a person I met at a Goodwill event that seemed like a nice person. I tried to give him chances but he was a level 3 registered sex offender for a reason. And after I realized he was grooming me, I removed him from my life. Seeing him, has brought up a lot of feelings. He didn’t rape me, but he did feel ok with making me feel like he was taking advantage of my trust in him in ways my other friends did not.

What I want to know is how do we change a system that is not protecting anyone? The people in my world are not only women, but men, not only white, but all colors. Why do we as a society allow each other to be hurt? Although any person can hurt someone, we know that most perpetrators are white males. What is so broken in white males that we are willing to hide, instead of helping them stop?

I posted some of this online and one friend was honest about the fact that we are wrong to call this crime sexual assault because the only thing about this assault that is sexual is that it involves genitals. Rape, molestation and human trafficking is about power and control, hatred and abuse. The perpetrator is turned on by the fact that the victim can be blamed by what they wore or just by the fact that they can be blamed at all, thereby justifying their addiction to their victimization.

Another person said, “The Epstein Criminal Enterprise tells all of us that justice isn’t equal and if you are powerful enough you can get away with anything.” They also said that because of this, it was hard for them to leave their child with anyone.

Someone stated at a Narcotics Anonymous meeting once that the definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results (yes I know you thought Einstein said it, but we were wrong). So when are we going to start treating assault that includes unwanted advances that are sexual in nature, or just plain violent, hateful and include our genitals, differently so that the victim is no longer victimized and the perpetrator is found guilty and not allowed to be validated and turned on by further victimization?

Well…first off…you can write to your representative about House Resolution 353, which are articles of impeachment for President Donald J Trump, AKA President 27 Women. We should not have a president that has been accused by that many women; they all can’t be lying. Next when someone tells you that they have been victimized, believe them, love them, and support them in legally getting justice against their perpetrator.

There should be no difference between any of us, regardless of our status in society.

A sexual abuse ruling. 26 accusations. Yet Trump is still frontrunner to be the next President by Bevan Hurley for Independent, May 10, 2023
Donald Trump Sexual Misconduct Allegations: 26 women, 43 instances, starting 1970 by Abhishek Awasthi for First Post, April 26, 2023
How many women have publicly accused Donald Trump of sexual assault or misconduct and what are the sources for each allegation? by Factually Staff November 22, 2025
List of Trump’s accusers and their allegations of sexual misconduct by Meghan Keneally for ABC News, September 18, 2020
Michael Jackson: A Quarter-Century Of Sexual Abuse Allegations by Anastasia Tsioulcas for NPR, March 5, 2019

Feel free to leave your comments below!

My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven. For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Jesus Follower, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information. If you are interested in becoming a Jesus Follower…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.

RE: Health Care Freedom For Patient Act of 2025

by Summer D Clemenson | Dec 10, 2025 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions, Politics

Dear Representative,

Tonight I saw a video by an influencer I follow. She was talking about Bill S.3386 which was introduced to the Senate on 12/08/2025 by Senator Mike Crapo, to be voted on, on 12/11/2025. The influencer stated that this bill was in response to the Affordable Health Care Act tax credits that are expiring next month. Her main concern was that she felt that this plan was about the rich becoming richer while the poor were not cared for at all. She said that monthly costs for currently insured people would skyrocket, deductibles would double and there would be more out of pocket costs. She also stated that insurance companies would be free to deny coverage for care. This would mean that many people would just not be able to afford to have health insurance. I agree with her, that we do not need more poor people filing bankruptcy because they got sick.

I also thought her point that Universal Healthcare would save the United States $450 billion a year if we were to switch over, because of how inefficient and expensive our medical system currently is. Have you looked into that? Is she correct?

When I read the text of the bill, honestly there were not many details there to come up with her premise. This actually bothers me because there is not enough text available to know how to vote. What I did see was that, although the the bill is called the Health Care Freedom for Patients Act for 2025, there are stipulations that people will not be able to have gender affirming care under this health insurance policy. I believe very strongly that what my doctor and I decide needs to or will be happening with my body, should be between my doctor and I. I don’t see why you should have any say in that.

So overall, I am a hard no on this bill.

Sincerely,

Summer D Clemenson

Homosexuality or Pedophilia

by Summer D Clemenson | Dec 9, 2025 | Opinions, Politics, Queer Community

Recently I ran into a post online that asked whether people were more offended by homosexuality or pedophilia. I had my own ideas on this and I answered with what I knew at the time, but I felt like this topic deserved a little time to research. If you are interested, I hope you learn something from what I found.

I was raised being told homosexuality was an abomination to God, it was taught that way in my church. I don’t remember my parents saying much about it. But they tried to never talk about sex at all so that doesn’t seem off to me. My school teachers taught me about sex. They also taught me what to do if I was trapped by a kidnapper or abuser. Later, I learned about sex, health and rape from friends who had experienced situations I had not. I had begun working in childcare at 15 and was taking child development classes and reading books for these classes and also books that my friends were reading to help them heal.

When I was a young adult, I finally met a queer person. Then I met a few more. Although I was nervous of them, they didn’t seem to be very different than any other person I had ever known.

One night I was up late, ironing clothes, and there was a show on about a gay pastor. He was married and he and his husband had adopted 2 children. They were just like any other family I had ever known. They loved God, their community, and each other. It was beautiful and honest. I suddenly knew you could be gay and love God and God would love you back.

Years later, I realized I was queer. God did not leave me. He encouraged me. As I studied more, I learned that the word homosexual was not even in the bible until February 11,1946. Before that, sexual sin was rape between adults and children or in a situation where men were in a submissive position because the culture in the time the bible was written, would not allow for a man to be submissive.

Pedophilia (persistent sexual interest in children) is a paraphilia. Homosexuality is sexual interest in the same sex. Although in the people studied, in the article I read, there were similarities found between homosexuals and pedophiles, there were no similarities that were a causation. It is found that age and gender are a sexual interest (pedophilia) characteristic and affection an orientation definition. People who are willing to accept that they have an unacceptable sexual interest may be able to go through therapy to change their sexual interest from children to adults since genetics, sex drive, gender and orientation are not seen as part of their issue.

The terms have been confused or misused among professionals on many platforms. We know the definition of pedophilia and child molestation but hebephilia is sometimes used to describe adult sexual attractions to adolescents or children who have reached puberty. So where pedophilia and hebephilia describe a preference, child sexual abuse is used to describe actual. The legal age of consent in the state of Washington is 16, if you are interested.

Also many people want to refer to abusers as homosexual or heterosexual child molesters, this may not be the case. Many abusers are stuck in a state of fixation. Fixation means “a temporary or permanent arrestment of psychological maturation resulting from unresolved formative issues which persist and underlie the organization of subsequent phases of development.” In order for these abusers to be assigned an orientation, they would have to have an attraction to adult partners, but child abusers that are fixated on children, alone, are stuck in an early stage of development. These people require a more focused type of therapy.

I think people make a bigger deal out of homosexuality or queerness because it has been taught loudly. Gender norms have been shoved down our throats everywhere, especially the church. We have been taught that if a man wears a dress, he is a pervert, but men wore dresses and had long hair in the bible. In society we have been taught that being compassionate or sensitive is only for women, so our men are lonely. We have taught men that it a woman’s responsibility to make sure that men are not attracted to her. We don’t punish pedophiles and rapists like we do for crimes that are much less violent, violating and life altering.

In Washington State child molestation is a class A felony that is punishable by a maximum sentence of life in prison, and/or a fine of $50,000 when it can be proven that sexual contact has occurred between a victim under the age of 12 and an offender at least three years older than the victim. This sounds just and right, but I know a level 3 sex offender that did not serve a life sentence and they were a repeat offender in Washington State. So there are ways around these laws and people use them. RCW 9A.44.083.

In our society we have taken man’s natural need for emotional support and intimacy, that is not sexual, away from him and not made him accountable for his own actions. Most pedophiles are male. And most laws regarding child sex abuse and rape are made to protect the suspect, not the victim. Rape victims are often not believed. They often have to relive their abuse over and over and they have trouble proving what happened to them. It is part of the patriarchy we live in and continue to support.

Even many gay men choose to stay in the closet instead of being honest because society says it is better to be a pedophile than queer. I also know men that have been raped and chose to do nothing because of their fear of what other’s would do. This is why I think homosexuality bothers some people more than pedophilia.

For a long time homosexuality was seen as a mental health issue, but over time it has become proven to be part of our design as a human. Sexual orientation is defined as “attraction to members of the same sex, both sexes, or the other sex… behavior, attraction, identity and arousal…tend to go together, but not always. There is no evidence to suggest that individuals can consciously alter their genital arousal to fit a certain identity label.”

Pedophiles and sex abusers “intentionally and methodically seek out vulnerable children.” Sexual abuse is an act of power and control, not a reflection of sexual orientation. All victims, but especially LGBTQ victims, may internalize societal stigma or feel their sexual orientation is “caused” by abuse but studies show no direct causality between abuse and sexual orientation.

