by Summer D Clemenson | May 13, 2026 | Book & Product Reviews, Opinions
As I read the books for this post, I was reminded over and over about how much I really enjoy reading children’s books. I love the simplicity of most stories and even in the history stories, how uncomplicated they are. The art is usually colorful or relaxing. It is a great way to separate oneself from the stress of adulting. What a gift you can give yourself to walk into a library and randomly walk up to shelves full of books and just grab whatever books call to you, knowing that if you don’t love it, it wont take long to finish it and most likely, you will like it. And then greet the librarian, check those books out. Walk out the door. Take pictures of the squirrel who lives in the tree outside and is used to tons of all kinds of people coming through the door outside his tree house and so he is used to flirting with anyone that stops to say hello. And even meeting a neighbor before you climb in your car and drive home to read those books because you want to.
So here is to reading 5 Books for February 2026…and yes…I know it’s late.
~
The Peanut Man by Carmen Agra Deedy
The Peanut Man by Carmen Agra Deedy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Peanut Man by Carmen Agra Deedy is a beautiful children’s immigration story about how a little girl finds home. Her family was from Cuba. Every night, Emilio, the peanut man would walk through the streets, crying out: ¡Mani! or ¡Peanuts!
From her window, Coqui, would tuck her thumbs in her ears, stick out her tongue and make her silly sound: Thiddle, thiddle, thiddle!
And then Emilio would laugh and do it back!
There came a day that Coqui’s mom told her they must move to los Estados Unidos. Her father was not safe in Cuba, where opinions were not allowed.
It was hard, but her family relocated and started their new life. Coqui made new friends. She learned English. She learned new sports games. But Coqui was still homesick. One thing helped; she listened to baseball games on the radio with her dad.
One day Papi surprised her with tickets for her birthday to see her favorite player, Hank Aaron. When they got to the stadium, it was very hot and there were many smells.
“Coqui,” said Papi. “Baseball is a lot like life – if you can stand the smell, you’re going to love the game.”
During the game Coqui was overjoyed to see the peanut man. He did not look like Emilio, but those warm, oily peanuts took her right back home.
This historical fiction story is heartwarming. The illustrations by Raúl Colón are wonderful. What an amazing story!
I checked this book out at the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of The Peanut Man by Carmen Agra Deedy on Amazon.
~
The Month of Ramadan by Inda Ahmad Zahri
The Month of Ramadan by Inda Ahmad Zahri
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Month of Ramadan by Inda Ahmad Zahri is a book that helps children learn about the Muslim holiday of Ramadan. Ramadan is celebrated in the 9th month of the Islamic calendar as a time of fasting from food and sinful things, a time of prayer, reflection, study, charity, and strengthening the community. During Ramadan breakfast is eaten before the sun comes up and before morning prayers. This meal is called Suhoor and consists of foods like dates, lentils, yogurt, eggs and herb tea.
During the day it is practice to fast or not to eat food, while you focus on learning gratitude, compassion, mindfulness, knowledge, love and other positive things that make a big difference in our lives and community. It is good to set aside screen time for healthy habits like helping our friends or gardening or reading.
At the end of the day the evening meal is called iftaar and then families go to mosque for tarawih prayers. Ramadan helps teach us to be grateful and to be aware of those who do not have enough. It makes you aware of kindness, strength and growth. It is good to wish someone “Ramadan Mubarak!” or “Blessed Ramadan!”
I think this picture book and the lovely illustrations explained Ramadan so easily. It was a great read!
I checked out this book at the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of The Month of Ramadan by Inda Ahmad Zahri on Amazon.
~
You Broke It! by Liana Finck
You Broke It! by Liana Finck
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I’m not sure I am the person to review You Broke It! by Liana Finck. Usually I would love the dry family humor, but I a in such a funk that the absurdity of it makes me want to scream until I got to the end where the animal child says, “I am just being myself,” and the parent gives them a hug.
The illustrations of parenting in the wild are similar to comic strips which are not my genre but they tell a story. I think the tears on my cheeks mean this message must be valid.
I checked this book out at the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of You Broke It! by Liana Finck on Amazon.
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Kwesi and Nana Ruby Learn to Swim by Kobina Commeh
Kwesi and Nana Ruby Learn to Swim by Kobina Commeh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Kwesi and Nana Ruby Learn to Swim by Kobina Commeh is a beautiful historical fiction story illustrated by Barbara Quintino that shows how Kwesi and Nana Ruby encourage each other to learn to swim. Kwesi was very afraid to learn but he was surprised to know that Nana had never learned to swim as a child because when she had immigrated to the United States from Ghana, as a child, Black families were not allowed to use the public pools and beaches. Some White people did very mean things to make black people afraid of water, so Nana Ruby had never learned to swim.
