Who Will Save Them?

Another shooting and it's at a VA hospital in Dayton. Don't you find this a bit sad? What do we expect to happen when this country of ours sends our young men and women into war, and they come back only to go undiagnosed or not being evaluated. We have no clue the shit our service men and women have seen or the injuries they have or the deaths of their unit. How can we, the United States of America not help our own soldiers? Many of our homeless today are veterans. Get a job you say? How can they hold one if they have a mental illness that has gone undiagnosed and how can they afford insurance or out of pocket? We need to find a way to get our own soldiers insurance, jobs, home, car anything they need when they return or their term is served, instead of just thanking them for their service and let them go out into the world on their own, knowing they need help. Many won't ask for it due to pride and they shouldn't have to be honest. It should be protocol for every soldier and their family get whatever they need so they can adjust to civilian life. 

A Mother's Rant: DENIED

Why is it that a single full-time mom who does not get child support from her son's father get denied not once but twice for the day care vouchers? 

My thought on this is that white people are discriminated against when it comes to being a single parent trying to get vouchers for daycare when the other half is not paying child support. 

My son's father decided to take off in November 2011, stating that he was going to Oklahoma because there's a job down there that would pay him $3000 for him to stay a month and fix something for a company. Obviously being the trusting person that I was back then I said okay let's do this. Here is why I am not getting child-support, it isn't because I didn't take him to court though, it's because when I did try to take him to court they told me they could not find him. He gave the  courts his incorrect address and ask me, yes asked me to talk to his mom or maybe I could talk to someone in his family. Here's the thing, his family doesn't even know about our son. 

As of January 2014,  our son has been and day care, and as many of you know it's very costly. Luckily I get a discount for working for the company I work for. However,it is still expensive and hard to pay for everything that my son needs. Luckily I have a great family and they have helped and made sure that you're okay. But, I think that my son's father should be responsible for at least at least take care.

So what happens when single parents whether male or female is struggling trying to make ends meet to pay for daycare to pay for a roof over their heads to pay for food diapers etc.? I resulted to living with my parents again because frankly I do my paycheck minus the day care bill  every month I and have $300 left. I feel like Hamilton County jobs and family services are only there for the ones who have 10 kids, who have no job and motivation, and suck up all the benefits such as food stamps, Medicaid, and cash. As I spoke with the gentleman from Hamilton county job and family services today, I was told that maybe I should go to the day care downtown on Dana Avenue or the YMCA downtown because they have grants. I do not work downtown I never go downtown. So my thing is the only way to get vouchers is to move from my parents house, go on section 8 housing, which if you don't know what that is that's where the government pays for your housing. Also I would get food stamps cash assistance Medicaid. How am I making " too much money " when I only bring a certain amount home minus the day care bill? And why would you ask a mother to take her child out of the daycare he is comfortable with, which is right by my work, and he loves his teachers and friends. I don't understand the thinking the Hamilton County has.

So was all that's being said, I am filing an appeal with the state of Ohio, and I requested also a meeting with Hamilton County jobs and family services. I don't think it's fair for a county or state or United States, to ask you to move to section 8 housing Jesse can get the benefits. What sense does it make to do that and have the government pay all of that, instead of just giving a single mother single father day care vouchers to help out so they're not drowning in debt?

All I can do at this point, is have faith in God, be thankful that I do have the family I have, and who have supported myself and my son , from day one, and pray. Pray that everything will work out and someone will realize the stupidity of the government that we have today.

God bless you all and I wish all the single parents out there to just pray to God that someone will wake up in our county government, state government, in the United States government, and realize how dumb their rules are and how dumb they seem when they tell the father or mother they make too much. If I made too much that I wouldn't be writing this article and my blog.

Good night and God bless.

Idk

I don't know what is going on with me but I am in a super weird place right now. I am not sure what to do about it but I will be praying about it tonight.

The New Normal

What is depression? Anxiety? PTSD? Before I was married at 21, I was perfectly normal. No therapist, no medication. After suffering day after day in a negative, verbal and emotional environment, these are the 3 that I have been diagnosed with. A lot of people have the same diagnosis as I, but we all have had different experiences that have triggered this. The most important thing you can do is acknowledge it and hit it head on. Do not go at this alone. It is ok to ask for help and to talk to a professional. Make sure you surround yourself with supportive, positive people and weed out the ones who bring you down. I promise it will get better in time, but for now take action and get the help you deserve!

God Bless

Dreams: 1/30/14

My dream last night consisted of me in a school where a gunman shoots 3 people in front of me and then tries to shoot me. I am on the ground huddled and singing Jesus Loves Me over and over and for some reason the shooter does not shoot me. Then all of a sudden we are in a mall and same shooter tries to shoot me again and I sing the same song. This dream really scared me but at the same time confirms my faith in Jesus.

