Foster Care, What Many Don't Know, A Gun

              At one point I knew I worked in foster care too long, too long because I couldn't say anything without either getting fired and being made to look like a trouble maker. But it was long before that, I made sure to tell most of the kids who would remember, to get a new social security number, get copies of all your medical records so when you're older, you can challenge discrepancies. I doubt many remembered or cared..
      I let them know they could go to college for free and could also challenge a move if for the right reasons. I had one child challenge and actually call a lawyer to stay with me. A foster child can remain in care until age twenty-two. Here's the catch;they wanted their freedom with no curfews, stay out with friends without any accountability, were encouraged to have saving accounts but in the later years because of age, I would have to be on the account too. At one point I bought savings bonds for a young girl.
       I tried to let them know about vocational college, I did let them know and one boy went to HACC, but he was more interested in getting a laptop for free, even sat in my field one day, the screen cracked from that or laying in the trunk of a friends car and yet he talked the school into giving him another one for free. Many kids learned so young about the rights they had that they thought using them fast and furious helped them, it just upset some people.
       One agency hired so many people and friends of people just to keep people employed. They were all friends and so it wasn't about the kids, it was about keeping money in the pockets of friends. I told one man on the day he was leaving about a woman who spanked her very young foster son, had electricity turned off and other things. His answer was, I didn't hear that.
        There was a boy in my home who brought a gun and now this sounds nuts, but he wasn't a bad kid. He saw his grandfather beat his mom as a little boy and as he grew he wanted to protect women. I worked with his grandfather in Mental health who had schizophrenia.
         The boy had the onset which erupted in my home . Little y little he covered his window, nailed a cross upside down to his wall, ripped up a Bible and as I watched him and asked if he needed anything, want to grab a sandwich, go out it was no, no and no. A few days before we went to see his mom which was where he grabbed the gun and put it in his small backpack. We stopped at a convenience store to get coffee and a soda for him. He saw a man hitting a woman and yelling at her, started to open the car door and I gently grabbed his arm. No don't we can call the police. No police, he just wanted to leave, but the man noticed the boy at 17 getting out of the car. The man then took the woman by the arm and in a muffled voice said something pushing her to the store.
         After we got home he started to go deep inside himself and I called on-call to let them know. I was asked who's his MHP, Mental Health Professional. The response was she's in a meeting with the group. Half hour later I call again. BY the fourth call I get a call back saying, what have you done to alleviate the situation. I explain, monitoring, talking quietly etc etc etc.  IT was four hours later before his MHP arrived. She sat and said where is he. Oh GOD! How many times to I need to repeat this?
In his room, darkened etc. She said, can you go and get him and I'll be in back of you? She did walk in back of me until she heard him say, I'm not talking to her. I asked him, Will you just listen?
He said okay. We went to the kitchen table and he came out a few minutes later.
        He had his mini back pack, put it on the seat, no sound as if he had hardware in it. I spoke a little and so did the MHP. He was telling me how he was feeling and I said I'm sorry you feel like you have to protect yourself that way. THEN he took out the gun and put it down very hard on the table.
       He said in a calm manner, I don't have to protect myself, I have to protect you women with this.
The MHP was now shaking and for five seconds I thought, who will tell my children? Then I said to him, ----Thank you for being so honest and trying to protect us, but you know now I have to take this, reaching across the table for the gun. He didn't move an inch to stop me, but shook his head yes. I went on with, I have a friend who's a cop, is kind, not a bully etc. and I have to call him. Again he shook his head yes. Calling 911, I was asked if he had any other weapons and he jumped up with ease and said, oh yeah, I have your saw blade. It was to a jig saw. I followed him and he gave it to me. The MHP said, do you mind if I go out and smoke? No , go.
      IT wasn't long before two police cars pulled up and came knocking. I walked the boy out and introduced him to my friend. He allowed a search and was very polite. My heart beat more for him because he was truly ill. It's genetic, His mother suffered from sever depression. Many times Mental illnesses go from one gender in the family to another. The MHP stood with tears in her eyes and we chatted a little then she left.
      She went out on disability a few weeks later and the boy went to jail. I went to court as a witness, hugged his mom and shook his hand. No I wasn't angry. He was a very ill kid and his illness was just starting. It's a lifetime of heartache.
    More in a few days

Don't Wait ! Do it now!