But it is no longer unsafe to swim in public pools and Nana Ruby wanted Kwesi to learn to swim so she promised to learn, if Kwesi learned to swim. So both Kwesi and Nana Ruby worked together to learn to swim and they were able to enjoy swimming in the Lagoon Lake together too.
I love this powerful story that celebrates civil rights and I think you should too.
I checked this book out at the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Kwesi and Nana Ruby Learn to Swim by Kobina Commeh on Amazon.
~
Yours, Befana A Letter From the Winter Witch by Barbara Cuoghi
Yours, Befana: A Letter from the Winter Witch by Barbara Cuoghi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have never heard of Befana before I read Yours, Befana A Letter From the Winter Witch by Barbara Cuoghi and of her I am very curious. I think I will try to find more books about her because Santa is not so interesting to me; but a wise woman who is invisible and arrives on January 6th (12 days after Christmas) and leaves presents that money can’t buy, from a woman who can’t be bought, sounds like the kind of honesty and fantasy my world needs. She also speaks to my heritage from Italy. I love the illustrations by Elenia Beretta.
The magic of winter and witches and humanity is celebrated in this book and I love it!
View all my reviews
I checked this book out at the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Yours, Befana A Letter From the Winter Witch by Barbara Cuoghi on Amazon.
~
I really enjoyed the books I found for this blog. These books spoke to, my heritage, my love of people, my love of creativity, and my own desire to be better every day and my joy in seeing others grow too. I hope that in all the craziness of life you can find a moment to read a good book, in whatever genre you prefer, I hope it takes you on a journey that you enjoy.
I love you. Be blessed.
~
by Summer D Clemenson | May 12, 2026 | Opinions, Poetry, Prayers & Thanksgiving
When my soul cries out
she calls Him Elohim
When I looked it up it is the
Hebrew word for Creator
I was raised calling Him Jesus
but God or Father and Holy Spirit also works
I have heard Him called Yeshua
and Joshua but spoken
differently than my friend Josh’s
mother did when she named him
Because Mariam, or Mary was from Palestine
so her son would not look like us
And His name would have been spoke differently
More like a marriage between Hoe-Sway
But I imagine Great Spirit or Allah
can also put breath in our lungs
~
There are many religions and many creation stories
But most agree we must love each other
Hospitality is vital because all live here
on the earth with a limit of resources
and space and air to breathe
But what we call our Creator
doesn’t really matter as long as we call Them
and say Thank You
Because gratitude is the best foundation of any day
I don’t recommend religion
The rules can’t really feed you
But in a relationship
that is where real growth can be seen
~
by Summer D Clemenson | May 9, 2026 | Book & Product Reviews, Opinions
Happy New Year! Yes, I know it is late. I was really busy. I don’t remember what I was doing but I am sure it was overwhelming. Oh, yes! We have had a new president and I have been reading about politics, well, as you can see, I was overwhelmed. Well I was going to stop reading children’s books, but then I realized that was a poor choice, so now I am playing catch up and I will, indeed catch up.
So without further ado, here is 5 Books for January 2026…LOL!
~
Dreams To Ashes by Livia Blackburne
By 1871, 172 Chinese people had settled in Los Angeles because they were drawn to California for a better way of life. The stories of gold was promising, but elusive, in actuality. So these travelers made money made money by many other trades among the people who lived in The United States. Dreams To Ashes by Livia Blackburne is a nonfiction history account of how people from China, trying to help their families back in their homeland survived here.
White people were jealous and passed laws that took freedoms away from Chinese people. They thought Chinese people were taking jobs from white people.
On October 24, 1871 there was a gunfight between 2 gangsters and a policeman was shot. People reacted too quickly, wanting revenge. They arrived at the Chinese neighborhood and the sheriff and city marshal deputized bystanders, telling them to shoot anyone trying to escape. In the end 18 humans were killed. Only one of them was part of the original gunfight.
The same newspapers who encouraged people to hate the Chinese people, now condemned the violence. Chinese people filed suits, while other Chinese communities sent aid. 525 men were charged for the attack. 10 stood trial. No witnesses were allowed to testify. 8 men were convicted but the California Supreme Court overturned their sentences.
Legislation has come and gone. So have people and businesses. The art by Nicole Xu illustrates the truth and the hope we must keep hold of. This is a powerful story but not one that young children can probably understand. I would think this story might be best for a child of 8, middle grade, or older.
I got this book from Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Dreams To Ashes by Livia Blackburne from Amazon.
