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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 >
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      • PANS/PANDAS
      • Other Lyme-related symptoms & issues
      • Financial Assistance
      • Outside of the United States
    • Raising Awareness
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"Using Your Voice is a Political Choice"

1/21/2021

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Amanda Gorman's "The Hill We Climb"

1/21/2021

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When day comes we ask ourselves,
where can we find light in this never-ending shade?
The loss we carry,
a sea we must wade
We've braved the belly of the beast
We've learned that quiet isn't always peace
And the norms and notions
of what just is
Isn’t always just-ice
And yet the dawn is ours
before we knew it
Somehow we do it
Somehow we've weathered and witnessed
a nation that isn’t broken
but simply unfinished
We the successors of a country and a time
Where a skinny Black girl
descended from slaves and raised by a single mother
can dream of becoming president
only to find herself reciting for one
And yes we are far from polished
far from pristine
but that doesn’t mean we are
striving to form a union that is perfect
We are striving to forge a union with purpose
To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and
conditions of man
And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us
but what stands before us
We close the divide because we know, to put our future first,
we must first put our differences aside
We lay down our arms
so we can reach out our arms
to one another
We seek harm to none and harmony for all
Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true:
That even as we grieved, we grew
That even as we hurt, we hoped
That even as we tired, we tried
That we’ll forever be tied together, victorious
Not because we will never again know defeat
but because we will never again sow division
Scripture tells us to envision
that everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree
And no one shall make them afraid
If we’re to live up to our own time
Then victory won’t lie in the blade
But in all the bridges we’ve made
That is the promised glade
The hill we climb
If only we dare
It's because being American is more than a pride we inherit,
it’s the past we step into
and how we repair it
We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation
rather than share it
Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy
And this effort very nearly succeeded
But while democracy can be periodically delayed
it can never be permanently defeated
In this truth
in this faith we trust
For while we have our eyes on the future
history has its eyes on us
This is the era of just redemption
We feared at its inception
We did not feel prepared to be the heirs
of such a terrifying hour
but within it we found the power
to author a new chapter
To offer hope and laughter to ourselves
So while once we asked,
how could we possibly prevail over catastrophe?
Now we assert
How could catastrophe possibly prevail over us?
We will not march back to what was
but move to what shall be
A country that is bruised but whole,
benevolent but bold,
fierce and free
We will not be turned around
or interrupted by intimidation
because we know our inaction and inertia
will be the inheritance of the next generation
Our blunders become their burdens
But one thing is certain:
If we merge mercy with might,
and might with right,
then love becomes our legacy
and change our children’s birthright
So let us leave behind a country
better than the one we were left with
Every breath from my bronze-pounded chest,
we will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one
We will rise from the gold-limbed hills of the west,
we will rise from the windswept northeast
where our forefathers first realized revolution
We will rise from the lake-rimmed cities of the midwestern states,
we will rise from the sunbaked south
We will rebuild, reconcile and recover
and every known nook of our nation and
every corner called our country,
our people diverse and beautiful will emerge,
battered and beautiful
When day comes we step out of the shade,
aflame and unafraid
The new dawn blooms as we free it
For there is always light,
if only we’re brave enough to see it
If only we’re brave enough to be it

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The National Anthem: 2021 Style

1/21/2021

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I particularly love Lady Gaga's performance at the Inauguration yesterday. Her rendition of The National Anthem was beautiful.

She took some heat on her outfit, but I thought it was great. I believe that gold dove is meant to be a peace dove, not a Hunger Games mockingjay. (Though if she'd said "may the odds be ever in your favor," it would've been totally appropriate, America.) :-)
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Hope

1/20/2021

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Victory!!!

11/7/2020

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These two have made history in so many ways!
Congratulations, President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris!!
You're amazing!!
(so sorry you've inherited such a mess...)

PS: Cutest. Picture. Ever
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Biden/Harris 2020 Art

11/6/2020

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I'd love to give artistic credit where credit is due, however, I have no idea who did this. It's a beautiful, inspirational piece, for certain! The artist is very talented.
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Words of Concern

11/6/2020

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We need more kindness, more love.

Not Violence.
Not Hate.
Not Death Threats.
None of that is good.

People in power, whether political or otherwise, should be especially careful because their support base listens, and some interpret it as gospel...and then go on the attack. See the violent protesting, bomb threats and even murderous suggestions? I have never seen such herd insanity and I am truly disappointed and saddened by our once great Nation.

Every generation it's gotten worse. When I was a young child, I didn't recognize it. That is the beauty of innocence. No child is born evil, they are made that way. With age, it didn't take long to see that the world wasn't all sunshine and daisies.


This election, these political times, have fueled more dangerous hate and division than ever. With regards to our election, sure, it is 100% fine to have a range of feelings. You can be ecstatic. Happy. Tearful. Angry. It's a process that we all for our emotional stability have to experience.

