Reposting and Important Blog

Good Morning everyone,

Just wanted to share a friend's blog that I think is important to all of us.  Thanks, LaJoyce for sharing your experiences and advice.  You have helped ALL of us.

Posted by LaJoyce on Thursday, June 16, 2011 at 8:16am   Hello to all my followers! I was amazed at all the hits my last blog received and want to ask if it has helped you in your walk on this earth? My aim is to help those folks that are looking for a way that their lives will have peace. We all know peace comes through our belief in God, but sometimes we can have a hard time knowing how to accept it.

     Yesterday at work I had an experience that jolted my peace. I watched the nurses calmly minister their craft to an individual that was loud, highly excited and full of expletives. This went on for hours before we could seek the proper attention that was needed. I admired those nurses for how they handled something that I felt I more than likely could not have handled very well. Probably handle, but not with confidence. I remember standing by the wall of windows watching this patient struggle with trying to control the situation.The scenario gave me thoughts of anger, hostility and a desire to go into the bed and spank this chronological mature individual! I wondered why I felt so uncomfortable when placed in this sudden environment. God spoke directly to me after I voiced how I felt to a christian nurse. I needed more healing in that area! That scenario I witnessed was a childhood common. It still lingered when I thought it was conquered.

     Many times, something we were reared into, takes a lifetime of deliverance. We learn over a period of time how to handle ourselves by keeping ourselves safe in environments that shield us from those outbreaks, but  when they surface again, old feelings return.

     We all don't like those feelings and seek for guidance, however going to God in prayer and asking Him to help was the answer. I couldn't go back and relive my childhood and make everyone do what I thought they should do to make my life better. The only way to return to a peaceful life is to forgive those that have hurt me. Mark 11:24,25. We hate those feelings, because when we feel like that we stay stuck in our life. We cannot move forward, harbor nasty feelings about everything and everybody who dares come against us. We look slantingly at all actions we view. Our lives are based on what we learned in our childhood. Everyone has something that has negatively affected them and is carried into their adulthood. Some folks handle their situations differently and we all strive to better ourselves. May I say that trusting in God is the only way to help ourselves. The more knowledge we have of His word to guide us will lead us forward, but perfection only comes the day we go home to be with Jesus. So to recognize this uncomfortable situation I faced, I thank God for His guidance to attain more trust in Him.

Thanks for listening. You are a blessed crowd of wonderful God fearing individuals that God loves more than you can ever fathom.

LaJoyce 


"The only people who are truly free are the ones who walk in a spirit of continual forgiveness."

DUST IF YOU MUST

Hi Everyone, and a Happy 2011 New Year to you all!!  A friend just sent this to me in an email, and I thought it was an appropriate time to share it with you...especially since we are all trying to make those New Year's resolutions.  It is true...we can spend all our time dusting, and miss the important things we should or could be doing...like spending more time with our families.   Please read, enjoy, and take this to heart.

 

 

I used to spend at least 8 hours every weekend making sure 
things were just perfect in case someone came over. 
Finally I realized one day that no one came over; they were all 
out living life and having fun! 

NOW, when people visit, I don't bother making excuses for the
condition of my home.  They are more interested in hearing about

the things I've been doing in the time I used to spend cleaning.   

If you haven't figured this out yet, please heed this advice:

  
Dust if you must .... 

but would it be better

to paint a picture or write a letter,

bake some cookies or plant a seed,  
ponder the difference 'tween want and need?

 

Dust if you must....

but there's not much time 
with wine to drink and mountains to climb,  
music to hear and books to read,

friends to cherish and life to lead.  

Dust if you must...  
but the world's out there

with the sun in your eyes, the wind in your hair,

a flutter of snow, a shower of rain.

This day will not come around again. 

Dust if you must...

but bear in mind, 

old age will come and it's not kind.  

And when you go -- and go you must --

you, yourself, will just make more dust! 


Share this with all the wonderful women in your life.  I  JUST DID. 
It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life

you have lived. 

 

LADIES!!! Remember...a  layer of dust protects the wood beneath it.
A house becomes a home when you can write 'I love you' on the furniture.

 

Life is short.  Enjoy it!

"The only people who are truly free are the ones who walk in a spirit of continual forgiveness."

