by Summer D Clemenson | Sep 9, 2025 | About Summer, Chronic Illness, Opinions
My mother and I are getting to know each other again and she sent me a message, last night, that said she was hoping I would get free of my symptoms so we could go out again. Yesterday I was hit with a flare in the middle of the day, while out living life and had reached home, where I was trying to relax. I was also feeling a bit snarky. So I became very honest:
“You’re so funny. I never will get better. I live this way. I will be on steroids for the next week so it’s a little different because they make me sleep much more, I didn’t know that because I have tried to stay away from them. My doctor seemed surprised that they make me sleepy but everyone I have mentioned it to, that have taken them, has had the same experience.
I do what I want, regardless of how I feel, unless it is just a really bad day. You have to keep going. Chronic people are strong because we have to be. Many of us have seen death a few times and we know how valuable life is. Pain is just something to get over. Suffering is part of a life well lived. ❤️”
She didn’t respond. I’m sure she didn’t say anything because she doesn’t know what to say. It must be hard to hear her child, even though I am an adult, say these things.
It reminded me of a moment with one of my friends. She had stopped by to give me something. We were chatting in the parking lot and I was hurting. I wasn’t even thinking about it, but while we were talking, I was stretching certain parts of me. She finally mentioned that I was obviously in a lot of pain and she seemed surprised that I wasn’t even trying to hide it. It had never occurred to me hide it. I was talking to my friend and I live in chronic pain. These are two things I don’t have to hide. Myself from my friend or my pain from the world.
There is no shame in being in chronic pain or being chronically ill. God made me this way. I deal with it the best way I can but there is no reason to hide it and stretching is part of how I stay flexible and increase blood flow to joints and nerves that are screaming at me.
This is part of being honest. Something society has taught us to suppress. Our humanity is not wrong. How we choose to use it might be, but choosing healthy ways to handle pain, whether it is physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually is never wrong. It might be a shock to someone who has never seen it before, but I am ok with that. I am not here to try to change anyone but if I show you something that awakens something honest in you, I hope it helps you.
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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 | Sep 8, 2025 | About Summer, Opinions, Prayers & Thanksgiving
I have never felt more confident in God or connected to Him in my life than I do now. Being brave is almost like breathing. Being who I am has never been less complicated than now. I don’t know what changed but I don’t feel like competing with anyone anymore, even myself. I do what I can with the effort I have energy for and I am grateful.
I have always known I was put on this earth for something special. I have known that I have been here before and I have a special task which is why I can ask God to teach me how to do something and I will have a dream about it and wake up with new knowledge. It has never occurred to me to not ask Him for the simplest of things, even in picking out a melon at the grocery store.
I will never forget a time I was at the store, right after church. I had just asked God which cantaloupe to buy and one had glowed so I put it in my cart. Someone from church saw me and asked me how to pick a good melon. I told her my method and she gave me the oddest look and walked away. I could not comprehend her response. We had both just left church.
But a few years later, when I was 20 years old, I finally heard God’s voice. He told me it was time to leave. He told me they had taught me all they could teach me. So I left. 10 or so years later, I visited. I had grown far beyond where I had been spiritually, but they were giving the same sermon I had heard back then. This church didn’t really encourage spiritual growth, they encouraged spiritual dependence, but not on God, on human dogma. Just like we see in our society and politics.
Our Creator made us to be curious, powerful and confident in Him. He empowered us to be successful in every situation. Society has put up walls to make us believe we are smaller than we are. If Jesus lives in us, we are priests and royalty, just like Him. We have to live up to that. He will help us if we are willing to live this way.
Image Credit: Casey Horner
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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 | Sep 5, 2025 | Opinions, Politics
I just saw a video suggesting that our president said that black children were born to become violent criminals. Now I know that the media does edit video the way they want you to experience it, however, I believe that Trump really is a white supremacist. I have always looked in that man’s eyes and known he was self-serving and evil. I thought it was a joke when he ran for president, and then I was proven wrong, that even though many of us have made huge strides in loving better, many of us still hate just as much as ever.
My Beloved is such an amazing person. She has been an inspiration to me for as long as I have known her. Her strength of character and integrity, and her ability to love and forgive is astounding. She is not perfect but she is able to get up and start over, roll with the punches, forgive and move on, show empathy and forgive, like I had never seen before. She doesn’t talk about herself or her past very much. I have learned to stop and listen when she talks about her childhood, stories of her great-grandmother or her other vibrant family members, or the abuse she suffered as a mulatto girl child, born in 1965 in High Point, North Carolina, 3 generations from slavery and all that implies.
Karen G Clemenson was taught to love white people because they are in her. She was taught to love everyone because they are her. She has some very strong and forward thinking ideas regarding civil rights. Some that many black people might disagree with. She has no interest in moving back to the south; there are just too many bad experiences she has had. Before we can even go back for a visit, there will be legal papers, gun licensing and a purchase to be made before she will feel ready to go.
I do study history. I go through phases where I study hard and then I have to stop because I can only take in the level of evil that white people have used against all people of color and even other white people (like Italians, Irish, and Jews) for so long before I need a break…I am Italian and Irish too…Because Karen lives with me she hears the things that hurt me the most.
I caught her as I came out of the bathroom saying, “I am worth more than 1/5 of a person.” She seemed so small. Her voice was not her normal vertebrata.
All I could do was catch her in a huge hug and say: I don’t believe any of it!
She answered with a very small: Thank you.
