My thoughts on Robin Williams

I tried to think of a witty title. Some catchy phrase or comforting words to convey my thoughts and pull in readers but honestly every article or blog I've seen has covered the gamut and almost all have just felt off. I feel like so many of the pieces I've read have fit into two categories. They either approach things as a tribute and a "he's free" vibe or they bash him as selfish or cowardly.

To me both are wrong, harmful, and so incredibly dangerous. I've battled with depression my whole life. Before my illness had a name and before I had a support system who supported, believed, and encouraged I attempted suicide. Depression, anxiety, bipolar or any other mood disorder is so much larger than a quick fix. It is often a life long battle. I can't know his thoughts, no one can, but I know debilitating illness. The news of his Parkinsons diagnosis I think sheds more light on his motives. No matter what drove him we must be careful in glorifying or condemning. Instead we have to focus on helping others. On his life. Those are the stories I've liked most.

To me the most important part of this is that he hit a point where he felt so hopeless that he made the ultimate irreversible choice and that we must all make sure that we love those around us so completely that they know that no matter what battle they face they are never judged, never alone, and never forsaken. We must listen. We must love. We must be the light in their darkness.

We must also be willing to talk, to seek help, to count on others when we feel lost. I've been in med changes recently and it has brought back some pretty hard core anxiety attacks. At first I was very resistant to even talk about them. I hate adding more issues for the people I love to see. And that just made them worse. I had to count on the people I love, even at 3 AM.

Be a light. I hope I am.

Canner conundrum.

<p>My sweet sister-in-law is due to have a baby soon and I am going to go help out. To prepare I am making some of my usual canned goods to take. I did spaghetti sauce Saturday. About halfway through the pressure all of the sudden lessens and my weight slows. I scrubbed it well and looked it over. There were no leaks from the seal as it cooked and other wasn't looking weird. I figured it was a fluke. Today I put in some tortilla soup. 7 quart jars. The max for my canner.  With 20 minutes left the pressure started to yo-yo. Never changed the heat but the pressure went up and down. Any ideas? Do i just need to replace the whole shebang? Did i do something wrong ? Is there some upkeep I don't know about? It is a presto pressure cooker /canner. 7 quarts. It is not even 3 years old yet.

When a fallen hero needs our help....

we stand up and give it. Months ago I shared a blog with you all that a beautiful wife was writing through her grief about her Marine husband being killed in action. She was very raw, very personal, and so very strong. Her story was heartbreaking. It was moving and it really brought home how deeply this war hurts those left behind.

Now she is trying to make sure her husband's greatest wish is still made possible. He was in the process of adopting their eldest daughter when he was killed. He had done all the paper work, had completed the home studies, had submitted the forms but as forms do they were lost. He was going to re-submitt those forms when he got home but failed to return alive. His daughter deserves to know that she is HIS always and forever. She deserves his name and his legacy.

Tj's wife once again posted a beautiful blog on the subject here. To sign the petition she is filling with signatures that are going to her governor please follow the link on her blog or click here. Help Tj and Taylor be father and daughter in every way and help Mary get more peace. She deserves that from all of us.

Research books?

So as I work on my youth series I am also reading some books for research ideas. I have "One Second After" and "Patriots" on the list but figured you guys would have some great ideas. As you guys know my series is going to take place about a generation after the apocalypse. Man made EMP which makes our response to a natural event impossible so we get hit twice. A side effect is going to be that the once hidden paranormal world gets a huge magical boost. My heroine is a cop trying to solve major issues. I may make her more an investigator or private eye. Not sure yet. So I plan to incorporate some survival stuff, paranormal stuff, crime stuff. I am totally looking for good book recommendations to read to get ideas and for research. Let me know your thoughts!!

Another family in need....