Father, Forgive My Father called "Road Map to Reclaiming Your Life"

Did you know that child sexual abuse is an epidemic in our country, and that it is hurting all of our society? Since April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, I would like to let you know about my book written to help victims of sexual child abuse. It is entitled, "Father, Forgive My Father" and is the product of a life-long dream and goal to get it published. The book tells my story of how, as a victim of sexual child abuse for 15 years, I was able to get through it and ultimately heal from the wounds of abuse; how I let God "turned my scars to stars". Now, in my retirement years, I am trying to get it out to the multitudes of victims who need help.

Claire Reeves, Founder/Director of MASA (Mothers Against Sexual Abuse) wrote the Promo for the back book cover, and has called it a "road map to reclaiming your life". So far, reviews from all across the country are encouraging, and I am hearing reports such as "your book healed my whole family", or "your book saved my life". But we need to reach many, many more victims, because as I said, child sexual abuse is an epidemic in our country and it is hurting all of us. Our prisons today are full of victims who were never healed, so they went on to abuse others. With the statistics of child sexual abuse so staggering these days, almost everyone has either experienced abuse or knows someone who has. Please partner with me in letting your friends and loved ones know about this book that is helping so many. Put your thinking cap on, and think of those you know who might need your help. You can order it at the following web sites: www.authorhouse.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, www.amazon.com. I am also available for book readings and signings, and give a workshop entitled, "Becoming God's Woman/or Man".
Please feel free to let me know how I can help you to help other victims who still need healing.

"The only people who are truly free are the ones who live in a continual spirit of forgiveness."

Visit With Grandson & His Wife

AT LAST...MY VISIT WITH IAN & LIZ!
This was a Grandma's dream come true, and I enjoyed my trip to Texas and visit with Ian and Liz more than I can say. It was very rewarding to see them in their new home, happy together, and working hard toward goals in the future.

Ian just got home a couple weeks ago from completing two tours of duty in Iraq, and he's thoroughly enjoying 3 weeks of R&R (a much needed vacation). He's preparing to take more classes, and when he gets out of the Army in June, he will be working in a hospital as a radiology technician & taking classes at night.

Liz keeps busy working as a CMA at a hospital nearby, and goes to classes 3 nights a week. She is a very busy girl, but always has time to stop and smell the roses. She and Ian take time to enjoy outside activities with friends and family, and really entertained me royally while I was there. Ian is very blessed to have found such a down to earth, girl next door type, who is willing at the drop of a hat to go have fun. They have a lot of fun together, and I enjoyed hearing them laughing (and playing) together, as happy couples do. I'm so glad that they have found each other and are so well suited.

After the kids picked me up in Dallas, they took me to see the King Tut Exhibit at the Dallas Museum. It was really interesting, but we were disappointed that we couldn't take pictures. I would have liked to have had pictures of all the intricasies of the jewelry and architecture; it's amazing what they could do back then in primitive times. It must have taken a long time and a LOT of patience to create their projects. Also, while I was there we visited the Cameron Park Zoo and had fun taking lots of good pictures of animals, birds, & fish. It was beautiful weather for a day at the zoo; not too warm, and not too cool...very enjoyable.
When we found the giraffs, Liz wanted me to take a silly pose, and this is how it turned out...but she didn't really bite his head off!


The bears were pretty active, too, and these 2 were really having it out; was fun to watch. Just a little spat between two friends:-}


This is what one looked like after all the fun was over; guess he felt like a nap! All of the animals were beautiful to watch, the birds and fish, too. This was a beautifully kept park and the animals all seemed to be really well taken care of.My Grandkids also took me to a Petting Zoo, where some of the animals got too close. One of the zebras leaned into Ian's car window and promptly sneezed all over him...it wasn't the shower that he wanted. Then there was the very obnoxious camel who stuck his head in MY window and acted like he was going to bite my leg or my hand trying to get at the feed sack (treats you know). Well, it kinda scared me, so I just let him have the whole thing; last I saw of him he was chomping down the bag and all. They sure aren't afraid of humans!

On the last night I was in Texas we decided to meet with my niece, her husband and son, at a Chinese Buffet.
The food was very good; the sushi was the best.
It was good to see my niece and her family, &
they were also gracious host & hostess & put
me up in their home for the first few nights.
Ian had not seen any of them since he was
a baby when we all lived in Sitka, Alaska.
So it was great to have a reunion; a GREAT
time was had by all, and I can't wait for my
next visit to the great state of Texas.














"The only people who are truly free are the ones who live in a continual spirit of forgiveness."

