Yup! It's about to happen!

 

Image via AS Phillips

The journey of a lifetime

This week, I’ve watched a young Jewish maiden and her hubby, travel about 90 miles from their home to Bethlehem, with no car! 

I watched some shepherds shaking in their sandals, while an angel apprised them of being some of the first to attend a meet-n-greet, hosted by Joseph and Mary in a stable of all places!

There, they found the promise of Isaiah, the Lion of Judah, swaddled and resting in a manger.

The Light of the World was born in a barn and slept in hay!

Joseph (Eli), Mary (Reagan), Angel Messenger (Olivia)

Image via Kaitlyn Parker

I watched some folks (who can’t care for themselves) break into big smiles, hugs and handshakes. They joined with strangers to sing songs about Christmas and receive tiny gifts as if they were royal presentations.

As always, the joy of the Best Gift Ever flowed through all of us, even those enduring the challenges of missing loved ones, physical discomfort, loss of freedom and limited physical abilities...

Things get exciting when even just a few of us get together to celebrate Him.

Image via Gerd Altmann of Pixabay

He changes people in the most wonderful of ways!

I watched shy kids, I met only a few months back, bloom and blossom as they shook hands with strangers and introduced themselves. Doesn’t sound like a big thing but trust me, it’s a YUUGEE thing! 

Right now, even as you’re reading this, around the world, groups are assembling, big and small to celebrate and experience the joy produced by that same baby boy–the one born in a Bethlehem stable, over two thousand years ago. I know... He amazes me too, every day, all year long!

All for what?

He’s the most famous person there ever was. He’s still making heart-bells ring and voices lift in songs to share His message of peace on earth and goodwill to mankind. That’s what He was born for, lived for, died for and was raised from the dead for, ascended to Heaven for and returned in Spirit to dwell in those who would let Him sweep them off their feet and take up residence in their heart. 

He did all that for us. All for YOU! (Yeah, go ahead and get your praise on. If you know, you know!)

Image via Fotorech of Pixabay

He did it for me. 

He’ll do it for you, too, if He hasn’t already.

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder. 

And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

(King James Version)

 Launching prayers

This Christmas, Israel and her people (all over the world) are near to my heart, in my thoughts and consistent prayers for the Lord to cover her in His endless grace and mercy. I'm also mindful of those who'll be spending their first Christmas without others dear to their hearts. 

It's also a most important time of the year to remember, that family isn't only defined by blood. Just sayin'...

The wrap!

I pray this Christmas overflows with blessings for you, and if you’re not already acquainted with Him, that He’ll show up and show out so you can get to know Him, too! 

You’ll know when it happens. His presence is unique, and indescribably, wonderful–perfection in every aspect. If you’ll allow it, and trust Him, the King of kings will encompass you with a greater love than you’ve ever dreamed possible!

It’s all about Him, and He really is, All That!

Shalom

The Life Book: A tiny, uniquely fun & refreshing read for juniors & seniors!

Image via AS Phillips

Needing a stocking stuffer?

During Christmas, Maumee Church, in Johnson, Indiana gifted a small variety of books to the congregation. I received two and both are excellent. One I reviewed here, if you’d like to see it. When I finished it, I gifted it to a friend, hoping she would enjoy it and find it as enlightening and encouraging as I did.

The second, I’ve been using as a daily Bible study, because of the fascinating way the content is delivered, and especially love its versatility, making it enjoyable as a solo read or in a group.

There are over 10 million of these in print. After getting into it, I can understand why they needed so many! I’m definitely not the only fan! 

The Life Book is essentially a small compilation of the Bible. One of its unique aspects that makes it such a hit is the interaction of additional characters, who go with you through the book, studying the sections and sharing their thoughts about the content via neat, hand-written notes sprinkled throughout the pages.

The readers along for the ride consist of four students and one elder. Their notes give a good insight into their ages and how they process the information. Their inclusion definitely adds some excellent seasoning to the content!

Image via AS Phillips

Tiny book–big impact

For folks who lead small Bible studies, especially with those new to Christianity, I hope you’ll consider giving this book a read. You’ll find a variety of useful inclusions that can be easily incorporated into your ministry. 

If you do, I hope you’ll revisit this post and share your thoughts on it in the comments!

For more information on The Life Book, visit TheLifeBook.com or  The Life Book on Facebook.

The wrap!

Hope you’ll consider checking out this tiny, literary masterpiece for your own library or as a gift to someone else!

Thank you for visiting and hope you'll be back again soon!

‘Til next time,

Shalom

The Amish Rescue Mission: Safety and support for Amish victims of abuse

 

Image via the Amish Rescue Mission

From Amish to English Christian Minister

A while back, I began following Eli Yoder’s YouTube channel. Much of his content is a testimony of his experiences and reasons for leaving the Amish community. He does a sterling job at keeping his videos lighthearted while maintaining a serious side. 

