Valerie Ann Smith, age 39 of Meadows of Dan, passed away peacefully at her home on June 20, 2024 surrounded by family. After months of fighting, I have finally won my battle against Renal Medullary Carcinoma and now sit at the feet of Jesus! I have been blessed to live my final 4 years in… Read more: Amazing Woman’s Self-Obituary
Psilocybin mushrooms, also known as “magic mushrooms”, have been a subject of human fascination for centuries. Deeply rooted in various cultures as a spiritual and mystical tool, these fungi have recently re-emerged in the spotlight of medical research. The renewed interest is not merely a trend, but rather a scientific inquiry into their potential therapeutic… Read more: Shrooms 4 Schizophrenia
t’s so important to make sure you take good care of your body, mind, and soul every day, not just when you get sick. Learning how to eat right, reduce stress, exercise regularly, and take a time-out when you need it are touchstones of self-care and can help you stay healthy, happy, and resilient. How Do… Read more: (no title)
Robert Wadlow, the tallest man who ever lived, in Ringling Brothers (1937)Taken during his time as the star attraction of the Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus, Wadlow is seen here aboard the Queen Mary Cruise. Press.Robert Pershing Wadlow (February 22, 1918 – July 15, 1940), also known as the Alton Giant and the… Read more: Alton Giant
High-profile human trafficking cases get a lot of attention because they seem unique. In some cases, that’s because of the status of the perpetrators, or because of the lavish lifestyles they show to those who would never otherwise see them, or the massive sums of money involved. But look behind the expensive scenery, or the… Read more: Patterns of Trafficking: The Ghislaine Maxwell Trial
The “iron law of prohibition” is alive and well. An animal anesthetic related to – but worse than – xylazine (Tranq) is called medetomidine. It’s starting to be detected in samples of illicit fentanyl. Just what we don’t need: another adulterant in an already-deadly street drug. And it’s all predictable. Attempts to rein in illicit… Read more: You Think Tranquilizer Is Bad? Meet Medetomidine
Is this you? Do you “boil over” at the littlest thing these days?Do you seem to have less and less patience?Does everything seem to be getting more challenging? Step out of the heat – maybe it’s a toxic relationship, a too-tight schedule, a financial stressor, or an unrealistic expectation. Today as I fixed rice for… Read more: Boiling Over
Piglet let himself into Pooh’s house to find his friend lying on the floor under his kitchen table with a blanket over his head. “Um… Pooh? What are you doing?” “Hiding,” muttered Pooh. “Hiding from what?” “Everything,” said Pooh with a heavy sigh. “Listen, I know we were meant to be going out with Rabbit… Read more: I’m Fine….?
What Is Stigma? Stigma exists when elements of labeling, stereotyping, separation, status loss, and discrimination occur together in a power situation that allows them.Link & Phelan, 2001 Stigma is a complex sociological phenomenon. It’s not inherent in mental illness; rather, it comes from social beliefs about what’s considered “normal” and socially acceptable, and what kinds… Read more: Stopping Stigma: Changing Attitudes
Awe Inspiring Meteor Storm The Leonids meteor shower is one of the 10 biggest meteor showers of the year. Every 33 years, however, it becomes even more intense as the comet 55P/Temple-Tuttle makes its closest approach to the Earth and Sun. The Great Leonids Meteor Storm of 1833, however, was unusually prolific and became one of… Read more: The Great Leonids Meteor Storm of 1833
Gangs mix another potent sedative into U.S. street drugs causing ‘mass overdoses’. Updated June 03, 2024 at 14:54 PM ET Public health officials say Mexican cartels and drug gangs inside the U.S. are mixing a dangerous chemical sedative called medetomidine into fentanyl and other drugs sold on the street. The combination triggered a new wave… Read more: Gangs Mix Dangerous Medtomidine into U.S. Streets
RUN THE DISHWASHER TWICE. When I was at one of my lowest (mental) points in life, I couldn’t get out of bed some days. I had no energy or motivation and was barely getting by. I had therapy once per week, and on this particular week, I didn’t have much to ‘bring’ to the session.… Read more: Run the Dishwasher Twice
In the 1930s in the United States, sacks containing flour and grain were made of cloth, primarily cotton. The Kansas Wheat company, in the midst of the Great Depression, realized that the poorest families were reusing them to sew dresses for women and girls, so to make them more captivating they decided to print them… Read more: Recycling 1930 America
A great woman erased from history by idiots.The branding of the syrup was a tribute to this woman’s gifts and talents. Now future generations will not even know this beautiful woman existed. What a shame. The world knew her as “Aunt Jemima”, but her given name was Nancy Green and she was a true American… Read more: Aunt Jemima
