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  • Home
  • My Blog
  • My Art
    • Doodles
    • Mixed Media
    • Pen & Pencil Drawings
    • Pen Drawings
    • Pencil Drawings
    • Photography >
      • Nature
      • Where I Want To Be
    • Watercolor Paintings
  • Christianity
    • Christian Beliefs
    • The Beatitudes
    • A Few Myths About Christianity
    • Why Become a Christian?
    • How Do I Become a Christian?
    • Inspirational Videos
  • Lyme Disease Awareness
    • Intro to Lyme Disease
    • Urgent Care for Tick Bites
    • Tick Removal
    • Signs & Symptoms
    • Herxing
    • Tick Infection Prevention
    • Maintaining a Tick-Free Yard
    • Resources >
      • Children & Lyme
      • Lyme & Pets
      • PANS/PANDAS
      • Other Lyme-related symptoms & issues
      • Financial Assistance
      • Outside of the United States
    • Raising Awareness
    • What is a Lyme Survivor?
    • Being a Good Friend
    • Testimonies
    • Humor
  • Contact Me
MY SITE

My Blog

Website Improvement: New Addition to My Art Section

6/22/2018

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Greetings, all!

I decided to add a new sub-category to the My Art section of this website. It's called Doodle Art. Doodling is great for stress relief, gaining new ideas for other projects/tasks and just having fun. I hope you enjoy this new section. It's what I like to refer to as freestyle art or brainstorming...sort of like what I do when coming up with ideas for my novel (and am still in the brainstorm phase of that!).

Here is a sample of what you'll see:
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When looking at the gallery, you might have to linger for a few minutes to see more than a bunch of lines or whatever. What do you see when you look at these pictures?

​Enjoy! :-)
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Be There

5/30/2018

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​"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other." John 13:34

My aunt shared an article with my dad who then shared it with me and now I'm sharing it with you. The message is amazing...so very applicable to our world. One day at a time, one person at a time, we can make this world a better place through unconditional love and support.

Regardless of our ethnicity, circumstances, preferences, and so on, we need each other. Not all of us are prepared to admit that or not. So when you can free up some time in your busy day, find a comfortable corner and read this article. Let it ruminate. Relatable? For me, most definitely.

This article is a powerful excerpt from the book Show Up: Step Out of Your Story and Into Someone Else’s (Dust Jacket Press, 2016) by David Staal.

Loneliness is a large and growing problem. God said in Genesis 2 that it’s not good to be alone, and that truth remains unchanged. Data continues to pile up that proves God’s point. Go figure.

Good news: Every church has the solution. But do they know?  

Although we’re hardwired to connect, our society has gone wireless. Why? Look no further than busyness. It’s like a firewall that prevents one person from noticing what’s happening with another person. 

Yet, when given the chance and a calorie of forward motion, compassion knows how to outmaneuver complexity. I had to take a trip to Haiti to figure this out.

While there, our missions team assisted local tradesmen rebuilding homes an earthquake tore down, ignored the chemical-warfare-like odor emanating from burning trash, and prayed for wind. We also visited an orphanage for several hours.

A week later, we returned home—but a part of me stayed in Haiti after someone ambushed my heart. No, I didn’t meet God in anything to do with the earthquake’s damage. No, He didn’t seem to appear in any smelly fires. And He certainly had no presence in the wind, or lack thereof. Instead, an unexpected sacred moment came in unusually quiet and unspectacular fashion. It took place at the orphanage when I met a Haitian boy no older than three.   

Without a doubt, the American team brought joy to the orphanage. Partially from the beachballs and bottles of bubbles, partially from the small candy packs, and mostly from our group’s high spirits, the result of a day spent away from the construction site. Despite the appeal of revelry, one little boy drifted off to sit alone, under a tree and against a wall. The truth is that people who most need someone to show up for them very often appear a step or two away from all the action.

I barely noticed him as I chased a ball kicked out of a lively scrum that bopped and booted anything inflated and brightly colored. A shallow drainage ditch separated the quiet plot of shade he occupied and the rest of the compound. Maybe it was curiosity caused by his tears; maybe it was a Divine nudge. Who knows—but I rolled the ball toward the crowd, turned away from them, and made a long stride across the trench to sit down next to the little guy.