It isn't okay, however, to be violent and bring harm, whether physical or emotional (such as cyberbullying), to fellow brothers and sisters. It's especially shameful if done in God's name. The President is not the King.

We are a Nation in desperate need of healing.
We need each other now more than ever.
Before it's too late.
United we stand, divided we fall.

We need to be the people we want ourselves to be...the good people we see in the mirror.

Let us be the people we can be proud of.
Let us work together, help bring peace and calm to our Nation and to the World.
Let us be the people that generations to come can be grateful for.

I don't care who you voted for.
I care about your heart, your soul, who you were, are and may become.

When I say I love you, regardless of whether I know you or not, I am speaking with love and hope in my heart for unification and for a better Nation and World.

We are not here to hate, divide and live among chaos.


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Twas the Night Before the Election...

11/2/2020

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Let me preface this by acknowledging that I am not perfect nor better than anyone else and I’m accountable for all that I knowingly do and say. Now…
 
The 2020 Presidential Election
 
Oh boy! (eek!!)
 
Tomorrow is going to be an interesting day. The smell of fresh riots blocking polling districts. The crazy social media battles. The tug o’ war between hope and hate. The cheering. The jeering. The crying. As I've already voted, I’m going outside once tomorrow. Just once. Going to get my free drink from Starbucks and hope that I don’t get attacked by anyone—got word of some angry political mobs in my neighborhood (I’m between two major polling locations). To the detriment of my peace of mind, I plan to stay up all night watching those votes pour in. Who's with me?? :-) It’s going to be historic, whomever wins.
 
For better, for worse, we’re going to have a President. Will it be Trump again or will it be Biden? The polls say one thing, providing hope for some and dismay for others. And then there are other possible stressy factors like voter fraud, hacker activity and other popular conspiracy theories. Oh and we can’t forget the “ever popular” possibility of the popular vote being trumped, no pun intended, by the Electoral College. Do we seriously need an Electoral College? That system is antiquated.
 
No matter who wins, the next 4 years won't be all sunshine and daisies. Some voters—on both the left and the right—believe their candidate to be the savior we’ve been waiting for. Umm…no. There’s only one Savior. You know Him. The Almighty Popular Dude in Heaven Who Loves Us: Jesus! Neither Biden nor Trump has the power to save us. They do, however, have the power to make things better or worse. And both have exclusive rights to the launch codes.
 
There are a few groups of people out there. The loudest seem to be the fringe (both sides). So much hate. So much violence. So much chaos. It’s worse than it’s ever been. Politics really has a way of setting the world on fire. We the People have a heart condition of epic proportions. Fix that and perhaps things like, I dunno, Presidential leadership, won’t be so much of a big deal? And maybe we can actually start helping each other with the key issues at hand.
 
Being an Independent is a really funny place to be. I’m an Independent because I have what are considered a combination of progressive and conservative interests/values/viewpoints/whatever you want to call them. The stereotype is that all Democrats and Republicans think and believe a certain way according to their party. While that seems to be true, that’s not the case for everyone and perhaps there are more Independents than realized. Here are some examples that don’t live up to the crazed stereotypes of what both parties say they champion:

  • Not all Democrats are for abortion, while some Republicans are.
  • Some Republicans are LGBTQ+ and/or support LGBTQ+ and support same sex marriage.
  • Christianity is not limited to one political party. Some Democrats AND Republicans are Christians. And sinners. It is wrong to say otherwise and especially to do so in Jesus’ name…false teaching is running rampant and is extremely dangerous. It’s also not a great marketing tool for any church hoping to gain new members. In fact, how a Christian acts sometimes defines whether or not a person wants to become a Christian and determines whether a Christian stays or leaves his/her existing congregation.
  • Not all Republicans AND Democrats are extremists, some are quite peaceful.
  • Some Democrats are for guns, not all Republicans are.
  • Some Democrats support the police, not all Republicans do.
  • Both political parties are American. It is hateful to say that one party isn’t.
 
That’s just a miniscule set of examples. There are more!
 
Neither Republicans nor Democrats should lump each other into stereotypical groups because not only are stereotypes hurtful, many times they are false. I have been hurt during the course of this election. And it goes beyond unfriending. Because I’m Team Biden, I’ve been lumped into the non-Christian category, the baby killer category and of course I must also be a witch. One person has said that they’ll pray for my soul... While it’s always good to pray for people, be mindful of why you say "I'll pray for you" because it's not always nice..
 
The majority of the time I don’t voice my stance on politics or specific political concerns for the sake of preserving my peace of mind and not destroying relationships. I don’t care who my friends and family vote for because it’s truly none of my business unless they want me to know AND I love each and every one of them for who they are. I’m not going to persecute them and/or put them into nasty stereotyped boxes or call them names. I’m going to love them and hope that they love me back even though I’m on Team Biden.
 
