I hurt this morning. I live on a cocktail of morphine and oxycodone. Every few hours an alarm goes off on my phone telling which pills to take. Usually they are enough, but this morning I can’t sleep and I have taken 1000 mg of Tylenol as well. It took the edge off. Before this second bout of cancer, I was able to live with chronic pain with a different mindset, proper exercise and naps, when the pain got too intense. But some pain you can’t ignore.
I was talking with Jamie Holloway last night about this cancer. The first time was easier, but this time, it is in my lymph nodes, and they are hard to get to without me bleeding out. We need to get the cancer to shrink there. The ovary can be removed, but the lymph node, it is another story. She was asking me about my medications because I was telling her I was glad to be changing meds on Sunday, the one I am taking right now, is also used to treat anorexia and it makes me hungry all the time and I am having a terrible time controlling myself.
You see sometimes something that is helpful can also make another problem worse. I used to weigh 435 lbs. The last time I weighed in, I am down to 322 lbs and I am very proud of myself. I fit in chairs I used to not be able to sit in and I feel better about myself. I did this by eating less and proper exercise for my body, which is not a harsh workout because I also live with 2 kinds of arthritis, fibromyalgia, and insufficient veins in both legs that cause inflammation and swelling. This has taken devotion to loving myself and self-control.
We were also talking about our experiences while researching how we would cast our votes for the November 2026 General Election. We didn’t talk about what we chose. Our conversation went like this:
Me: Well, I made it through the voter’s pamphlet. I am disheartened but for the most part, I think I have decided. I feel like I have been set up for failure. No good choices.
Jamie: That’s how I felt about my voting choices too.
I have had a few conversations on Facebook with people who felt the same. I am so upset that more people didn’t run who were willing to be the change we need. I know you might be thinking, why didn’t you run? Well, duh, I have cancer and 13 other chronic illnesses. I can’t be traveling all over the place and be everywhere that the job requires; my body can’t handle the stress of the job, and a dead representative is not a good one.
I do want to talk about a few things and why I believe that we have to stand firm on a few ideas.
Initiative Measure IP26-645
This initiative repeals the 9.9% tax on annual income tax on those with income over $1,000,000. I know it sounds cut and dry. Our state would make an estimated $11.4 billion in revenue which they say they would put towards K-12 education, higher education, health care and human services.
But as you have seen, many big corporations are leaving the state because of this income tax, which the people did not want, but our representatives pushed through, regardless of what we said. Also, if we allow this income tax, which goes against our state’s constitution, to go through, it sets precedence to allow the government to come after the rest of us later on, when they have gotten used to having even more money, because they already voted in the largest budget ever seen in Washington State’s history this year. Finally, this government has not earned the trust of the people, in fact they have purposefully gone against us, who is to say those tax dollars will go to the projects they have been promised? We the People need to remind our government representatives that they work for us and we decide what their limits are.
Note: If the Initiative fails, make sure to get receipts when you donate anything. You will need all the tax write offs you can get.
Initiative Measures IL26-001 and IL26-638
These initiatives should be one in my mind. They sound separate, but they are about one thing; control. It isn’t about protecting children – it is about protecting parents’ feelings. If you are a healthy, secure parent that is putting your child first, these initiatives are not necessary because you know how to ask the right questions, you know how to listen to your children, and you know how to make decisions that don’t force your beliefs on other families. Public school is for the general public. If you want your child to have a private school experience, you know what to do.
When I was growing up, I didn’t know I was queer, but I did have a broken home. I was loved but my houses were not places I felt safe. One was actually dangerous and the other, I knew I was needed. I chose to stay and help, even when I knew I could leave because I knew my family needed me. But I had a strong relationship with God and there were family members that helped. We made it and everyone is doing well. I am glad I was there to choose. But not every child has the fortitude or ability to make the choices I did. In fact, every day could be very scary for them. Some families are violent. Some families have no one to help.
In 2025 there were changes made to RCW. 28A.605.005. For the most part, it is fair, however, there are circumstances where a child may need help from an abusive guardian. Many parents are not abusive, these parents will not be affected by this law, because they are emotionally available to their student. They will already know their child’s teachers. They will be supportive. But an abusive or neglectful parent might be a danger to their child. You will recognize them. They will be defensive. They will only care how they look. They will not be concerned with the well-being of their child. In this situation, the child might need to be removed from campus and taken to a safe place, before parents/guardians are contacted. Also, I have a problem with opting out of sexual health classes. We live in a world where what you don’t know can kill you. A baby is not the worst thing that can happen if you don’t know enough about sex. I believe that students should be able to step out of classes where they feel uncomfortable, however, education should be available to students. When we censor children, we stop them from learning how to think and learn how to make choices because they don’t know that they have choices.
I knew how to make choices because, even though my home was not perfect, I was allowed to read anything I wanted. I learned many things and learning was encouraged. I knew that my choices were mine. I believe that IL26-001 is not safe for children that need help.
IL26-638 is a waste of paper and resources. We don’t need a law to tell us that our child’s pediatrician needs to know the medical needs of their patient, and that would include anything about their body that is private. We don’t need a law to tell us what the doctor already does. Needs of transgender students, the few there are, can be handled with a few conversations held between students and teachers. Transgender students make up about 1% of the students in Washington State and only .6-.8% of students in the United States are transgender. Let’s talk people. Solutions can be created.
I do not support both Initiative Measures IL26-001 and IL26-638.
The City of Longview needs funding for Emergency Fire and Medical Response Services. We need funding for hiring paramedic/EMT firefighters, replacing aging equipment, building a new fire station, purchasing a fire engine and funding to improve response time and funding the operational functions. There is no argument against this. However, homeowners are already being taxed heavily and not only would this proposition raise taxes in 2027, but it would also continue to raise taxes in consecutive years.
We can’t keep asking property owners and small business owners fund everything unless we are going to work harder to offer living wage jobs, and work harder to make housing more affordable for everyone. The homeless population, the raise in costs, the ridiculous cost to rent, all these things are made worse by the fact that many of our residents work more than one job just to make ends meet. Raising taxes on the people that own homes, does not increase the incentive to buy houses. We have to look to different ways to answer the needs of our community. We need the bean counters to get creative.
I am not for Proposition 1 Levy Lid Lift.
In all my life, I have not seen things that I am seeing now. What bothers me is that people that are older than me are saying that too. However, I read the bible a lot and you know what? It is full of people doing unfair things. Governments getting too big. People being forgotten and treated unfairly.
I wasn’t going to vote this year. I had entertained the thought for several days. I am still not happy with my choices. However, being silent doesn’t help either, so I wrote to Marie Perez Regarding A Slow Economy and I spent some time online, in the voter’s pamphlet and praying while I researched my choices and I have decided what I plan to do.