BECOMING GOD'S WOMAN: Introducing Myself & My Book

Hello Everyone, and Welcome To My Website
Please follow along with me on my travels to Becoming God's Woman...of excellence...the best that we can be. I invite you to share this web site with your family & friends, and especially anyone you know who has been a victim of abuse. The book at the right was written for those victims, to help them to heal, & has been called a "roadmap" to recovery & living the rest of your life victoriously. You can find me and my book at the following links:

www.MySpace.com/Lees4, www.ShoutLife.com/Lees,
www.authorhouse.com, www.barnesandnoble.com,
www.amazon.com

ALIENATION BY A LOVED ONE

Have you alienated a loved one...a parent, grandparent, sibling, child or friend? Do you know that it hurts that person to the very core of their being? And, that it can make that person or YOU physically ill? I've been thinking about writing this for a long time, because I've been on the alienated end of this situation, and have been for too long a time.

On April 1st it will be 2 years since I have seen my daughter; oh, I've heard from her...hateful words in an email written on Halloween of the first year, and ending with "DO NOT CONTACT ME". I hate to say it, but that about finished me off emotionally. I think the thing that hurts the most is that she won't give me a chance by telling me (or writing me) the issues that she has. From the way she has turned from a sweet loving daughter who I've always been close to, to a daughter who obviously hates me for something I did, or didn't do, she should be able to tell me or write to me about it.

I know that over she and my son's growing up years I was not a perfect mother...if anyone thinks they can be a "perfect" mother, they are wrong. No matter how hard you try as a parent, you are always going to make mistakes, or what they view as mistakes. You can only do your best at the time, with what you have to work with. As God is my witness, that is what I always TRIED hard to do. I know of of many times when I actually put them first, above all other relationships, and even ended some relationships because they were not the best situations for my children. Yes, I divorced their father when they were 3 and 6 yrs. of age; but part of the reason I did was because our relationship was hurting THEM. He wasn't a bad father, but the fact that he was unfaithful to their mother, and didn't know truth from fantasy, was definitely affecting them. I tried hard over the years not to bias them against him or make them feel bad about themselves, but the fact that I took their father from them is something I feel they both resent. I also feel that my son has forgiven me for any shortcomings, and has said that he loves me and always will. That means so much to me, and I've told him so.

The reason I feel it's so important to let you all know how this has affected me is that, in the BIG scheme of things, NOTHING is so important that it should take us away from those we love, and rob us of precious time we could spend with them.

In addition to missing my daughter, her daughter (our granddaughter) is also missing from our lives, and we miss her terribly. These are her grade school years when extended family is so important to grandchildren. I still think of us getting her started in gymnastics and getting to take her to her practices. Those were precious times. And what must she think?? Where's grandma and grandpa now? Have they deserted me? I pray every day that her little mind and heart are protected.

And how has it affected us? All summer long the first summer, I could not sleep but maybe a couple hours a night, and could not stop crying day and night. My poor husband felt helpless and could only hold me until I went to sleep. I got so depressed that I even had thoughts of suicide..."why not just end this by crossing the center line while driving home?" But I could not do that to another person, or hurt other loved ones in my family. Then, after going to the doctor with my husband, and breaking down in her office, she felt the need to put me on an anti-depressant. I do feel better lately emotionally, and can actually sleep at night. But I feel as if this whole thing has taken about 10 years off our lives. I am experiencing some new health issues now and waiting for test results that will determine how I live the rest of my life. But I feel that even if my daughter knew about it, she would not care.

When someone alienates you, it is almost as bad as losing that person to death...it's as if they have chosen to throw you away like you were garbage. So I feel that what we have gone through is like mourning a slow death. If you have alienated someone you love, ask yourself how you would feel if that person's life was snuffed out, they were in a horrendous accident or something, and you never got the chance to make amends. That almost happened to us one night. We were returning home, and because we stopped for a few minutes to pick up a loaf of bread, we missed a terrible fatal accident that was a few minutes from our house. So, please, we never know how much time we're going to get in this life...and NONE of us can afford to let a loved one go to their grave unforgiven.

Please pray about your own situation, and ask God for a time when you can sit down peaceably with that person, and get it taken care of. That person is probably just waiting for the opportunity, and probably loves you enough to listen. If boundaries have been crossed and you need more space...TELL them. I love my daughter enough to listen to anything she has to say, not give excuses or point fingers, but really LISTEN. I want us to be a whole family again; in the meantime, my husband and I are counting our blessings for what we do have, and looking forward to a better New Year. And that's part of "Becoming God's Woman"...ask forgiveness if you need to, and forgive those who have hurt you. God hates discontent. Set yourself and your loved ones FREE so that God can make you ALL that you can be.