Jesus loves children and the bible has many verses that supports this (Deuteronomy 6:7, Psalm 127:3, Proverbs 22:6, Proverbs 31:6, Isaiah 54:13, Mark 10:14, Matthew 18:10, Luke 18:16, 1 Corinthians 13:11, Ephesians 6:4, 2 Timothy 3:15, Colossians 3:21, James 1:27). The bible doesn’t specifically have words about child molestation and I am happy to let Jesus have the last words on this:

Child Molestation – first degree – Washington Sexual Assault Laws by Age of Consent Staff, 2025
Facts About Homosexuality and Child Molestation by Gregory M. Herek, Ph.D. for LGB Psychology, 2018
Homosexuality In The Bible – A Linguistic and Historical Analysis by Biblically Accurate Staff, 2025
How a Bible Error Changed History and Turned Gays Into Pariahs by JD Glass for the Advocate, December 17, 2022
The Myth Linking Sexual Abuse and LGBTQ Identity by Chris Thompkins for Psychology Today, December 7, 2024
The Pedophilia and Orientation Debate and Its Implications for Forensic Psychiatry by J. Paul Fedoroff for The Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, June 2020
Washington Age of Consent Laws 2025 by Age of Consent Staff, 2025
What does the Bible say about pedophilia? by Got Questions Staff
What Does The Bible Say About Pedophilia? by Pastor David for for Christianity Path, March 21, 2025

Feel free to leave your comments below!

I’m Much Stronger

by Summer D Clemenson | Dec 6, 2025 | About Summer, Cancer, Opinions

I’m much stronger than I have ever been and I have forgiven so much. I have learned who I am and I like myself. I like myself enough to be comfortable with saying this is who I am and it is ok that I am not like you. I can say no to abusive people or people that don’t add anything to my life, especially if they know they are hurting me, because I told them, and they are not willing to change, or worse, they tell me that if I am the only one with the problem, than I am the problem.

Learning Who I Am

I have been hurt by a lot of people. I walked away from most people for a period of time, some so I could get the medical and mental wellness help I needed. I needed to learn who I am, what I want, what I need, how to take care of myself and make healthy boundaries. Some of these people had hurt me, but it wasn’t intentional, they were surviving too and I needed to know how to see myself as an individual and not an extension of them. In fact I hurt them too because I was always angry and confused and we were all being manipulated by the same people.

I am very sensitive, I am also a sensory person. Lights, sounds, colors and large groups of people are hard for me, especially if I have not prepared myself for the experience. It took me a long time to learn how to do that.

I have been talking with God about the emotional pain I have lived with for most of my life and a lot of it has healed. I used to be so miserable all the time; fluvoxamine has helped me not want to die and slowed down my thoughts so I can process them in a healthy way. I don’t feel angry all the time anymore. I was talking with God several nights ago and had no peace about the pain I was feeling. My abusers will never hear me, even if I had the opportunity to tell them what I want them to know. They believe what they want to.

Over the years, I have become more comfortable with my emotions. Grandma Clemenson was someone who cried. I am more like her that way. The following morning when I was talking to God, I found myself saying to Him that I wanted my pain to honor Him and that was different and I felt a shift. I suddenly knew why He hasn’t taken it from me. Even the Apostle Paul had a “thorn in his flesh” that kept him humble (2 Corinthians 12:7).

I don’t leave home often but when I do, I meet people and I have moments with them that mean something. Because my pain is available, I never forget and it makes it easy to empathize with people that hurt, with people who might be ignored or misunderstood by others. It helps me love them.

Growth Is Good

I am glad I was able to reconnect with my mom and youngest sister. God told me it was time. He is always correct. I had always thought I was just like my father and I do have some of his good qualities. But I see that I am very much like my mom. We are givers. We are creative. We have had some great conversations.

We have been able to clear up some misunderstandings. I had always thought Mom didn’t like to talk about hard things, but since we have been able to do this many times and we both have been able to apologize for where we were wrong, I think she was tired a lot when she was carrying our family.

I was not as clear in some of my blog posts regarding my mom. Like in I Tried to Call My Father Daddy Once where I wrote about the call to my parents to tell them about my cancer. I only mentioned my mom, because I wanted to illustrate that I called her first because she deserved it. The article was about my relationship with my father. I should have left her out of the article altogether, but since I didn’t, I should have mentioned that she called me as soon as she heard my voicemail and we talked for a while, she tried to reassure me that I would be ok and she was praying for me. In our recent conversation, she told me her phone didn’t recognize the number I was calling from, but she called me right back after she heard my message, and she did. I apologized to her but also told her that article was about how bad my father made me feel.

There were other things I wrote about my mom that must have been confused in my mind. I have apologized for things I thought were true; I should have never mentioned anything about my mother’s mental health diagnoses, especially because I was wrong. Mental health can be a real bear. I am trying very hard to remain in now and stop looking back.

There has been a lot of mumbling about my blog. It’s sad to me that people get stuck on a few articles but don’t see the hundreds of poems, book reviews, articles about Jesus, research articles and my updates about my cancer. I have been writing since I was a child. I was skimming through many posts today, and yes, the last several years have been intense, but, in my opinion, there is some lovely art mixed in with my growing pains.

I am at a point where I don’t want to talk about my abusers anymore. I have said enough. They don’t deserve any more of my time. But I do want them to leave my mom alone. When I stepped away I didn’t keep sending her messages until I was ready to return. I certainly didn’t send hate mail. I didn’t lie or manipulate anyone to alienate her. I didn’t even do what I was accused of.

Society is in Pain

This week, I was watching a video of an influencer I have been watching for a while. He is a young man that I have been paying attention to as he grows into himself. He does beautiful things in his community, with the goal of building relationship. Usually he posts great stories about his interactions with people but the video I interacted with, was his response to two young women that took a couple Angel Tree tags off a tree and filled a shopping cart with merchandise and recorded themselves while doing it, and then left the full cart in the store when they left. Immediately people were angry or sad and other big emotions. Because I used to be on The Salvation Army Board for the Kelso-Longview Corp. I know how some of the ways the Christmas Center was run while I was on the board and volunteered. So I posted that the cards were only suggestions and that the Christmas Center was probably set up like a store so parents and guardians could come and “shop” for what their children wanted and needed for Christmas. I wanted people to not worry, children would get something to open for Christmas. My message was totally meant to bring peace to those who thought that those children would not get anything because their card was stolen.

And for many my message did what I had intended.

But for a lot of people my message illustrated 2 things for me:

1. Kelso-Longview is truly unlike most other places and we do things differently. I already knew this but I forgot. But it does make sense that each TSA Corp would function in the way that their community would respond the best.
2. People have been hurt. People have been hurt by groups, organizations and people that said they were going to help. Because of this they are cynical, gun-shy and sometimes just plain hateful. This I also knew because I have been there.

I have spent a lot of time the last two days responding to people because I thought it was right to tell them that I was wrong to tell them how my corps handles the Christmas Center, when I haven’t volunteered there for several years and I have never been to another corps ever. I also told them it makes sense that all TSA Corps would function in a way that best suits their community, meaning that those cards might really be for a specific child. I have apologized to people that felt as though the Corps in their area has taken advantage of them or people in their community (I don’t make excuses or argue, their experience is their experience). I have explained that I was raised being told that I would never get every gift on my Christmas list because gifts are not the main reason for Christmas, spreading joy, love and gratefulness is. I have said Merry Christmas a lot.

I also have been discussing with a gentleman in a community group why I think it is wrong to call people names because you don’t agree with their political beliefs. I don’t offer my opinion as much as I used to. I have begun reading other people’s responses and giving a thumbs up or hug to people I agree with and letting the rest go. Many times I find people that just like to swear a lot and call people names. Those people I respond by telling them they are an abuser. I never get a response from anyone on those. But this guy was different because, although he was calling a particular group names, he was using old fashioned names that were fascinating and intelligent. So I thanked him for being interesting, but reminded him that other people have a right to their opinion. He thanked me for noticing his great words and explained why he thought that people who believed a specific way were troglodytes and referred to a violent show that I have not seen to illustrate his reasoning. I told him that I believed that verbal violence was still violence, I had not seen that show, and I didn’t want to add to any violence. I think we are done with our discord.

My point is that our society is hurting. Many of us are hurting as individuals. Some of are hurting as families. A lot of us are hurting as a nation. Even some might say that the earth is crying out. I have to admit that several times this week, I have wanted to let my anger engage with some people. I am human and I wanted to have some vengeance. But I know that vengeance belongs to God. And when I didn’t want to let that prevail, I asked Karen G Clemenson, and she reminded me that the people I wanted to engage with, only like to fight and I would be giving them what they want. I don’t like to fight. I am trying to grow up here. I will 50 here in a few weeks, and I want to be a thoughtful and wise person like Grandpa Bill. I want to be a graceful lady like Nana. I want to by a good listener like Grammy. I want to be devoted and forthright woman like Grandma Clemenson. I want to keep creating and giving like Mom. I don’t need to let my temper or my mood swings get the best of me.

This year for Christmas maybe we should choose to be soft with each other. Even if it takes a few days to cool of so we don’t give more violence or hate instead of love and compassion.

Note: It has taken me 6 days to write this.

Image Credit: Isn’t my mom’s Christmas tree pretty?

Feel free to leave your comments below!

Learning About Cortisol

by Summer D Clemenson | Dec 2, 2025 | Fuel Your Wellness, Wellness

This article was originally posted on WellnessWorksNW.com on November 25, 2025.

What is Cortisol?

I find myself bombarded everywhere about this one word and even as Karen G Clemenson came home and asked me about it, I knew we needed to be learning about cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone that helps control our mood, motivation, and fear. Cortisol does this by helping our body regulate how our body uses glucose (sugar), manages inflammation, regulates blood pressure, and controls our sleep-wake cycle or circadian rhythm. Our hypothalamus and pituitary gland, both located in our brain, controls our cortisol production by releasing other hormones. In order to have healthy cortisol production our hypothalamus, pituitary gland and adrenal glands must all be working correctly. Cortisol regulates many functions and affects almost all organ systems in our body.