There are people who have asked me about what I live with. They often tell me they don’t want to talk about their current illness because they believe that I suffer more than they do. I always tell them, that suffering is relative. There are certain experiences that I have had that have left me to believe that I can never judge someone else’s pain. There have been moments that the pain was so bad that if I could have reached a tool to end my life, I would have, but I couldn’t and so I am still here. I think the world is going through a time like this. We can’t ignore this pain. We need to lean into each other and be kind. We need to ask questions of those who are wiser than we are. We need to seek quiet and rest. We need to listen and seek peaceful things. Pain is here to remind us that we need to change something, either physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, maybe all of them.
But if you don’t vote, you didn’t take your opportunity to be part of any chance of change. We can’t ignore this pain. it is telling us to be different. Stand up for what you believe. You don’t have to agree with me. But make sure to use your voice. Be well. I love you.
~
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.
If you were to stand on top of a mountain in an area where land was owned, boundaries would be easily seen, marked by fences, streets and structures that confine. But if you were to imagine that I am my own mountain, that you are your own beautiful valley, and that your neighbor is unchartered wilderness, the boundaries might be harder to know. Especially if you don’t really recognize yourself. But boundaries are part of good mental health.
Many of us worry more about fixing others, over our own needs because our own needs are too much. We built a life where trust is complicated. We say you can trust me, but I don’t really trust you. We have been hurt deeply; so much so that we never really came back. We can’t really trust ourselves, but we will fix you.
That’s why boundaries are hard to understand. Boundaries feel bad if you don’t understand them, if you are not on stable ground, if you need to be in control, if you are not used to getting your needs met by anyone other than yourself. If we are talking about property rights, you might be able to understand because there are contracts and laws involved. But since we are talking about my heart, you expect free range because that is what you have always taken. Yet that is not the way I have built the life I live now.
Now I want to be myself.
If you wanted to have a party in my garden on a specific day and the details worked for both of us, we could have a great day. But if my mother-in-law died and my wife is struggling, and my chronic illness is flaring and my cancer came back and I can’t handle the noise and mess of the party, I would expect you would have compassion. I would expect that you would understand that we would probably postpone or maybe cancel the party, or at least that you would find another place to have your party. Even if you had already invested in repairs to the garden, bought all the garden furniture and even had a gardener come to make the yard perfect. I know it would be an expense to you, and I would do what I could to make it up to you later, but it would be the thoughtful thing to do.
I don’t live in a world that is thoughtful. I know this, but I have built a world that I choose to live in that is thoughtful, or at least I try to be as much as possible. When I am upset, I dream about what I could do to help myself feel better. I know I might not be able to do it, or it might take me a long time to be able to afford it, but it gives me hope. I sent thank you notes and birthday cards, when I remember; chronic pain and memory loss sometimes make it hard to be as thoughtful as I want to be, but I keep trying. I am not casual about relationships, so I can’t have a lot of close ones, because it takes a lot to take care of myself and my family.
Personal boundaries are new to me. I learned then in therapy and reading books and I am still learning them. Emotional or behavioral limits or any limits that I got to pick were not something I was not taught growing up. We just didn’t know how. These limits are meant to make me feel safe and respected and heard in relationships and I like it.
Today I heard Michael Thompson, an influencer I listen to, say: Love yourself to be yourself.” I love this. We need to be free to be ourselves and we need to let others be themselves. We sometimes also need to set limits on how much time we give to people who haven’t learned how to let us be ourselves.
That is something my friend Linea taught me. She told me that if someone is not allowing you to be yourself than you need to decide how much time you are going to allow them to have in your life. This is the hard part. Because when you love someone and you want to be around them, but they keep overstepping your boundaries, eventually you have to decide how much time you can give them. I don’t respond well to criticism. I shut off. It is my natural response to it. Pushing me has the same effect. It isn’t that I don’t like to be told what to do, at this point in my life, I know I have the right to choose, and I just stop when you disrespect me. I don’t have to let you finish your explanation; I don’t have to let you have your way, if you were hitting me, you would know it was abuse, but words hurt sometimes more than fists.
I have built the life I want. I don’t care if I am not wealthy, I will never change how I think or live. Money is a tool. When I am overwhelmed, the bible will always be where I go, because that is where I find what I am looking for. If I am being pushed, I will push people away because I do not respond well to being pushed, I never have. I don’t have to be what other people want me to be. I was not created to make anyone, other that God happy, and He delights in me. I love people, but I love me and out of the abundance of love that is in me, that is found in Christ, I love others.
I understand not trusting people. Every person I have every trusted has failed me. Some people can’t be let back in, because they did not repent. The definition of repentance is to feel sincere regret or sorrow about something you did that was wrong and then make a conscious effort to change your behavior. We don’t talk about this enough: not in church or anywhere. But this is important. You can’t just say you are sorry. You have to try to change. I have forgiven people, but they didn’t change. They didn’t try to make themselves a safe space for me so I can’t allow them access to me. Part of loving myself is protecting myself from unsafe people.
This is good mental health. 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.
The other day, one of Karen’s clients came over to meet me. I was so happy to finally see her in person. We have been chatting online for a long time. Karen G Clemenson and I moved a month ago, so we are very close to the gym, and I finally was able to meet her. She wasn’t here for long because she didn’t have a lot of time to share. I am hoping she comes again; maybe for dinner and brings her family. She brought some food she had made for her family, and she made sure she let me know that she had removed the veins and seeds from the peppers since Karen “doesn’t like spicy food.”
The next day Karen came in with gorgeous flowers from another client’s garden. This gift was the perfect gift. I love fresh flowers, but they are never in our budget. Plus, she grew them with her own two paws. I know the time and energy it takes when I crochet or cook something, so I really appreciate gifts like this.
If you want to buy Karen and I things you will find some interesting things on My Amazon Wish List that you will find a link to on the lower right-hand side of this site. There are items at all different price ranges and all kinds of interests. If you order something, it will come directly to our home so you don’t have to worry about if we will get it. It has been tested. I maintain it. Because I buy things off it and add things to it.
The Wish List wasn’t my idea. Jamie Holloway needed to have her site updated. There was a link to PayPal for donations, however it was a link to Living Ministries, and I need to update our banking information and so for the time being, I needed to take it down. In several years, no one has ever made a money donation to Jamie’s site. But people randomly send her things. Jamie suggested that I create a link to Jamie’s Amazon Wish List. I thought it was a great idea, and I did it that day. After thinking about it, I decided to do it for myself as well.
