Category: healing

Wednesday Words…

Wiwohka4 Comments

Eustace has taken it upon himself to watch over me, when it comes to health and nutrition. Watching me waste away has caused the camel to go full military on me!

He ensures that I eat my bowl of oatmeal, though I can no longer afford to put oat milk in, thanks for the good ole State of Washington to not only revoke my food stamps, but also demand that we pay back their overages, lol. Isn’t that a hoot!

Eustace also threw out both the Sucralfate and the Bentol I’d been prescribed to take, as the doctors never took the time to notice that the diagnosis they strapped onto my case (Gastroparesis), is exacerbated by those very medications… again, lol, isn’t that a hoot!!

They won’t even listen to my appeal until mid March, lol, and another hoot given!!!

I have been surviving since last June, on one bowl of oatmeal with a handful of raisins, two tsp of white sugar and one of brown, for my first of only two meals each day. My second is one serving of white rice, one cup frozen peas and carrots, and a 1/4 cup of peanuts if we don’t have 3 oz. of any boneless skinless chicken breast available (thank you again, Washington State). Chicken isn’t cheap anymore, nor is anything else, and my husband has to eat if he’s to finish his degree.

Wait for it, wait for it…. what a hoot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eustace refuses to let me carry on with all the bloody details of this exercise in futility that one calls Government Assistance… he wants to take me to the desert for the rest of this wild ride. I’ve been to the desert before, but this is one I’ve not traveled across.

Thankfully, I’m with my trusty camel. This time, I’ll not be walking through the deadlands without aid… My camel carries our water, our bags… and me! I fear that this is one journey where my own legs have given out. I hadn’t realized til this moment how valuable Eustace is, and has always been, for my survival.

God Bless you, Eustace, my valiant steed!

Let this leg of our journey begin…

I made a list…

Wiwohka3 Comments
Daily writing prompt
Where can you reduce clutter in your life?
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If one wants to answer this prompt adequately, we must first come to a clear understanding of what we consider clutter.

Essentially, the word clutter refers to a bunch of things laying about in a mess. That means that it’s going to look different, depending on whose looking, and in my opinion, isn’t limited to one or two categories.

Since the word clutter is classed as a noun, it has the potential to represent anything from a person, a place, OR a thing! Bearing this in mind, I considered what my tidying up checklist might look like…

Clutter Clean-up Checklist!

  • Too many people cluttering my doorway… nope… Check!
  • An overfilled laundry room, with no available working machines… nope… Check!
  • A library of unread books… nope… check!
  • A closet full of unused dirty clothes… nope… check!
  • Cupboards full of old, unused household items, outdated cleaning supplies, and moldy hamburger buns from behind the cabinet… nope… check!
  • Expired food in the back of the refrigerator… nope… check!
  • Shelves filled with trinkets, toys, bits and bobs from over the years… nope… check!

    The only clutter I’m really dealing with is that of the mind. Stacks of broken dreams, and painful memories, lay strewn along the roadside of the mind. That’s where the real clutter is for most, and it’s far more destructive that a pile of dirty old boots, or an overflowing Tupperware drawer in ones kitchen.

     Whether one is referring to physical clutter, or that of the mind, I think that the bible speaks of both…

    “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

    Oddly enough, sometimes Google’s AI does a fairly decent job of explaining a thing, and today was one of those times…

    “Store up treasures in heaven” means to focus on eternal, spiritual values rather than temporary earthly wealth, investing your life, resources, and heart in acts of generosity, faith, and love that have lasting significance, as taught by Jesus in Matthew 6:19-21. It involves shifting your priorities from material accumulation to spiritual riches, knowing that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”.  

    I’ll leave you with that. Well, that and cookies…

    (2024)My Fingers…

    Wiwohka6 Comments

    I’m a writer, and as a writer I tend to write… with my fingers. My fingers are attached to my hands, which are attached to my arms, which are connected to my body at the shoulders. And, my body holds my noggin, which tries with all it’s might to oversee what the fingers do… that is, write!

    Bloganuary writing prompt
    In what ways do you communicate online?
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    My writings are how I communicate with others, within in an online setting. My phone rings from only 4 sources… hubby… my chica… my longtime friend Christine… and the Doctor’s office! For the entire rest of the world out there, my fingers are the only form of communication, giving more light to the cause of why I right so darn much, these days.