Dreams to Ashes: The 1871 Los Angeles Chinatown Massacre by Livia Blackburne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Dreams To Ashes by Livia Blackburne is a story about a real moment in United States history about a gun fight that took place on October 24, 1871, in a Chinese neighborhood, that turned into a massacre that took many lives. The imagery created by Nicole Xu is as profound as this immigration story. The lessons we can learn are still available. This story is meant for a more mature child.
~
Poo Pile on the Prairie by Amy Hevron
Poo Pile on the Prairie by Amy Hevron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Poo Pile on the Prairie by Amy Hevron is a great nonfiction nature story about how bison poop becomes a meal, a home, and fertilizer for so many creatures, critters, and creeping things in the meadow as the seasons change from spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The illustrations and rhythm are inspiring and I know any child who wants to talk about poop, and many of them do, will really enjoy this picture book as much, or maybe even more than I do; I didn’t even notice it was about science.
I got this book from Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Poo Pile on the Prairie by Amy Hevron on Amazon.
~
What Love Looks Like by Laura Obuobi
What Love Looks Like: A Tender Bedtime Story for Kids (Ages 4-8) About Love and Nature’s Wonders ― A Mother’s Day Gift by Laura Obuobi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What Love Looks Like by Laura Obuobi teaches us that love looks like poetry and adventures we take in our imagination. Illustrated by works of art created by Anna Cunha, this book can take you as far as your mind can take you. This wonderful children’s book is magnificent and a wonderful way to end the day, spreading seeds for beautiful dreams. I think you should read this one. I am definitely going to buy this one for my collection.
I got this book from Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of What Love Looks Like by Laura Obuobi on Amazon.
~
Vision of Beauty by Kathryn Lasky
Vision of Beauty by Kathryn Lasky is the biography history of Sarah Breedlove Walker, who might be better known as Madame CJ Walker. Sarah was born on December 23, 1867. She was the first free-born child of Minerva and Own Breedlove, and their third child. They were sharecroppers in Delt, Louisiana.
Yellow Fever, Consumption, and Cholera were common in the hot, humid towns along the Mississippi River and Sarah’s parents were not able to over come these diseases because of poor nutrition. She was an orphan by the time she was 7-years-old.
In 1904, after being inspired at the St Louis World’s Fair, Sarah prayed to God. She had seen black women with beautiful hair, and she asked God to make hers stop falling out. That night she had a dream of Africa. She saw plants, trees, flowers, and leaves. She imagined oils and other ingredients that could be used on her hair. When she awoke she began looking for these herbs, salves, different items.
She tried the products on herself until they were perfect. In 1905, she married Charles Walker and named herself Madame CJ Walker, as well as her business. Although she was poorly educated, she hired people to help her and teach her. She built a business that allowed women to sell her products and make good wages. She also invested in her culture and community.
This chapter book has wonderful pictures by Nneka Bennett and is probably appropriate for ambitious 2nd graders and up. The story itself, is inspiring for any young lady or entrepreneur.
I got this book from Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Vision of Beauty by Kathryn Lasky on Amazon.
Vision of Beauty: The Story of Sarah Breedlove Walker by Kathryn Lasky
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Vision of Beauty by Kathryn Lasky is a nonfiction story about how Madame CJ Walker came from nothing and through hard word built a successful business that was able to invest into her community and help others live well. I love this story.
~
Lady of the Lines by Michaela MacCall
Sometimes you need to see proof of something that exists just because. Lady of the Lines by Michaela MacCall is a memoir about how Maria Reiche saved the Nazca Lines in Peru. These amazing large drawings in the desert, that can only be seen from a helicopter, or by Googling “Nazca Lines” were created between 500 BCE – 500 CE.
In 1941 Reiche was asked by Dr. Paul Kosok to investigate some lines that were disappearing. When she got there, Reiche bought all the brooms she could find and a box of sweet potatoes to live off of and began sweeping the years of rocks and sand that had collected on top of the lines that revealed the many shapes, some being a spider, monkey, a whale, hummingbird, a condor and many others.
These lines became Reiche’s life’s works as she had to petition government protection. She wrote a book. She made connections for structures to be build so people could view the art without disturbing the lines. This book is great for kids interested in anthropology and science. I would think third graders and up. The illustrations by Elisa Chavarri really help you connect with this story.
I got this book from Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Lady of the Lines by Michaela MacCall on Amazon.
Lady of the Lines: How Maria Reiche Saved the Nazca Lines by Sweeping the Desert by Michaela MacColl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Lady of the Lines by Michaela MacCall is a story about how Maria Reiche saved the Nazca Lines is Peru. I had never heard of the Nazca Lines before I read this book. I think what Reiche did is amazing. What an astounding inspiration that this woman took on the preservation of this site and made it her life’s work.