My personal belief is that if re-elected, Trump will make matters worse—for America and the world. He promised to Make America Great Again in 2016. He has not lived up to his long list of promises. In fact, Trump managed to undo quite a lot of progress that President Obama and Vice President Biden had made…there is factual data to prove this, as well. If elected, Biden will have to spend part of the time putting out fires and the other trying to undo the damage of the prior administration (all the while balancing COVID-19 and the upsidedown chaos mess that we’ve become).
 
So whichever team wins the election, may God be with them. May God forgive us for what we do, unknowingly and knowingly. My God heal our hearts and make way for hope to be reborn and flourish.

The chaos between us needs to end.
The healing needs to begin.
We cannot afford to be this way any longer.

I love you all.

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"Rise Up"

6/10/2020

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The talented and beautiful Andra Day. Her song, "Rise Up", is...perfect.
Take a moment.
Sit back.
Relax.
Listen.
Breathe in, breathe out.
Release the hate, embrace the love.
Love.
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United We Stand, Divided We Fall

10/9/2018

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I’m not a fan of politics…that’s not the purpose of this website. And when/if politics is mentioned here again, it won’t be often. Politics is sooooo toxic and who needs that? Seriously.

Please do not assume what my political beliefs are because I offer a section on Christianity. I’m a middle-of-the-road independent voter who happens to be Christian. Some of my views are liberal while others are conservative. Therefore, when I vote, I do so according to who I feel is the best candidate for the job.  

That said:
  1. I didn’t vote for President Trump. 
  2. I won’t vote for him when he’s up for re-election. 
  3. I wish President Obama was still in office. (And it would be amazeballs if his very capable wife Michelle would run in the next election!!)​

"Danger, Will Robinson"

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​What kind of person President Trump is isn’t for me or anyone on earth to judge. That's God's job.

Sure, I admit I've been tempted to call him a bad word like one kid to another on a playground, and I've participated in a few colorful table discussions that I've later regretted... But I have to keep reminding myself that such participation is toxic. And what concerns me (and should concern everyone else) is the flip decision-making and the damaging, dangerous and divisive trickle-down effect of those decisions. Any and all changes have the potential to rock the world, not just the United States, in terrible ways.

It's really sad because President Trump and his administration have the ability to do so many wonderful things and they're wasting it.

I’m disturbed about the popular beliefs (on both sides of the aisle and voiced by all ethnicities, not just caucasians) that President Trump:
  • has turned this country into a white Christian conservative republican nation,
  • that this is now a Christian nation ruled by powerful white men,
  • that he has the ability to “save us all” and/or 
  • has signaled the end of the world, e.g., End Times.

What do I think about this?
  • I totally agree that the wealthy few (who aren't just white men, mind you) have way too much dominant sway. It is important to realize that not all weathy people are corrupt. And all people should be encouraged despite their level of means to influence and help for good and not evil. 
 
  • To say this is a white Christian conservative republican nation as a result of the Trump Presidency is 100% false and dangerous and it's a really good way to make Christianity look bad. I wonder if Satan is getting his kicks from that negative publicity? Regardless of our beliefs, we're sinners and are hurting each other and forgetting the essential keys of what is truly important. Scary side note: how many Christians and non-Christians alike are wandering further and further from the Path of Faith because of current twisted views? 
 
  • Calling President Trump a savior...that's actually a little humorous. President Trump comparable to Jesus? Hahahaha. No. Wake up, people, God didn't grant President Trump with the power and authority to truly save us. True Salvation is a gift from God to mankind. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or by good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness can we be saved from sin's penalty. Eternal life begins the moment we receive Jesus Christ into our life by faith. Again, President Trump cannot offer this sacred gift.
​
  • End times, eh? That's a tricky one. Or not...Matthew 24:36 states: "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." Period. And for believers, there is no reason to fear it. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

Politics is toxic and powerful, but it won't win in the long run

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​In Mark 12:30-31, Jesus said,

“(30) Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (31) The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Are we doing this? I admit I'm not always great about it and I can bet that I'm not alone. Perhaps we should all try more than we do. Nothing is impossible.

​There is still a chance for all of us. There is still hope and there is still good in this nation, this world. Together we can make a difference for positive change while we're here. One person at a time. It's not always easy, but one step at a time, it becomes easier.
  • Love one another.
  • Be patient.
  • Be forgiving.
  • Be kind.
  • Have faith.
  • Show grace.
  • Promote peace and be peaceful.
  • Break free of chaos, embrace Jesus as the ultimate Ruler and Peacemaker.

You are always loved and never truly alone.

Feel free to comment in the comment section below, regardless of what your feelings on politics, Christianity, etc. are. You are safe here in this forum. It is not my place to judge you. It is my place to love you, friend who is reading this. So again, please feel free to communicate anything to me.

Love,

Jen

PS: For information on what Christianity is, please visit the Christianity tab on this website or consult your local pastor.  

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    Picture
    Baby me. Not much has changed. I still sit like that at my desk and I'm still cute. :-)
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