Yoder refers to the Amish as a cult. Although his vids most often include comical anecdotes from his childhood, growing up Amish, some are very clear about the darker aspects of his former community.

Since leaving the Amish, Eli has dedicated himself to Biblical studies and follows the teachings of Jesus Christ. He uses his knowledge when counseling others who want to leave, or have left, the Amish, who are struggling with the Amish culture and beliefs, in ways they understand to contradict the Gospel.

Although he is no longer an accepted part of the Amish community, he expresses gratitude for still being permitted to visit his Amish mother, in her home, as long as he abides by her rules. He mustn’t park his “worldly” vehicle on her property, and wear Amish-style clothing when he visits.

I’ve learned much about the Amish since viewing his videos, including being introduced to a not-for-profit organization established to provide protection and support for Amish victims of abuse. It’s called the Amish Rescue Mission, and the reason it exists is heartbreaking.

Image via PublicDomainPictures of Pixabay

Help for Amish victims

The Amish Rescue Mission provides help for a sizeable array of crimes committed against victims that include...

• Bestiality
• Grooming
• Human trafficking
• Incest
• Intimidation
• Kidnapping
• Rape
• Victim blaming
• Mental, physical, spiritual and verbal abuse

What help is currently available to Amish victims includes...

• A listening ear (Hotline 888-621-1985)
• Education
• Finding a counselor
• Healing
• Hope
• Resources
• Safe houses
• Sponsorships

Their site info ensures victims they assist may remain Amish or Plain. When their life becomes safe and stable, they will be returned to their home, if desired. 

Below is a short vid featuring Rachel Hershbeger-Hawley, co-founder of The Amish Rescue Mission, why it was founded and their goals.

Vigilance in being aware and pro-active

Despicable acts are a global threat and certainly not a threat limited to individuals within the Amish. However, for those raised within Gospel-associated communities to step forward, alert, acknowledge, renounce and provide help for victims within these communities, I have to applaud them for not being a part of the coverups that so often happen to prevent backlash and the fallout that often comes along when these types of malicious acts become public knowledge. 

I also appreciate their focus being specifically on Amish victims. Having this common ground gives them insight into the inner workings of the community, including how the victims view and process the abuse they’ve suffered.

⁸Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.

⁹Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”

Proverbs 31:8-9 

(World Messianic Bible Translation)

The wrap!

Thank you again for visiting today. I hope I've stirred your heart to lift the Amish Rescue Mission, both the staff and those they serve, in prayer.

Although our economy may be in dire straights, God isn't even a little bit limited on funds and His ability to help meet the needs of this wonderful organization and those they strive to help.

Also, thank you for your interest and support of the independent business community, and especially the bloggers and bloggers! It's much appreciated!

'Til next time,

Shalom

The Isaiah 1:17 Project: A Beautiful Community Service

 Image via the Isaiah 1:17 Project website

The shock of an awful situation

Imagine being taken from your home, without warning, by strangers. Let’s also imagine it’s late night, you’re wearing jammies and it’s cold outside. The strangers put you in an unfamiliar vehicle and haul you away, leaving you at a strange house, with people you don’t know.  

This process would be frightening for an adult, even more so for a child. As of 2022, there are nearly half a million kids in foster care--407, 000. Of those, 34% are placed with “relatives or kin”, per the statistics available via childwelfare.gov.

Understanding the challenges of being taken and then delivered to a strange place and being cared for by strangers, is exactly what birthed the Isaiah 1:17 Project.

The project came about in 2017, a dream come to life, for Cameron and Marcia Lambert, foster parents since 2012, and well-acquainted with the struggles of children entering foster care homes as well as the challenges to provide everything they need, quickly.

As stated on their website, children often arrive with nothing but what they’re wearing and in many cases, those clothes aren’t even useable. Initially, the project team provided Blessing Bags, containing clothing, snacks and comfort items for the children. As time went by, the project gained ground and developed into so much more!

Currently, the project provides the following...

• Bags of Hope
• Dream Cycles
• Fortifying Foster Families
• Family Advocacy Ministries
• Care Communities
• Foster Success
• Beauty for Ashes
• Christmas Hopes & Dreams
• Resources

It's always a great time to be thankful!

Not long ago I was privileged to attend a meeting with several of the project team members at a monthly meeting, where I learned so much about this amazing program and the help it’s providing Southern Indiana families involved in foster care.

Right here, I want to thank the project members for welcoming me and allowing me to get acquainted with the project. Also, a big thanks to Port Side Coffee for hosting us, and to Dr. Tamara K. Miley for introducing me to the group! 

I would also like to thank Kathleen Elliot, the program manager of Fortifying Foster Families, for welcoming me to the meeting and after, providing me with a tour of their facility in downtown Princeton, Indiana.