You see, racism/white supremacy, is still alive and it still is hurting my strong, beautiful, loving, capable 60-year-old wife. How do we allow a president stay in office that keeps it alive and says to our children that he expects them to grow up to be monsters, when he is the monster? He is supposed to be an example to our future and he is literally speaking violence over our children because if what he says manifests, and black children grow into criminals, who will be their victims?
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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 | Sep 1, 2025 | Opinions, Politics
I am not sure how to write this but I will trust the process. I have had many thoughts and videos come my way, recently, to ignite the thought that illegal aliens are the new black people aka slavery system. It is a deplorable thing to think about but as some people compare the Trump campaign to Hitler’s Nazi’s, I have been watching historians tell me stories that have never made it into the books I read in school, but are not far from what I read when I checked them out in the library or bought them myself. Similar stories can be told about how white people treated and treat Native Americans (this term includes humans that live in the entire continent, not just in the United States). These stories were not passed down because sensitive people would never vote to continue the abuse against civil rights that we still allow. I don’t write this to make everyone who looks like me to feel bad. I am not responsible for actions that happened before I was born, but I am responsible for what happens at my hand, during my life.
We have been sold the idea that illegal aliens are a drain on the system. They are a waste of our tax dollars. They are all criminals. That all criminals should be sent somewhere else, anywhere else because The United States of America is better than all other countries and we should be able to live without cares and troubles. But that is not true. All countries are made of humans and all humans are imperfect.
- All humans can keep other gods before our Creator,
- All humans can take our Creators name in vain.
- All humans can forget to keep the Sabbath day holy.
- All humans can dishonor their mother and father and be dishonored by their parents.
- All humans can kill.
- All humans can commit adultery (either with their body or in their mind).
- All humans can steal.
- All humans can tell lies against their neighbor.
- All humans can covet their neighbor’s spouse.
- All humans can covet their neighbor’s belongings.
All sins can be born from these.
If you make a man less than what he is, in the eyes of others, you have sinned because all men are created in the image of God, our Creator. Pulpits were used to indoctrinate ignorant people in how enslaved people were not full humans. In how black people were worth less than the family pet. But the bible does not mention skin color often, except where it says that Jesus‘ skin is the color of copper and His hair is like cotton. This would be likely, since, His mother, Mary, was born in Nazareth which is in Palestine; actually right where Israel is trying to annihilate people in Gaza, right now. So the vision we have been fed that Jesus was blonde haired and blue eyed, is completely false. And pulpits, television and phone screens, computer monitors and magazine and newspapers are being used to educate us whichever way we will sway.
I am in shock when I read the comments of hatred from people that blindly believe that, at all cost, we must remove illegal immigrants. My heart aches because these same people don’t stop for a moment and think about what that term means. Yes, we have many illegal immigrants in The United States. But many people who came here illegally, are no longer here illegally. They came here at all cost because where they were was toxic and unsafe and they wanted better for their family. So they came to America. They found ways to get green cards. They have jobs. They pay taxes. Their children are United States citizens. ICE is not checking IDs before they detain people of color. They are using tax records to find people to deport. They are leaving children without parents, who now are part of the already burdened foster care system. They are leaving jobs that white people don’t want to work, but society relies on to be done. Sometimes people are being sent to countries they have never been to.
All of this is being done with our tax dollars. Billions of tax dollars that could be spent on our national debt but wont be. Do you know that actually makes us weaker and not stronger? While Trump sends troops into cities that have not asked for help, he is spending money that could bring down our national debt, which makes us more reliant on other countries. He talks about deporting United States citizens, which is illegal, however this has not stopped him from breaking the law, as he pleases. This does not make us stronger, this makes us weaker, in every form of the word.
I have seen Trump supporters call people, who try to explain how his actions are wrong, sheep, but I am here to say that sheep follow blindly. Trump has been stroking many and some have been able to see the truth and some are too scared to admit they were wrong, and some are too stubborn to let go of the chants they have held tightly to, But as one white person that has been looking at patterns. I do not see this ending well.
The Trump Administration is blindly spending our money to wipe out one people group. They are making money while they do it. Every step of the way they are getting richer and we are paying the price for it, not just one way but morally and civilly. As we give our rights away quietly so that illegal citizens can be eradicated quickly, what are we going to do when he can turn the laws on us because we are now a burden he doesn’t want to carry?
Unchecked evil only gets hungrier.
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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 | Aug 27, 2025 | Opinions, Queer Community
It’s ok if Snoop doesn’t like me. Love is the choice.
I have worked hard to like myself. People have always been kind to me when I am around them, but when the chips are down, there are only a few that are actually by my side when I need them. It used to bother me, but I am ok with it now. I know I am intense. I know I can’t be everyone’s cup of tea. I am satisfied with my crew and myself. I don’t need to impress anyone. I have worked hard to believe this statement.
Even people groups that I belong to have haters and I have to step back and consider what I think about that. Snoop was someone I considered for some time. I don’t like his music, but I love his belief in family and the way he has marketed himself. Yet, now he has made a comment, that I consider very small, about my Queer Family. If you don’t want to go into detail about how Queer families might have children when your grandchildren ask you, you can be vague. It isn’t your job to answer the birds and the bees questions anyway. The thing is, I don’t think any different about Snoop than I ever did. I think he seems like a nice guy. He has worked hard to market himself and create financial stability for his family. I think that is admirable.