Cortisol manages how our body uses carbohydrates, fats and proteins. When we experience stress, our bodies release adrenaline and cortisol to keep us on alert. When cortisol is released, this triggers the release of glucose from our liver so we have energy and a burst of higher immunity. Cortisol also tells our pancreas to decrease insulin and increase glucagon in order to regulate blood sugar. In a body with normal short spurts of stress, cortisol can limit inflammation. However if our body becomes used to regular high levels of stress so that it becomes used to a traumatic life, we can have chronic inflammation and a weakened immune system.

People with high levels of cortisol can have high blood pressure. They can also suffer with anxiety, depression, headaches, and heart disease. People with lower than normal levels of cortisol can have low blood pressure.

Symptoms of High Cortisol Levels

Symptoms of high cortisol levels, or people who may may have Cushing syndrome, which is caused by a mass in your adrenal gland or a tumor in your pituitary gland can include:

Easy bruising
Excessive hair growth in females
Fatty deposit at the base of the neck between shoulder blades
High blood pressure
High blood sugar, which often turns into Type 2 diabetes
Muscle weakness in your upper arms and thighs
Purple streaks on the breasts, hips, stomach and under the arms
Thin arms and legs
Weak bones (osteoporosis) and bone breaks
Weight gain, especially in face and belly

What Causes High Cortisol?

It is normal to have times of stress in our lives. Cortisol levels will usually return to normal after times of stress are over. Sometimes cortisol levels can remain high and you might require help from a professional if you continuously suffer with the following:

Chronic physical, mental or psychological stress
Cushing’s syndrome
Long-term steroid use
Sleep deprivation and abnormal sleep patterns
Tumors or growths on the adrenal glands or pituitary glands

Low Cortisol

Too little cortisol can be caused by several factors including:

Autoimmune disorders
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, which is a group of inherited disorders that decrease adrenal gland function
Hypoglycemia
Infections like tuberculosis and HIV can impact the adrenal glands
Primary adrenal insufficiency, referred to as Addison’s disease, happens when your immune system attacks your adrenal glands
Secondary adrenal insufficiency or hypopituitarism, takes place when you have a tumor on your pituitary gland or an underactive pituitary gland
Suddenly stopping steroid, otherwise called, corticosteroid medications, after taking them for a long time
Traumatic brain injury can challenge pituitary gland, which regulates the adrenals

Symptoms of Low Cortisol Levels:

Abdominal pain
Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting
Fatigue
Hyperpigmentation, or dark patches of skin
Hypoglycemia, low blood sugar
Muscle weakness that grows worse
Loss of appetite
Low blood pressure, hypotension
Unintentional weight loss

What You Can Do to Reduce High Cortisol Levels:

Although some medical conditions require medical treatment there are ways you can change your lifestyle to help your body naturally lower your cortisol levels:

Avoid stress
Build and maintain healthy relationships
Create a healthy sleep schedule
Eat a nutrient rich diet
Enjoy yourself and laugh
Guided Imagery
Journaling
Listening to music
Meditation
Move your body daily
Practice deep breathing exercises
Reframe negative thoughts
Restrict social media use
Self-hypnosis
Sex
Yoga

Social media has been connected to stress because it has been found that social media impacts our neuroendocrine system, which tends to be associated with the part of our brain that handles our bad habits or things we misuse or overuse. In a study it showed that 20 minutes of social media use generated a higher cortisol level for depressed adolescents, than nondepressed adolescents. Those likes actually produce dopamine hits; another hormone that makes us feel good.

What is Normal?

Taking a cortisol test can tell your medical team if your cortisol levels are correct or if they need to be managed. Normal cortisol levels range from 5-25 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL) around 8 am. Cortisol levels change throughout the day, the morning being the highest level, and the evening being the lowest level. The test can require blood (taken by a medical professional), urine or saliva which can be done at home. Samples will be taken at different times during a 24 hour period.

What is normal is hard to define for many reason, some reasons being, are even how we respond to stressors. Some of us are just better able to handle stress than others. While some of us, secrete more cortisol than others, in the same situation. For people with chronic stress, they might need to incorporate many tools into their daily life to manage their cortisol levels.

When to Contact A Medical Professional

Please seek medical attention if you are experiencing the following:

Abdominal pain
Dizziness or lightheadedness
High or Low blood pressure
Reduced consciousness
Severe depression and thoughts of ending your life
Trouble breathing

Part of wellness is prevention. Seeing a medical professional is part of a healthy lifestyle. Please make sure to see your doctor annually to make sure your numbers are going in the right direction.

If you are needing help creating a Wellness Plan that works for you, please Contact Wellness Works NW at 360-447-8061. Karen G Clemenson is a very caring and authentic person and she is looking forward to talking with you and helping you define your Wellness Goals and strategies. I hope this article answered questions you had and was easy to understand. If you would like us to write about a particular topic that you can’t find on this site, please send us an email on our Dear Jamie page and someone from Our Team will be glad to research and write about your topic.

Cortisol by Cleveland Clinic Staff for my.clevelandclinic.org; last reviewed on 1/12/2025
How the ‘Stress Hormone’ Cortisol Affects You by Elizabeth Scott, PhD and medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD for Very Well Mind, last updated on April 7, 2025
What Is Cortisol? by WebMD Editorial Contributors & Medically Reviewed by Traci C. Johnson, MD on December 13, 2022
What Social Media Does to Stress and Hormones by Phil Reed D.Phil and reviewed by Tyler Woods for Psychology Today, February 28,2025
What You Need To Know About Stress Hormone Cortisol by Kainat Jahangir and medically reviewed by Danielle Weiss, MD for Health.com, last updated September 13, 2023

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I hope this article helps Fuel Your Wellness. Please leave your comments below.

Summer D Clemenson is a co-owner Clemenson Enterprises, LLC and Wellness Works NW. Summer her wife, Karen G Clemenson’s personal motto is Creativity, Honesty & Positivity are a must! This mantra helps them stay community and wellness minded in all they do. Summer is an Independent Wellness Advocate at dōTERRA. Summer also writes poetry and inspirational blogs @ GoodTimesAlways.com.

Feel free to leave your comments below!

Popcorn Is a Must

by Summer D Clemenson | Nov 25, 2025 | Food, Fuel Your Wellness, Opinions

This article was originally posted on WellnessWorksNW.com on 11/18/2025.

Popcorn is a must in our house. Karen G Clemenson and I both have our weaknesses that we have learned to keep at bay and it is made easier with popcorn. Popcorn is high in dietary fiber which aids in digestion and maintains weight. Popcorn is low in glycemic index and on its own can help those with sugar issues to maintain their blood sugar levels. Popcorn is high in antioxidants and polyphenols which can lower the chance of some chronic illnesses, including heart disease and some cancers.

Popcorn is also a whole grain that is linked to lower obesity rates. Before you add anything to popcorn, 3 cups of air-popped popcorn has 93 calories, 3 grams of protein, 18.6 grams of carbohydrates, 3.6 grams of dietary fiber, .2 grams of sugar, 1.1 total grams of fat, .2 grams of saturated fat, 1.9 mg of sodium and several nutrients.

At my house I make a huge batch of popcorn at a time. I use an air popper. I have a set of bowls, just like in this set. I use the largest bowl with the lid. It holds about 5 quarts of popcorn. When it is just us, I melt a stick of good quality butter like Land O Lakes (butter does have some nutritional value and contains MCT that is good for your brain) and add organic sea salt, black pepper, ground garlic and nutritional yeast. If our nephews were coming over, I would use coconut oil, instead of butter because they are lactose intolerant. I might also leave out the pepper, nutritional yeast and garlic since they are toddlers and they might now like the grown up flavors. When I want a sweet treat I have also used sea salt, cinnamon and organic sugar. The boys would probably love that too. Depending on how stressed we are the 5 quarts of popcorn will last us 2-5 days.

The other day, Karen was selling cheese and caramel popcorn at the store. She had mentioned it so many times that when we went grocery shopping I grabbed a bag. She was surprised. I only buy meat, fruits, vegetables and dairy when we go shopping, unless we are out of bread. I buy all our pantry items online at the beginning of the month and I rarely buy anything beyond dark chocolate as a treat unless I plan to bake something. But one time we were at Jamie Holloway‘s apartment and her sister brought over some Cretors Cheese and Caramel popcorn and it was amazing! So after listening to Karen talk about popcorn I just needed to take care of this craving. I don’t make caramel popcorn because I have little self-control over this food. But this regular sized bag of popcorn would be ok. It didn’t last the night.

The next day Karen brought home the leftovers from the samples she had been selling. There was more cheese and caramel popcorn. As I was enjoying the popcorn, she was watching me. This was new to her. I have gone through a lot of food changes over the years. She has not seen me enjoy popcorn out of a bag before. I make amazing popcorn. That was one thing my dad had taught me. He made great popcorn and when he left our house, I asked him how to make popcorn, then that became my job at home. My nana also loved popcorn. This is the part where flavored popcorn comes in. She lived in Seattle when I was really little and then when she married my Grandpa Bill, they lived in Kirkland. Both places are known for their malls and ports. Both of those places always had popcorn shops. Nana always had popcorn at her house and when we went shopping, we often got flavored popcorn. So when I enjoy flavored popcorn, I think of her.