View all my reviews
~
When I go to the library, I don’t look for specific books. I tend to wander over to the new releases and grab a couple that grab my attention. If my wife is with me, I might let her pick a few, if she doesn’t take too long. And then I randomly wander around until I have chosen 5 – 10, depending on how many months I am searching for. It really doesn’t take very long. A couple of the books I chose were hard for me to read. Some topics are hard to read. But every book is worth reading. I guess people are like that too. But every person is important and I will take that belief with me everywhere I go.
I love you. Be blessed!
~
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.
If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this: Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world. I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me. I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.
~
by Summer D Clemenson | May 9, 2026 | Opinions, Poetry
The sky is quiet but the earth is shaking
and people are not at peace
This is called
psychological frequency warfare
What you are broadcasting is creating your experience
~
Do you want to fight
Do you have to struggle
with the propaganda
being shouted from the screens
that are everywhere
~
This agitation is not cosmic
it is collective and chaos wants control
Outrage, disgust and picking sides
fuels them and lowers your frequency
because low frequency people are easy to steer
~
I’m telling you we have heard this before
ground yourself and drink your water
You are not here to escape earth but to stabilize it
Light doesn’t fight darkness by screaming at it
Body, Mind, Soul that’s the empath code
~
Choose your frequency not your side
~
by Summer D Clemenson | May 8, 2026 | Opinions, Poetry, Politics, Queer Community
When it gets too cold
my joints curse me
and talking becomes explosive
The nerves in my face might have
taken my ability to speak but I
can still use paper and ink
This warm blanket helps me sleep
in spite of my chronic illnesses
caused by childhood traumas
~
But if I allow it this blanket will
dull my senses
It will block out the voices of
those around me
Stop me from seeing the needs
of anyone but me
Let me think that my experiences
are more important that yours
even though you wear t-shirts that say
Oppressed Minority 
~
You say Love is Love
but when I said we should love them too
You said I was selfish and cruel
You called me names and told me
my words were illegal
You said I wanted segregation
You told the owner on me
You suggested you might leave
so they turned on me because I am not a Xerox machine
I can’t feel the way you demand
I don’t hate you but I don’t hate them either
I also love myself and I didn’t say what you said
~
What I actually said was love
like trauma is universal
Everyone has experienced it
Maybe we could share some empathy
and work together
But what I feared is what I already knew
The people who are stuck at the far
left or the right don’t really
want change
They like their warm blankets
~
It would have meant so much
if anyone would have stood up for me while I was being attacked
and called names
when it was
in fact
you that was abusing me
You didn’t seem so fragile in that moment
But I have been the scapegoat before
and the golden child never does appear to be who they actually are
and the flying monkeys never know the role they play
They will do just about anything to keep the peace
Because that is what enablers do
~
I have been schooled on narcissists
and Honey I won’t play this game
~
by Summer D Clemenson | May 5, 2026 | Opinions, Poetry, Politics, Queer Community
Many White men is assholes cause they can be
They live up on they hill with the bright lights
cause they has all the money
and they stand on people like me
~
They take what they wants like its a gift
While women and children cry rape
and prisons are filled with some criminals
and people that should be free
~
They take their pictures grouped together
with they chests proud and puffed out
But the darkness shows in they eyes and policies
Sometimes they bring a women along to make you believe they lies
~
The reason a judge had to order desegregation
was sho nuf proof of evil
And hardly no fathers would send they babies
while they still wore scars of whippings and lynchings at the hands of the Invisible Empire
~
They women is working behind they backs to move forward without em
Or right there beside em because they also have felt
the whip and the rape and the holding down
They want what is promised not matter what they hafta give em
~
They tell us to hate each other
the blacks, the foreigners, the transgenders
They tell us they need tax breaks
but they make me pay’m even while they cut my hours
~
They love they’s hill when the flood comes
they gets to look down on us while the shit water drowns us
and proclaim the stock market is up
so everything is fine and we should keep our chins up
~
I may not be right educated