Everyone I met was kind and enthusiastic in their support of the program and the families it serves. Their office and storage areas were well maintained and organized, even tho it was the Christmas season. The amount of work that must have gone into the holiday prep must have been enormous. While I was there, one team member was hard at work in the effort, all the while, engaging with me in friendly conversation, explaining about the items the children and their foster families would receive.

I was sincerely moved by all aspects of the Isaiah 1:17 Project and plan to continue to be involved in its support, and praying for favor and continued success in their endeavors.

I encourage you to please get familiar with them, even if they’re not serving your area. The mechanics of the project could be built in nearly any community, where there’s a desire to improve and be a blessing to the families in the foster care system.

For more information, please reach out to them. They’d love to hear from you!

Call: (812) 386-0117 or email info@theisaiah117project.org. 

If you belong to a church or social group, inviting one of the project’s team members to speak at one of your meetings would be a wonderful way of getting acquainted with the program, as well as introducing them to your community.

At the very least, please lift the project in prayer. Prayer launched from a burden and love is one of the best helps you can provide. 

Learn to do well.

Seek justice.

Relieve the oppressed.

Defend the fatherless.

Plead for the widow.

Isaiah 1:17 

(World Messianic Bible Translation)

The wrap!

Thank you for your visit and your interaction with the independent blogging community is always appreciated! 

‘Til next time,

Shalom!

OstomyLife: Keeping the wig-outs at bay

Image via johnhain of Pixabay

Smarter, not harder

The ideology of working smarter, not harder, is diamond. In every field I’ve worked, when I discovered a more efficient way of doing things, without sacrificing accuracy, I did my best to present it and convince the higher-ups to implement it. Amazingly, I often countered resistance, not from upper management, but from those on the same level, or lower, than I.

Their reasoning?

“We’ve always done it this/that way...”

On the bright side, for the times my idea was accepted, once it was implemented, and folks got used to it, they appreciated the time and effort it saved them, especially in environments that required lots of tasking and hectic schedules.

Presently

In June of 2022, I had surgery to remove cancer and have a stoma built into my abdomen.

Stoma (per Google):  An artificial opening made into a hollow organ, especially one on the surface of the body leading to the gut or trachea.

My colostomy is non-reversible.

Colostomy (per Google): A surgical operation in which a piece of the colon is diverted to an artificial opening in the abdominal wall, to bypass a damaged part of the colon.

Image via United Ostomy Associations of America

Now that I’ve got one seems I’m perpetually learning to navigate life in ways I’ve never had to before.

No pressing my abdomen against the sink when washing something.

Sleeping on my side or back. No more tummy-snoozing.

I gotta keep a stoma-supply pack with me whenever I leave the house, even on short trips.

Gotta ensure it's filled with more than I think I’ll need and if I have to be away for a good while, I often take a change of clothing with me, in event things get messy.

I’ve started calling pouching system (stoma device) failures, bag-tastropies. 

Intervention

Confidence in the pouching systems ostomates (folks with ostomies) use, is needed, but sadly, even the best of the best pouching systems can (and usually do) fail. All sorts of things can cause it. Damp skin when placing it, thick output, very thin output, or even a defect somewhere in the system.

Not all incidents are terrible and difficult to sort, but at the time, they at least feel like an epic event, until the immediate response of panic subsides. 

I’ve read some horror stories by other ostomates that were sincerely terrible, and seen some incidents shared on YouTube that made me cringe!

In general, if it’s a big failure and we’re a good distance from home, without a change of clothes or a nearby bathroom, equipped to handle the situation, it’s a big challenge to clean up and get a new pouching system in place. The ordeal is as emotionally taxing as it can be (for many) physically, at least that’s my experience. Mortified is a good description.

I can’t imagine how difficult stoma life must be for ostomates with poor eyesight or restricted mobility. My heart breaks for them.

I can usually see well enough (and even carry a magnetized mirror with me), to remove and replace a pouching system. They have to be placed very carefully to prevent injury to our stomas and reduce the risk of leakage.

Disaster response

Past that, there’s the cleanup. It can be a huge challenge because we have to hold one hand (with a cloth, paper towel, whatever we can grab that's clean) over our stomas. We use our free hand to wash, apply whatever products we might have to use (anti-sting skin-barrier spray or wipes, paste and sometimes a few other things. Then allow for our skin to dry before putting the new system in place.

The struggle is real for me, even at home. I can't help but wonder how folks who have limited hand usage, or maybe even prosthetic hands, manage ostomy life.

Image via StepIntoFuture of Pixabay

Oh, the excitement!

The latest bag-tastrophe taught me to ensure my portable stoma kit is carrying more supplies than I think I might need, and a change of clothing. Even if there’s a bathroom, where we can rinse things out, wearing them wet and having to step outside in frigid weather was just... 

Yeesh!!!

Image via Rollstein of Pixabay

Remembering the good, when things don’t seem so good

I’m thankful it wasn’t worse. It was more than bad enough, but still could have been worse. I’m also thankful my friend (who was driving me), stayed as calm as a windless sea during the whole episode. That was an absolute blessing because the more anxious I feel, the more my gastrointestinal system reacts to the stress (not in good ways).