The Origin of America’s Favorite Nursery Rhyme: Davy Crockett’s older sister, Effie Crockett was invited to help some mothers in the Muskogee Tribe. Once she arrived in camp, Effie laughed at what she saw. The Muskogee Tribe had a custom of cradling their pappooses among the swaying branches of birch trees. This protected their babies… Read more: Story Behind Rock-A-Bye Baby Lullaby
One morning, my husband discovered Mara snuggled in bed next to him with a pen in hand, scribbling all over his Bible. As he reached for the pen, Mara looked up and uttered the phrase, “Hi, Daddy.” This would be a typical response for a three year old. But our daughter Mara is severely autistic… Read more: Scribbled
Saying thank you is more than just good manners. It is also a way of expressing gratitude, appreciation, and recognition for someone’s efforts or kindness. Saying thank you can strengthen relationships, boost morale, and create a positive atmosphere. It can also improve your own well-being, as gratitude is linked to happiness and life satisfaction. A… Read more: Power Of Appreciation
Working with our Unsheltered Friends as well as Victims/Survivors of Human Trafficking, we encounter this disorder in most. Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality Disorder) Dissociative identity disorder, formerly referred to as multiple personality disorder, is characterized by a person’s identity fragmenting into two or more distinct personality states. People with this condition are often victims of severe abuse. What is… Read more: DID
The inner self is the subconscious repository of your thoughts, memories, emotions, and other aspects of your mind that make up who you are. It’s the private, internal part of yourself you generally do not share with others—the core of your being. Introspection means “to look inside,” and describes the act of thinking about your own… Read more: Introspection Into Inner-self
“How dare the world define beauty. God defined beauty when he made you! You are beautiful, you are a true beauty just the way you are!” ~ Rachel Hamilton “Beauty comes in many forms-and there is no form more beautiful than you. Just exactly as you are, this minute, right now, without changing a thing…you… Read more: What Is Beauty?
My dad has bees.Today I went to his house and he showed me all of the honey he had gotten from the hives. He took the lid off of a 5 gallon bucket full of honey and on top of the honey there were 3 little bees, struggling. They were covered in sticky honey and… Read more: Bee Kind
“He came into my restaurant asking me for some money. I looked at him and asked him why don’t you have a job? You are strong & healthy from what it appears. And nothing was ever given to me for free.. right? The man responded, “ I have a lot of felonies, and nobody wants… Read more: We All Deserve A Second Chance
The Sculptor’s AttitudeI woke up early today excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight.I have responsibilities to fulfill today. I am important.My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have.Today I can complain because the weather is rainy or…I can be thankful that the grass… Read more: The Sculptor’s Attitude
You can be a drunk. You can be a survivor of abuse. You can be an ex-con. You can be a homeless person. You can lose all your money or your job or a husband or a wife, or the worst thing imaginable, a child. You can lose your marbles. You can be standing inside… Read more: You…Matter
When you expect the worst from people-they will deliver. When you expect the worst, you’re assuming that something bad will happen. This is called catastrophizing, or worst-case scenario thinking. Catastrophizing is a tendency to exaggerate negative outcomes and anticipate problems where they most likely do not exist. It can be a symptom of anxiety, depression, and trauma. People who like… Read more: Stop Being Negative Nannies
What is the legacy you want to leave behind? Lord, thank You for calling me to a new life in You. Please help me to live by faith. As I read Your … But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Galatians 3:23
If you say that someone talks the talk but does not walk the walk, you mean that they do not act in a way that agrees with the things they say. The word “walk” in the Bible is related to behavior, or how Christians live day-by-day. So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to… Read more: Walk Your Talk
Listen up! We have a heck of a problem with Syphilis in our unsheltered community. We have condoms! Please use them! What is syphilis? Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that spreads when you have vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has the infection. A bacteria causes it. Antibiotic medication treats syphilis.… Read more: Syphilis Is Back
17 [I always pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him [for we know the Father through the Son]. 18 And [I pray] that the eyes… Read more: Made For More
Today I was in a shoe store that sells only shoes, nothing else. A young girl with a tattoo and green hair walked over to me and asked, “What brings you in today, I looked at her and said, “I’m interested in buying a refrigerator.” She didn’t quite know how to respond, had that deer… Read more: Aging Is Comfortable