       I have a friend who works at a local convenient store and we all know people who work at those local stores, don't earn a lot of money. For this article it doesn't matter weather if she single or not, has children or not. What matters is how she lives.
       This lady has chosen not to invest in buying a new or newer home and I won't mention if she rents or owns because again, that doesn't matter. What matters is this lady is an example of  living her life the way she wants. The old saying less is more fits her perfectly. She's satisfied, content. I'm sure there are moments she may wish to live with more riches, yet they are fleeting moments.
        With very little, a bit of cash and her camera, she'll take a country drive and snap away, then share for those looking at a different perspective to think of how lucky she is, what shes sees through her view. She has an eye for peaceful things and looking into the past. When I see some of her photos, I take my time and wonder. Who lived there before and what was their life like? Were they happy? Then like many she takes photos of train tracks. That brings me to my time as a kid, always taking a train to the city every day, and yet quickly I wonder about the old tracks in her photos, so old. Where were people going in those days in these small towns? How did they dress? Thoughts run like a maze when I see her photos.
        There are other days when she'll visit an old broken down piece of history, like a prison, or an old graveyard . These are a few ways of how she spends her days, not expensive, but a sense of freedom, and that's whats important, freedom.

Locked up for Kids Safety ? HA!

        Over the last few years I have become more aware of toxic chemicals in the house for cleaning, eating, what bedding is made of, where things come from, made in the USA or not and buy accordingly. But this morning I learned a lesson I didn't think I had to learn and this is one you can use on your own kids, if you can fool them enough.
        I have a foster child, young, immature beyond expectations, and many other issues. This child loves to sneak, snoop, lie, steal, connive and more. So I do make believe phone calls, and talk about my fake cameras. Every time this child then comes forward to tell me about the latest adventure in the home. This morning while sleeping on the sofa, my child got into bathroom stuff I don't even use anymore, but I never thought curiosity would peak an interest, I also have essential oils. Well things were mixed, stolen and confessed. This child is now cleaning the bathroom, not as punishment, but a chore, and I am moving furniture as the child will think, I do this every January. The worst thing you can do is let the child know you have to do all you are doing because they caused it, as many children love not only the attention, but the fact they are making an adult make changes.
    It has also made me aware to rid my home of so much more now, so anytime a child feels a need to snoop, there isn't anything to cause harm. This brings me back to a foster mom who provided respite for me years ago. I had two very small boys 6 and 8. She let them look inside of doors, drawers, cabinets to clear their mind of, "what's in there" curiosity. A good idea. SO no time like right now to take care of things, but I am adding a few room locks-it's cheap insurance. Oh those things this child was curious about, also as the child called Chemicals, loved repeating that, are all gone. Vinegar and water clean everything just fine, add baking soda for drains. Look up Natural ways to do just about everything. I have learned, and thankfully early enough-have you?

Living but Lost ?

       This morning I planned on going to church, but woke for a second time knowing I was too late today. Last week my car was still wedged in the snow and I so much wanted to go with a little kid.
Maybe yesterday was too much fun, not for me, but with kids and taking a friend along. Two teens and one close to teen years. We started out bowling.
      During the first game with all three I ordered Pizza and a pitched of soda, for me a chef salad-but that salad was awful. Maybe I should know better at a bowling alley but I had one before and it was great. Now a second game come up with three players, and this time it's times for cookies and muffins. Third game, this time it's nachos and cheese. Now it really isn't a third game, it a third game for each player. Fourth game the guest asks so what are we eating now? During the fourth game one of the boys had an outburst, so we let one kid play for him. Two more games to go without the third boy and they all played in the arcade before bowling.
    Also during bowling we had a group come in next to us who I was very familiar with. One guest asked if I had more pizza. I ordered two pizza's and two pitchers of soda for them. But, and now here it comes, I spent so much time looking around to see if I could tell who is happy, who is really living. Can you tell that in a bowling alley? I watched faces, people chatting with one another, high fives ,    and a guy next to us who drank a pitcher of beer. He was talking to himself a lot. A good looking young man he had two guests with him, a boy about ten and another kid about seventeen. That last guest looked miserable the whole time. The little boy didn't have any imitation of happiness or sadness on his face, just the guy drinking beer.
    So are we living but lost? Do we have things that make us happy for moments, but not living even in those moments but thinking about what we can do or get next? What does it take to really live a life? I honestly don't have an exact answer but do think spirituality comes into it as well as getting out and doing for others. I believe you also have to have at least one passion, something you want to do every day that satisfies an inner piece in you which brings you inner peace. Okay now go, search and find, and live.
P.S. Don't Get Lost :)

Make a Life Right For You-do NOT Quit

      Have you felt like just quitting ? Quitting everything and everyone ? Well I did some years ago, but I only gave up what was unhealthy for me, which was some people. That in itself made me healthier. Today I am reminded that I need to go further, but I don't want to quit things. I only want to make it better, do it better. I never quit and hate quitting.
       I get so frustrated that I have a web site and don't sell, but I keep trying new things, new colors, sizes, phrases, and even lower prices a lot ! But I don't and won't quit.