The only Haitian-Creole words I know include my name, age, and how to ask for the nearest bathroom. He was only three and rightfully knew no English. Good news: to show up for someone doesn’t require clever words. Or sometimes, any words at all. Silence is so under-appreciated and under-utilized.

With all the fun going on all around him, why did he feel so sad? No easy answer came to mind. So I thought about his life. This beautiful little fella arrived in the world like everybody else, but his life took a very different turn. To live in an orphanage means he spends every day with a lot of people but doesn’t have parents. He has to compete for attention, and the competition looks stiff. Real young, real small—he’s probably overlooked a lot. From watching how the kids interact with one another, he definitely experiences a lot of injustice within these walls; in games, in meals, and in life overall. With nothing to call his own, he finally has a fun-looking beachball kicked his way, only to have someone take it right away. Countless scrapes, putdowns, and pushes out of the way. This is not the way life is supposed to work. No mom to hold him. No dad to defend him. No one to rely on. No wonder he was sad.

His life brought tears to my eyes, too, so I scooched closer. There we sat, under a tree and against a wall next to a ditch full of stagnant grey water, tears streaming down our faces. Unable to communicate but clearly able to connect at a level deeper than any conversation could ever flow.

With eyes fixed on the drainage swill, his hand grabbed hold of my little finger and squeezed. Not the grip of someone trying to inflict pain. Rather, the clutch of someone sharing pain and not wanting to let go of the one person who noticed. Eventually, maybe four of five minutes later, he popped up and before I could even shift my weight to stand, he let go of my finger and wrapped both arms around my neck. Definitely the best hug I’ve ever received.

He took a half step back, and as we both wiped tears off our cheeks, a grin appeared and his eyes went bright—as if a window shade abruptly rolled open to reveal full sunshine. As quick as a bullet, he ran toward the crowd and the chaos, reloaded for fun.

It’s easy to watch people from a safe distance. It’s easy to fear speaking the wrong words or feel too busy. It’s easy to do little or nothing, or to stay safely within the walls of what’s familiar and comfortable. The people held down by loneliness rarely lift up their voices to ask for help. If we wait until asked to show up for someone, the wait will run long. In most cases, such a request will never happen. It’s hard to make a personal difference from a distance—even when the separation measures only a few steps.

Money will not fill the gap. The orphanage receives strong financial support. They possess plenty of toys, food, and a sturdy structure. But all that made no difference in the moment with my little friend. His was a more basic need, felt by more people than you and I can comprehend. What he needed most is something everyone can do: anyone can care enough to sit down and stay a moment. Even me.

Was the direction of his life altered that day? Nope. That’s not the point of this story. In the process of an act as ridiculously simple as a shared moment of time and attention and reaction to his life, my little friend opened my eyes to what the world needs most—people willing to show up for one another. No process to follow. No expectations. Not even effort to fix the situation. Meet him where he’s at regardless of where I’ve come from. 

Loneliness is a hole people find themselves in, for whatever the reason. I’ve been that person enough to know the only solution: someone willing to show up and extend a hand—or even just a pinky.

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Website Improvements

5/7/2018

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As a website owner, I feel it's important to audit my site every now and then. After all, just about everything in life needs some sort of upgrade/change, right? So this evening, I decided to update the site. I didn't look at everything because there's so much material...and because I need a decent night's sleep for a change. LOL.

Text improvements have been made to the Welcome page, and the Contact Me page received some necessary design updates. I removed the open links to Twitter as that particular account is receiving some necessary changes, as well. No worries, if you already follow me, you will still have access.

If you have any suggestions or comments, please contact me!

Cheers!

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Happy Star Wars Day!

5/4/2018

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May the 4th be with you!

YouTube Cred: The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon
YouTube Cred: Britain's Got Talent
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National Day of Prayer

5/3/2018

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On this National Day of Prayer, I would like to share my favorite childhood "camp song" with you. The words and feelings behind this beautiful hymn are just as true today as they were back then...and every day going forward. :-)

PS: Jesus loves each and every one of us!

​Hymn by William Batchelder Bradbury

Jesus loves me—this I know,
For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong--
They are weak, but He is strong.

Refrain
​

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.


Jesus loves me—He who died
Heaven’s gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin,
Let His little child come in.