What does it mean to stand in the gap? One Bible scholar defined standing in the gap as the call “to expose oneself for the protection of something.” This means you take the position on the battlefield in place of a wounded brother or sister in Christ. In Ezekiel 22:30 the Lord says, “I looked for someone… Read more: Standing In The Gap
All that we see or seem/Is but a dream within a dream. -Edgar Allen Poe In this poem, Poe explained how the reality of life is more painful than his past. He would rather dream, and avoid reality because of how the abrasive effects of reality have beaten and shaped him. The speaker’s tone, or attitude,… Read more: A Dream, by Edgar Allen Poe
The true meaning of ‘courage‘: Courage is the quality of being ready and willing to face negative situations involving danger or pain. A close synonym is bravery. Showing courage is often thought of as facing such situations without fear, but it also involves facing “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end… Read more: Courage: Try Again
As we struggle through the recovery process, it is common to have conflicts with other people. We are sometimes in pain, and it can be very easy to turn against the people who are causing that pain. Our battles should not be waged against one another. We need to concentrate our energy against much greater… Read more: Fighting The Real Enemies
This must STOP!!! This happens at EVERY SINGLE CHURCH… (Author unknown) One night in a church service, a young woman felt the tug of God at her heart. She responded to God’s call and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. The young woman had a very rough past, involving alcohol, drugs, and prostitution. But,… Read more: Don’t Erase Your Past
Philip Yancey observes a church that levels the playing field. What is it? From CHRISTIANITY TODAY, Vol. 27:96097, Feb. 4, 1983 The Midnight Church by Philip Yancey Its members consciously lean on one another I attended a unique “church” recently, one that exists without a denominational headquarters or paid staff and yet attracts millions of committed members.… Read more: The Midnight Church by Philip Yancey
So tonight as I was cooking, I was thinking about life. And I said in my subconscious “I’ve reached my breaking point.”I began to make cornbread and cracked these two eggs and I heard “Now I can use you!” You see an egg can’t be used until it’s broken.I immediately found joy in the breaking!!… Read more: Joy In The Breaking
Please join me in this prayer for our nation by Billy Graham. 🙏❤️🇺🇸 Our Father and Our God, We praise You for Your goodness to our nation, giving us blessings far beyond what we deserve. Yet we know all is not right with America. We deeply need a moral and spiritual renewal to help us… Read more: National Day of Prayer
Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often? Depression lies in the past and anxiety lies in the future. You’ll be free of both when … Depression and Anxiety
Productivity is not just about ticking off tasks on a to-do list; it’s about feeling fulfilled, purposeful, and energized by the work we do. For me, … Unleashing Productivity: Finding Purpose in Helping Others and Sharing Laughter ! 🥰😊
In the tapestry of life, there are threads of wisdom and inspiration that guide us through the ebbs and flows of our journey. For many of us, these … Words to Live By: The Power of Inspirational Quotes..📝
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay: Tips and Resources for Mental Health Awareness Month Main page content Date: May 01, 2024 Category: Mental Health By: Anita Everett, M.D. DFAPA, Director of the Center for Mental Health Services It’s May, so just checking in… “How is everybody doing?” In case you missed it, Sesame Street’s lovable Elmo posed that very… Read more: It’s Ok
Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often? “Love the life you live. Live the life you love.” Bob Marley It means that you will not let others define you or make decisions for you that you should make for yourself. Be true to the very best that is in… Read more: Live the Life You Love
Jesus loved the unnoticed, the undervalued, and the unwelcomed. Those are the neighbors He taught about. 34 “Then I, the King, shall say to those at my right, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, into the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you fed me; I… Read more: Unnoticed and Loved
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother’s womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it. 15 You were there while I was being formed in utter seclusion! 16 You saw me before I was… Read more: Just Be Yourself
Describe a risk you took that you do not regret. Stepping out in faith to help our Unsheltered friends. That was five years ago. We have built amazing relationships. Last year I received my certifications CPS, HRS, MARS, and training in helping victims/survivors of Human Trafficking. Oh, I have the best boss ever-JESUS!