What we have to stop doing is judging each other. If I judge you because you judged me, we end up all alone. You don’t have to understand choices people make or how people live to choose to love them. I didn’t choose to be demisexual and bisexual. This was super confusing for me growing up. I thought I was broken. All my friends were attracted to people all the time and I rarely was and when I did feel that way, it was suddenly towards a close friend. It was weird, until I learned the word demisexual, when I was about 40 years old (I am a late bloomer). So even though our sexual orientation may not be a choice, our choice to love people who we don’t understand is.
I choose to love people, even if they don’t love me. That doesn’t mean I give them a lot of my time. I’m not a member of the Snoop Fan Club, but I want to give words to a situation where my Queer Family might be feeling feelings. I want to give perspective. Only love can overcome hate.
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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 | Aug 25, 2025 | Book & Product Reviews, Opinions
Are you looking for an adventure but it is too hot outside? Sometimes you are sun burnt and you need to stay inside. I get it. The sun actually makes me sick; I am not joking, I am very thankful for air conditioning. So I use books to help me go on adventures I would never be able to go on otherwise. Even if you aren’t a kid, sometimes children’s books can give you a short jaunt, when all you have is a few minutes, and it makes all the difference in the world. I look forward to my time with any book. I hope you do too.
Now without further ado 5 Books for August 2025:
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The Underwear Book by Todd Parr
The Underwear Book by Todd Parr
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Underwear Book by Todd Parr is a whimsical paperback book about underwear. We learn about different kinds of underwear and how to take care of it and also how to wear it. This colorful picture book is fun and even full of humor.
I got this book from my personal collection. You can get your own copy of The Underwear Book by Todd Parr on Amazon.
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Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman by Lesléa Newman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
In the book Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman, Heather is starting school. And does she love it! But at story time she hears about other families and wonders if her family is the only family without a daddy. Ms. Molly, asks everyone to draw a picture of their family. In the end, the children share their pictures and Ms. Molly points out that it doesn’t matter who is in your family, as longs there is love.
This sweet fiction LGBTQIA+ story is brought to life by illustrations by Laura Cornell.
I got this book from my personal collection. You can get your own copy of Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman on Amazon.
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Walter the Farting Dog by William Kotzwinkle and Glenn Murray
Walter the Farting Dog: A Triumphant Toot and Timeless Tale That’s Touched Hearts for Decades–A laugh- out-loud funny picture book by William Kotzwinkle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have read all the Walter the Farting Dog books by Willam Kotzwinkle and Glenn Murray, but not the first one — not Walter the Farting Dog — until now and I absolutely love it! Just like all Walter’s adventures in farting, there is a sweetness in the family and even though the stories are silly, the love is real. The illustrations by Audrey Colman are fun and colorful. I think all kids will enjoy these children’s classics books.
I got this book from my personal collection. You can get your own copy of Walter the Farting Dog by Willam Kotzwinkle and Glenn Murray on Amazon.
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The Boy Who Cried Fabulous by Leslea Newman
The Boy Who Cried Fabulous by Lesléa Newman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Boy Who Cried Fabulous by Leslea Newman is splendid and will be enjoyable to any person who is easily excited about the world and poetry around them. Roger is just like one of those people and he is often late because he is easily distracted by the spectacular, magnificent, elegant world he lives in and in the end, he even proves to his parents how stunning it really is. The fantastic illustrations by Peter Ferguson really help make this story more brilliant. I highly recommend this story to your book collection and your vocabulary list!
I got this book from my personal collection. You can get your own copy of The Boy Who Cried Fabulous by Leslea Newman on Amazon.
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The Peace Book by Todd Parr
The Peace Book by Todd Parr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Peace Book by Todd Parr is a great nonfiction cultural book. It is easy to understand and easy to share. The pictures are bright and simple. The friends message is bright and simple too. This book is a keeper.
View all my reviews
I got this book from my personal collection. You can get your own copy of The Peace Book by Todd Parr on Amazon.
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This month’s books were very touching and thoughtful. It helped me stay in the right perception for where I want to be, even when there are stressful things happening in the world and it is very hot outside. I am thankful that I have access to wonderful books to help me feed my brain happy thoughts. I hope you do too.
Be blessed.
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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 | Aug 25, 2025 | About Summer, Opinions
I have been writing my story over the years. I have written a lot about family drama in my life, I have dealt more with my mother than my father because I lived with her. She was easier to reach and to blame. Even though she wasn’t perfect, I always knew she was giving her all, with little to no support, to raise 3 very strong, independent and individual women. She did not have it easy. But she loved us. Always.
I tried to read The Body Keeps Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk and I had to stop. It was too much. Now I’m reading Rising Strong by Brene Brown and we are in a part of the book that describes the power of writing your story, what I have been doing for years. While reading this, I am proud of myself because my writing has become more of ownership than blame, however I am having dreams and visions of my father and his second wife; even if she is not in the view, she is present because she is in charge.
I know regardless of whether or not, they fell for each other on purpose, my father’s second wife, knew he was married with three young children when she met him. I can’t get over this. I have not been able to forgive this. True, my father is the one that promised before God and our family that he would be faithful to my mother and he is the one that broke that vow, and every vow he ever made to me before he left us. But any true respectable lady would have stayed away from a married man with children, at least until the divorce was final, and then she would have supported his relationship with his children, even if she hated their mother. But instead, she bedded him, moved him right in, and when they got married at the courthouse, they didn’t include us, but she told us that her relationship with my father and his relationship with her would be paramount to everything; and so it was. She looked me right in the eyes as she said it.
I tried so hard to be good enough but I never was. I have both witnessed and have heard of the unloving, abusive and sometimes illegal things my father and his second wife have done. They always show a good face and sometimes there was even some love felt but…What I came to realize is that the traumatic experiences they have lived with in their past, that they refuse to get help with, leaks out sometimes and makes them unsafe for people who have chosen a gentle life instead of one with rage and abuse. There is no other resolution than to walk away.