    In fact, the tougher life gets on me, the more I write! Did you know that while freezing my toenails off, I wrote another children’s book?! Go figure!

    Online communications has actually been a Godsend for this ole girl… I used to have to write all this stuff down with a pen and paper, and quite frankly, my hands were really suffering for it. The keyboard has actually allowed me to write at a rate that seems unprecedented, compared to what I was capable of writing before modern technology intervened!

    The only downside comes from mankind’s inability to create an autocorrect that functions properly… as many have seen from some of the text massages we’ve all been subjected two. See how I did that… hehe!

    One of my favorite things about all this online communication stuff… virtual cookies! 

    Here is a cookie with zero calories… all the fun without any guilt or unhealthy side effects… perfection! I do love technology when it works in my fingers… I mean favor!

    (2024)I’m Still On The Road…

    Wiwohka1 Comment
    Bloganuary writing prompt
    Think back on your most memorable road trip.
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    I can hardly believe that it’s been two years since I wrote this! Though we’re no longer in that beat up old R.V., this road trip is far from over. With that in mind, it seemed appropriate to re-use this old prompt response… hugs.

    I don’t have to think back too far, as we are still living in an RV, living like nomads wherever we go, and for however long we stay. We don’t really have any home left, here on actual earth, so we rumble along on this road trip, taking safe harbor wherever it can be found. 

    If you think about it, everyone is on a road trip of sorts, and I would imagine that we all feel like it’s quite memorable. I appreciate the prompts use of the word most, while referring to the road trip, as they could have used best, worst, happiest or saddest… but they chose most memorable. Life IS most memorable, wouldn’t you say?! 

    Don’t we always say things like, it’s a wild ride, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride, it’s a crazy ride, or Baby, what a ride? So I don’t need to think hard on why my thoughts drifted this way, once I began reading the prompt question.

    Life is most definitely a journey, or road trip if you will!

    It would take us all a very long time, to write down all of what we’ve seen, felt and experienced, along each of our personal highways… oh wait… that’s what I’ve already been doing, right here on WordPress… you’re welcome!

    Here, have a cookie…

    (2024)Things of the Past…

    Wiwohka3 Comments

    As a girl of only eleven, I’d already discovered the item I was most fond of… my survival, or my physical life, if I’m to label it as an actual thing. No, it’s probably not what one might call an item, but sure felt like it. 

    Daily writing prompt
    Describe an item you were incredibly attached to as a youth. What became of it?
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    Sometimes, life has a way of getting reduced into nothing more than a thing… an item to be played with, bartered, or thrown out when it’s usefulness has been expended.

    For some souls, it can take an entire lifetime to figure this out. They don’t feel the harsh bite of reality pop up, for a good long while. Who knows, maybe everyone begins to take notice of being less valuable to society, once the body begins to slow, and they lose the ability to carry on at the pace they once held.

    Then there’s souls like mine. We discovered, early on, how little value we held, how we weren’t valuable enough protect, to care about… never worthy enough to be saved! This was my dark alleyway of existence, wandering through the night until I found a place to sleep… doing whatever I had to do to secure food, warmth, and sleep… never safety… just sleep! This life was not much but it was mine, and I valued it above everything else!

    I’m 55 now and nearing the age when most are preparing for retirement and their golden years… not this runaway!

    I strive to prepare and strengthen myself for something bigger, better and still yet to come.

     It has taken some considerably long years to get my life to this moment, and I couldn’t have done it without God. And, I didn’t care for the item I was so attached to, nor cherish it, as I did when I was a child. None the less, I’m grateful to say that it’s still in tact, for the most part.

    If you’ve any curiosity about what has become of the item I was so attached to as a youth, you need only read the letters I have written over the years, here on WordPress. 

    As this site is really all I have to show for explaining things, it will have to suffice as my best answer! 

    I don’t know about all you, but I need a cookie…

    Gimme a smile…

    Wiwohka9 Comments

    Smiles are magical, I think. And, they’re contagious, too…

    When someone smiles at you, don’t you just automatically want to smile back?