What can the average person do to stop human trafficking? Know the facts. Find out how human trafficking happens in the United States . Be alert to situations the people around you may be experiencing. Seek help. You might know someone who is in a trafficking situation — a family member, student, patient, tenant, co-worker, or someone else. If… Read more: Ten Things You Can Do To Stop Human Trafficking
What makes you nervous? My irrational fear of confined places. Fear of confined spaces (claustrophobia) becomes a phobia when it interferes with your ability to function at work, school, or other daily activities. Common triggers include tunnels, elevators, trains and airplanes. Behavior training is the main treatment. Other coping methods include relaxation, deep breathing exercises… Read more: Claustrophobia
On April 22, 1945, Adolf Hitler, learning from one of his generals that no German defense was offered to the Russian assault at Eberswalde, admits to all in his underground bunker that the war is lost and that suicide is his only recourse. Almost as confirmation of Hitler’s assessment, a Soviet mechanized corps reaches Treuenbrietzen, 40 miles southwest… Read more: Hitler Admits Defeat 1945
A girl bought an iPad. When her father saw it, He asked her “What was the 1st thing you did when you bought it? “I put an anti-scratch sticker on the screen and bought a cover for the iPad” she replied. “Did someone force you to do so?” “Don’t you think it’s an insult to… Read more: Put A Cover On
When you die, don’t worry about your body… your relatives will do whatever is necessary according to their possibilities.They will take your clothes off, wash you, dress you, take you out of your house and take you to your new address.Many will come to your funeral to “say goodbye.” Some will cancel commitments and even… Read more: You Only Take What You Gave
Describe a random encounter with a stranger that stuck out positively to you. 2 Do not neglect to extend hospitality to strangers [especially among the family of believers—being friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts of your home and doing your part generously], for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2 My… Read more: Angels, Our Messengers
At 5:13 a.m., an earthquake estimated at close to 8.0 on the Richter scale strikes San Francisco, California, killing hundreds of people as it topples numerous buildings. The quake was caused by a slip of the San Andreas Fault over a segment about 275 miles long, and shock waves could be felt from southern Oregon down to Los Angeles.… Read more: The Great San Francisco Earthquake 1906
Describe a decision you made in the past that helped you learn or grow. Last year I obtained my certifications; Peer Specialist, Harm Reduction, and Medication Assisted Recovery Specialist. God is turning all my bad behaviors into good. I am so thankful that my past is helping someone’s future. A peer support specialist is a person with… Read more: Hope Dealer
“When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt Sounds like great advice, right? But what does it really mean? I think Roosevelt was trying to tell us a couple things. Meaning, “end of your rope”; a state in which one is not able to deal… Read more: Tie A Knot and Hold On
Blue Campaign is a national public awareness campaign designed to educate the public, law enforcement, and other industry partners to recognize the indicators of human trafficking, and how to appropriately respond to possible cases. Blue Campaign works closely with DHS Components to develop general awareness trainings, as well as specific educational resources to help reduce victimization within vulnerable… Read more: Stop Human Trafficking: Blue Campaign
Describe a positive thing a family member has done for you. My husband has taught me so much. Knowing the good, bad, and ugly in me; always by my side, supporting me. . “Self-acceptance is the key to true happiness and inner contentment, as it encompasses the act of wholeheartedly embracing and cherishing oneself with… Read more: Taught me self-acceptance
On this day in 1947, Jackie Robinson, age 28, becomes the first African-American player in Major League Baseball when he steps onto Ebbets Field in Brooklyn to compete for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson broke the color barrier in a sport that had been segregated for more than 50 years. Exactly 50 years later, on April 15,… Read more: Jackie Robinson Breaks Color Barrier
BEST POEM IN THE WORLD I was shocked , confused, bewildered as I entered Heaven’s door, not by the beauty of it all, nor the lights or its decor. But it was the folks in Heaven who made me sputter and gasp– the thieves, the liars, the sinners, the alcoholics and the trash. There stood… Read more: Will You Be There?