Life Update

Daniel is officially a toddler! It is hard to believe that my little peanut is now a toddler.  In the past 18 months he has been doing so much! At this stage he is now talking a lot and putting sentences together.  Daniel is such an amazing little guy!

I am so happy to be working full time and at TriHealth!  I have learned that when I set goals I have been accomplishing them one at a time. Baby steps! I am missing  church this morning but I have to get some things done today and I hope God isn't mad I didnt come over today.

I will try to blog more but no promises!  God bless.

Goals-Updated

1. Lose 30lbs by spring
2. Join a gym
3. Save $: Learn how to budget
4. Read a book/series

Thankful

The past couple of years have incurred alot of positive changes in my life. I am most thankful for my amazing son, my family and close friends and my church. Without God and the amazing people in my life I would not be in the place I am today and I do hope they all know that!
Speaking of church I decided to be a part of choir and the praise band. They all have accepted me into their world to which I am thankful. I have always used music as my therapy and it feels awesome to be praising God in song up on stage!
I hope all who read this take time to think about who all has made them the man or woman they are today.
God bless!

Hello Long Time No Talk!

Yeah I realize I havent kept up with my blog in awhile and so since little man is asleep I can update. On 9/10 he will be 17 months old and I am told once your baby is 18 months is considered a toddler. What!? Daniel is walking, running, talking and is so helpful too. I know this is gonna sound like I am a typical mom but my son is super smart. Simply amazing!

I am loving my career as an RMA and soon hope to be official there. I am closer to God than I ever have been in my life and am participating in a bible study with 2 friends. I am going to be trying out for the Praise Band at my church next thursday so I am super excited.  Well I am super tired so good night and God Bless!

Life Updated

- since my baptism I am even closer to God & trying to live the Christian life.

- started my new career as a Medical Assistant on Monday.

- my son is walking & will be 13 months on 5/10.

LIFE IS GREAT & SO IS GOD!!!!

Update 04/2013

I haven't blogged in awhile so I have some updating to do. I am done with school and just finished my extern at a Doctors Office last week. As of Wednesday, my son is officially 1 years old. I was baptized for the first time on 3/31/13 at my church. I am praying that someone calls me for at least an interview so I can get back to work and in my new career as a Medical Assistant. Today, after a year since I quit, I went back to visit. I was super nervous but everything went well. That is all for now. I know this was a short summary but being a full time mommy and looking for a job takes my time up!

God Bless!

Changes

My amazing son is 10 months old today. I can't believe how much he has grown and done since he was born. In less than 2 months, he will be 1 years old, my how time flies. I am cherishing every single second with him, that is for sure. Tomorrow is my last day of class for Medical Assisting & Wednesday I start my externship. I can't believe how just 1 year my life has changed and for the better. Not to mention how I have a renewed faith and becoming more religious week to week. I thoroughly enjoy church. Church to me on Sunday mornings, is equivalent to a person's cup of coffee. I feel energetic, renewed and ready to start my day. I love going to my church. What wonderful people I have met each week. God bless.

Monday Monday

Well unfortunately I was not feeling well yesterday and did not attend church. I am on the border of losing my voice today which stinks! I love going to church and learning something new each week and was super sad about not being able to go. I definitely am going this Sunday can not miss another day of church!!

Well it is monday, and by next week, I will be wrapping up my last class. I am super excited about extern coming up and hope I can extern for a hospital so I can get my foot in the door with a possibility of a career there. My goal is to work at my site as much as I can to get my 200 hours and if not get hired on there, look into positions at other medical facilities.

My ideal place to work would be with Tri Health. I gave birth to my son at one of their hospitals and have visited a couple of their doctor offices. I absolutely love them and the people who work there. They treat their patients like family and I would be so lucky to be a MA there...fingers crossed. But if that doesn't work out my next place would be an  OB GYN office. We shall see.

It is crazy where life takes us. I went from an unhappy marriage and job to having an amazing son who has inspired me to come back to school and work in the medical field as a MA. I hope to be able to return to school when he is a little older to become an LPN then an RN. Since 12/23/2012, I started going to church and hope to continue on my spiritual path with God & Jesus. Well, that is all for now.

Enjoy life. Love hard. God Bless!

Relationships Under Construction: Friendships

At church we started a new sermon called Relationships Under Construction (hence the blog title). We focused on friendships today. Pastor Marie spoke of Jesus' friends circle and how many of them betrayed Jesus and yet Jesus forgave them and rebuilt those friendships.