    A smile can soften a heart, lift a person’s spirit, and/or trigger some actual good will toward our fellow man.

    Take a baby’s smile, for instance. Don’t we get all mushy inside, and feel the sudden urge to speak babyeese… was dat a smile, awwww, you widdle fuzzy wuzzy bundle of bootiful awesomesauceness… hey, don’t judge me! I can’t help it!

    The world is filled with all differing types of magical smiles, babies obviously being the best and most effective in brightening ones day. But, one must appreciate the value and magic of all the other differing smiles out there, as well…

    Smiles are actually pretty important, as studies have shown how smiling affects ones health, and state of mind. It’s a real scientific thingie, I swear. I even googled it, to make sure that I did not mislead you in any way.

    I typed in “what is the science behind a smile”, and this was googles reply:

    The science behind smiling involves a positive feedback loop between facial muscles and brain chemistry, where contracting muscles (like the zygomatic major for mouth corners and orbicularis oculi for eye crinkles) trigger the release of mood-boosting neurotransmitters like dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin, reducing stress and enhancing happiness. This “fake it ’til you make it” effect means even a forced smile can make you feel better, while genuine smiles (Duchenne smiles) signal authentic joy and foster connection, improving well-being and perceived attractiveness.  

    How it works: The Muscle-Brain Connection

    • Sensory Input: Emotional data from experiences (seeing a friend, hearing good news) travels to the brain. 

    Muscle Activation: Specific facial muscles contract: the zygomatic major pulls lips up, and the orbicularis oculi creates crow’s feet around the eyes. 

    Brain Response: These muscle contractions send signals back to the brain, activating the reward system. 

    Neurotransmitter Release: The brain releases feel-good chemicals:

    • Dopamine: Boosts pleasure and motivation. 

    Endorphins: Act as natural pain relievers and mood elevators. Serotonin: Functions as a natural antidepressant, lifting mood. 

    Types of Smiles

    • Social Smile: Involves only the mouth muscles (zygomatic major) and is used for politeness or social cues.
    • Genuine Smile (Duchenne Smile): Involves both mouth muscles and the orbicularis oculi, creating eye crinkles, signaling authentic happiness. 

    Benefits of Smiling

    Increases Attractiveness & Trust: Smiling people are often seen as more reliable, sincere, and attractive, enhancing social interactions. 

    I challenge you to count your smiles this weekend. It’s merely an exercise, meant to show how many times you do smile, as well as, how many opportunities you’re given to intentionally smile at someone… remember, this is only an experiment. You don’t even have to tell anyone you’re doing it. Call it an exercise for health and wellness.

    Whatever you do this weekend, remember how loved you are… that should help with the smile thing.

    Shine…

    WiwohkaLeave a comment

    Daily writing prompt
    What is your mission?
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    I pray that my words, my life, and my purpose will always reflect a light that is not mine, but that of the Almighty! There is no greater calling, or mission, if you will.

    Mine is a testimony of redemption, cleansing, healing and unfathomable grace, from the One who created the very foundations of this world.

    It was simple, really. All I had to do was believe in Him, and trust fully in the words spoken by His only son, Jesus Christ. The mission given me was, and is, the same one given all those ages ago, while Jesus walked this earth…

    “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

    When you accept one of my silly virtual cookies, they are stuffed with as much love and light that I can muster. And, then I pray that you will be covered with a myriad of little healing cookie crumbs… blessed crumbs, even. I know they aren’t real, but I guess it’s sort of symbolic, in hopes that you’ll see how valuable and precious you are to me, and more importantly, how much you’re worth to God. He loves you, whether you believe it or not, and He will never stop loving you… ever!

    Why do I do it? Because, I’ve been called to do so. Not only that, but it fills me with such peace and happiness, knowing that everything I do for others is to be for His glory, not mine…

    “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

    Cookie?