Seeing she wasn’t wigging out helped my stress to a minimum, allowing me to focus on getting myself cleaned up and sorted with a new pouch as fast as possible. 

I’m happy to report that I lived through another something I used to think I’d just die over.

In the know

As is, I feel obligated to tell most folks I spend time with (that aren’t already aware) about my stoma. Things like...

• It can make rude noises that I can’t always hear, nor do I have any control over it.
• My pouch’s filter occasionally works, and it’s not always at a good time. 
• We have to pull over at the nearest place with a restroom because I’m suddenly, and without warning, at maximum capacity.
• Thank you but I have to decline. My tummy’s feeling wonky and I have to stick with safe food today.
• Nope, I can’t spend the night, but when I get a van, I can camp in the driveway! (Vans are wonderful vehicles when folks with stomas need to be away from home for lengthy periods.)

That’s at least a few points of the heads-up speech some of us give when we feel the need to warn those we’re with about what hanging out with us might entail.

Shook

This post came about because I’m not quite past the shook feeling from the last incident. The memories and associated anxiety tend to linger. It happens every time.

Yup. I do realize the correct term is shaken but, shook is still the better description so I’m engaging artistic license.

The culprit

Before I had the colostomy, I didn’t have trouble with intestinal blockages, but that changed after surgery. Since then, I’ve had several episodes. Sometimes the blockages are due to food reactions. Others are prompted by intestinal inflammation, an aspect of the gastrointestinal disorder I was born with. 

They cause abdominal discomfort and output challenges due to gas pressure or sudden overfill in the pouching system. These cause the adhesive on the flange to pull away from the skin around the stoma, which allows for leakage.

Remedies

After many months of being bombarded with medications that caused intense gut reactions, I’ve been researching how other ostomates manage these blockages. I incorporate those that work well. Sometimes they work fast, but usually take a few days. One that tends to be my go-to, is seasoned vegetable broth. I add vegan bacon bits, sesame or olive oil to it, and sometimes blend in a tablespoon of nut butter, per soup mug.

It tastes great. It’s filling. It helps decrease intestinal inflammation and break down the blockage.

Years ago, one of my doctors prescribed low-impact jogging. While my health has permitted it, I’ve done it and it does help keep down the inflammation in my GI system. It’s a slow pace, but when I’ve not been interrupted by bouts of illness, I can maintain a steady pace for a good distance--my record being five miles.

Since surgery, I made it up to just under a mile a few weeks ago. I’ll increase the distance soon as the mile is comfortable, even on the uphills. 

Resources

Ostomates, and their loved ones, have access to a large compilation of online resources, where they can learn how to live with a stoma as well as discover products and services available to help them with the challenges they face.

I’ve listed a few below...

United Ostomy Associations of America

American Cancer Society

Stoma and Ostomy Support Group (Facebook)

Ostomy Inspire

The wrap!

Thanks for making it this far! I didn’t mean for any of this to come across as complaining.

I felt the need to write it so I could do my part in helping raise awareness of the challenges ostomates sometimes face in public. Too, I want to be supportive of other ostomates (and their loved ones), who're maybe new to stoma life and are maybe feeling alone or isolated in it.

This is my way of raising my hand, to let them know they’re not. As for me, I have the Lord Jesus Christ, who has comforted, encouraged and strengthened me through every bit of this journey and maintains with me moving forward.

For I, Jehovah thy God, Am strengthening thy right hand, He who is saying to thee, 'Fear not, I have helped thee.' 

Isaiah 41:13

(Young’s Literal Translation)

My thanks for your visit today, and as always, for your support of the independent blogging community.

Shalom

Ostomates: An emerging, supportive community

 

Do you know an ostomate?

Image via Gerd Altmann of Pixabay

June–2022

I woke up from surgery with five missing organs, a new opening in my abdomen, accessing my coon, and some new medical hardware encasing it.

I had anticipated the abdominal change and hardware, but my excellent surgeon, Dr. Deane Smith, soon informed me that the changes weren’t reversible, as we’d hoped. 

Crud... 

I felt a heavy disappointment and sometimes still do. On the bright side, disappointment doesn’t rule. Gratitude does.

I’ve had GID (Gastro-Intestinal Disorder) since birth, which made life challenging for as far back as I remember. Before my own memories, my elders remembered and filled me in when I got older. 

Persistent abdominal discomfort, bouts of nausea and an ever-increasing need to know where the bathrooms were located in every building I entered, so I could get to them quickly. The illness made work and social activities difficult and as I grew older, often impossible. 

By the time I was 55, my time was often restricted to short trips and staying near home and was on a constant dose of meds to help me tolerate the GID challenges. An additional complication brought on by the illness was consistent bouts of fatigue and mind-fog. 