The gifts Karen and I would love the most, are an invitation to your house. I can bring something safe for me to eat, if I need to. If we are doing pizza, I can even bring my own, or even my own take out, if that is what we are doing. Or I can just bring my own leftovers; we can also do a potluck kind of thing. I totally love that idea. If you don’t want to cook, but you want to eat with us, invite yourself over. I love to cook. I have a dining room table with 6 chairs. I tend to have cookies in the freezer and left overs in the fridge. I like relationship more than food. Maybe we will just make big bowls of popcorn and watch a movie…There are many ways to fill bellies!
When Karen tells you she doesn’t like spicy food, it is true, but in reality, my body does not digest specific peppers. They literally just rot in my stomach until my body decides to eliminate them. That can be a painful week. I have a lot of food sensitivities. I have a lot of rules about food because I have GERD and I have to listen to my body. It is not because I am picky (I love and miss spicy food!). I projectile vomit acid sometimes. I don’t like doing that. But it is not as bad as when my intestines just shut down for a week. I don’t know when that will happen, but if I am strict about food it doesn’t happen. If I choose to eat foods that are not on my safe list, I have to prepare myself for before and after. It’s a process. I have to plan for it.
If you want to buy gift certificates, we tend to buy most of our groceries and gas at Safeway. We also shop at Grocery Outlet, Fred Meyers, Walmart, Amazon, Ebay (we get most of our clothes on Ebay, also our CDs and Books). We sometimes like Etsy. We like Red Leaf Coffee, Cafe Guse’s, and Crafty Works, LLC.
I am not telling you all this because I want you to go out and buy us gifts. What we really like is to see you. The best way to reach me initially is on Facebook Messenger, we can see where it goes from there. Karen is next to impossible to reach unless you can get an appointment at the gym and that is probably not going to change; she is just wired to be a workaholic, I have known her for 23 years and she has always been this way. I am struggling a lot with the pain management I am undergoing right now, but I am trying to be as normal as I can, however I am in a lot of pain from the cancer, my memory is a challenge, and I am very emotional a lot of the time. I hope when you interact with me, I am at my best.
For the 12 years we have been married we never really had a place we could invite people to. It was either too small or not the kind of place you invite people to. I am excited that we have a beautiful home we can invite you to now. My whole life, I have been collecting beautiful things to set up a beautiful home, and I want to show it off. You, my friend, are the perfect gift.
I hope you are doing well. 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.
We had planned to grow old together
while we giggled in math class
or fell asleep because life was challenging
We recognized a sameness
in each other
Not exactly but we knew to be gentle
How to not push on the damaged parts
~
Our love has always been as honest
as we could afford to be
It was earned and learned
We even took a break
when we could not grow
beside each other Trauma is a terrible divider
~
Real love made us sisters
Even separated we were devoted
Love brought us back together
because true love can seed reconciliation
and God is the best Creator
He knew we needed each other
~
We have spoken life to each other
I know God has written the script
more than once
when I could hear no one
I could hear you
I have felt the temperature change
because I said or didn’t say something
~
I have enjoyed reaching middle age with you
I don’t care about things that use to
be so heavy
Honesty has sometimes gotten easier
but sometimes it is harder too
We aren’t going to grow old together
I don’t want to waste our time talking about it
~
You have helped make me brave
You have helped me look at things
I didn’t want to see
You have helped me find the real me
You helped me find my voice
You showed me how to let others be
You have been one of my greatest gifts
~
I can never repay you
and you will never ask
But if you want anything
If I can bless you in any way
that I haven’t thought upon on my own
all you have to do is ask
Love is just not a big enough word
My goal is to remember to talk to God first every day. Today I didn’t forget. God knows I don’t mean to forget but I get distracted. I talk to God throughout the day. It is my goal to make God first. I know God is busy. Today I know I can’t do this day without some help.
The cancer is back. Yesterday I found out that surgery is not an option. It took me several hours, but I finally cried when it was just me and Karen G Clemenson and it was almost time for bed.
On July 9th I found out that the cancer had returned after a trip to the ER. I was having severe abdominal pain, and I was afraid I would not be able to walk if I waited longer. From imaging, PeaceHealth St John said they thought the cancer was back. After my gynecological oncologist at Legacy Salmon Creek, Dr Westhoff, had seen the imaging and also compared it with the PET scan I had, she confirmed that endometrial cancer had returned in a different spot and was also in the lymph nodes. I have been taking Letrozole since then. This drug does not cause blood clots or weight gain, like Megestrol, which is the drug I took with my first bout. However, Letrozole does cause pain.
I have been struggling with my emotions quietly because I had just got my energy back from my 3-year battle and the one internal radiation treatment, that took a year for me to heal from. The experience left a lasting effect, mentally and physically.
I had a biopsy on my lymph nodes on July 22nd.
On July 24th I went back to PeaceHealth St John ER because the pain in my abdomen was so terrible that I could not stand up straight. Even with taking 5 mg of Oxycodone. After more imaging was done, they thought that I had an ovarian torsion, which means the ovary is twisted over onto itself and cutting the blood supply off. While there, they gave me another 5 mg of Oxycodone. Later they gave me some Dilaudid. They eventually gave me some Fentanyl. I don’t know why anyone would take Fentanyl for fun, even when I was trying to focus on breathing, they had to give me oxygen because I could not breathe enough while on that medication. Finally, they sent me home with a few prescriptions for pain, and also an antibiotic for a UTI, and told me to follow up with my oncologist and primary.
So, yesterday, Karen and my mom and I met with Dr Westhoff online to hear that after Dr Westhoff had reviewed all the imaging and labs, she does not agree that I have an ovarian torsion, but what the doctors at St John saw was the mass on my lymph node. She said because the cancer is in the lymph nodes and where they are located that it is difficult to get to them and I could bleed out by trying to get to them. Our best chance at success is to stay with the systemic treatment of medication first. We will stay with Letrozole for at least another month and do imaging to see if it is working. She would prefer to use Megestrol, but I have said no because it causes weight gain and blood clots; but it also kills cancer more effectively. I might have to take a larger dose of Eliquis and be more careful with my food intake, if we don’t have a choice.
Chemotherapy and Radiation are options. I don’t want radiation. She saw the look on my face and let me know that internal radiation is not an option this time. External radiation would be much gentler. That one radiation treatment was hell. But if we have to do it. I will fight.
Dr Westhoff said I will need to accept a lot more medications to handle symptoms. There is a lot of pain. There will be a lot of pain. Opioids cause constipation. Tylenol causes my body to make extra stomach acid, so I don’t use it. But that is a necessary supplement now. I need to go on an antacid. I need to use MiraLAX every morning. There are other supplements I may need to keep on hand when those don’t work.