    Sail on…

    Wiwohka3 Comments

    Even when you cannot see your destination, sail on

    When the winds threaten, sail on

    And, when the waves hit you from every side, sail on…

    Trust your compass, trust your ship

    Lean not on your own understanding

    And, do not fear the wind that threatens…

    Take each wave as it comes

    Keep your course straight and true

    And, trust the map you’ve been given…

    As I was writing this, Proverbs 3:5, 6 came to mind. I googled part of the verse, because I couldn’t remember the scripture reference, and this is what popped up…

    “Lean not on your own understanding” comes from Proverbs 3:5-6 in the Bible, meaning to trust God’s guidance over your own limited perspective, especially in decisions, acknowledging that divine wisdom is greater than human intellect, and that while using your mind is good, ultimate reliance should be on God, who promises to guide you if you submit your ways to Him. It encourages faith over purely rational, incomplete human reasoning, especially in uncertain times. 

    Key Meanings

    • Trust God Fully: Place complete faith in the Lord with all your heart, not just in big decisions but in every aspect of life. 

    Limited Human Wisdom:

    Recognize that human understanding is finite and can be flawed or incomplete, even with intellect. 

    Seek Divine Guidance:

    Acknowledge God in all your ways (actions, plans, thoughts) for Him to direct your paths. 

    Not Irrationality:

    It doesn’t mean abandoning your intellect, but rather not relying solely on it, especially when it conflicts with faith or leads to confusion. 

    Practical Application

    • In Uncertainty: When faced with dilemmas, pray and seek God’s will rather than trying to figure everything out alone, which can cause stress. 

    Surrender Plans: Give your plans to God, trusting His bigger picture and better plan. Be Wise in His Eyes: Don’t be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil as a result of trusting Him. 

    I know that was the long winded version to accompany my tiny poem, but thought it worth the share.

    Have a beautiful day, my sweet friends…

    Hugs

    My thoughts?

    Wiwohka2 Comments
    Daily writing prompt
    What are your thoughts on the concept of living a very long life?
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    Are we really saying that living a long life is a mere concept? I guess it could be, but it just sounds weird. First of all, it wouldn’t be considered a mere concept, if you were born with a disease or disability.

    I looked up the definition of concept, but it only made things worse. But, as I’ve committed to answering these prompts without being flippant, I’ll give it my best shot.

    Since the prompt is only asking what my thoughts are about this whole concept thing, ummmm… living a long life is a great concept, I guess. In truth, only God knows the length of my life, and nothing I do or don’t do will change that outcome.

    I suppose the concept of being a decent human being is also good, if you’re a decent person. But, what good is that concept if you’re an arse, by nature?

    I can honestly say that I am unable to really come up with any life altering thoughts, regarding long life being a mere concept. I will be making every effort to live a long life, but it’s not really in my hands, is it? We can do everything right, but still accidentally get hit by a bus. Concept just flew out the window.

    Life, itself, cannot be placed in a box, given boundaries, and/or assigned any wonderful concepts… it doesn’t work like that. There are no guarantees, precautions, or conceptual guidelines that keep reality at bay.

    Besides, I can’t personally think beyond the day in front of me, let alone focus on what my earthly old age might look like. Rather than thinking on the concept of a long life, how bout we just do the best with what we have, and leave the rest of it to God.

    Now eat your cookie…

    This, that, and the other…

    Wiwohka1 Comment
    Daily writing prompt
    What could you do differently?
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    Since this feels sort of like a woulda, coulda, shoulda question, it seemed appropriate that I answer with a this, that, and the other sort of response. Here goes…

    I could walk differently, talk differently, and even wear my socks differently. Perhaps I could dance a new step, change the way I laugh, or maybe start wearing wigs. I could change my style, my clothes, or possibly change what shows I watch on television.

    When it comes to looking on the inside, I suppose that I could pray harder and longer, read more of the bible each day, and even spend more time thinking of others instead of myself. I could love deeper, laugh longer, and live with a deeper purpose, possibly.

    At the end of the day, I suppose that we all might consider a handful of things we should have, could have, or wished we might have done differently. We may even wake with these thoughts swirling around inside our heads, each morning.

    If you ask me this question tomorrow, it will most likely be a completely different answer. Why? Because each and every day, we encounter situations that will either turn out well, or maybe not so well. From those circumstances comes the thought of whether we could have done a thing differently, in order to see a better outcome.

    Aren’t you glad that I didn’t decide to offer you liver and onions, instead of my normal cookies? Don’t worry… I’ve no intention of changing that part of these daily prompts. I wouldn’t dream of it!