I have never met a popcorn I didn’t like. Karen asked if I would buy this popcorn she brought home. I was honest. I would eat it, but I wouldn’t buy it. I will buy Cretors. Just like we don’t buy microwave popcorn, or even any I have found at our local stores. I buy organic purple Amish popcorn that I found online, because it is the best tasting popcorn I have ever eaten and even though it costs about $17 for 6 lbs, it takes us several months to eat 6 lbs of popcorn so I don’t think that is too much.

Food is health. We don’t eat microwave popcorn because there are chemicals in the bags. My body is sensitive to chemicals. That is why I make most of our food from scratch and why we only go to restaurants where I have not had a bad experience. It isn’t that I think restaurants that I have bad experiences are bad, I just know my body is sensitive to what they are cooking with. My body is sensitive to many healthy things and also unhealthy things. I am just protecting myself. Sorry for the rabbit trail. But if my experiences can help you, I am glad to able to tell you about it.

But back to popcorn. This is how we get through the cravings for other foods that have no health value. We are heading towards the holidays. The bible says that all things are permissible but not all things are beneficial. There will be many foods put in front of us this season. Maybe putting some popcorn out will help you eat less things that are not beneficial this season. Be blessed.

Ask Dear Jamie

I hope this article helps Fuel Your Wellness. Please leave your comments below.

Feel free to leave your comments below!

RE: Dissolving the Department of Education

by Summer D Clemenson | Nov 20, 2025 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions

Dear Representative,

I am very concerned about hearing about a massive structural shift in the Department of Education. I have heard that the Elementary, Secondary & Post Secondary Education programs are being moved to the Department of Labor. These are core educational functions for the entire United States of America. Foreign Medical Accreditation (FMA) & Childcare Access Means Program (CAM) are being sent to Health & Human Services. International Education & Foreign Language Programs are going to the State Department.

Usually Congress, public comment, & impact statements are done before anything like this would take place prior to a federal agency being dissolved or restructured, but the Trump administration is forgoing the legislative process by reallocating the Department of Education’s core functions. This is diluting accountability, removing civil rights protections & national educations standards for all students, nationwide.

The mission of the Department of Labor is: To foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

Please tell me how The Department of Labor is able to take care of the educational needs of our students? I could go on, but it would be redundant. I am very concerned by the direction we are going as a country. I am very much against the fact that Congress is allowing this sidestep to happen. Please make this stop.

Sincerely,

Summer D Clemenson

The 2nd Baby Blanket of 2025

by Summer D Clemenson | Nov 19, 2025 | Community, Yarn

Announcing the 2nd Baby Blanket of 2025. This has been fun getting back into yarn art. Especially since I have not bought the yarn. It is a challenge to to work with yarn that is a surprise. In fact I ran out of yarn that was given to me and I had to choose from the 3 balls of yarn I had left over from old projects and the red won out. I think this blanket is fun and brilliant in color. I hope that whoever gets this feels the love.

I will continue to crochet these love blankets for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1045 and my beloved, Karen G Clemenson, just reminded me that she will be filling out the paperwork for us to become official auxiliary members.

If you would like to donate any yarn to me or any blankets to Living Ministries, I am still the person to contact for that and once it is in my hands, I can donate anything to any nonprofit I desire or I am told to by the donator. You can also donate yarn or crocheted baby blankets at Wellness Works NW which is located inside Forever Fit Gym at 1211 18th Ave, Longview, WA.

FYI Forever Fit Gym is hosting a food drive to benefit several nonprofits in the area, including Life Works. If you can help, please bring your nonperishable items there. In case you didn’t think about it, cooking oils and powdered milk are a God send for those cake mixes and mac and cheese mixes, as well as any herbs and spices to make things taste good…canned apple sauce can take the place of eggs. 🙂

Feel free to leave your comments below!

Honoring the Fact That I Am Depressed

by Summer D Clemenson | Nov 17, 2025 | About Summer, Chronic Illness

Today I am honoring the fact that I am depressed. Why do I use those words? Because I learned in my 30’s that being honest with myself was not negative but the first step in the right direction. If I recognize I am depressed then I know I need to either try harder or rest more. I have thought about why I might be depressed and it just comes back to the fact that I am chronically ill and I live in chronic pain and sometimes those two things make my life harder and I don’t like it and sometimes those two things impede on me more than I want them to and it makes me angry, so angry I lash out on me.

So I slept a lot today and then I made myself do my workout. I have been skipping my workout. Not every day but enough. I need my workouts. They are needed and I shouldn’t be skipping them unless I had surgery or I have a migraine. When I can think straight I know this. My workouts are not stressful. They focus on stretching and strengthening my muscles. They are not aerobic because my body doesn’t like those movements. However my rheumatologist has noticed how flexible I am and my oncologist has noticed my strength. These two characteristics are the foundation of stamina. I need them to support joints and nerves that often fail me. They have helped me not to fall countless times.

Since the day is almost gone I will not confuse myself with too much. I have a phone appointment or preop appointment with my oncologist tomorrow. I have to get up much earlier than usual so tomorrow I will get things done. Today I will spend some time in my bible. I will take a shower. I will go to bed early. I will take care of me.

When we are depressed it is wise to listen to ourselves and love ourselves. Often there is a reason and sometimes there isn’t. Or sometimes the reason isn’t one you can get rid of, but you can love yourself through the moment.

Feel free to leave your comments below!

The Reign of Trump

by Summer D Clemenson | Nov 13, 2025 | About Summer, Life, Opinions, Politics

I have struggled a lot during the campaign and the reign of Trump. I won’t say much on that because verbally bashing the president is redundant at this point. I do pray that God blesses him and that God finds glory for Himself in whatever God is doing in and through Trump. Any success Trump has is a success for us all and I would be a fool to not support this. I too am an imperfect human. I too can be judged by many. I too can be misunderstood. But whether I misunderstood him, or his imperfections caused valid fear in me, it has effectively persuaded some of my responses.

Jamie and Summer getting together and enjoying our time.

I am an independent thinking voter, who has never voted straight across a platform until Trump was being voted for because I was afraid of Project 2025. I regret my state level votes. However, our democratic governor has nothing to do with the fact that Project 2025 began happening the minute Trump took office.

As far as the government shutdown goes. There came a moment when I knew people were not getting their paychecks but were expected to go to work, that I felt like we had to stop playing politics and be humans. When people were worried about their SNAP and WIC benefits and it was no longer important to me if the republicans or the democrats won. When an airplane crashed into a building with workers in it and people died, it was time to stop listening to Trump be wish washy and be forced by judges to feed hungry Americans. Because The USA is made of people; hard working people. People who deserve to be paid for their work so they can pay their bills and that money can go into our economy and build us all. Just like the SNAP and WIC benefits don’t just benefit the families that use them, but the grocery store that gets them and all the truck drivers and gas stations and every other business that support and supply the grocery stores and their workers. I don’t care if you think one side caved. The government staying closed, hurts us all. Insurance is important, but it was never going to be fixed if Congress could not get together and work on it.

I am watching as more democrats are taking positions or announcing their candidacy in government. I mentioned Jack Schlossberg, JFK’s grandson, running for Congress to Karen G Clemenson when she stopped by between jobs. I don’t know anything more about him. I don’t know if he will be good at the position. But I recognize that it is normal that when we have a president that shakes us up, that belongs to one party, we tend to switch to the other side at that next election. Our current president has more than shook up The United States, but other countries as well. So soon in his run, I am interested to see what will happen next. I was scared at one point. But then I decided to detach and see if I could enjoy any of Trump’s audacity.

I will never understand his appeal to anyone but I do enjoy audacity. It’s my type of humor. So I guess if you see me laughing, you can assume I’m dealing with myself the best way I know how.

Feel free to leave your comments below!

RE: Motion To Vacate

by Summer D Clemenson | Nov 13, 2025 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions, Politics

Dear Representative,

I would like you to discuss with other democrat congress members to propose a motion to vacate the chair of the speaker of the house, Mike Johnson. I know you will need a total of 9 sponsors. Please find them.

I do not believe that Johnson is able to make wise decisions, but is only a puppet for the whims of the president, which are not always legal. Proof of this is the fact that democrat, Adelita Grijalva, was not sworn into her position as representative for Arizona for 7 weeks after she was elected. I understand that he believes that he is justified in making her wait because Nancy Pelosi did not swear in Julia Letlow in for 25 days when she was elected in 2021, but in that situation, the house was scheduled to be closed. In the situation with Grijalva, Johnson refused to call the house to order. Also republicans, Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine were both sworn in within 24 hours of being elected. This is biased treatment.

Johnson’s actions have caused chaos in our country and might have caused federal employees to go without pay and people needing food assistance to be worried and wondering, nationwide. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Summer D Clemenson

RE: Day 36

by Summer D Clemenson | Nov 7, 2025 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions, Politics

Dear Representative,

It is Day 36. Google tells me this is the longest government shut down in our nation’s history. Republicans say it is the democrat’s fault because they wont cave to their wishes. Democrats say it is the republican’s fault because republicans wont open the house, Trump wont negotiate anything regarding the Affordable Care Act, and Adelita Grijalva has still not been sworn in. Here is the thing, even though Trump has been ordered by Federal Judges to make SNAP and WIC funding available he is choosing to appeal these rulings and break the law again. So guess who I think is wrong? All of you, especially the republicans.