I have not been doing my workouts since my last trip to the ER because I was afraid of hurting my ovary. But I am not afraid of hurting cancer. I will begin my workouts again today. This will help my body and mind. I need normalcy.
I told Jamie Holloway last night. She is having her own struggles right now too. I know she was trying to be strong for me too. She asked what she could do to support me. I am always amazed by her; she fights for every breath, and she asks me how she can help me. I told her to pray. I told her I will be ok. I have 14 diagnoses and cancer is the only one that can be cured. I remind myself of that. It got me through the first time, and it will get me through this time too. But if you got this far, maybe you could pray for both Jamie and I. Thank you.
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.
Now I Am Known by Peter Mutabazi is a special memoir because it is about a special man. He is actually an ordinary man who went through traumatic things but was found by people who saw that he had potential. Throughout his life Peter was found over and over again by people who saw that he was not all the things that had been spoken over him in his abusive childhood but so much more and because he was seen and heard, he was able to take the tools he was taught and learn to forgive, and then, he was able to not only survive and thrive but lift up those around him.
Peter Matubazi was born in Uganda. Where he is from, wives and children are seen as burdens of the husband, who is allowed to neglect and abuse them, even in the middle of the street. Peter knew his father did not love him, his mother, or his younger siblings. He was told this every day, sometimes many times. He was told with his father’s words, with his hands, with the dirt floor he slept on with no blanket, alongside his siblings, and the fact that he was allowed a meal every other day, while his father ate daily and drank alcohol.
When Peter was 10 years old, he decided he had taken his last beating. His father had sent him to the store to buy a few cigarettes. It was pouring down rain. There was no way to keep the cigarettes dry. Peter had been selling handfuls of peanuts at the bus stop and he had saved some money. He took his money with him and he didn’t look back.
“Before you can be known by others, you have to leave places, patterns, and ideas that lie about and devalue who you are.” Peter Mutabazi, Chapter One
After Peter left home, he had many experiences that helped shape him: He lived on the streets. He was found by a kind family that helped him get into a boarding school where he excelled. He continued to do well and studied in England and The United States. He also worked in many outreach programs around the world and in Africa, helping children in war torn areas. But his favorite job was becoming a father through fostering and adoption. You really should read this Christian inspirational book. But not because anything is forced on you, but because it is shown to you in a way that is easy to see.
“While we are shaped by our past, none of us are chained to it. None of us are predestined to repeat the mistakes of the generations that came before. We all have a choice about the type of person we will be.” Peter Mutabazi, Chapter 13
Now I Am Known by Peter Mutabazi is a special book because it is about a special man. He is actually an ordinary man who went through traumatic things but was found by people who saw that he had potential. Throughout his life Peter was found over and over again by people who saw that he was not all the things that had been spoken over him but so much more and because he was seen and heard, he was able to take the tools he was taught and learn to forgive, and then, he was able to not only survive and thrive but lift up those around him.
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.
My most recent PTSD opportunity happened a week after my 12th anniversary. My cousin got married on May 16th. I am very happy for her. She has been through so much and she has persevered. But I wasn’t invited to the wedding. I was excited for her and looking for the invitation that didn’t come; eventually I got an online invite to view it online. My feelings were a little hurt, but it did make life easier. Karen didn’t have to take a day off and I could watch it from the comforts of home. When the moment came, there were technical difficulties and the groom’s family was irritated. I have streamed for much larger events and I was trying to sound nonchalant and supportive; also wishing I was there to help.
Later that evening, my uncle uploaded a raw version of the video he shot from his hand-held camera. When I saw the video, I saw Ms. Colvin before I even saw the bride, and Winnie was bringing her down the aisle, along with one of my uncles, to her brother. I understood why I wasn’t invited.
Winnie is my biological father, and he could not come to my wedding, even though I invited him.
As I struggled through a lot of emotions, my experience as a videographer reminded me why family members who are too close should never shoot the video. My uncle is too emotional, and the video is shaky because he was crying and he didn’t have the camera on a tripod. His choice to shoot from the middle of the isle, was questionable because I saw Winnie’s second wife, before I saw the bride. I know I am still taking this personal, but I don’t think he was the best choice as the technical crew for this event. Considering the conversation my cousin and I had about Winnie and Ms. Colvin a few months before the wedding, my shock at not only seeing them at her wedding, but that he gave her away, when our other uncles were available leaves me dumbstruck.
Nobody even warned me. This is the part I have been wrestling with ever since May 12th. Winnie didn’t share my family with me because Ms. Colvin didn’t like me, so I don’t have the memories and emotional ties they have. But the ones I have are why I carry my grandmother’s name and why she has helped make me a strong woman. Ms. Colvin does not deserve my grandmother’s name.
Ms. Colvin is a gossip and a backbiter, and she has hurt everyone in our family. She also knows how to use Winnie’s temper to brutalize anyone that she wants to scare into controlling. She has terrorized her own daughter and her own grandchildren as well. (And yes, I know I am guilty now too)
Father’s Day has always been hard. Winnie didn’t even like it. He knew he wasn’t worthy. He knew his father fell short too. I see the beautiful memories other people share and usually I thank God for Grandpa Bill, Nana’s second husband, my real grandfather, who taught me so many lessons. But this year I had to snooze my cousin because I couldn’t look at her gushing posts about Winnie.
They still tell lies about me. At least Winnie and Ms. Colvin do. They run to new family members and tell lies about me. They have threatened anyone who might want to help me. They know we are stuck, have been stuck. They know I am chronically ill. The day I told Winnie I had cancer, he screamed at me about stuff I didn’t do, years before, because Ms. Colvin makes sure he abuses me, every chance he gets. She sent me a terrible letter a week after my Grandpa Bill died.
Winnie has always abused me emotionally because when he was done being a terrible husband to my mother, he expected me to take care of his ex-wife and his kids and even though I was really a little girl. I was only 9 years old, but he didn’t care. He didn’t stop Ms. Colvin from doing whatever she wanted to do to whoever she wanted to hurt, especially TyAnne. He thinks it’s normal to sacrifice the oldest child. He doesn’t believe in mental illness, even though he shows symptoms of PTSD, at least, and Ms. Colvin seems like the perfect narcissist.
He seemed hurt once when told him I would never live with him, but he doesn’t know that when I lived with Mom, I only wanted to kill myself. If I had lived with him, I don’t think Winnie and Ms. Colvin would have made it because when I was about 5 or 6, before he left us, we were sitting at the dining room table, he told me to never let anyone hit me; and I have not.