In late autumn of 2021, I ended up needing emergency surgery, which led to the discovery of rectal cancer. 

My new normal

I opted to delay the surgery to remove it in order to have a chance of shrinking the tumor, hopefully making it small enough to allow me to have a reversible colostomy. 

I had four weeks of chemotherapy, Monday through Friday, and six weeks of radiation, Monday through Friday. The medical protocol did manage to shrink the tumor, but not enough to allow for a reversible colostomy. 

Unless I get a miraculous healing, I’ll be wearing a stoma-device (bag) attached to my abdomen for the rest of my life.

I’m not thrilled about it, but again, I’m thankful for it. It’s a small price to pay to be cancer-free and to have at least a good bit more freedom in being active and not as location-restricted. 

I had three more months of chemotherapy post-op and didn’t tolerate it well, so most of my days were spent between the hospital (thank you Deaconess Gateway Oncology and Infusion Center and Chemo Buddies!) and home.

I had excellent care, not just technically, but personally and even spiritually. Most of my care team are Christians and more than once joined me in prayer for both myself and others. 

Getting acquainted

During treatment, and after surgery, I became a part of a couple communities new to me. The one I’m featuring in this post is Ostomates, meaning anyone with an ostomy, and even their loved ones. I’d done a fair bit of research on ostomies before surgery, but kept it limited so I’d not be stressing over it. 

When I learned mine was permanent, I began engaging in more depthy research, via YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Once I connected and began interacting with these groups, life began to get easier, even with all the challenges of life with a new stoma. 

Within a few months, I began interacting with other ostomates within the social networks. I learned sooooo much from them that I didn’t learn while hospitalized. Every hurdle I’d had to overcome, many ostomates had already surpassed them and shared the information on how they did it to help newbies, like me, be able to overcome them, too.

The groups weren’t comprised of only folks with stomas (ostomies), but also their caregivers, many of which are parents of infants who’d had to undergo ostomy surgery, sometimes in less than 24 hours after their birth. Many others were parents of toddlers or older children with stomas.

The myriad of complications new ostomates encounter makes up a pretty large list, and it seemed everything on that list was represented in the social network group members. The information isn’t always easy to share with others, and yet thousands have done it anyway, even to sharing images of their stomas and the medical devices they use to accommodate them.

Moving forward

I’ll be sharing some of the businesses, organizations and other types of stoma-support information in upcoming posts. Today, tho, I’d like to introduce a new friend, I made during my quest for knowledge on all things stoma-related.

His name is Jai and I found him via his YouTube channel, Indian Ostomy Boy. Like me, he’s a rectal cancer survivor with a permanent colostomy. Jai is a veteran of stoma life, having had his diagnosis, treatment and surgery several years ago.

His attitude is consistently positive and I’ve loved getting acquainted with his life as an ostomate in both rural India as well as the city. He’s an accomplished yet humble man who makes himself available to those needing information on what to expect, available options and how to live their best life, even with a stoma.

I hope you’ll please check out his YouTube channel just for the sake of learning, as well as supporting him as an independent business owner, and in addition, in event you know someone who’s part of the ostomate community. 

You can find Jai’s content in these locations...

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Working together in community support and educating others 

The ostomate community is dedicated to not only helping ostomates thrive in stoma-life, but also to raise awareness about stoma-life to everyone, helping folks understand the challenges ostomates live with—especially those that can be especially distressing when they occur in public places.

Examples include stoma-device failures that can make for an embarrassing mess, or (one of which I experienced recently) stoma-produced sound effects that ostomates have no control over.

I’ve read several recent accounts of what I deemed to be social horror stories that ostomates experienced. They were bad enough that I felt great sympathy for them and hope I never experience similar situations. 

Dismissing the rude

My bag-tastrophie prevention kit, compliments of my family, for Christmas

Image via AS Phillips

Not one person has yet been rude to me about any of the aspects of stoma-life. That comes down to my life being truly saturated with God-given, compassionate and accommodating people.

Yup—it’s good to be blessed!

“...doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself; 4  each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.” 

Philippians 2: 3-4

World Messianic Bible Translation

The wrap!

Thank you for visiting today!

I pray this edition has been valuable and informative for you! If you have information you’d like to share on the topic, please leave us a comment! Your interaction is always appreciated.

‘Til next time,

Shalom

YouVersion: Tried it yet?

 

Image via YouVersion

Free and portable with loads of features!

YouVersion’s, The Bible App, hit the app stores in 2008. In 2022 it reached a celebrated milestone of being available in 100 languages and 36 countries! There’s no fee for using it, but they do offer a non-pushy option for crowdfunding to help cover development costs.

YouVersion’s mission is “...to encourage and challenge people to seek intimacy with God, every day.”

YouVersion partnered with OneHope in development of their Bible App for Kids. I’ve used it myself, when incorporating it into some life-skill activities with younger folks and found it to be easy to use and engaging.