The dems probably think they are stopping Trump’s administration from being completely lawless by keeping our government from functioning. I can see why they don’t want to give up any control they have because there are bills ready to be voted on to make voting very hard; which should never have been written because voting has always been facilitated by the states. Trump promised a lot of powers of the states would not be touched. But we know he is a liar. I am sending this message to many representatives, not just my own, so why are you supporting him? I understand that MAGAs support him, but they are not the only ones that you work for. Aren’t you tired yet?

I am exhausted. I am sick of the party fight too. Since we know the ACA is broken, why don’t you fix it. If that is your plan, why don’t you tell us? There are more poor in this country than there are wealthy. We count. We need to know that you are willing to stand for us. Why are you letting Trump starve the poor and gut Medicare? Why are you letting people go to work without paychecks? Why does Trump’s administration get to break the law without consequences? Why do you get a paycheck for no work, while our military, security guards and other federal employees don’t; while people die in plane crashes.

Please do the right thing. Please open the government and fight for all of us.

Sincerely,

Summer D Clemenson

Re: Government Shutdown

by Summer D Clemenson | Nov 5, 2025 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions, Politics

Dear Representative,

As you know, the government shutdown has been upon us for 5 weeks on November 5, 2025. At first, I was ok with it, I thought it was noble. I thought it was right to help out all families that depend on the Affordable Care Act. But as we kept waiting, it got old.

As Air Traffic Controllers, Active Military, Federal Employees, In Hospital Medical Staff, FBI Agents, Border Patrol, Prison Guards & Emergency Response Workers like FEMA missed paychecks, but still had to work, I started to flinch. And then SNAP & WIC benefits were stopped & now I’m just angry.

I am neither a republican nor a democrat, you might not know that because I have voted for you. I am a free thinker. I believe that when the main parties have strong platforms to stand on they balance each other out & help all United States citizens to feel heard & served. My neighbors & I don’t feel served.

I have been reading what people have been saying about the shutdown & learning that people getting insurance outside of the ACA don’t get any subsidies, because the ACA only benefits families similar to a family of 3 making $106,000 or less. So with the tax benefit that only a certain part of the population gets, this has helped cause prices for healthcare to skyrocket. This is why republican voters don’t like the ACA.

However I know people that make much less than $106,000 who still can’t afford the ACA & yet they work. So the ACA is not working for the very poor either. They still need healthcare. But the subsidies end in January and insurance companies are sending out notices now & this is why democrats want the subsidies made permanent & they are demanding $50 billion to do it.

Republicans say they have a new healthcare plan but they wont tell anyone what it is. They just want the government opened. Democrats feel like they have to stand strong. I can empathize with this but people need to pay their bills & buy groceries, & let’s be real, programs like SNAP & WIC also support the stores & entities that supply the stores so it isn’t just about feeding people but supporting people at all levels.

I read today that 8 democrats have been meeting with Senate Majority Leader John Thune. SNAP is the reason for the change of pace. “Allowing nearly 42 million Americans to miss food assistance would be a ‘betrayal’ of Democratic values,” said Senator John Fetterman.

I want you to join the 8 democrats that are willing to open the government. I want people to be paid to do their jobs. I want people to get their SNAP & WIC benefits. I also want both democrats and republicans to work together to fix the ACA to benefit all United States citizens. We all deserve to be able to go to the doctor. You all should be working for us.

Put down the egos or party policies and be humans that serve us. Please.

Sincerely,

Summer D Clemenson

The First Baby Blanket For 2025

by Summer D Clemenson | Nov 4, 2025 | Art, Community, Opinions, Yarn

I haven’t crocheted for a long time. In fact it has been about two years (except for the patch job I did on my nephew, Kaison’s baby blanket) since I made Kaison’s baby brother, Riyder’s baby blanket, because he just had his 2nd birthday. But Karen G Clemenson has been volunteering at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1045 when she has time. She isn’t a war veteran, but she is Army and once you are Army, I am told you are always Army. She enjoys visiting with her kind. Even though she is not a war vet, they have been talking about her becoming an auxiliary member and since they have been talking to her, and she talks a lot, they found out I crochet.

Apparently there is a shortage of auxiliary members that crochet, so now they are talking about me becoming an auxiliary member too. I haven’t begun that process at this point, but since someone sent a bag of yarn home with my wife, I decided to make use of it. Apparently there is a quota to be met and they are having trouble making it. I would hate to think that someone didn’t have a lovely, homemade blanket to wrap around their new baby. So here is the first baby blanket for 2025.

I don’t have all the information for how to do this. We are pretty sure you have to have a military affiliation to be part of the auxiliary, however, if you would like to donate any yarn to me or any blankets to Living Ministries, I am still the person to contact for that and once it is in my hands, I can donate anything to any nonprofit I desire or I am told to by the donator. You can also donate yarn or crocheted baby blankets at Wellness Works NW which is located inside Forever Fit Gym at 1211 18th Ave, Longview, WA.

FYI Forever Fit Gym is hosting a food drive to benefit several nonprofits in the area, including Life Works. If you can help, please bring your nonperishable items there. In case you didn’t think about it, cooking oils and powdered milk are a God send for those cake mixes and mac and cheese mixes, as well as any herbs and spices to make things take good…canned apple sauce can take the place of eggs. 🙂

Feel free to leave your comments below!

Happy Halloween 2025

by Summer D Clemenson | Oct 31, 2025 | About Summer, Opinions

I have been in a pit of depression for the month of October and I woke up feeling so much lighter and glad to be out of that pit today. I made it out and it feels so good to be able to move easier. Depression is painful, not only mentally but physically for me. It stops me from doing so many things until I process whatever it is that I need to get through. I am thankful I got through. I have been so worried about a lot of things, things I know I can do nothing about other than to pray and try to set my mind in order on but what a day to be able to wake up and say: Happy Halloween 2025!

I have been terribly worried about the victims of Hurricane Melissa. The people in Jamaica, Haiti and Dominican Republic have been ravished. They have lost loved ones, homes, hospitals, places of work, safe spaces. All I can do is pray but I am so thankful for the people coming to their aid from all over the globe. Times like these really show me what love can look like and it doesn’t just come from one place. Love is international.

Politically I have been destitute. I am neither a democrat or a republican. I wish either party had a platform worth standing on right now. I think they have both lost their footing. Socially I tend to appreciate some of the social justice that democrats offer. Financially, I usually like the tax beliefs that republicans align themselves with. However, raising taxes on the poor and cutting taxes for the rich makes absolutely no sense to me. People that work should be able to have health insurance. In fact I do believe in universal healthcare because humans get sick and sick people should be able to go to the doctor and prevention saves money in the long run, a healthy workforce can pay more taxes, sick people make more sick people, and people that can’t afford to go to the doctor, go to the hospital and leave bills for the rest of us to pay for anyway. Eating is necessary and so SNAP should not be something we are fighting about. The fact that the government has been closed for 5 weeks is ridiculous. Trump has chosen to let the government stay closed and this makes me furious. He has proven, he gets what he wants. Other presidents have conceded when it was necessary.

But! Two judges ordered that contingency funds be used to pay for SNAP and so people will get their benefits, in spite of the bull headedness of our politicians and everyone that gets those dollars, including all the entities that benefit from those dollars at the grocery stores will continue to benefit which means we all benefit and I feel like a huge weight has been removed off of my chest. Thank You Jesus!

I was thinking about a Halloween a long time ago. I was out with friend. I was old enough that it was just the two of us in our neighborhood. Oak Street didn’t have a lot of street lights and it didn’t have sidewalks but we made it out alive. We were about finished. There was a park a block from my house and Stephanie and I were accosted by two boys that wanted our candy. They grabbed my pillow case that I had been using to collect candy. It made me angry so I grabbed it back and hit them in the head with it and left for home.

This is how I was telling the story to Karen G Clemenson. She was laughing. She didn’t understand why I would do that. So I told her. First, the boys had masks on, but I knew it was Ty and Shad. Ty lived across the street from me and Shad lived down the street from Stephanie and I didn’t need to be afraid of them. Second, my mom had just bought me a new comforter and matching pillow case and I really liked that pillow case. It wasn’t about the candy, it was about the pillow case. Also, if they had asked for the candy I would have given them some. I just didn’t want anyone to steal from me. Too much candy has always made me sick. They could have even followed me home and taken some. I always brought my Halloween candy to school anyway to share with my friends because I was not used to eating a lot of sugar.

Karen just kept looking at me like she couldn’t believe what I was telling her. It was about the pillow case, not the candy…One time Mom asked me where the strawberry preserves were and I told her Ty asked to borrow it…so I had to go to his house and get it back.

My mom didn’t like Halloween. She had her own reasons. I didn’t necessarily care for the day but I loved dressing up. Sometimes I would play with my makeup. One time my mom called me out to ask me a question and I didn’t have enough time to remove my makeup. I had done a mosaic design on my face. It was fantastic, but in the dimly lit living room, it must have been frightening. I tried to stay in the dark so she couldn’t see me while we spoke. Eventually, she looked at me and screamed. That had not been my goal. I was just a creative kid.