I have spent years in therapy because the person I fear most is myself. I know what I think about. I understand evil. I won’t abide by it, but I understand why people do what needs to be done sometimes. I have chosen to learn to forgive which is really hard and has many layers and has to be repeated as many times as necessary, but some pain doesn’t heal. That is why love is so important. I don’t believe Winnie and Ms. Colvin know what love is; what they do is survival.
My therapists have all told me I am strong and kind and not dangerous. But I know I have spent years learning not to feed that part of myself that is like Winnie. I have practiced love and watched Karen G Clemenson and Jamie Holloway carefully because they have a gift for loving that never came naturally to me, but I am getting better at all the time.
I wrote to Winnie several years ago and told him I am no longer his daughter. I want nothing from him. I have heard enough from other family members to wonder why they let him in their homes. I know they are scared of him, but they don’t need to be. I win every fight. All you have to do is look him in the eye, remember the truth, don’t listen to his bullshit, don’t forget who you are, and consider the fact that cowards scream the loudest and eventually he will sit down. Ms. Colvin banks on the fact that most people don’t like confrontation and Winnie looks pretty intimidating, but he doesn’t have the stamina or vocabulary I have. If I can win, so can you. Nobody deserves his shit. It isn’t anyone’s fault they won’t go to therapy.
I don’t lie. If I tell you something it is to the best of what I know now.
Grandma Clemenson is the only person in my entire family, on both sides, that ever blessed my marriage. She sent the only card we ever got from family. I am Mrs. Clemenson because I bear her name.
So, after much thought and prayer, I am done.
I have always wanted my birthright. I am the first-born daughter and granddaughter in a very large family, and I always wanted the relationship and support that I have read about in books. But this family is broken. I have heard positive things said about my grandfather, Allen Clemenson, but even as a child, I could feel that he did not love Winnie. I know there was something wrong about that. He did not come to Winnie’s college graduation. He did not look at him with any pride. He never spoke with love, always barking orders. The only conversation I ever remember having with him was when I confronted him, as a child, because he called black people niggers. And at 8-9 years old, I was not going to listen to that without a fight. I do not have good memories or feelings about this man, and I have seen a vast difference between the older and younger of the 9 siblings. I also know that he held my grandmother back from what she wanted and needed. Grandma Clemenson was an honorable woman.
No one ever protected me from Winnie. They still don’t. God told me to let go of everything that doesn’t serve me. I have things to do, and I live in a chronic body, so I have limits. I have to be mindful of that. There is a specific person in this family who told me I was important to them, but they don’t listen to me. If they had, they would have texted me to let me know about Kelli’s wedding. They would have known that being rejected is a trigger for me. I just needed a text. Something to prepare my heart. But this family doesn’t do that.
So, I am letting them all go. Love is not enough to hold relationships together. God does not expect people to make family more important than safety and communication. Since my cancer might be back, I need all my energy for the people that love me.
So, Karen and Mom and I are the Kelso-Longview Clemensons and are the originals. Jamie is my sister. And so is Sarah (my biological sister). The other ones have gone to the dark side. I have my niece Allie and her family and my adopted brothers Jeff and Josh. If you want to join us, let us know. You don’t have to change your name, or pay a fee or have anything fancy, but you will have to love us, out loud, and listen. Authenticity is key.
I’m sitting here in the night
it is quiet except
for Karen‘s occasional snoring
and the ringing in my left ear
I’m waiting for a new idea
~
I listen to her breathe
She has been my strength
when I couldn’t find mine
because I have been waiting
Hoping that someone would save me
from the pain that doesn’t heal
~
Some pain doesn’t heal
Some because it is chronic mentally or medically
and some because it even cut the soul
So even if it kind of gets better it always festers
~
But I like the quiet
The dreams haven’t come yet
Maybe they will foresee a beautiful future
instead of being a traumatic nightmare
where Karen wakes me up
or worse, my face explodes and I wake myself up
and writhe in the bloodless nerve pain
~
Some pain doesn’t heal
in fact, you know it will be there
Even if it isn’t there now
It will find you
and being brave is not a choice it is a lifestyle
I was reading a post yesterday regarding Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), which is a program that allows eligible individuals to receive long-term services in their homes instead of institutions. The author was concerned because of our nation’s history with improper care of disabled people in institutions.
After a search online, I learned that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will bring dramatic changes to Medicaid. This bill does, in fact, make cuts to HCBS, even though institutions are more expensive and less safe than letting people stay at home. The bill also requires people to check and recheck eligibility for Medicaid every 6 months, which sounds like more paperwork and cost to me. This seems like a waste. As a chronically ill person, as I understand it, my 13 diagnoses are never going to get better. I manage them, but 6 months or 6 years from now, they will still be here, just like they have been here for the last 12 years, I have known about them. Blatantly, senior citizens, families, rural and low-income people are being targeted by this bill. Yet billionaires and trillionaires got their tax cuts.
Our country found $100 billion for a useless war that created even more debt than we started with. We have $400 million for a ballroom at the White House, which was never necessary before now. $14 million was wasted on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, but it’s ok to treat United States citizens like animals because we don’t believe in Universal Healthcare like the other free countries in the world. Yep, I am proud to be an American!
I do know that it is not March, but it is always time to read and it is also time to celebrate what being a nation that is 250 years old. Just as being 3 months late with this post, proves that I am not perfect, I can look at any media outlet and see that our nation is not perfect either, however, I can also walk down the street and see people who are trying to be their best selves. This last month, Cowlitz County has seen a terrible accident at a papermill in Longview, Washington, where I have lived nearly my whole life. People died. People were injured. All of us were affected. And all of us have come together in some way at the many fundraisers and GoFundMe accounts and vigils and ways that people collect and say, “I love you,” when something like this happens.
These children’s books are one way I pull myself together. I hope you have a healthy way you unwind too. So here is to reading 5 Books for March 2026…
The quiet beauty and excellence of Blue Sky White Stars by Sarvinder Naberhaus is as much told in the few poetry stanzas as the illustrations by Kadir Nelson. This nonfictionpicture book is The United States in art and patriotism on pages that is appropriate for children. It is thoughtful and beautiful. I really enjoyed this book.
Hello Hello by Brendan Wenzel is a wonderful book about animals and colors, patterns and size, and shapes and sounds. It is perfect for any toddler who needs to work on their vocabulary. The illustrations are delightful and make you want to keep turning the pages.
I checked this book out at the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Hello Hello by Brendan Wenzel on Amazon.
Ms. Rachel and The Special Surprise by Ms. Rachel is a book filled with surprises and communication and music. The illustrations by Monique Dong are cute. This book didn’t excite me because it didn’t have a real story, but I could have fun with it as a children’s learning tool.