cause they stole the school tax dollars for their fancy party
But I ain’t too stupid to know what fleecing is
I have been watching this for all of history
~
by Summer D Clemenson | May 4, 2026 | Opinions, Poetry, Politics
There’s a clown running around
showcasing a monument
we have held dear since the beginning
He has all but lit it on fire
but even that would be to no avail
The ringmasters have failed to to a thing
~
As he juggles the elephants and acrobats
the ringleaders clutch their pearls
make excuses or cry
Not any of them have removed him from the stage
Although they whine about it
with the trapeze artists while they posture
~
The tent pegs are a relic
written in 1778 with a quill
he has filled his pillow with
But sleeping in bedrooms is not
where this clown or our government
ever got its thrills met
~
Sweat equity of all kinds
especially from people of color or the female kind
are the ones we rape, pillage
and take advantage of
And then we blame them for their need of protection
Because the clown is really a symptom and not the problem
~
by Summer D Clemenson | May 4, 2026 | ICE, Poetry, Politics, Prayers & Thanksgiving, Queer Community
Do you practice in the Spirit or in the law
Is it more important to have butts in the seats
Or do you walk in the Spirit and Truth
When you vote is it based on blind elephants
or break neck donkeys
Have you considered your neighbor or you queer child
What is most important to you
When you serve is it because they told you to
or is it what you want to do
~
I love the pretty advertisements
the memes about relationships and love
But at least 70 percent of people
in ICE detention centers are innocent
Have you tried to do anything about that
There are over 70 thousand people just rotting
over traffic violations not violent crimes
What part about the least of these
doesn’t qualify this part of human kind
~
Love is light and Jesus is full of it
but surprisingly many Christians read dark
As I become more aware of the gift I live
I have no patience for the lies we are fed
by the spiritually bankrupt and the stagnant
I have walked with God for 45 years
I enjoy reading my bible but I don’t revere it
There is not confusion where my devotion lies
If creation can’t teach you love how can I help you hear it
~
The things humans worship are futile
power, money, things to own, even our ideas
traditions, expectations, even things that hurt us
Can tear us to bits
Can induce the building of monuments
Can cause us all to pay homage to them
Can make something innocent
Deadly
Can stoke the hell fire at our feet
~
But waiting in the silence you’re afraid of
learning who you are
It is terrifying but the best cure
Once you know yourself they can’t confuse you
There is no counterfeit you’ll accept
After you’ve tasted the real truth
Fancy dresses are for models
But if you can look yourself in the eye
You can accept how God really loves you
~
Whatever you call your Creator
If you have ever constructed something into existence
you know an intimate love
That is how much you are valued
You don’t need pews, stained glass, and special garments
to know how much you are renowned
to know any praise you can give
is reciprocated
Take a breath with the breath He put in your lungs
~
Community is wonderful
Making casseroles for people
who come to you is great
Jesus said to love God with everything you have
and love your neighbor as yourself
He said that all laws fell into these
He didn’t differentiate between nations
or neighborhoods, religions, races or caste levels
He just said to love
~
You don’t have to go to church to love God
In fact the people outside the church
are the ones Jesus broke bread with and healed
People need to be loved everywhere
In fact I have had trouble finding Him
at the churches where I am greeted by computers
ready for my online giving at the door
And the guest speaker that describes
heaven as a place that is carnal when we wont have need anymore
~
When people have asked me about heaven
beyond the light of love I don’t care
I am here for my Creator
I think we will all be reconciled and I don’t need any more
~
by Summer D Clemenson | May 3, 2026 | Opinions, Poetry, Politics
If my eyeballs melted out of head
or I vomited this pain inside
The effects would probably last longer than
the migraine that was not invited
Thank God for sumatriptan
~
If I continue to rub my head
back and forth against my pillow
I might go bald
But what the fuck
I can’t see behind me anyway
~
My teeth are on fire
I had plans for tomorrow
but now I just want
my ears to stop ringing
and send the communication department on furlough
~
And then I woke up
to the burning smell
Much like racism
you wont believe that it is still burning
because your fascia is fine
~
Classism which allows everyone at the top
to do whatever they want
and makes fibromyalgia seem like a president
that could care less about a
constitution written in 1778
~
How good is a document if nobody is honoring it?