I was awakened the other day by my father’s voice saying my name. I checked with one of my siblings. He is well. I am glad and I still pray for him and even his second wife; but I don’t see a way for reconciliation.
I am responsible for leaving. It was my choice. I used to feel pain about it. But since I have been talking with my mom and my sister, I realize, even though I had to walk away to find me, I only had to stay away from the unhealthy relationships. My mom and sister and I are getting to know each other as grown ups and it is nice. I don’t think my father, his second wife, or even my other two siblings can let the past go, or let me be my true self without more abuse. I also know my limitations and maybe I can’t be my best self with them. It’s ok to let people go, in love. I still pray for them when they are on my heart. I want them to have their heart’s desires, just without me.
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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 | Aug 24, 2025 | About Summer, Opinions
Karen G Clemenson talks a lot. If you know her, you may already know this. She comes and goes a lot too. With three jobs she runs in the door for a quick lunch, stops in to change clothes, turns in for dinner and might even change clothes again for another shift, all in one day sometimes. Usually, thankfully, she only works two jobs on the same day, but you get the idea. On her pit stops she downloads everything she has gone through, plans to go through, wants to go through and we might talk about world news or something we read about.
There are a lot of names and concerns she shares with me. She also likes to tell me, in great detail, exactly what she thinks is going to happen, up until she gets to come home. She talks fast because she is on a time crunch and she is super excited! At some point I can’t comprehend what she is dumping on me and it shows. She mistakenly thinks I don’t care.
It isn’t that I don’t care. I probably have not met any of these people; if I have, it has been very quick and not long enough to get them in my long term memory (my short term memory is terrible), or worse it has only been on Facebook which means I might know their name and about their family but I can’t pick them out in a crowd. Also she is talking like a teenage girl! Who can take all that in? It is too much information in too short of time, my brain can’t handle that much data. Plus she is always late and oftentimes something changes so I don’t need a play by play. Karen will be home when she is home.
In our house, I am slow and steady wins the race. My movements are measured because of chronic pain and I try to stay laid back because when you have anxiety disorder, you don’t need a trigger. I like calm. My wife thinks she likes calm, but she is a jack rabbit with one leg pounding until it is too tired to move and even in her sleep, it sometimes starts pounding. She needs my calm because she doesn’t need any criticism because the tapes in her head, that we haven’t been able to break yet, are more than enough. I guess that is some of why we work.
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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 | Aug 15, 2025 | Cancer, Chronic Illness, Opinions
I got an apology from my doctors office today. It summed up several calls I have been working on all week because I am out of Eliquis right now as of 4 PM on Friday.
I ordered a refill the week before last because I didn’t have enough for this week. I refill my pill sorters on Saturday night and always order whatever I need either Sunday or Monday. I had enough to get through this morning so I didn’t plan to start bothering anybody until Monday.
I knew there was a chance there would be hiccups because not only was there a dose change but my regular doctor didn’t prescribe this bottle of Eliquis, it was a hospital doctor. Plus I now have a new specialist; a hematologist and I wasn’t sure how she would factor in.
I kept checking with the pharmacy to see if my prescription had been filled and it had not so I called my gynecological oncologist, Dr Westhoff’s, office because she has been managing this medication. After two calls I was told that it was decided the my hematologist, Dr Dong, would be taking over this medication and Dr Westhoff would be sending the information over to her. This was Wednesday.
Thursday I called Dr Dong’s office and was told that the medical assistant could see there was a message from Dr Westhoff’s office but she couldn’t see what it was, and she would make a note of my call.
I have had two occasions with blood clots in my lungs where I came close to death. Self-advocacy is always necessary, but I am also very concerned about not repeating my past experiences. I am trying to remain calm because at the middle of Thursday afternoon, I know I will take my last dose of Eliquis on Friday morning.
I’m dealing with a cold and slept in but I still call the pharmacy by 2 pm on Friday. I had woken up to use the bathroom and took my early morning pills. I am out of Eliquis. The pharmacy says they have received my prescription from Dr Dong’s office but my insurance won’t cover it. Now I must call United Healthcare.
So I call United Healthcare and I speak with Hussan and he tells me that the last time I picked up my prescription, I was given a three month supply and they will not cover my prescription until the second week in September. I appreciate their math, however, I explain to Hassan that I have cancer. I had gone off my Eliquis to undergo radiation therapy and three days later, I had tons of blood clots in both lungs. I spent 5 days in the hospital and had to have a thrombectomy and when I left the hospital, the doctor had prescribed that I would take 10 mg of Eliquis, twice a day for 6 days and then return to 5 mg, twice daily. However, those directions were changed by my hematologist, who said to continue on 10 mg, twice daily for the time being. Since Eliquis does not come in 10 mg tablets, that is why I am now out and need a refill.
Hassan told me that he could not help me. What needed to happen was that Dr Dong needed to file a form of medical necessity (this might not be the correct name of the document, I didn’t write it down). He said she would know what this was and this is what they need in order to override the block on my insurance coverage. I was appreciative but irritated. And then to make sure I was super frustrated, he put me on hold and patched me through to another gal (I couldn’t understand her name) in order for her to set up prescription delivery. I didn’t want to do that and we were both antagonized by that so we said goodbye and hung up.