I haven’t dressed up in many years. Mainly because as I got bigger it wasn’t fun to do it anymore. I was also sick and when you live in a hotel, all your money goes to living in a hotel and being sick. But I am shrinking. I am almost back to my high school weight. In the picture above, I am in my prom dress (this is not a prom picture though, it is a Halloween picture with the car my Grandpa Bill gave my mom, that she gave me because she was too short to drive it). We are also very close to moving and we wont be spending all our money on rent anymore and I can start thinking about things like Halloween costumes again, I told Karen that we are going to be Raggedy Anne and Andy some year or maybe a Seattle Seahawk and a Football. She isn’t used to this idea because we have had to be so practical for so long, but the idea makes me smile.

Someone told me, this last week, that I like to worry about things. It is a trauma response. I didn’t have all I needed as a child. I saw a lot of pain. I am aware of trauma and pain. I hate it and I hate seeing people hurt. I don’t see that it is a bad thing to care about others and not want them to suffer. Jesus told us that when we fed the hungry or clothed the needy we were loving Him. When we were taking in the immigrant or helping someone that couldn’t help themself we were helping Him. I have been that person. I am that person sometimes. We all are.

Halloween is a favorite holiday to some because it is only about fun. I was explaining this to Karen. She doesn’t really care about this day either. I was telling her what Stephanie had explained to me when I asked her. There were no traditional meals, no gifts that had to be bought, no expectations but fun. People need this day because life can be hard, it can be traumatic, it can be less than what we need. What I am experiencing today is a renewed hope that can carry me farther than this day can take me and I am thankful. I hope you have some of this kind of feeling, not just for this day but for as many days as you can carry.

Shannon, I have no other way to reach you. I hope you have a Happy Halloween. We can’t be sisters or friends, but I do love you.

Feel free to leave your comments below!

Lots of Reasons

by Summer D Clemenson | Oct 30, 2025 | About Summer, Opinions

I always gave my father lots of chances. I did that for lots of reasons. One was that it was easy to communicate with him. I was a lot like him, in that I understood what set him off. It was easy to learn the boundaries. He had the same violent streak that I had. There was a sadness and an intensity in him that I understood. I could understand the need to stay busy and not hear the voice inside that said mean things to me. He needed the validation that hard work brought. He had made himself after being the scapegoat in an abusive family. He had earned every advantage he had. I understood why money was important to him, although I never agreed, because I knew that all the money in the world could never fix the hurt.

I have always watched people. I feel a lot. I didn’t always have the words I needed to define what I felt, but I learned who was safe and who wasn’t. I couldn’t always keep myself from dangerous people, but I knew who I didn’t want to be like. I could eventually know when I was being lied to. Being a person that was easily stimulated by lights, sounds and emotions, was super hard for me. I didn’t know that was what my problem was until I was in my 40’s, but it was very hard to visit my father’s family when I was a child. There were so many of them. The history of alcoholism and abuse, although was not overtly present, was still there and I didn’t have words for it because I had been protected fiercely by both my father and my mom. I often would hide in a quiet room when it got too much for me and my father would find me and drag me out to join the noise.

I didn’t like my Grandpa Clemenson. It is hard to say that because I know it will hurt several people, especially my aunt. But I didn’t like him. My aunt has lovely stories about him and I think it is because she was his favorite, or maybe she chooses to remember him that way. But my grandfather’s eyes scared me. They were never soft; they were always hard and piercing. He always barked orders. I don’t remember hearing please or thank you from him. I don’t remember seeing love in his eyes toward my father and that scared me, because as I child, my father, was Superman to me. The only conversation I really remember having with my grandfather was when I heard him refer to black people as niggers. I was about 8 to 10 years old and I got in his face and told him that God made all people and He loved everyone and that it was wrong to use that word. I vaguely remember my father standing close by, maybe to make sure he could protect me from his father. My aunt has told me that my grandfather didn’t trust my father. This makes me sad. Because I know that my father took more beatings than his siblings. My grandfather created the monster inside my father. I don’t think it is fair that he didn’t trust him.

I had a hard time learning my name as a child. It was long. Summer Clemenson was so hard to learn that I didn’t learn to spell my middle name, Deanne until I was in 4th grade.

I was an angry child and teenager. People told me things they should never have told a child and teenager. Mom, in her desperation to keep us afloat told me things. Ms. Colvin, in her attempt to abuse me and hurt my mother told me things. My father, for his many reasons told me things he should never have told me. My anger is much quieter now, but there is still some left. I have learned to not feed the violent part of me. I want to be gentle and peaceful.

But as a young woman, I hated my name. I saw it as my grandfather’s name. I resented him because I didn’t think he loved my father. I never thought he should love me, but I knew I was loved by my parents and I thought parents were supposed to love their kids. This was not because of anything anyone had told me but what I felt when I was around him. I also didn’t like him because of the way his hands wandered when I was forced to hug him. Luckily a conversation among my father, Ms. Colvin and all my siblings, eventually made the hugging stop.

When I was in my young 20’s I was so angry that I used another last name. I got bills to the name Summer Dae. I wrote under the name Anna Stourmie Somre Dae. For a few years I was considering changing my name. But I was also in therapy at that time, and as things do, we begin to accept ourselves and I began to learn to love myself. I had not caused a lot of the negative things that had happened around me to happen and at some point I accepted my name. It was mine. Not anyone else’s. Yes, it connected me to a lineage, but in my mind, it was mine.

I remember the stress my mom was in when she divorced my father. She had decided to keep my name. She kept it, not because it was my father’s name, but because it was the name of her children. There was a month that Ms. Colvin wrote out the child support check to my mother’s maiden name. What a mess that made at the bank. What stress that added to our home. We needed that money. Ms. Colvin would do anything to hurt us. It wasn’t just my mom she was hurting, it was the children of the man she was supposed to love. The children she refused to allow her husband to co-parent their 3 children, one who was very difficult and needed more attention. No…She can’t have my name. I am Mrs. Clemenson now.

I go by Summer D Clemenson because at some point I was aware that I have a distant cousin named Sommer and before she was married, we had such a similar name that I chose to add the D. But this also was in honor of my Nana. She really wanted me to be named Summer Dee after the actress, Sandra Dee, but my mom wanted to make my middle name a little like her name so I got Deanne.

When Karen G Clemenson and I got married we were going to leave our names alone. We had been single for a long time. She was almost 50 and I was almost 40. We had lived a long time with our names. For me, I also didn’t like the name Gidderon. And the struggle it had taken for me to finally accept the name I had been born with was just too much to let go of it. But after a few months of marriage, I asked her, what would we do if we ever adopted children. We couldn’t curse them with the name Gidderon-Clemenson or Clemenson-Gidderon. We had to pick a name. So Karen’s answer was to take mine. Her father had died already and mine was still alive. Her parents had not given her a middle name so her last name became her middle name and she took my last name. Grandma Clemenson asked her once why she took our name and Karen explained it to her and Grandma thought that was the most practical thing ever.

We were talking about it recently and the only other name I would have ever wanted to take was Henderson, which is my Grandpa Bill’s last name. We could have done that but it would have been an expense to change everything for both of us. I also think that it would have hurt Grandma Clemenson too much.

My father did not share his family with me very often. I don’t know why. He must have his reasons and I have made peace with that. But the time I had with my grandmother, let me know she was a strong and honorable woman. She was not perfect, but she worked to get better and she loved fiercely. You didn’t have to be blood to be family and you didn’t have to be family to be loved by her. She tried so hard to honor her children, even though she knows choices she made hurt them and for that she carried her sadness, but she also cherished their success. She remembered every name and birthday. She was thankful for every day she had, which taught me to appreciate getting old, because not everyone gets to. She wore the ugly scarves I made her as a child. I made one for her and for my grandfather and because they were too small, she wore both of them. I know she loved me.

So if anyone asks, I took Grandma’s name.

I know Ms. Colvin made Grandma cry and that is another reason I hate her. Another reason, Ms. Colvin can’t have my name.

Shannon be sure to share this article with anyone you want. You have my blessing. I am feeling more freedom from my pain but I am also wondering if by telling the truth if I am freeing myself from the secrets I was told to keep. Be careful with how you all respond, I haven’t told all the stories yet. But there are good stories too…

Ms. Colvin should not write anymore letters.

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I Am Mrs. Clemenson Now

by Summer D Clemenson | Oct 28, 2025 | About Summer, Opinions

This time of year is always hard on me. Most recently, this is the time of year I got my cancer diagnosis and had my last fight with my father when I told him that I had cancer, instead of letting him hear it through the grapevine. This is the anniversary of when I knew I had to make the break permanent with him. I know one of my siblings will make sure that certain people will see this blog. That is what they do. They enjoy the chaos and competition of our father’s house. And I am glad to let them have it. I think part of my problem is that I haven’t found a name I want to call them. I don’t know if I want to refer to my father by his full name or more casual and I am Mrs. Clemenson now. His second wife can’t have my name. The only person I share that name with is my wife; my one and only wife. I guess my father’s second wife can be Ms. Colvin.

I still have lots of feelings about having to let some of my family go, especially my father. I am his first born. He chose his second wife over me so many times. That last fight, I am sure, was instigated by her. It was an old topic. It was stupid. But it made me choose me, because I finally knew he was never going to.

For the first time, my choice was completely about me knowing I had to choose peace over the chaos that comes with his house. I have spent a lot of my life scared because of his house. The constant competition was something that was confusing at least. It is something I am newly mourning because I am realizing that the voice of my father’s second wife and my own mother have been confused in my mind throughout my life and I am sad because I know, now, that I have held my mother accountable for things she didn’t do.