It’s like a prescription that the pharmacy can’t fill
If the office never received the fax
Because my prescription is expired
Or my doctor is on leave
~
There comes a time
say after 250 years
That it is time to reestablish
the needs and expectations of We The People
We need a new prescription
~
You won’t hear me because you can’t
Your ears have been filled by Lewis Powell
and every white man who worshipped his memo
The crises The United States is in now
was dictated by a document created 1971 in the summer
~
Your mama was owned on paper
your ancestors too and maybe some of mine
And now you
We don’t call it slavery anymore but it’s a class war
Though at its finest its actually oligarchy
~
Thoughts are wonderful its where dreams begin
but CEOs and shareholders get all the bonuses
while heads of households get their hours cut
and on paper I could pay off my credit card every month
under the last administration
~
Now I live in a pressure suit
My fascia is deteriorating
When I try to speak truth to lies
The nerves in my face erupt when you argue with me
Tripping over paper is enlightening
~
by Summer D Clemenson | May 2, 2026 | Opinions, Poetry, Prayers & Thanksgiving
Maybe it’s the flower moon
Maybe it’s your birthday coming up
But I seem to be pulling weeds
And letting things go
Tears fall for all reasons
Some for you because
You have been with me in all seasons
~
Of all my sisters
You were truly God-given
I found you in math class
Mr. Smith had trouble
keeping our attention
But our hearts knew the final answer
We were safe together
~
We have been through hell together
of all kinds
We have proven it is not a final destination
but a place right here
when people choose not to love
Even when I had to grow without you
I found you on the other side
~
Out of all the people in the world
you have earned the name Sister
You and my wife have won my trust
You’re the only one that checks on
both of us
My chosen family is small
but mighty indeed
~
You are the one who taught me to be brave
You are the one who has given
as much as you take
No one in my lineage
can compare to you
And for that Jamie
it is your heart that makes you great
~
Jesus taught me to love
You showed me what it looks like
even when it is all you have
That sometimes it is brutal honesty
when I have no idea what to say
Sometimes it is radical acceptance
of all of what makes me, me
~
You gave me freedom to use the wings
I didn’t know I had
I have seen the humanity in you
It is feral sometimes
because when you have looked at death
You know how to fight
I know how to love you
~
Because we are the same
~
by Summer D Clemenson | Apr 30, 2026 | Opinions, Poetry, Prayers & Thanksgiving
I am Yours
No matter how many rings
I put on my ears and nose
fingers and toes
I am just a human You chose to love
~
Whether I wear silver or gold
purple or nothing
You are the reason I breathe
Regardless of my stature among men
or how many dollars I can sweep together
You are what defines me
~
It doesn’t matter if
I am good or bad
You decided I am Yours
Even if I never comprehend my holiness
My newness in You
It is still mine
Because You said so
~
by Summer D Clemenson | Apr 28, 2026 | Opinions, Poetry, Politics, Queer Community
Have you ever looked at your reflection and thought
This is not me
or wow I have been through something
Have you watched yourself change
and not known what to do
Have you rejoiced in your return
Have you seen yourself in a gallery
and recognized all the different parts of you
Have you rebuked the evil
Repented
and invoked the reverent power inside of you at will
Said hello to the part of you that is always soft but strong
You have the power of life and death in your tongue
Have you seen it
The only person you have the right to command
is yourself
But do you revere the one in the mirror
or do you write laws for others
I know you think we should all abide by the same rules
but it just isn’t that easy
My mind lies to me
and I have to live with it
If your mind tells you
you are a girl
when you have the parts of a boy
Whatever you have to do find peace
sounds like survival to me
But you might need to respect
the survivors around you too
We all have our own scars
I can’t carry yours
That’s why they are yours
~
by Summer D Clemenson | Apr 27, 2026 | Chronic Illness, Opinions, Politics
I wake up every day and try to avoid reading or hearing about whatever our president obsessed about the night before and spewed on his social media site. I don’t follow him, but without fail, someone will make sure to splatter screen captures on Facebook or on the nightly news. I can never get away from him. Donald J. Trump has been the lead topic in my prayers, therapy sessions, and bitch fests since 2016, when he began campaigning for his first run as president. In my mind, he is the president who cried wolf. I didn’t believe this latest shooting was real until I saw Margaret Brennan and Weijia Jiang discussing the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, April 26, 2026, where they were, less than 24 hours previously, on Face the Nation.
It is not that I don’t care about the president. I do pray for him and not just because the bible instructs me to, but because I believe that greatness is a team effort. If the president fails, we all fail.
“A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on.” John F. Kennedy
“Within our people is the strength, the vision, and the faith that will return prosperity to America.” Ronald Reagan
“American is a great force for freedom and prosperity. Yet our greatness is not measured in power or luxuries, but by who we are and how we treat one another.” George W. Bush
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.” Barack Obama
“In America, the impossible is what we do best.” Donald Trump
Donald Trump was not the only target of the shooter who traveled from California to Washington, DC, with plans to take out members of the Trump Administration. This third attempt of assassination is real. I feel sorry for the families and loved ones of everyone there. Melania looked terrified when she heard the shots. It is hard to process evil. But I also know our president loves the attention. Hopefully this will help him make good decisions about the war in Iran.
Trump is not the only president that has seen political violence. On May 23, 2023 someone tried to drive a truck into the White House, in order to kill Joe Biden, Barack Obama had 11 plots or attempts against his life. George W. Bush had 2 attempts on his life. Bill Clinton had 4 attempts on his life. In April 1993, 17 men tried to kill George HW Bush. Ronald Reagan was shot, but not killed on March 30, 1981. A man was caught minutes before he could shoot Jimmy Carter on May 5, 1979. Gerald Ford had two attempts on his life…and that is every president in my lifetime.
We should all pray for or send good energy for our nation’s leaders. It is a hard job; one I would never want.