Then I called Dr Dong’s office again and I told the office person the name of the document that I knew at the time, because it was fresh in my mind, and she agreed, the insurance company was just being difficult. She put me through to my doctors nurse, who was obviously busy helping someone else, so I left a message…
Then I called my wife, Karen G Clemenson, because, even when I leave my number, they sometimes call her number, so I needed her to know what they were calling about.
Finally I got the call. My prescription is filled and covered by my insurance. My doctor’s office is sorry because they should have updated prescription before so it would not have had to be like this. Personally I am just thankful that Karen can pick it up after she gets off work.
This is why you don’t wait until the last minute to check on your meds.
Update: I noticed on the bottle that the prescription was changed but my doctor had not notified me so I kept taking it the same way she had told me until the weekend was over and I could reach her. I was told by her nurse that since during the thrombectomy, they installed and IVC filter in my groin, in order to stop any blood clots, formed in my legs from getting to my heart or lungs, that now I should only be taking 1, 5 mg of Eliquis, twice daily, instead of 2, 5 mg of Eliquis, twice daily.
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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 | Aug 12, 2025 | Opinions, Prayers & Thanksgiving
I am a Jesus Follower. I do see value in ALL people because I believe God made them. God told us to love our neighbor and He did not differentiate between anyone.
I have read the bible many times and it says to take care of the fatherless, widows, the sick, to be kind to emigrants and everyone because we have all been made in the image of God; we are all connected.
There is a different standard for christians than those who have other beliefs. This makes sense because if you have never read the bible and accepted the word for truth, how can you be held accountable to it?
I don’t have a lot of grace for people that call themselves christian yet don’t love all of God’s creation, who don’t have empathy and compassion and care as we were told to. Who don’t do as we were taught to. This is the apocalypse we were warned about. The undressing of the church.
There are people that call themselves christians that have protected rapists. They are cheering on others who terrorize the innocent. They have made money and power their god instead of the Creator while justifying murder of women and sick people who can’t get proper medical care, while they shout about their religious beliefs and our christian nation. They have continued to pay for wars while innocent lives are annihilated, even as children starve.
No. Not all Christians are the same. Some know a God that is gentle and lowly in spirit and wants to bear your burdens. Some Christians know that our God laughs at the enemy now because in the end, they have nothing. Some Christians really do love their neighbors, all of them, but we do not have much use for the ones that are hurting themselves or the ones they are hurting because they have decided they are not worthy. But I pray for them too.
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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 | Aug 11, 2025 | Book & Product Reviews, Opinions
I have always enjoyed the books I have read by Max Lucado. Come Thirsty is another of those inspirational books, yet because I was not ready for this book because my mind was stubborn, I still needed to read this nonfiction book and it helped to chip away at some of the hardness that I had let collect on me because that is what happens to us when we live in the world and forget to keep drinking the living water that is Jesus.
“Jesus is spirit and is not bound by the body. My direction is not needed but my permission is. Like water, Jesus won’t come in unless swallowed.”
Even though we are not of this world, we do live here, and sometimes we forget to keep looking toward our spirituality life source so that we don’t pick up the old life that drags us down.
“When God lives and breathes in you (and He does, as surely as He did in Jesus) you are delivered from your old, dead life. (Romans 8:11)”
Come Thirsty is a Christian book with short chapters that make it easy to read while you get ready for the day or steal a few moments between tasks and try to get your footing between the stresses that come with balancing all the things we do while we try be all the things we are trying to be.
“Grace defines you. As grace sinks in, earthly labels fade. Society labels you like a can on an assembly line. Stupid. Unproductive. Slow learner. Fast talker. Quitter. Cheapskate. But as grace infiltrates, criticism disintegrates. You know you aren’t who they say you are. You are who God says you are. Spiritually alive. Heavenly positioned. Connected to the Father. A billboard of mercy. An honored child.”
I got this book from my personal collection. You can get your own copy of Come Thirsty by Max Lucado on Amazon.
Read My Review on GoodReads:
Come Thirsty: No Heart Too Dry for His Touch by Max Lucado
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
If your looking for a book to surprise you while you are trudging through life, Come Thirsty by Max Lucado is that book. Read the pages and let it remind you how much you are loved by God and how special you are because you are.
View all my reviews
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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 | Aug 5, 2025 | About Summer, Life, Opinions, Politics, Prayers & Thanksgiving
I recently have begun looking for old songs that have called to me throughout my life. I hummed a tune to Karen and she immediately began singing “Wade in the Water,” which, with a very small amount of research, I learned is an Underground Railroad Hymn. It was used to communicate how to travel from slavery to freedom.
“Wade in the water
Wade in the water, children
Wade in the water
God’s gonna trouble the water.”
These words tell people to make sure to stay off the path and get into the water because the slave hunter’s dogs couldn’t smell their scent when they went into the water and the rivers led to salvation. Wading also implies defiance. Unlike swimming or floating, you must push against the water and current to wade in the water; it is work to stay steady in the mud and rock and grasses.
Although my ancestors came from Europe and Canada, I have always seen a beauty and connection to Native American and Black culture. I feel connection with trees and tall grasses in the wind. I love to feel leaves, as though we are talking. Worshiping with Jerry Chapman, a local Native Pastor, showed me the beauty of drums and how we are all connected. In my 20’s I learned so many lessons about how I was made to understand more than one realm. Through nature God shows us that we are all one. Because He made the first man and breathed His breath into him and humanity was created.
I don’t need to read or listen to the news to know a catastrophe has happened. I can feel it. When I was a child, I would see things and have dreams that scared me. But as an adult, with the bible and more experienced teachers, I learned how to pray about these things, limit spiritual attack, and now I am learning to rest.