Manfish A Story About Jaques Cousteau by Jennifer Berne is a wonderful nonfiction memoir that brings the life of Jacques Cousteau to life, while sharing the history of how he helped us to learn about the ocean and science. The stunning illustrations by Eric Puybaret help bring the story alive. I think this biography would inspire any child to want to follow their dreams and be curious about what makes them feel excited. The only things I would change about this picture book is that on the pages with dark color, it is hard to read the words with dark font, however the story, itself was wonderful. I believe every page offers ample opportunity to talk not only about the story itself but vocabulary and concept building strategies for children who might have short attention spans.
A Cow For Jaya by Eva Grant takes place in India where cows are sacred because they provide milk to sustain human life, they also provide fertilizer and can plow fields to help grow crops. Because they give so much, without harming anyone, their peaceful existence is central to Hinduism. This book was precious to me from the start because it is only a few years older than me and I appreciated the layout and illustrations by Michael Hampshire.
Jaya’s family saved for a long time for their cow. A cow was a sign of prosperity because it meant they would have milk, cheese and butter. Jaya had expected a fat, white cow, but when he came home from school, he met Khubi. Khubi was small, skinny and no particular color. Jaya also didn’t know how much care and attention Khubi would require. He was very disappointed.
As much as he pushed against Khubi, Khubi loved him. She even followed Jaya to the market place one day. While Jaya was admiring a flute, another boy stole the flute out of his hand and ran. It looked like Jaya had stolen it and the angry storekeeper wanted to chase him down but Khubi stood strong and protected him. No one would touch Jaya because cows are sacred and if the cow was protecting him, he must be a good boy. The other boy was caught and and Jaya and Khubi were able to go home. Jaya finally understood that Khubi was his friend.
This beautiful story tells us about culture, morals and friendship. I really enjoyed this fiction story.
I checked this book out at the Longview Public Library. New copies of A Cow For Jaya by Eva Grant is not available. You may have to search eBay and other used book store outlets for your own copy of this book.
~
I hope you found some inspiration in any of these stories. Living in a chronically ill body I can’t be a preschool teacher anymore or even travel to some of the places I read about but that is the power of reading. Reading is a way to do the things in your mind that your body can’t do. I encourage you to travel as much as possible. It is always worth it.
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.
He’s not too much
if you understand him
because he sees the beauty
in the quiet softness and it isn’t an act
The soft voice and black fingernails aren’t for you
They make him happy
while he sings songs about eyelashes and dinosaurs
and purple because
that is where his magic is at
~
“When you dream will you dream of me”
All he wants is what he gives
Because he doesn’t want to live alone
But its hard to carry
a chronic person
when you’re a chronic person
and that’s who he picks
Instead of someone who gives
and doesn’t keep score
~
But he’s always a gentleman
no matter the temperature
of his songs you’ll never know
how cold or how big
the history of him is
Because like an iceberg
You only see a bit
He deserved happiness and rainbows
but instead that is what
he writes songs about
~
Tattoos and hats cover what he hates
His 2nd wife calls him a loser
But I see how he takes garbage
people who don’t know throw at him
and he makes custom guitars and beautiful songs
So like the term raptor means “to seize by force”
that is what Jeff does with life
And what you take from him
He makes it into a treasure
I told my therapist I felt like crying
I had letters to write to the school board
but I was too emotional
Matthew said to write first drafts
and read them again tomorrow
~
I told him I was sad
because I didn’t realize how much
it would bother me that The Late Show was cancelled
I always learned something from Stephen Colbert
~
I remember when 47 was 45
I couldn’t say his name without an anxiety attack
I know nothing in the world has changed
We just don’t hide it anymore
Did you know that every president in my lifetime has been shot at?
~
I saw Jamie‘s post that her voice came back
When you breathe through a trach
it is hard to produce enough oxygen
to activate your vocal chords
I have been in a flare and in pain but I liked her comment
~
I did my selfcare and took my meds
I even spoke to Matthew
but I had nothing for today
So I took a nap
When Jamie called I was sound asleep
~
I had given up asking God for her voice
I don’t know if she had
but on the last day of The Late Show
was Jamie’s birthday
and she got her voice
~
And the color of her face was rosy
and she showed me her last surgery
was a success
And her voice is rather sexy
and now my tears are for joy
~
And although many of us are mourning
a show we loved to watch
Stephen has his team
and he will prevail
I have my own team
~
And the humble and excited smile on Jamie’s face
reminded me that I am on Team Jamie
and I am happy to be here!
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 is a beautiful children’simmigration 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!
The Month of Ramadan by Inda Ahmad Zahri is a book that helps children learn about the Muslimholiday 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’m not sure I am the person to review You Broke It! by Liana Finck. Usually I would love the dry familyhumor, 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.
~
Kwesi and Nana Ruby Learn to Swim by Kobina Commeh
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 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!
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.
~
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.
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 nonfictionhistory 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.
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 is a great nonfictionnature story about how bisonpoop 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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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!
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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.
I have seen the 1985 interpretation of the historical fiction cinema version of The Color Purple, originally written by Alice Walker, directed by Steven Spielberg, produced by Quincy Jones, and starring actors like Oprah Winfrey several times. It always makes me cry and laugh, and cry some more. I bought this classics book several months ago, not knowing when I would be brave enough to read it. Finally it landed in my hands and I have to say that this book could not have been translated as it is, in 1985 but they did what they could. I plan to watch the 2024 version of the movie tonight. I am excited that the same team of Jones, Spielberg and Winfrey worked together again and I know now we can accept the full story about black culture, feminism and even LBGTQIA+ ways at a time that is more open-minded.
“I’m getting tired of Harpo, she say. All he think about since us married is how to make me mind. He don’t want a wife, he want a dog.” said Sofia. “I don’t like to go to bed with him no more…Used to be where he touch me I just go all out my head…Now I feels tired all the time. No interest.”
Celie said: “But I say this just to be saying something. I don’t know nothing bout it. Mr. ____ clam on top of me, do his business, in ten minutes us both sleep. Only time I feel something stirring down there is when I think about Shug.”
Sofia say: “The worst is I don’t think he notice. He git up there and enjoy himself just the same. No matter what I’m thinking. No matter what I feel. It just him. Heartfeeling don’t even seem to enter into it. The fact he can do it like that make me want to kill him.”
In this world some things can make us feel trapped. Marriage can be one of them. If you don’t know what a good one is and you don’t know you can expect more, you are stuck. In the early 1900’s women, especially black women didn’t have many options, even in fiction. Celie was uneducated and unloved by the men in her life. But between her sister, Nettie, and then by Shug, Celie learned love.