But I am really done with this president. I need to separate myself from this narcissist. He has led us, as a nation, to places I am not proud of. I care, but I need to not hear anymore crisis coming from the White House. I need to not hear about created chaos. So if I am not broke up, it’s because this president has caused my anxiety levels to rise to tiers that scare me and I just have to disconnect. There are things that I have read and pictures I have seen that I can’t relate to without confusion.
God is not in confusion.
Albert Einstein once said, “Synchronicities are God’s way of remaining anonymous.”
At the same time that the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was happening, 20 minutes away, Epstein Survivors were having dinner to commemorate the death of Virginia Giuffre; it was one year since she had committed suicide. And now, the energy, the chatter is alive in Washington, DC with the talk of the black male teacher from California. It doesn’t matter what political party you connect with; The Epstein Files are still not completely released.
We are excited but we wont make any changes to even make public schools safer from mass shootings. I am not against legal gun ownership. I support the second amendment, however, at some point, you must realize that there is something wrong with doing the same thing, while seeing more and more gun violence. There is nothing wrong with honestly looking at yourself and saying: What needs to change?
Change is hard. I know this. For my whole life I have had to change for others. In 2014, I was forced to start changing for me. I had never learned how to take care of myself. In the last 12 years, I have changed so much about myself. Nearly every aspect of my life has been touched by necessary change. I didn’t do it all at once but as I changed one thing, and then another, it got easier. It used to scare me, but now I am more curious about change. I know I don’t have to keep it if it doesn’t work for me. I have made the big changes.
This president has cried wolf so many times. I apologize if I have offended you. But I just have to be done. I need my energy for me. I can’t fix him and I can’t fix the United States of America.
Why does this president need so much attention?
~
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.
If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this: Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world. I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me. I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.
~
by Summer D Clemenson | Apr 27, 2026 | Cancer, Chronic Illness, Essential Oils, Fuel Your Wellness, Opinions, Wellness
This post was originally posted on WellnessWorksNW.com on April 20, 2026.
I recently saw this advertisement for a t-shirt for fibromyalgia awareness. On the front of the shirt there was a cartoon of a woman lying on the ground with a circle drawn around her. The words above her said: It hurts here. I think of that cartoon often, not because it is funny but because of the stark reality of it. Someone was trying to make dark comedy of it, but if you stay there, the humor is lost. You can’t stay there on the floor or that is where you stay. I know because, even though I didn’t get a diagnosis of fibromyalgia until around 2016 or so, I know I had it well before then. I didn’t bother going to a doctor about it. I already was mourning the arthritis diagnosis and a few others. None that would kill me, but all that would never go away. I was watching as my once strong body was losing more and more, and I could do nothing about it, and from what I had read, there was nothing I could do about fibromyalgia.
I have a total of 13 chronic illnesses. 3 of them are mental and the rest are physical. I have a primary doctor, a psychiatric RN, therapist and 4 specialists in my speed dial. I take 14 prescriptions and a hand full of supplements and use Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils® to help me manage side effects and sometimes to help me get over ailments that might otherwise bypass some over the counter meds I can’t use because my body doesn’t like them. I have been a professional sick person since 2014. But it started before then. And I have had more.
I kicked cancer‘s ass and stopped taking 3 meds in the last year, only 1 medication was related to the cancer. I have also managed to finally figure out how to lose weight after a lifetime of being very fat and I am working on getting to a healthy weight. As I get smaller, I plan to drop specific meds because I don’t see a need for them.
Everything is about balance, what my labs say, and logical process. So far everything is going well. My doctors know everything I am doing. I hide nothing. It would irresponsible to do that. Why would you hide intel from the team that has helped you find success? I fired the ones that didn’t work, so I know the ones that are still here are the best for me.
If I sound flippant, I am not. I am a woman that has been through all stages of mourning: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. With each new diagnosis, which felt like physical pain and loss, I lost a piece of myself. I lost illusions that I once had believed I would have certain things, I had wanted. As people I had served with love, left me alone and with no help, I had to look around and see that the only ones who were left, had only love to give, but they knew what bravery was and they taught it to me. Without them, I would have ended it all. But I am here because they helped me learn to look in the mirror and see what they saw when they looked at me. A valiant, strong, smart and capable woman. Not perfection but someone who would become something unshakeable about who she is.
The things that were once so important to me, are not anymore. Honesty, integrity, and knowledge is vital to me. But not in the way that some people use it to hurt people. I like to use it to try to keep my mind open and adaptable, so that I can try to bend with others because when you are chronic, you have to be fluid.