Here’s a list for you, of reasons I’m promoting The Bible App. They’re why it has maintained as my fav, portable Bible study tool..

• Comes with a boatload of translation versions, including the World Messianic Bible Translation (one of my favs and most used).
• Its main Bible can be downloaded to your mobile devices in whatever translation you prefer, that the app offers.
• You can take notes on it
• You can color-code scripture in it
• It has bunches of study plans, or you can study scripture alone
• You can engage in the studies alone, or let your friends see what plans you’re studying, or invite them to join you in a study.
• You can generate images with embedded scripture to share within the app, download to your device, or export to share in social platforms.
• The study plans are in categories and many of them have the option of linking to a larger version, by the author.
• Doesn’t take up lots of space on your mobile device.
• Has online versions for Windows, iMac, Android phones/ tablets, Windows phones/tablets, iPhones and iPads.
• It has its own community, complete with messaging and chat options. You might be amazed at how many folks you know that are already using it!

The Bible App is currently (2023) installed on “...more than 500 million unique devices around the world. Their generous partners make it possible for them to offer 2,898 Bible versions in 1,884 languages for FREE, and with NO ADVERTISING. 

Oh, yeah, did I mention it’s free? (Grin!)

From my perspective, this is an app to appreciate and celebrate! Hope you'll enjoy it as much as I do!

12 for the reckoning of God is living, and working, and sharp above every two-edged sword, and piercing unto the dividing asunder both of soul and spirit, of joints also and marrow, and a discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart;

Hebrews 4:12

Young's Exact Translation

The wrap!

Thanks for visiting and I hope you've found this interesting and that I've successfully enticed you to check out YouVersion, if you haven't already.

Hope you'll be back again soon, and thank you for your interest and support of the independent business community bloggers and vloggers!

'Til next time...

Shalom

Movin’, movin’, movin’...

Image via kreatikar of Pixabay

Celebrating recovery!

As of this week, it’s been two years since I landed in the hospital for a month, right after Thanksgiving 2021. I spent Christmas and the New Year in the hospital and therapy center. This week is also my anniversary of being one year cancer free!

During the first year of chemo/radiation/surgeries, and the second in recovery, time seemed to drag by. I spent most of it sleeping or praying–especially praying for God to help me get to the other side of all the difficult stuff.

So here I am, and all of it is in over-my-shoulder view.

The Lord is faithful! 

He’s blessed me with the support of amazing friends and family. Also, the understanding that as difficult as things sometimes got, all of it could have been much, much worse, and I’m still thankful that it wasn’t.

About the moving...

Spring of 2023, I began moving content from my Weebly-based website, back to Blogger. Blogger was the very first blogging platform I ever used, but after many years with Weebly, I was dissatisfied with the lack of customization options and the ease of producing good looking posts, like I had with Weebly, so, I bailed and went back to Weebly.

Weebly has always been buggy. If a blogger’s work is monetized, such as with AdSense or Amazon affiliation, Weebly sometimes (far too often for my liking) fails to publish, or posts disappear entirely, especially with third-party coding, such as the inclusion of AdSense and Amazon affiliation. This happens even though the platform is set up to easily integrate with AdSense.

I was all good giving Weebly another go until about a month ago, when Weebly’s platform began having hiccups again, and this time, there was no acceptable solution to getting it sorted.

Ten hours with Weebly’s tech-support team before they decided the problem was with the customization of my site (which is supported in the selections, but change one thing, like a background image or fonts (even tho they’re offered. 

So, if my Weebly site has to look ugly and can’t support AdSense, there wasn’t much point in maintaining with it, so, I’m officially back at Blogger and very, VERY happy about it.

Blogger isn’t as visually fancy, but it’s still customizable and doesn’t wig out over using my own graphics, changing fonts, including AdSense or Amazon affiliate coding.  It also comes with LOADS of widgets that provide guests with quality resources for my website visitors to enjoy.

My YouTube channel

Another thing, YouTube is a sister-platform of Blogger, both being owned by Google.

Both can generate money for content makers. Their monetization comes from the same source, but each is independent in its stats, so you know how many guests your website and channel are each getting and same thing for the coin they generate. Very blonde-friendly!

If you’ve not yet visited my channel, I hope you will. You can get there via the side-bar link here on the the site, or just click here.

All that and Blogger is totally free, always has been. Google also provides customized domain names for under $15 annually, and there's no extra fee to have them on Blogger. 

Currently, Weebly charges $10 per month to accommodate a personalized domain name.

More perks: Getting back in touch via Blogger

One of the many perks of blogging on Blogger is its community of bloggers! 

Blogger makes it easy to find other writers using the Blogger platform, and I’d forgotten how easy it is to follow several writing colleagues, who became friends over the years, also using Blogger.

I’m gonna enjoy catching up on their site content and will share a few links to their sites below, for your perusal.