Recently someone sent me a short video of a white woman. Her message was that people make groups to divide us: Queer/Straight, Black/White, Disabled/Able-Bodied…and we just need to love everyone. Tee Hee (I am sorry that is what I heard in my head…and I know it is judgmental and not fair)
My problem with straight, white, healthy women telling me to just love everyone, is not that I don’t agree, or that I don’t think she might not be sincere, but she, or someone like her, has been saying something like that for a long time, while straight, white, healthy men keep making laws that make it harder for queer, or disabled, or people of color, or women to live their lives the way they want. God made free will for everyone, not just white men. I know not all white women support some of the terror in the world, not all white men are terrorist, and what I am saying might sound unfair. It is.
My black, queer, disabled family would like to invite you to research what other black families still are living with. Maybe read about what queer communities have to deal with. Have you read about some of the issues disabled people face? Yes we do need to love each other but we also need to know each other.
I think “Wade in the Water” is a universal song. We are still struggling and everyone struggles. We are all needing salvation.
“See those people dressed in red
Must be the children that Moses led.
Wade in the water
Wade in the water, children
Wade in the water
God’s gonna trouble the water.”
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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 | Jul 29, 2025 | Opinions, Politics
I have realized I have to keep a relaxed mindset about politics. Although I care deeply, it is too much stress for me. I can’t seem to get away from it so I kind of let the information flow through my mind easily to allow myself to catch a big picture. I let go of most of it because I have accepted that there is little I can do to make a difference.
But I am aware that most days we wake to a new stressor from Trump. This causes groups of people that belong to the group he is picking on to become antagonized. If he hasn’t picked on every group, he has picked on a group that will pick on a group for him (like getting non-christians riled up so they feel like they have defend themselves against christians). Trump doesn’t pick on christians (christian nationalists) because they are a huge part of his followers.
I have been chewing on the fact that he enjoys having United States citizens so unstable all the time and it got me thinking; is this his normal? Was his childhood so chaotic that his life has to be this way? I already see signs of childhood trauma and neglect in him. Maybe he needs our pity and sympathy. He is so rich that he has never understood consequences which mold us into better people. (Reminder if you follow me on Facebook: I just watched all 6 Rocky movies) If he has never truly lost and had to really start over with nothing, how could he ever have any idea what the human condition is or the American Dream is?
These thoughts don’t change how I feel about him as our president, but they do make him more human in my mind.
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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 | Jul 16, 2025 | Book & Product Reviews, Opinions
We are always heading somewhere, even if we don’t realize it. We are headed to the grocery store or to work or to the bathroom. Maybe to daycare or the library or to the doctor’s office. Sometimes we are physically grounded on the couch but our mind is wandering through our thoughts from the day. This is a good time to read a good book.The books we have this month have really great messages to take us in a good emotional direction. If you want to foster good thoughts and growth in your little one, I hope these books help you do that.
Now without further ado 5 Books for July 2025:
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My Hair is a Book by Maisha Oso
My Hair Is a Book by Maisha Oso
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
My Hair is a Book by Maisha Oso is an important book. Oso not only wrote the book for her daughter but for every child that thinks their black hair is not perfect or they need help with their self esteem. We are all beautiful and this book with great rhythm shows us that whether your hair is kinky, curly, long or short, you are every good thing. This uplifting book is a great picture book. This illustrations by London Ladd are inspiring.
I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of My Hair is a Book by Maisha Oso on Amazon.
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This Story is Not About a Kitten by Randall de Seve and Carson Ellis
This Story Is Not About a Kitten by Carson Ellis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This Story is Not About a Kitten By Randall de Seve and Carson Ellis is a lovely story about community, and working together, an caring about animals, and meeting our neighbors, and making new friends, and repetition. I loved this book and the charming illustrations by Carson Ellis really help hold it together. I think I might have to add this story to my collection.
I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of This Story is Not About a Kitten By Randall de Seve and Carson Ellis on Amazon.
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Wake Up Moon! by Lita Judge
Wake Up, Moon! by Lita Judge
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Wake Up Moon! by Lita Judge is a sweet story about animals enjoying the snow and each other. The picturesque illustrations make it easy to grab your attention. Most children will be captivated by this children’s fiction story.
I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Wake Up Moon! by Lita Judge on Amazon.
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The Walrus and the Caribou by Maika Harper
The Walrus and the Caribou by Maika Harper
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
The Walrus and the Caribou by Maika Harper is a traditional Inuit mythology story from Alaska about how the caribou and walrus were created. This multi-cultural nature story is enchanting and the illustrations by Marcus Cutler really bring it to life.
I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of The Walrus and the Caribou by Maika Harper on Amazon.
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Ralph Tells A Story by Abby Hanlon
Ralph Tells a Story by Abby Hanlon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
In the beginning of Ralph Tells A Story by Abby Hanlon, Ralph didn’t know how to start. He was really frustrated that his teacher at school assigned the entire class to write their own stories. Everyone was having success, but Ralph, who kept trying to find ways to get our of the room. Finally, Ralph found a quiet spot under his desk, where he began to imagine a wonderful story. When the whole class was called to the carpet to share their stories, Ralph was called first and what he shared was a huge triumph! Everyone loved Ralph’s story!
View all my reviews
I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Ralph Tells A Story by Abby Hanlon on Amazon.
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I have to admit, I didn’t read any of these books to anyone before I wrote about them for you this time. I read them just for myself and you know what? They did my heart good. It doesn’t matter how old you are, a good book, is a good book and even an adult needs to slow down sometimes and read a simple and good story sometimes. Even if you do it in secret. 🙂
Be Blessed.