Without the chaos of them, without the constant pressure of competition that one sibling brought back to our home, with our mom, my mom and I are finding an ability to communicate like we never had before. I remember watching my mother with her friends and even telling one of her friends that I wish I knew that Joanne, and her friend understood me. But now I am getting to know her and she is my mom, and I know she likes me. I never felt that before. She was too busy and stressed out before.

She keeps saying she was a bad mom. I don’t respond because I can’t change the tape in her head; I have tried. But I know she was the best mom she could be. She needed help. There is a reason why it takes two people to make a baby. Children need lots of support and they aren’t supposed to be raised by one person alone. I know my father left her with 3 kids. I know he had quit paying the mortgage months before he left. I know he controlled all the money and he put my mom down all the time, I heard the fights on the other side of my bedroom wall. I know he was unfaithful to his marriage to my mom and to our family. I know we were on public assistance while he was taking his second wife to Disneyland every year and complaining about $600 a month for child support. I know his second wife hated my Grandpa Bill and Nana because they saved us from her abuse.

I know Ms. Colvin continued to abuse my mother when she got the chance. Because she is a bad person. There are things I have done, throughout the time I was 9 through 39, when I allowed her in my life, she didn’t understand and when she asked me why I did those things, my answer was because my mom would have done this, or my nana would have done this. Because my mom was taught to be a good mom, by her mom, my nana.

The last time I communicated with my father was in a letter. I apologized to him for my response to him, bringing up a topic that was outdated and none of his business, when I had called to tell him I had cancer. My anger was not wrong, but my words were and I felt he deserved an apology for my disrespect. I also told him I no longer wanted to be his daughter. I didn’t want to be in his will. I want nothing from him. I want no contact from him. Because he and I communicate in similar language, I expected him to respect my wishes.

A week or so after my Grandpa Bill died, I got a letter from Ms. Colvin. I didn’t read the entire letter. It was terrible. I tore it up. I did not respond.

I spent so many years trying to be a friend to Ms. Colvin. I don’t need to list any of her sins. If you know her, you know her. I do believe she encourages the worst in my father and her narcissism has attached itself accordingly.

In this part of my life, I am grateful to know what is important to me more than ever. My peace and health are paramount. Understanding that I get to choose, even when I am depressed, I get to choose, is an important tool. I get to choose people that want the best for me, people that help me choose positivity, health and joy are important. Major Depressive Disorder isn’t a death sentence or a punishment, for some of us, it is just a state of being, that we have to work through. My father used to emotionally abuse me for the entire trip from Longview to Yakima and then be angry at me because I was depressed during our visit. What a creep. Of course I don’t want to be around him. No wonder I have PTSD.

There was a trip where I had had enough and when he pulled over to get gas, I told him I was done. I wanted to call my mom and have her come get me. I wasn’t going to be abused for the whole trip again. Things changed a bit. Between my father and I, things got better but it got worse between Ms. Colvin and I. Maybe things got better because he didn’t have to pay child support for me anymore…Because money is very important to him. They must have known this day would come. They must have known that I would find my voice and I would tell the truth.

By the way, to all the people that have been told otherwise, I have paid back every loan I have ever got from my father. The last one I even paid interest on, which he didn’t ask for. When he offered to give it back to me, I told him to never talk to me about it again, because Ms. Colvin had made sure to abuse me and my nephew at the same time via text message and it was a terrible experience. They are the reason for my phone phobia.

Truth is important. Some things are harder to heal than others and I am honest with God.

I have forgiven a lot. But I have not forgotten. I still hate Ms. Colvin. My mom told me she likes the term “severe resentment.” That made me giggle a little because I know she was trying to help me feel better, when it means the same thing. I appreciate that she was not critical of me; that she understood that I talk with God about this a lot. That she knows that I am having trouble giving God my pain and not taking it back.

I’m telling my story not just for me, but for anyone else who needs to see what it looks like to learn how to choose life. It doesn’t look the same all the time. I have changed. My views and memories have changed, my hopes and aspirations and opinions have changed. There are things I have let go of and will let go of, as soon as I am able to because they don’t serve me. I am always changing. I don’t miss my father, his second wife and my two older sisters because in all their anger, nothing changes because nothing is forgiven.

I do ache for my nieces and nephews but maybe one day they will choose to remember their Auntie Summer. Not the quiet one that sat in the corner at family functions, but the one that played with them in their bedrooms and took them on adventures because that was the real me. The woman that is a good writer, a good speaker, a lover of people, even broken ones because I can empathize with people that hurt and have been left alone or hurt too much.

The people I left behind can’t possibly understand that I still love them and pray for them. That just because I don’t like them and know they are unhealthy for me, doesn’t mean I don’t want them to be happy and healthy. Mom and I were talking about that. I told her, I trust them all with God. He made them. He knows what they need and want. He can love them best because I can’t trust them…Especially you, Shannon.

I put a lot of thought into that last sentiment. I keep thinking of that time at the mall with Nana and Mom, when I was about 8 and you were about 4-years-old and you kept putting your head under that dressing doors to watch me change and no matter how I complained you kept tormenting me, until I stood on your head…You have always required me to go to extreme measures to get you to leave me alone.

Feel free to leave your comments below!

Dear Representative: SNAP

by Summer D Clemenson | Oct 25, 2025 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions, Politics

Dear Representative,

I am sitting in one of the richest countries in the world and yet people I know are being told they won’t get their SNAP benefits on November 1, 2025. I am trying to stay calm and think logically. $8 billion dollars cannot be found to feed people, families, children, disabled people and elderly in the United States of America and also support all the retailers that supply the grocery stores, but $20 billion was sent to Argentina. I don’t understand this. I thought Trump was all for America first. I thought he meant the United States.

Republican’s Big Beautiful Bill cut $186 billion from the SNAP program and then the USDA decided to not report on food insecurity anymore. Is that so that no one can see how big the need is, except for those who are starving? $300 million can be raised to build a ballroom in the White House, where we already had one, but we can’t feed families. The government can stay closed and you still get your pay checks while many other families are forced to work without pay. Why are you so special?

Honestly, I don’t know where to start. As a Washington State resident, I am shocked at the huge tax increases created by Governor Ferguson, especially during a time where we are also seeing huge tariffs, aka taxes, by Trump. These taxes on gasoline, businesses, sales tax, etc.. are making life very hard to afford. I voted for this man because I was afraid of what republicans were going to do and I see that democrats are hurting us too.

Every day there is something else that is happening that makes me wonder if you are working for me or against me and the people I care about, the people that might have voted for you. I need to see some change. I need to see that “We the People” are important.

By the way, when are you going to impeach Trump? Before or after he sells us to another country?

Sincerely,

Summer D Clemenson

I Can’t Do This Without You

by Summer D Clemenson | Oct 21, 2025 | Opinions, Poetry, Politics

I am made in my Creator’s image
I am white
I am female
I am a United States Citizen
I am just like you

Jesus turned over tables
where they sold offerings
for money
But He gave Himself on the cross
for free

You are just like me
I am black
I am queer
I am houseless & I can read
But the freedom of my Spirit
does not match my Constitution

Some say the government
should only provide the laws & foundation
That citizens must create
the opportunities they desire
But when taxes are so high we can’t dream
How do we free those that can’t breathe

We are the same
I am disabled
I am a veteran
I am a tree-hugging peace-lover
I can’t do this without You

Photo Credit: Aesthetic Aristocracy on Tumblr

Dear Representative: Let’s Talk About Money

by Summer D Clemenson | Oct 16, 2025 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions

Dear Representative,

This government shutdown has been exhausting. Thank you for fighting for healthcare for all United States citizens. In a country as wealthy as we are, it baffles me why we can’t offer universal healthcare so that everyone is cared for and premiums are not affected by people that can’t pay their bills. Please keep fighting. Let’s talk about money.

As a related item, I hear that SNAP benefits are on the chopping block. If the government stays closed through November 1, SNAP will be held back. Please do what you can to open the government, but if that can’t happen, please protect the families that depend on these benefits. My family doesn’t meet the standard for these, but my best friend does, and we help where we can, but we can’t replace what SNAP gives her.

Another reason for this letter, is that I saw Representatives Melanie Stansbury and Angie Craig, in a video they posted on Facebook, explaining that Trump had promised $40 billion to Argentina. Regardless of the reasons they gave for this, doesn’t Congress have control over the purse strings? I personally don’t want to bail out Argentina. I would like my portion of the tax dollars to pay for our national debt.

In fact, I think it is more important to pay down our national debt than to add a ball room to the White House, built an Air Force base in Iowa for the use of training Qatar troops, or to federalize our military to use our military against our own people. I don’t know everything, but I remember being told the republicans were the party of the balanced budget, this is not that.

I want to share something personal with you. I am chronically ill and disabled. I rely on social security and my wife works 3 jobs to pay our bills. We are not fancy people. We have one car. It doesn’t run right now, and we can’t afford to replace it, but we are blessed because we have a friend who has an extra car that my wife has made a deal with to drive for the time being. We don’t drink alcohol, use drugs or smoke cigarettes. We don’t travel. We don’t go to the theater but we might splurge 1-2 times a year to see a movie. I buy almost all our clothes second hand. I cook most of our food from scratch because I have a lot of food sensitivities. We have a very short list of restaurants (based on whether I have gotten sick or not after eating there) that we might visit once a week. Did I mention we live in a hotel? It is impossible to save money to move when all your money goes to your rent. I know my story is slightly unique but not impossible.