Molometer (Prof. Mike Mulcahy)

Sometimes serious but often a hoot! This guy is knowledgeable on a wide array of interesting subjects and presents mot of them through YouTube vlogs, thatare also available on his website. Scholastics, scuba, music (especially strings) and travel are just some of the topics he addresses in his work, and not a one of them is boring!

"Stoopin It" In the Suburbs (Dr. Laura Rogers, PhD)

Like Mike, Laura produces some fascinating and beneficial content on her site. She’s an excellent writer and often addresses many life-challenges that most people encounter sooner or later. She’s an optimist, which shines bright in her posts. 

WarnerWords (Prof. Vicki Warner)

WW may be last but it’s certainly not least! Vicki Warner and I have been close friends and colleagues for more than a decade now, and like Mike, she has an amazing array of content, oozing with helpful content on topics such as organic master gardening, cooking, travel, money management and more! 

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38  “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to you.§ For with the same measure you measure it will be measured back to you.”

Luke 6:38 

(World Messianic Bible Translation)

The wrap!

Thank you for visiting today and I hope you’ll continue on with me, here on Blogger. It may not be qute as fetching as Weebly, but it doesbn’t look back and the perks it provides in a good user and guest experience have been well worth the move, so I hope you’ll continue on with me in this blogging/vlogging journey and enjoy the new surroundings.

I pray your holiday season is full of blessings, pressed down, shaken together and running over. I pray for God’s protection to cover Israel and until next time, 

Shalom

DIY Organic Salve: Help for cats with wonky tummies

 

Not a cat person? 

This scrawny little dude showed up at a friend’s house, out in the country, insisting on being my friend. Couple days later, I brought him home with me and he’s been here, mostly thriving, ever since.

I say, mostly thriving because, wouldn’t you know? I rescued and adopted a cat with a gastrointestinal disorder, which convinced me of our path-crossing being a God-thing. The good Lord knew I’d be sensitive and patient with that, because, lo and behold... I’ve had a GI disorder since birth.

My sister named him Savitch, after Jessica Savitch, who ignited my love for journalism when I was in my teens. If ever I end up with another pet, I’ll name it Sawyer, after Diane, a fellow Briarhopper, whose work is equally inspiring.

Savitch, right after rescue and adoption

Wonky-gut challenges

Savitch has poor digestive function, which causes him to become easily constipated. At least, that’s how it starts. Once it’s gotten that far, the vomiting, abdominal pain, whining, hissing and drooling set in. 

The first time it happened, I was nearly frantic. We weren’t sure what was going on. He was in pain and miserable, so we rushed him to Stone Ridge Animal Care. Their small animal team is awesome and they’ve been helping us take great care of our senior quarter-horse, Touching Fire, for several years, too.

For Savitch, they checked him out and immediately administered laxatives. He spent the day with them and when I picked him up later, he was a few pounds lighter and feeling much better!

Trial and error

We didn’t learn until later that the GI challenge was gonna be an ongoing thing with Savitch. Little by little we learned what foods he tolerated and what foods got his tummy all jacked up. We switched him to a soft-textured diet but that alone proved to not be enough. He needed more help to digest his meals.

After a little research and careful experimentation, we came up with an inexpensive, simple-to-make organic salve that works great.

Blend these in a small container with a lid. It doesn't need to be refrigerated and may separate after settling. If it does, just give the mixture a stir before using.

  

   

I suggest using corn syrup that doesn't have high-fructose corn syrup as an additive. Great Value brand does not have it in their ingredients. Also it's best to go with an organic, unrefined, virgin coconut oil which is also available in Great Value brand. Both are inexpensive and readily available at Walmart.

Make the mixture about half and half.

You can store it in the fridge, although I keep mine at room temp so it's much easier to apply.

Will look like this...

   

Just a dab will do and this is enough to last for months!

It's easy to apply. I just take a small amount on my fingertip and swipe it onto Savitch's foreleg and top of his paw. He's definitely not a fan of having the mix on his hair and will hop away with a limp before licking it off. 

I do this almost daily and it's cut down on vomiting and constipation, resulting in bowel blockages, about 99.9%. 

On a side note, I do recommend wiping the excess off onto a paper towel before washing your hands. Unrefined coconut oil will eventually build up in your drain pipes, causing plumbing problems.

It's been a few years since I started using this and since then, Savitch hasn't had to go to the animal clinic for a bowel blockage since the first day I began using this on him. Most of the time, unless he's caught a mouse or eaten something he doesn't tolerate well, like dry cat food, his tummy does great!

A happy, healthy Savitch!

⁷Isaiah said, “Take a cake of figs.”

They took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered. 2 Kings 20:7 

(World Messianic Bible)

The wrap!

If you have any experience or information you’d like to share, please leave us a comment. We’d love to hear from you! Knowledge is power and sharing is caring.

I pray you have a beautifully, blessed weekend and hope you’ll be back to visit soon.