Celie said: “What God do for me?…he give me a lynched daddy, a crazy mama, a lowdown dog of a step pa and a sister I probably wont ever see again. Any how, I say, the God I been praying and writing to is a man. And act just like all the other mens I know. Trifling, forgitful and low down.”
Shug said: “The think I believe, God is inside you and inside every body else. You come into the world with God. But only them that search for it inside find it. And sometimes it just manifests itself even if you not looking, of don’t know what you looking for. Trouble do it for must folks, I think. Sorrow, Lord. Feeling like shit…Everything want to be loved…Man corrupt everything. He on your box of grits, in your head, and all over the radio. He try to make you think he everywhere. Soon as you think he everywhere, you think he God. But he aint. Whenever you trying to pray, and man plop himself on the other end of it, tell him to get lost.”
It’s funny how, everyone judged Shug but she was the one that knew the most about love. You need to read this Pulitzer Prize winning book.
The Color Purple by Alice Walker is a story of a black woman in the early 1900’s learning what can’t be taught in school. That she is loved. That she can make choices. That being honest has virtue. In fact written words can give us hope to create our future. Celie learns with the help of a few good friends that that which was taken from her, will return, if she is faithful. This story is so important for sisters, for women for people.
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.
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?
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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.
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 NWat 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 Teamwill be glad to research and write about your topic.
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Image Credit: This picture was taken by my brother, Josh. I can’t tell you how proud I am of him and his floors!
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.
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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.
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
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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
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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
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Being Chronic is no joke
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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
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Today is just beginning but it is already over
Being Chronic is no joke
In one of my latest book pile purchases I found myself drawn to a nonfictionChristian book entitled Life of the Beloved by Henri J.M. Nouwen. It was a small, used theology book, with no dust cover but my sister, Jamie Holloway, often shares quotes by this wise man and I thought he would make a particularly something day feel something and he did. For the last month or so, the nerves in my face have been having a party and that is no fun for me. It makes speaking, eating, drinking and even sleeping terrible. This beautiful faith book was a reminder of what I know my Creator thinks of me and it helped me stay focused and creative because that is how you find any joy in a hard time.
Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the “Beloved.” Being the Beloved expresses the core truth of our existence.
Any other voices we might hear proves that you are worth something or that you must do something to be relevant, spectacular or powerful and then you will earn the love you desire. But by being the Beloved, you just are.
When love chooses, it chooses with a perfect sensitivity for the unique beauty of the chosen one, and it chooses without making anyone else feel excluded.
God, is the only one that can choose perfectly. Or whatever you call the Creator.
When the world does not choose us, we have to dare to know the truth that God did. Everyone else in the world has their own agenda or need to control, their own feelings of self-doubt, low self-esteem or insecurities, fears, depression or any other thing that might cause them to pull you down with them but the greatest spiritual battle, that never ends, is with us knowing and holding our Belovedness.
I am not an accident. I am a divine choice.
A blessing touches the original goodness of the other and calls forth their Belovedness. Blessings are all around us and if we are too busy, we miss them. Prayer and presence help us to become more perceptive. Not claiming blessings will lead to the land of the cursed. You have to choose how you want to live. When you are aware of your blessings you will want to call out the blessings you see in yourself and others.
No one is brought to life through curses, gossip, accusations or blaming.
We must befriend our brokenness, which seems unnatural and masochistic. But brokenness is an intimate part of our being. Just as a our chosenness is. When you are not afraid, you can face anything and eventually you might have peace and even joy where fear and anxiety once were.
If you only curse your brokenness, that is what you will have. But if you put it under the blessedness of being the Beloved, as you are, it can become a gift. Our lives find their fulfillment in giving ourselves to each other.
I think that is our deepest human desire is to give ourselves to each other as a source of physical, emotional and spiritual growth.
This is a very special book. I have been on this journey for that last 12 years. Maybe longer. When I stopped fighting the direction I was supposed to go, whether I call it, religion or spirituality, I learned to listen more, and to ask more questions; to know that I don’t know everything, but know that what I do know is important but not more important than the human I am looking at, I began to understand my Belovedness. The term stopped making me scared.
I think this book says what I have learned and a little more, very well.
Life of the Beloved by Henri J.M. Nouwen is a wonderful little book that talks about how we are chosen by our Creator to be Beloved. How this chosenness can help us to choose a life of blessing for ourself and for others. How we can choose to speak and live well and call out the good for each other and find peace and joy instead of fear and anxiety. In this short book of letters to a friend, Nouwen, shares his heart and how to love.
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.
Gather Together In My Name by Maya Angelou is a biography that takes place directly after World War III when there is hope for white supremacy to subside and more opportunity to come, but people who had more money while they created goods for war, suddenly lost those jobs. And since there was no real change in education, social norms, or expectations, change did not happen.
17-year-old Marguerite, or Rita, has just given birth to her son, Guy. With nothing more than a high school diploma, she must learn how to make her way in the world as a single black mother, knowing she wants something different than what she knows.
“If the tables could have turned at that instant, I would gladly have consigned every white person living and the millions dead to hell where the devil was blacker than their fears of blackness and more cruel than forced starvation.”
In this nonfictionmemoir, Rita travels from San Francisco to Los Angeles, San Diego to Stamps, Arkansas and back to San Francisco, to Stockton and then to Oakland. She worked as kitchen help, a cook, waitress, a madam, store clerk, dancer, fry cook, prostitute and a seller of stolen goods. She has her heart broken a number
I think if I read this book 5 more times, I would find more details each time that were fascinating. This book is from my own personal collection. You can get your own copy of Gather Together In My Name by Maya Angelou on Amazon.com.
Rita dreamed of a relationship that would save her. Much like many young people do. Someone that will be whatever we dream we need to fulfill, whatever it is that we don’t see in ourselves. She wanted a love that was heavenly, spiritual and every now and then, physical.
“Butter-colored, honey-brown, lemon-and olive skinned. Chocolate and plumb-blue, peaches and cream. Cream. Nutmeg. Cinnamon. I wonder why my people describe our colors in terms of something good to eat.”
In Gather Together In My Name by Maya Angelou we watch Rita learn that she needs to learn to love herself because the people she has relied on have not always had her best interest in mind. But she has learned to keep her head held high and keep moving forward. You can’t change society, but you can learn how to be strong.
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.