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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 | Jun 19, 2025 | Book & Product Reviews, Opinions
Summer is here and it is time to read. In my house, Summer is always here and there are piles of books everywhere. I need to buy a bookshelf or two. But hopefully those books will inspire adventures in the sun, or if you are feeling sick you can live vicariously through the pages of a wonderful story.
Now without further ado 5 Books for June 2025:
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King Alice by Matthew Cordell
King Alice by Matthew Cordell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
King Alice by Matthew Cordell is a story about a family on a snow day, or rather, on the second snow day. The imaginative grade schooler is writing her story, starring as King and everyone else is her brave knight, including her Dad, Mom and baby sister.
King Alice starts each chapter of her book, which are the activities of the day, with humor. King Alice illustrates them too. This story is full of colors, pirates and unicorns to talk about. I found this to be an enjoyable read.
I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of King Alice by Matthew Cordell on Amazon.
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Cinnamon Bun, I Love You 1 by Amy Schwartz
Cinnamon Bun, I Love You 1 by Amy Schwartz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Cinnamon Bun, I Love You 1 by Amy Schwartz is a counting book with delightful illustrations. This book offers a number of sweet things to count and talk about while working on your toddler’s vocabulary and colors. This picture book is a great addition to your little one’s collection.
I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Cinnamon Bun, I Love You 1 by Amy Schwartz on Amazon.
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The Red Canoe by Anne Yvonne
The Red Canoe by Anne Yvonne Gilbert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Red Canoe by Anne Yvonne is a beautiful story written like poetry that tells of a boy who enjoys his canoe and cares for it as he grows and eventually moves away. The canoe misses the boy, but luckily another boy moves in and fines the canoe and new adventures begin. The illustrations are stunning in this historical children’s fiction story.
I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of The Red Canoe by Anne Yvonne on Amazon.
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Sofia Valdez Future Prez by Andrea Beaty
Sofia Valdez, Future Prez by Andrea Beaty
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love this book! Sofia Valdez Future Prez by Andrea Beaty has good timing so it is easy to read. It has colorful and fun illustrations by David Roberts that make you want to stop and take them all in. But most of all the characters are believable and encouraging and they work together with neighbors and politics to inspire Sofia to make their community better and since Sofia is only in the 2nd grade, maybe she will keep working through activism and relationships and find herself running for president one day.
I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Sofia Valdez Future Prez by Andrea Beaty on Amazon.
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Letters from Space by Clayton Anderson
Letters from Space by Clayton Anderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Letters from Space by Clayton Anderson is a memoir and great book for readers at a 3rd to 5th grade level. I think the fun letters and lessons that Clayton writes, that he couldn’t actually mail back to earth without them catching on fire at re-entry, might inspire children to be interested in science and even a few future astronauts. This book is written in an easy to understand format and the illustrations by Susan Batori are fun and engaging.
View all my reviews
I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Letters from Space by Clayton Anderson on Amazon.
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I was lucky to find a few favorite stories to add to my must purchase list on eBay. I hope that you find a few favorite things this summer while you are doing whatever makes your heart happy.
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 30, 2025 | Book & Product Reviews, Opinions
When I was growing up my nana would read to my sisters and I. She would come alive with the story. She did voices and her her eyes would get big. Her face would become animated and her hands would grab our attention as they shot into the sky as she exclaimed great words. Nana loved words. Her love of words were instilled to me as she told us stories and wrote me letters. This is what reading to children can do for them. When you know how to read you can do just about anything you want.
Now without further ado 5 Books for May 2025:
A Fire Engine for Ruthie by Leslea Newman
A Fire Engine for Ruthie by Lesléa Newman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A Fire Engine for Ruthie by Leslea Newman is a thoughtful story about a little girl named Ruthie as she visits her Nana. Her grandmother has planned fun things for the two of them to do: a tea party with Nana’s dolls, dress up, and painting. But what Ruthie really wants to do is play with the neighbor boy, Brian. Brian has a fire engine with a black and white dog sitting up front, a silver ladder that slides up and down and a yellow hose to unwind. It also has a siren that goes Whee-ooh! Whee-ooh! Whee-ooh! Brian also has a train, a motorcycle, trucks, buses, and kinds of vehicles.
After Ruthie did all the things that Nana planned, she got her play day with Brian and Nana joined in too. The next day, they even went to the toy store and bought Ruthie her own fire engine.
This story is sweet and encouraging. It shows how good communication can work and play time isn’t about gender. The illustrations by Cyd Moore are adorable. I really enjoyed this book.
I got this picture book from my personal collection. You can get your own copy of A Fire Engine for Ruthie by Leslea Newman on Amazon.
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Frog and Toad All Year by Arnold Lobel
(Frog and Toad All Year) By Lobel, Arnold (Author) Paperback on 01-Jan-2000 by Arnold Lobel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Frog and Toad All Year by Arnold Lobel is a book with several stories in it: Down the Hill, The Corner, Ice Cream, The Surprise, and Christmas Eve. Out of all the stories, about different times of the year, my favorite is Christmas Eve. I like this classic story because I can relate to both Frog and Toad. I used to be late all the time like Frog, but I am still anxious like Toad, who thought of terrible things that could have happened to have made Frog late. In the end, Frog and Toad were very happy to spend Christmas together because they are very good friends who love each other.
Frog and Toad have always been one of my favorites.