Shalom 

Beginner Musicians: Keeping it simple–keeping it fun!

 

L to R: Khloe McClellan (clarinet and percussion), Kathy Smith (ukulele and vocals) Kylie McClellan (ukulele)

Image via AS Phillips

As part of BTW’s Music Therapy series, I’m excited to introduce you to some wonderful folks, participating in their community music program, hosted by Maumee General Baptist Church.

Kathy Smith and Kylie McClellan, are beginner ukulele students. Khloe McClellan is a second-year clarinet student and member of the Owensville Middle School Band. At Maumee she’s a percussionist, playing the box drum and smaller percussion instruments, in the Maumee Generations Jam sessions, an aspect of the community music program.

Kathy is a long-time member of Maumee, and one of the first vocalists (a soprano) to participate in the weekly Generations Jam sessions, which I introduced here on BTW a little while ago.

A few months into the GenJam sessions, we knew we wanted to include free lessons for participants who wanted to learn to play an instrument. Kathy was the first student and continues to in her dedication to both aspects of the GenJam sessions.

The stringers method

Kathy and Kylie are learning to play by ear and memory. The lessons are very short with a larger amount of time spent on rehearsing what they’ve learned in previous lessons. That knowledge is applied by integrating new notes and chords they just learned into the current lesson.

The system keeps things easy and fun for both the students and the teacher(s) and no music sheets are required.

The music students receive a lot of encouragement from the GenerationsJam crew, and making mistakes is never frowned on. It’s all part of the process as they grow in expertise.

Why ukuleles are a frequent fav for beginner musicians

Ukuleles can be an inexpensive investment and they’re easily portable. If a student (or their family) purchases one, and the student decides they don’t want to continue playing it, it can easily be gifted or resold.

Image via AS Phillips

Upgrading an inexpensive uke is also very affordable. High quality strings can be purchased online. My fav uke strings are Aquila’s Lava series. Here’s a little info about them...

Aquila Lava series ukulele strings are inspired by volcanoes, a Hawaiian symbol of new life. They are a grey-black color with a touch of mother-of-pearl. They have the same mechanical and sound properties as Aquila's white-pearl Supernylgut ukulele strings. 

I’ve been using them for several years. I love their sound and they’re comfortable on my fingertips even during long play sessions. Also, they last a good long, while. Other accessories, such as guitar straps, strap buttons and gig bags are also available for very reasonable prices 

Amazon, eBay and Walmart all offer them online for under $15 USD (as of today’s date). They also offer great prices on quality guitar straps, strap buttons (if the uke didn’t come with them already installed) and gig bags.

What do the music sessions do for them?

Khloe

Image via AS Phillips

Khloe

• Knew early on in school, around fourth grade, that she wanted to play in the school band. Her first instrument was an Orff xylophone. She and Kylie are twins and both girls played the same starter instrument in fourth grade
• She chose to learn the clarinet because it was an instrument presented during the beginner band tryouts and she wanted to explore woodwinds. For now, she’s not considering learning other instruments, other than the percussion instruments she plays during the Generation Jams
• Would like to perform for beginner students, to let them know what an instrument would sound like after a few years of learning to play it. Playing music makes her happy and accomplished
• Enjoys playing percussion during the Generations Jam sessions
• Advice to others who are considering learning an instrument to experiment and pick one they like. If they don’t like it as much later, they can switch to a different instrument.

Below is a vid of other fourth-graders playing similar Orff instruments.

Kylie

• Says the ukulele was interesting and decided she wanted to learn to play it. 
• Says it’s an easy instrument to play, and since her second lesson, she’s written a little song to play on it when practicing
• Says she loves all kinds of music except the Gummy Bear song
• Shared same advice as Khloe regarding advice to new musicians

Kathy

• Says she’s learning to play the ukulele because I made her (true ‘nuff). The next instrument she wants to learn is a six-string guitar 
• Would enjoy playing at senior centers and while Christmas caroling because it’d provide an opportunity to share some music and joy to folks who would sincerely appreciate it
• Expressed that playing music makes her sometimes happy, sometimes thoughtful and sometimes sad, depending on the song. Says she’s always loved all kinds of music with exception of opera
• Lately, her fav genre is Bluegrass, especially Bluegrass Gospel
• Says she would encourage new musicians to practice a lot to gain confidence and expertise

All three expressed their desire to continue playing and improving their musical abilities.

All agreed that community music programs provide a great opportunity to enjoy fellowship with other music lovers. 

The wrap!

My thanks to everyone involved in the interview and especially to Kathy, Khloe and Kylie for participating!

If you love music and your area doesn’t have a community jam, maybe check alternative communities near you, or get with a couple friends and start one of your own. Once done, you’ll continue finding ways it’ll bless your life and the lives of others!

38  “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to you.§ For with the same measure you measure it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38 (World Messianic Bible Translation)

Thank you for your visit today, and until next time...

Shalom