I know. I post stories about families in need sometimes. I can't help it. If they have a connection to me in some way, even if it is small I have to at least spread the word. I would hope they would do the same but who knows. I do know if it were us how grateful we would be for anyone who spread the call for help. A relatives twin nieces share a home. Both of their men are U.S. Coast Gurard in Washington. One couple has 2 young sons. Days ago they were hit with a horrible fire. They lost everything except what each couple had in their safe, the clothes on their backs and miraculously the flag of the deceased soldier father of one of the men. They are in major need of any help they can get. The girl's mom has a blog written detailing everything here and she supplies links with info on how to help if you can. If you are in the Vancouver/Portland area she can take in person donations of help. She is fielding everything right now so the girls and their families can focus on other things.

When a family needs our help .....

then we do what we can.


I spent about 8 years in San Antonio as a child. Some of my best memories are of the friends I made there and the beauty of the internet is that I can now keep in touch with many of those friends. One of those friends needs some help for her boys. 2 of her sons, Spencer and Bryton, were born with a defect in their throats that can lead to very severe and life threatening complications. The wonderful thing is that there is surgery that can be done to fix this. Both boys are scheduled for surgery in July. It requires a month long stay in Boston relocating the family from Texas. They have been able to get the surgery itself covered but the living expenses and costs of maintaining their home in Texas and renting a room or place in Boston are not covered by insurance and one member of the family is still an infant which means Amy can't be in the ICU the whole time. Amy has a page for donations and giving much better detail of the situation here.


The boys are also up for a charity donation from a salon hoping to raise up to $15,000. This money would be a godsend for these boys. Many across the net and off of it are fighting for these boys and for this family and I had to add my voice. I hate to see a child suffer, especially due to finances, when the family is hard working and so very helpful to others in need. So please visit this website and cast your vote for the Pratt brothers. Visit from your computer, your phone. Visit and vote every day!! Help these boys get the surgery they need to live long healthy happy lives without worry or fear.

The act of charity.

So recently I was able to witness a wonderful act of charity. Through the facebook grapevine I heard of a man who was diagnosed with a form of male breast cancer. He had spent many years of his life as a bishop in the LDS church and was always one to give to someone else. He was never to busy to help out. I saw letters from people whose life he had touched. His daughter-in-law took to her blog to talk about how this reputedly awesome man did not have insurance or the finances needed to procure life saving treatment. Below is an excerpt of her initial blog.

Asking for help is never an easy thing. I'm not good at it, but some things are worth leaving my comfort zone for, and this is one of them.

My father-in-law, Garth Abbott, was recently diagnosed with a very aggressive form of breast cancer called IBC (inflammatory breast cancer). This is a time sensitive matter, and he needs chemotherapy asap. He is uninsured and does not have the necessary money to pay for his treatment. In my ignorance I never realized that someone in his situation would be refused life saving treatment because he could not pay, but that is how the system works, no payment, no treatment.

Garth Abbott is no ordinary man. He has spent his life serving other people. I have watched time after time, knock on the door after knock on the door, phone call after phone call, as this man leaves what he is doing to render help. Sometimes as simple as listening to some one's problems and offering advice, picking up a stranded motorist, offering a night's stay to someone in need (often turning into multiple nights). Countless hours have been spent in service with his church and community as he has worked with the youth loving, teaching, and helping them. He and his wife are the parents of five children, and 18 grandchildren. They are also the caretakers of his 95 year old mother and his down syndrome sister. In my husband's words, "He's the best man I know, and I know a lot of great men!"

I took this story to heart after loosing so many loved ones to cancer, watching other loved ones battle it and survive, and having my own recent scare. The daughter-in-law decided to hold an auction. People donated everything from home cooked meals, legal services, pest control and baby hair bows to jewelry, pest control services, and baby quilts. I donated an item and bid on another to offer my support. There were almost 200 items up for bid and it made my heart swell. The outpouring of support was amazing. The bidding ended last night and the total raised hit almost $20,000. AMAZING. It really renewed my confidence and faith in humanity. Even in these hard times people can still join together to help someone else.

Name This Flower

This poor little flower has randomly sprouted in the beds next to my house, and I have no idea what it is.

Anyone?