       This morning on Sunday Morning TV I was reminded about Making your life right for you. I don't know you or what it will take to make you happy and have a happy life, but don't quit, just, well not just, but keep looking, trying, walking , seeking and searching.
      What is keeping you stick? Money, a person, home and you're afraid to take that next challenging step. Look at this...have you known a young person who is or has died? If they had more time how would they live, change things if they knew they were dying? What if you were dying ? You would find a way to take that trip, tell someone what you felt you couldn't before, do a crazy dance and yes, I know you wouldn't move because we need to be close to those we love at that time-just don't quit and settle into a life you are miserable in !
     Keep walking ahead. doozybags.com

By The way...my web site will be remade by a person who helps in Tmebanking. She has offered to do this for free. Can you imagine? This is Time Banking. Look it up and pitch in, help, serve and become part of a community and receive.
Have a new Day :)
      

Before U Die , Get Ready For ---

       Do you know how or when you'll die? Some people have an idea if stricken with a terminal disease and have time to prepare. But what if you're not prepared? Is your life right with God and your family?
    Who do you consider family? Is it brothers and sisters/parents who have done nothing but wrong to you or is it, those other people? The people who are you're friends, and even almost invisible friends, like special neighbors and people who may have helped you without giving it a second thought? Old friends no more? What about them? Or do you think about enemies; everyone who has only done harm in your life? Well Get rid of those thoughts.
    I listened to Jerry Lewis last night on PBS and he handed out some great advice as one who has lived a long and experienced life. Those are the people you want to listen to. He had a twenty-year break in friendship over what he said was something stupid but when he and Dean MArtin renewed teh friendship they spoke every day after that until Dean died.
     Kids, and moms and dad in your mid-years, listen to your elders is still great advice. Growing up I was very close to a Chinese family and one of the younger sisters was teased a lot because her father owned a Chinese laundry. However one day her brother walked over to where she was being bullied at, close to the school building. Very quietly he told his sister, but loud enough for the bullies to hear, Sister, remember what Grandfather told us, we will just put a curse on them and he put his arm on her shoulder and ushered her away.
   He and I talked the next Saturday night when I went to pick up shirts for my brothers and myself. I asked him about the curse. He said, Grandfather said, choose words wisely, make them short, and they will believe, so I said that about the curse and in school when one boys pants zipped ripped he grabbed it and looked at my sister. She just started at him but he didn't bother her again and it was the same for a few more. He old me though, he did believe in advice from his grandparents because they knew even better than his parents.
   Heck, I knew that part a long time ago. My grandmother always told me about people going to hell who hurt children, and about children who get hurt will have a special place in Heaven. Okay I had  a place reserved, but then I grew up, so what happens now grandma I asked her one day. She said you are responsible for yourself and to make sure as long as you can to protect your children.
   I deeply loved and respected my grandmother and like many elders, they too made mistakes and as we know a mistake is what happens such as spilling milk, not something you do over and over. That's either stupidity, greed, or ya just don't want to learn. Guilty, guilty, guilty!  So I ask myself is it time ? Ya bet yer butt it is. time to get it all right. When is your time?

CA 125 TEST for CANCER

      We get all kinds of e mails and then say to ourselves, oh that's a good one, have to remember that, yet because of busy lives, we forget. For whatever reason this morning I thought about that test and know I am going to ask for it soon. Why not? CA 125
    YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR IT ! Because it's so expensive no one will offer it to you...SO ASK. CALL YOUR OBGYN and say I want to make an appointment to get this test done.   CA 125 I don't know what the protocol is for getting it done, if you have to have cancer in your family or not, but I don't think so. There are a few ways and one is a blood test, one is during your obgyn exam and I don't know the other but this is for women, a way to detect early cancer.

We have cancer cells in us, and what it takes to make them become that enemy within to destroy and take lives is somewhat unknown, but we hear it's how we eat and stress. Change your lives if you can. CA125
   Make it a day you'll remember to do once a year. Just do it, get it done and get that UNKNOWN, under the skin worry, gone.
     CA 125