Since June I have had a radiation treatment, 2 surgeries, many appointments with all my specialists, and lost at least 30 lbs. I did not have bariatric surgery. I have also continued to watch Trump and his cabinet and MAGAs that have done everything to make sure Trump is comfortable. Yet my anxiety is high. Even while I don’t read the news as often as I like and I leave the tv off until my wife gets home late at night.

I think it’s normal that I am having trouble finding my motivation since I have had so medical episodes back to back. But maybe this works as a metaphor for The United States. I have 14 diagnosed illnesses. Only one can be cured. But untreated, the one that can be cured, can kill me. The 13 diagnosis that can’t be cured, can be managed and with the right lifestyle choices, I can have decent quality of life.

I think lobbyist, manipulation, and anything that is not honest and black and white and pitting republicans against democrats or visa versa is like my cancer. We’ve had it a long time, but if we don’t get rid of it, we are doomed to die. Most of everything else is chronic and we have to learn to manage it efficiently, which means we have to very honest with ourselves, we must stop fighting, we must stop hating, and we must return to respecting our Constitution.

Sincerely,

Summer D Clemenson

Is Abortion Wrong?

by Summer D Clemenson | Oct 7, 2025 | Opinions, Politics, Prayers & Thanksgiving

In my life I have walked with Jesus for almost 45 years. In the first half of my relationship with Him, I did not have as much control over where I learned about Him or what that meant, however, He saved me so many times. In much more conservative surroundings, my viewpoint on abortion was very set in stone. As I have learned more about humanity and a very compassionate Jesus, my views on laws have changed a lot. But today I woke and thought: Is Abortion Wrong?

I have always thought I knew what the bible said about abortion, however, today it occurred to me that I have not researched what the bible said with an open mind on this topic, or even in this decade, and probably not in the last 20 years. Today I did a search online about what the bible actually says about abortion and found several sites that were interesting and offered many scriptures and a couple viewpoints. I have shared a couple of the sites below if you are interested in reading them. I made sure to find more than one viewpoint.

There were plenty of scriptures:

We can know that God planned our lives before He created us and He created us in His image. We know that God always knows us and He is always with us.

Moses wrote in Genesis 1:26-27

King David wrote Psalm 139:13-16

The prophet Jeremiah wrote in Jeremiah 1:5

Regarding violence Moses writes in Exodus 21:22-25

But it should be known that the bible isn’t specific about who’s life they are replacing and in one article, it says the bible is not concerned with the life of the baby, but the mother.

Moses writes in both Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 5:17 say: You shall not murder.

I have no argument with this scripture. It is pretty cut and dry, however is it murder to have an abortion? There is no clear scripture about this in the bible. We know that there were abortion procedures in the days of the bible times, not anything like what we have now, but it was known how to end a pregnancy. Genesis 9:6 says whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood will be shed, however, who’s blood are you shedding by committing an abortion? The mother’s or fetus?

It is important to stand up for those that can’t stand up for themselves. This could be unborn children, but there is no reason to believe that the bible is talking about this in the following scripture, but talking about civil rights for the people that are poor and not heard.

King Lemuel writes in Proverbs 31:8-9

Paul writes in Galatians 6:1-5

So we know we are to carry each other. We are to love each other. We are to be mindful of our weaknesses so that we are not tempted to do wrong. But in the end, we are only responsible for our own life choices.

Differences Between Christians and Nonbelievers

Nonbelievers are not to be held to the same expectations as Jesus Followers. Why should they be? Why should we have the same laws?

Freedom of Choice

God gave us freedom of choice because He wants to be chosen and He respects our right to make choices and supports them.

In Exhaustion

I walked away from the bible and the computer. I needed a break. As I peeled a sweet potato for dinner, I suddenly knew I wasn’t alone. God asked me if my choice regarding my opinion on abortion was based in love or the law. When I am trying to persuade someone to my side, am I considering their circumstances, their health, their ability to live with what happened to cause the pregnancy, the chance of their survival, if they were to give birth or do I just want to be right? When I am interrogating a medical professional, am I being professional, or am I being hateful, or murderous even? Can I only hear myself or am I stuck on being right?

Is my being right more important than Christ’s law of love (see the words in red above), because if that is the case, than that is what Jesus had against the Pharisees. Jesus was not intimidated by sinners. He knew He would forgive them.

In Mark 5:24-34 the bible tells of a woman with a gynecological issue. She had seen many doctors and spent all her money and been suffering for years, only to get worse. The word tells us that by Jewish law, her touching Jesus would make him unclean. But she believed in her heart that if she only touched His garment, that she would be made well. Because Jesus was here to love, He commended her for her faith. She had been healed.

I still believe that abortion is very personal choice. I still think that we have no right to make laws about another person’s body because I should not be able to make decisions about your body. That should be between you and your doctor. Do I think God is for or against abortion? I think God is for people. I think God is for healing people. I think God does things that we don’t always understand, for His good pleasure. I think He cares more about us loving each other, than our laws that we impose on each other. I don’t think God wants us to let women die because they couldn’t choose a life saving medical treatment. I think He doesn’t want us to treat medical professionals and women that need to make a choice about their own life, treated with hate.

Furthermore, I think that when you don’t know what to do with your life, you should ask God. He knows you better than anyone else. When you are concerned about someone else, I also think, instead of judging or criticizing someone else, you should pray for them. Again, God knows you and them, better than you do.

James, the brother of Jesus, wrote in James 1:5

If you have had an abortion and you feel guilty you can always go to Jesus. He has already died for your sin. He has already forgiven you. He will show you how to forgive yourself. He will heal your wounds. Jesus came to show us the way to live a life free of law and sin. He came to show us how to love each other and ourselves.

Paul wrote in Romans 8:1-2

Our job on this earth is to learn to love. Not just that but to stop being afraid because perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18). To sum up I will let Paul’s words finish up this article. His words seem to say it all:

Paul wrote in 1Corinthians 13:1-13

What the Bible actually says about abortion may surprise you by Melanie A. Howard for Religion Hub
What Does the Bible Actually Say About Abortion by Heather Riggleman for Christianity.com
What does Proverbs 31:8-9 really mean? by God’s Blessing Team

Feel free to leave your comments below!

5 Books for September 2025

by Summer D Clemenson | Sep 30, 2025 | Book & Product Reviews, Opinions

Hi Everyone. September has been one intense month and I think it was about time to read some children’s books. These books were stellar and I am glad I had them to fall into. I imagine I will need to find more children’s books to disappear into as we wrap up 2025. I hope you find some time for the therapy of books and the peace that these colorful and simple books that we buy for our kiddos but can really benefit ourselves with as well.

Now without further ado 5 Books for September 2025:

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt is very creative. The story begins with a pile of letters to Duncan from each crayon in his box. Each letter is from a different crayon. They describe the types of characters and items that the crayons might be used for. I love that the layout is in a correct letter format, as letter writing seems to be a lost art form. In the end, Duncan responds in kind, by creating a beautiful and very colorful drawing for his teacher at school. I think this picture book teaches colors, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence. The illustrations by Oliver Jeffers are fun.

I got this book from my personal collection. You can get your own copy of The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt on Amazon.

It’s Ok to Be Different by Todd Parr

It’s Okay to Be Different by Todd Parr
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It’s Ok to Be Different by Todd Parr is a super cute story time book. The illustrations are elementary and fun and full of great colors. The simple message of being different is ok, makes it so easy to talk about so many things, if for no other reason that to build confidence, vocabulary, emotional intelligence or many basic ideas around family and friends and even LBGTQIA relationships. I think this is such a great book.

I got this book from my personal collection. You can get your own copy of It’s Ok to Be Different by Todd ParrIt’s Ok to Be Different by Todd Parr on Amazon.

Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty

Iggy Peck, Architect: A Picture Book by Andrea Beaty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty is such a fun fiction read. It has a poetry-like timing to the writing that makes it fun to read. The creative vibe of Iggy is so inspiring. I love that Beaty encourages children to consider following their dreams even when their teacher doesn’t see it, until Iggy proves his passion for architecture. The illustrations by David Roberts makes the story come alive. The story is a great collaboration for art and humor.

I got this book from my personal collection. You can get your own copy of Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty on Amazon.

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn by Audrey Penn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn is the most loving story. I have loved this story for years. Children often have trouble starting new things but The Kissing Hand gives them a way to leave home with a happy thought to carry the love they have with them while they are away. The illustrations by Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak are precious and endearing and sure to open wonderful conversations about emotions, animals and fantasy. This is a sweet story to share with your favorite little one.

I got this book from my personal collection. You can get your own copy of The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn on Amazon.

Armadillo Rodeo by Jan Brett

Armadillo Rodeo by Jan Brett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Armadillo Rodeo by Jan Brett is a fun story about a young armadillo named Bo that gets separated from his mom and brothers. He spends the summer day following a pair of red cowboy boots that he thinks is a red armadillo, because armadillos have poor eye sight, at a western rodeo. Bo ends up having a day full of fun until it is time to go home and luckily his mom and brothers find him just in time. This story was a great adventure and the art is outstanding.

View all my reviews

I got this book from my personal collection. You can get your own copy of Armadillo Rodeo by Jan Brett on Amazon.

I hope to hear from you. These books are great but I would love to hear from you about your favorite books. Maybe I can read your favorites too. Happy October.

Be blessed.

Feel free to leave your comments below!