Jamie Holloway and I have almost died several times. I don’t know how Karen G Clemenson has made it through. I know she has carried me with her head down, while I am crazy until I know Jamie has made it again; not sleeping longer than 2 hours at a time, constantly researching new things to help her or me get through this, or make her life better when she is able to get back to her normal, or whatever that is. I think Karen must just work when it is me; anything to keep breathing until I am cussing out the nurses, which tells everyone that I need to go home because I do not thrive in a hospital. There is no creativity there.
But being a chronic person never stops. I have been told by people that I should not call myself that, or I should not say that I have a phone phobia in my voicemail message. I don’t know why they think I should not be honest. I think, they think, I should not be so open about it. But I believe my honesty makes them uncomfortable. But candor is part of my life. It is with me everyday. And in reality, if I tell you that I might not answer my phone messages and that you should call my wife if it is really important, you know what to do, if you really need to reach me. I don’t have the luxury of being afraid, or rather letting fear stop me. By being straightforward we all can get where we need to go. If I hide my shortcomings, we might miss out on the blessings of sincerity.
I am a blessed woman. I have a wife and a sister that are amazing. We carry each other. We are safety to each other. Not everyone has that kind of refuge. We have earned that with each other. If I let my fear get in the way, what is the point of hope? Why get off the floor?
That is how I live. I might only get 15 good minutes in a day. But if I do my workout and all my self-care, eat well and try to get some good sleep, think positive and feed my mind good things, maybe another 15 minutes will come. Maybe I will get a few good days. I am not going to buy that t-shirt. I don’t want to advertise being on the floor. I want to take a picture of anything good I did that day and showcase it. Even if I only get a few good minutes, that is what I want to focus on. The floor is something I want to stand on and sometimes even dance on.
If you are needing help creating a Wellness Plan that works for you, please Contact Wellness Works NW at 360-270-3880. 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.
~
Image Credit: This picture was taken by my brother, Josh. I can’t tell you how proud I am of him and his floors!
~
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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!
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.
If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this: Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world. I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me. I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.
~
by Summer D Clemenson | Apr 23, 2026 | Opinions, Poetry, Prayers & Thanksgiving
In this moment I feel You
I can hear the praises
my soul sings to You
in words I don’t know
but I can feel them love You
~
Like the first breeze after a hot flash
or muscles that have been held in place too long
that are free to stretch out
and dance to music only i can hear
You are the only One
I want to worship
~
I know I fail sometimes
In my humanity I am weak
But when I repent
When I remember who You are
Grace is amazing
~
Image Credit: Photo by Shawn Kirchner.
~
by Summer D Clemenson | Apr 22, 2026 | Opinions, Poetry
Even though you suggested
my head be removed
because I don’t agree with you
I don’t hate you
I have decided
I don’t have any energy for that
~
Implying that I am not worthy of consideration
or being heard
Even as I argued your point
From a different perspective
No matter what every person is important
and I don’t care if you want to stay the same
~
Some of this rage is absolutely mine
but I am done being angry
or guilty of feeding
Your inner emotional vampire
I am inspired from the transmutation
of anger to creativity
~
I know you require my life force
but it’s not available
I have been working on
Light Containment Management
to keep you from manipulating
what is mine
~
See you on the other side
of this Planetary Detox Event
I’ll be the one who can look myself in the eyes
I don’t think you hate me
It is natural to be scared of
people who can do what you can’t
~
I am confident in my position
~
by Summer D Clemenson | Apr 19, 2026 | Chronic Illness, Opinions, Poetry
The ringing in my ears
swings between the normal hum
and somewhere beyond octaves I can’t sing
My eyes weep involuntarily
in time with the pulsing in my cheeks
My face is not literally on fire
but the nerves are not making
life fun these days
~
My wrists have been singing to me all week
and my ankles answer back
While lying down I realize I don’t know
how long I have been pointing and flexing
my toes as if I was preparing to dance
I went off Methotrexate
to make sure my shingles vaccine worked
Karen asked if I noticed a difference
It’s hard to say
~
I applied Deep Blue Stick liberally
and more than usual yesterday
I just broke out the Sumatriptan
I can take one more in an hour and a half
if this migraine doesn’t break
I hope the pills are successful
I am out of the cannabis product that works for me
Piano music is playing
The diffuser is going with Breathe and On Guard
The blackout curtains are doing their job
I just cancelled plans with Mom
~
Being Chronic is no joke
~
I must have passed out
I imagine this is the feeling of a
weighted blanket
The medicine triumphed
But moving is very difficult
It takes much thought and devotion
When my face spasms
I see an image of a brain being squeezed
while I press on my face
I forgot about the burning smell
I will go back to sleep now
that I have documented this for
future moments of inspection
~
Today is just beginning but it is already over
Being Chronic is no joke
~
Please wait...