About a month ago, Karen G Clemensonasked me to write about water. I was thinking, we’ve written about water. In the over 340 articles we have shared with you, we have certainly written about water. Haven’t we? Jamie Holloway and I talked about it at our writer’s meeting in January. Of course we had! But you know what? After I searched our site yesterday, there are no articles about water. Until now. So let’s talk about water. You’ve probably heard that we need 8 glasses of water a day and that might be correct. At least it is a good goal. But it might not be all. Water: How Much Do You Need? Water makes up to 50-70% of our body weight. Water is needed to:
Breathe
Improve blood flow
Carry nutrients and oxygen to your cells
Aide in digestion
Prevent constipation
Eliminate waste through urination, sweating and bowel movements
Maintain electrolyte (sodium) balance
Protect your kidneys
Boost skin appearance
Protect your teeth
Normalize blood pressure
Regulate body temperature
Lubricate and cushion joints
Protect sensitive tissues
Dehydration
When we don’t have enough water in our body, it is called dehydration. In even very mild cases of dehydration, our bodies are drained of energy and this is when we feel very fatigued. Warning signs of dehydration are:
Urine that is dark yellow in color
Urine has a strong odor
Weakness
Low blood pressure
Dizziness
Confusion
Dry Mouth
Fatigue
Muscle cramps
Constipation
Abdominal pain
Lethargy
On average 20% of our daily fluid intake can come from foods, especially like soups, fruits and vegetables, but the rest must come from beverage consumption.
An average sized woman needs about 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluid every day.
An average sized man needs about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluid every day.
But consider those numbers a starting point. Your size, metabolism, location, diet, physical activity and health all factor into how much water you need to drink per day, says family medicine specialist Saadia Hussain, MD.
These numbers can vary depending on many factors:
Exercise & Movement – The more you sweat the more you need to replace the fluids you lose.
Environment – Dehydration can happen at high altitudes, not just when it is hot and humid.
Metabolism – If you have a fast metabolism and your body tends to use more fuel to keep going, it would be wise to add a couple more glasses of water to your intake every day.
Overall health – If you have a fever, vomiting or diarrhea, a bladder or urinary tract infection or kidney stones, all of these conditions can affect your need for more fluids. Sometimes medications can cause you to need more fluids. On the other hand, certain health conditions such as thyroid disease or kidney, liver or heart problems, or if you are taking medications that cause you to retain water, like NSAIDS, some opiate pain meds and certain antidepressants, you should drink less water.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding – You are supporting more than one body so it might make sense that you would need more fluids.
Age – Older people sometimes don’t sense thirst like they once did and this can be a problem, especially if they are taking a medication that can cause fluid loss.
Size – The more you weight, the more water your body needs to handle the fluctuations throughout the day.
Alcohol consumption – Alcohol is a diuretic and it can make you become dehydrated. Before you have a drink, make sure to have a glass of water. Before you have another alcoholic beverage, have another glass of water. The more you replace your fluids, the less chance you have of being hung over the next day.
So what that comes down to is that a person really needs, alongside a well-balanced, diet with plenty of variety is about 4 to 6 cups of plain water, depending on how much coffee, tea, fruits (apple sauce) and vegetables they consume.
What if You Don’t Like Water?
I guess I am pretty lucky, I have always liked water. It’s a good thing too, because I was not given much of a choice growing up. Mom was not going to fill us full of sugar. We were the house with the whole grain bread, the tubs of yogurt and the fresh carrots for snacks. One of my friends always brought her own snacks when she came to my house. And if you look in my fridge, now, you are bound to find carrots and cottage cheese (I like cottage cheese better than yogurt) and water filters under the counter and on top of the counter. But if you can’t stand water, we live in a world with lots of options. I personally like to add 2 drops of Meta PWR from doTERRA to a liter of water (Contact Me if you want to learn more about Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils®). But there are a lot of drops you can add to your water. You can also add fresh fruit or lemon or lime juice. I love my decaf coffee with some organic half and half. I also enjoy several cups of herb tea every day. Occasionally I will have some almond milk or coconut water. I have tried soy, rice and hemp milk, they were not very enjoyable to me. I don’t care to drink cow’s milk and it tends to give me a tummy ache, which is another reason, I don’t drink it. I personally cannot take caffeine because of a medication I take. Which is why I drink decaf coffee. The positive part of that is that caffeine is a diuretic, which means you will have to drink a little more water to replace what you will lose ; I don’t have to do that. if you are enjoying regular coffee, you will have to drink a little more fluids somewhere in your day. The same goes with tea with caffeine in it, as well. Soda and juice (not to mention alcohol) are fluids but they are not the best choice because they are full of sugar and that will add to your waistline. The chemicals in sports drinks will also cause inflammation which causes pain (this is also the same for caffeine), so if pain is part of your life, you might want to try to get a nap in and drink more plain water in order to decrease your inflammation and have more energy. It is best to drink gradually throughout the day. Drink a beverage with each meal and with medicine. I hope this article helps you. If you have any questions please let me know. And drink up! If you are needing help creating a Wellness Plan that works for you, please Contact Wellness Works NW at 360-270-3880. Karen G Clemensonis 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 Jamiepage and someone from Our Teamwill be glad to research and write about your topic.
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.
Today I saw a post asking for help with sinus troubles. There weren’t details other than they wanted to put essential oils up their nose. I don’t recommend that. I have used Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils® since 2011 and I have used them alongside Western medicine. I recommend that you tell your medical team everything you take, as far as supplementation and that includes the oils, herbs and vitamins you take because even though, they might be natural, they can be powerful and they can effect the medicine the doctors and pharmacists are sending home with you.
The essential oils I use cannot heal my body, however they might relieve symptoms while my body fights what is making me sick. There are time limits that I will use natural supplementation and then decide that it is time to go to the doctor, if my body can’t deal with what is happening on her own. My body doesn’t tend to get fevers. I have had COVID-19 twice and never got a fever. This is important to know so time limits and level of suffering are important for me to keep track of.
As you can tell by the wear on the labels on the bottles in the picture, I have refilled the applicator and bottle many times. Both my wife and I tend to have seasonal allergies and this blend of oils is something I use to help us manage our symptoms while our bodies get through the sniffles, coughing, etc…
Recipe for Sinus Blend for Diffuser: 35 Drops of each Oil
Recipe for Roll On Applicator: 10 Drops of each Oil and the rest Carrier Oil of your choice
Eucalyptus
Frankincense
Grapefruit
Lavender
Lemon
On Guard
Oregano
Peppermint
Rosemary
Ylang Ylang
Some of these oils could be considered redundant, however they are here to help make the mix smell better, I mean Oregano is pretty harsh on its own and Frankincense is not my favorite either. Plus when I don’t feel well, my blood pressure can be high because of stress, so who doesn’t like a little Ylang Ylang. The thing about making your own blends is that you can customize it your person needs.
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.
Summer D Clemenson is a co-owner Clemenson Enterprises, LLC and Wellness Works NW. Summer her wife, 
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