I got this adorable book from my personal collection. You can get your own copy of Frog and Toad All Year by Arnold Lobel on Amazon.
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Little Blue Truck’s Halloween by Alice Schertle
Little Blue Truck’s Halloween: A Lift-the-Flap Book! by Alice Schertle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
In Little Blue Truck’s Halloween by Alice Schertle, it’s Halloween and Little Blue Truck is heading to a party. Along the way he runs into other party goers and we get to guess who they are! We see animals and colors and costumes. How fun! The illustrations by Jill McElmurry are adorable.
View all my reviews
I got this book from my own personal collection. You can get your own copy of Little Blue Truck’s Halloween by Alice Schertle on Amazon.
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Little Bear’s Friend by Else Holmelund Minarik
Little Bear’s Friend by Else Holmelund Minarik
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Little Bear’s Friend by Else Holmelund Minarik is a book with 4 stories in it: Little Bear and Emily, Duck, Baby Sitter, The Party at Owl’s House, and Your Friend, Little Bear. My favorite story is Little Bear and Emily. I love the illustrations by Maurice Sendak. I also love the description of the town and area where Little Bear lives. I enjoy hearing Little Bear interact with the squirrels, and birds, the little green worm, and finally, Emily, his new friend.
All of the stories in this children’s fiction picture book are about Emily’s visit during the summer. Little Bear and Emily had a wonder time.
I got this book from my own personal collection. You can get your own copy of Little Bear’s Friend by Else Holmelund Minarik on Amazon.
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The I Love You Book by Todd Parr
The I LOVE YOU Book by Todd Parr
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
The I Love You Book by Todd Parr is a simple and bright colored book that reminds us that we are loved all the time, even when we are stinky or squeaky clean. The illustrations are elementary and meant to capture a young person’s attention. This book is positive and hopeful.
View all my reviews
I got this book from my personal collection. You can get your own copy of The I Love You Book by Todd Parr on Amazon.
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My nana’s love for words empowered me to be able to learn what I want, when I want because I can pick up a book or google anything and learn how to do new things. Some times it takes a bit longer than reading a few words, but as soon as I start reading, I am on my way. I hope that I can encourage you to encourage someone else to learn to love words as much as I do.
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 28, 2025 | About Summer, Opinions
I hate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. They are both days that remind me that I was not enough for my family. I know my parents gave all they had. I know they loved me. But they couldn’t respect me or my requests for change I needed to be able to remain in relationship with them. So many of these days I bent over backwards to make their days great and they didn’t care. So many times I tried to have communication and it didn’t work. I served them. That was what I was to them. That is what they wanted and expected from me. I helped raise their kids and I was their go between and I never learned how to be anything else and when I asked for help, money was the only thing they knew how to give, but even though that might have fixed an immediate need, that was not what I really needed. I wanted to be important. I wanted to be known. I wanted to be heard.
I see people’s posts about how much they miss their parents now that they are dead, and it is the hardest thing they can imagine. But it isn’t. The hardest thing to imagine is knowing that your parents are in the same state you live in. You could call them, but they are not going to be glad to hear from you. They are going to yell at you about something you might not have even done, years ago to someone else, that they are still angry about. They don’t care if you have cancer. They don’t care if you enabled them to work hard so they could go on yearly trips to Disneyland without you, while you took care of their kids. They don’t care if you are living in a hotel and only a couple thousand dollars would help you move to a place with a smaller amount of rent. They don’t care if you’re chronically ill, they don’t believe in mental illness anyway; I am just fat and lazy. That is what my father and his second wife think of me.
I told my father a few years ago that I no longer want to be his daughter. I still refer to him as my father because I can’t seem to call him by his name. I had a dream this morning that made me very sad. The main message was that, even though I had always thought my father’s second wife’s daughter was my friend and sister, she really is much like her mother, she just presents it differently. They are opportunists. She told me my father had changed his will to include me, he knew the things his wife did were bad but he was stuck. I was sobbing because I never wanted money; I wanted relationship and she was already gone to do something she wanted, so I was left alone again.
The dream told me nothing I hadn’t already been coming to the realization on my own, it just solidified what I already knew. I also hope I am not in my father’s will. I told him I want nothing from him after he dies and I meant it. He has caused me so much pain and confusion in my life. Any reminder of him won’t fix what he didn’t try to meet with me on while he is alive. Maybe when he is dead we can meet in our spirits when the weight of our humanity is out of the way. That is my hope.
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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 26, 2025 | About Summer, Opinions
I usually wait until later in the season before I enjoy a nectarine, my favorite fruit. The price is better. I also tend to buy nectarines that are still firm because my OCD doesn’t like to get dirty, but there were two perfect, soft nectarines that called to me yesterday. They were so soft, they had to be bagged for their own protection and I knew I had to eat them quickly, or I had wasted my purchase.
Today I took a bite and I was glad that I had armed myself with not one, but several paper towels. As the juice ran down my neck, I was transported to Nana and Grandpa’s back deck where all messy things were eaten. Nana and Great-Grandpa Drummond were with me. Nana was laughing gayly because she couldn’t catch the juice fast enough and Grandpa Drummond was enjoying his daughter. I was probably 8-9 years old. Even covered in nectarine juice, Nana was graceful and lovely.
Tomorrow is the anniversary of her death. I didn’t realize until I looked at the calendar. Maybe she wanted me to remember that joyful memory to remind me that we enjoyed each other. I love you Nana. I hope you are making Grandpa Bill, Grammy, Grandpa Johnny, Grandpa and Grandma Drummond laugh in heaven.
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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.
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