Refrain

Jesus loves me—loves me still,
Though I’m very weak and ill;
From His shining throne on high
Comes to watch me where I lie.

Refrain

Jesus loves me—He will stay
Close beside me all the way,
Then His little child will take
Up to Heaven for His dear sake.

Refrain
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"The National Day of Prayer is celebrated (on the first Thursday of May) by Americans of many religions, including Christians of many denominations, including Protestants and Catholics, as well as Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus, and Jews, reflecting the demographics of the United States. On the National Day of Prayer, many Americans assemble in prayer in front of courthouses, as well as in houses of worship, such as churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples. Luncheons, picnics, and music performances revolving around praying for the nation are also popular observances. Traditionally, the President of the United States issues an official National Day of Prayer proclamation each year as well." - Wikipedia
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May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month

5/1/2018

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Please help support Lyme Disease Awareness this month (and all year around)!

I will update the Everything Lyme section of this website periodically and will be most active on Twitter. Have a contribution to make to the Everything Lyme section? Please contact me. I'm interested in hearing from you.
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Website Improvement!

4/30/2018

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Reading the Bible in a year...it's something I haven't attempted since I was a child.

​While surfing Christianity.org, I found an excellent "beginning to end" plan and decided it would be a good addition to this website (and good for me as well!). If interested in a guided plan, please check out the Read the Bible in a Year section. :-)

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NEW in the Multimedia Section

4/18/2018

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I love Pinterest. I can sit and look at interesting pictures for hours if given the time, which, on a bad Lyme day, I tend to do.

Recently, Fairy Tale fan art caught my eye, in particular an hourglass by rchella. I wanted to put my own spin on the work...changing the hourglass and giving it a unique background. After a long night of vigorous drawing and a second night spent working on the details while at Starbucks, I completed the piece. By the way, I've said it before and I'll say it again, I do love Starbucks. Except when the noise of the giggly teenagers can't be drowned out by the smooth base pouring from my headphones and when couples at neighboring tables need to totally get a room instead of swooning and driving this single lady up the wall. 

Anywho, the name of my most recent creation is "Melt Into Me". It captures the essence of a boy trapped in a cold, depressing world melting into the warm, tropical paradise of a cheerful mermaid (and she's not the kind of mermaid that sends sailors to their death, mind you). It's sort of a love story in the making, providing a sense of hope and anticipation. Not everything in the world is cold and gray.

Enjoy! :-)
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Happy Easter!

4/1/2018

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Jesus Has Risen!

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered His words.

9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

On the Road to Emmaus

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing Him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

19 “What things?” He asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said He was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.

28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if He were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them.

30 When He was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus Himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

40 When He had said this, He showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, He asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and He took it and ate it in their presence.

44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

45 Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

The Ascension of Jesus
​

50 When He had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 While He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up into Heaven. 52 Then they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

Luke 24: 1-53

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Here's What's Up...

2/3/2018

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Hi everyone!

So sorry I haven't posted in a while. 2018 didn't start as I'd hoped...being in treatment for Lyme and Bartonella has its complications sometimes. Without getting into details, I'll just say that I've had some pretty sweet days, but also some rather crappy ones, too. Despite it all, I AM getting better and that's a wonderful feeling. It's sooooo important to (even on the worst days) keep the faith, remain hopeful...and find ways to just laugh out loud and have fun. I've taken to playing silly games, for example. Computer chess, old fashioned and computer Scrabble and Poker with my fam. I won back my Poker Championship title last month and am totally bragging because I'm very proud of myself and feel there should be a ring or a belt to mark the achievement. Hey, the competition was tough! 

I am going to get back to the blog one of these days. There are a few ideas in the works right now...they just haven't been completely developed yet. Like, I've been doing "Bible in a Year" and I want to share that chronological plan on this site. When the design is complete, it'll be under "Free Gifts." 

​In the meantime, thank you for continuing to follow me even though I haven't been a regular poster. You all are awesome and I hope 2018 is your best year yet; one that is full of love, joy, success and fulfilled potential. :-)

Love,

​Jen

PS: If I don't get a chance to say it, Happy Valentine's Day (in advance)! Doesn't matter if you're single or in a relationship, everyone deserves to know that they're loved. And deserve chocolate...especially single people like myself. :-)

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