This sermon made me think of a friend I had made in Kindergarten. We remained friends up until a few months ago when I found out that she wasn't inviting me to hang out anymore. Instead of having a conversation with her, I told her we aren't friends anymore via text and that was it. Aside from that day, we did wish each other a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year but that was the extent of the conversation. Well today after listening to my Pastor about forgiveness, and fixing the broken friendships, I decided to contact this person. My text read as follows:

"I am so sorry about ending our friendships. My feelings were hurt & I felt like since I have a child now, and I am no longer married, felt left out."

Her reply was:

"Thank you for apologizing and if I would have known you didn't know I would have told you and I don't mind hanging out with you and Daniel. The only reason I do go out is to try to see you cuz I love you and Daniel."

Wow. After all of that, she loves me still. See we all take friendships for granted and when you feel something maybe like I did, being left out, have a conversation. It could have been a real simple fix. I almost lost a 20+ year friendship because I ended it before I even thought to have a conversation.

What a great sermon today we had. Forgiveness is hard, but after you forgive, it feels like a weight is lifted off of your shoulders.

 

Luke 5: 18-20

Some men arrived carrying a paraplegic on a stretcher. They were looking for a way to get into the house and set him before Jesus. When they couldn't find a way in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof, removed some tiles, and let him down in the middle of everyone, right in front of Jesus. Impressed by their bold belief, he said, "Friend, I forgive your sins."

Matthew 5:14-16

This is the passage we talked about in church today.

Matthew 5:14-16
14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Finding God

Today I would like to blog about my new found Faith. I have always been Spiritual, but never really have gone to church until 12/23/2012. I believe God was whispering to me over the past few years to belong to a church. I have just had this yearning to go to one, but was hoping someone would go with me. Well this time I took the bull by the horns and decided that since I wanted/needed to go, just to go alone. Everyone at CPUMC, was so warm and welcoming! I finally found a church that I wanted to belong to. I want to be a part of CPUMC, as in doing something like choir or helping in the nursery at one of the services. I just feel like I belong there and God guided me to my new church home/church family if you will. I love getting up on Sundays and going to Thank God for all the blessings in my life. I have always had Faith, but I have a deeper love for God and a better connection with his holy spirit than I did before. I can not explain it, I just feel it. Looking forward to next Sundays sermon by Pastor Marie and many many more Sundays to come. Amen.

Blessed

This blog is called The Simple Life for a reason. In my first marriage, I admit I was expecting too many things from a marriage that did not happen in mine. In fact, my marriage was awful. At that point I felt that I am just not meant to be married. I sacrificed who I was to try to make peace with my significant other, and his family. One day, I could not take the verbal, mental and emotional abuse anymore, and well, I was on defense by myself for the remainder of the marriage. I just want a simple life. The life I am living now. No stress like I had before. I spend time with my amazing son, family and close friends these days. I just want my life to be simple. I don't want constant fighting or being on the Defensive all the time.

Even though I went through hell with my ex, I am glad I did because not only did it make me a stronger person, but I can be a better mother to my wonderful son. I don't regret anything that I have done in my life time because that would mean I would regret my son, and I definitely DO NOT regret him at all! God only gives a person what they can handle, and I am guessing he thought I was tough enough for what life dealt me. At the end of the dark, lonely tunnel, I came out victorious! A beautiful, amazing son, renewed faith in God and seeing who my true friends & family are. I thank God every day (and go to his house on Sundays now), for the life he has given me and the people he put in my life.

My Goals

1. Graduate with Straight A's.
2. Lose Weight.
3. Pay off Car & Student Loans in 5 years.
4. Buy/Rent a 3-4 bedroom 2 bath w/ basement townhome in 5 years.
5. Be a great cook and a better baker.

2013 Even Better Year

It is hard to believe how things have changed in my life in just a couple of years. 2011, divorced my husband of 5 years, became pregnant. 2012, had my son, quit my job of 7 years, enrolled in school for Medical Assisting. 2013, my son will be turning 1 years old, & I will be graduating, both in April! I have accomplished a lot in the past year. Somehow I managed to get straight A's which never happened to me when I was in school years ago! I guess now I am more focused then ever. I am so blessed to have my family and my very few close friends who love my son and support us no matter what.
I can not believe that I start my last class on Wednesday and then in February I go do my externship. I am on a way better path than I have even been on in my life. My son, he is my motivation and inspiration for going back to school and doing my absolute best to have a career so that I can take care of him and give him a great life.
In December, I started going to church, and so far, I have been going every Sunday. Going to church is a great thing for me. I feel so much better going to God's house and thanking him for a great son, and a great life.
A shout out to GOD, Daniel, my family, Josh (my best friend), Maddy & Patrick for always being there for (us) no matter what! I could not have gotten where I am now without you all. Lots of Love to you!!!!