What is the human trafficking rate in Missouri? 4.32 per 100,000 people As recent as 2020, Missouri had the fourth highest incidence rate of human trafficking at 4.32 per 100,000 people (Polaris, 2023a).Dec 31, 2023 Is Missouri still a hotspot for human trafficking? Missouri comes in at 20 for highest human trafficking cases reported. According to the… Read more: Homeless & Trafficked
* “One of the most beautiful gifts in the world is the gift of encouragement. When someone encourages you, that person helps you over a threshold you… …the gift of encouragement
I’d rather my silence be misunderstood than my words be misquoted or my presence be mishandled. The phrase “silence is often misunderstood” suggests that silence or the absence of words or communication can be misinterpreted or misunderstood by others. It implies that people may perceive silence as a negative or passive response, when in reality… Read more: Silence Often Misunderstood
More to come. How many Americans are unemployed or underemployed?U.S. unemployment level seasonally unadjusted number 2022-2024. In the United States, approximately 6.6 million people were unemployed and looking for work in March 2024. The data has not been seasonally adjusted. Losing a job can certainly increase the risk of experiencing homelessness, especially for individuals who… Read more: Homelessness Rising
Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards. Today a simple thought around living life. Learn from the past, analyse it, study it all you will, so you can learn more about yourself, others, your business, your leadership. When it comes to the future, however, trust yourself.
The devil appeared to three monks and said to them: if I gave you the power to change something in the past, what would you change? The first of them, with great apostolic fervor, replied: «I would like to prevent you from leading Adam and Eve to sin, so that humanity does not separate from… Read more: Conquer With Truth
Describe one positive change you have made in your life. I was a “Dope Dealer,” now I am a “Hope Dealer.” Certified Peer Support Specialist , Harm Reduction Specialist, Medication Assisted Recovery Specialist. ALL thanks to Jesus Christ!
Human trafficking has severe impacts on survivors’ physical and mental health, and healthcare systems are not always equipped to care for them. Any type of human trafficking — sex trafficking, labor trafficking, and forced marriage — can have grave health consequences. One study by Loyola University found that 99% of trafficking survivors had at least… Read more: Human Trafficking Survivor Health Issues
What animals make the best/worst pets?Ever since childhood I have wanted cats. Due to allergies, I was unable to have cats at that time. Since then I have been Mom to many cats. I love their independence, but snuggles also. 🐈⬛❤️Worse pets, none. I love all animals.
My Case Is Different: Embracing Divine Favour and Exceptionalism in Christian Faith My Case Is Different: Embracing Divine Favour and Exceptionalism … My Case Is Different: Embracing Divine Favour and Exceptionalism in Christian Faith
Can you see me? I am everywhere. Why don’t you see me? When I look at you, You turn away I’m not invisible. Judi A Woods 4.5.24 What does it mean to be hidden homeless? That is, those whose accommodation is temporary or lacks security of tenure. Known as the “out of sight, out of mind”,… Read more: Not Invisible
HUD reports that on a single night in 2023, roughly 653,100 people in the U.S. experienced homelessness, up about 12 percent from 2022. The Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement reports the official poverty rate in 2022 was 11.5%, not statistically different from 2021. Why is homelessness the biggest problem in America? Scholars, healthcare… Read more: Homeless in America
What job would you do for free?I am a Certified Peer Specialist. I work with our Unsheltered in Polk County, at no charge. I also have Certifications in Harm Reduction, Medication Assisted Recovery, and Human Trafficking Advocacy.
How Guardian Angels Help You While You Sleep By Whitney Hopler Updated on May 23, 2019 Angels never get tired, since they don’t have physical bodies with limited energy like people do. So angels don’t need to sleep. That means that guardian angels are free to keep working even when the people they’re caring for are sleeping and dreaming.… Read more: How Guardian Angels Help You While You Sleep
The Shadows Come “O river of stars and shadows, lead me through the night.”–Siegfried Sassoon, “Before the Battle” (June 25, 1916) I walk briskly in … The Shadows Come
The Sculptor’s AttitudeI woke up early today excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight.I have responsibilities to fulfill today. I am important.My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have.Today I can complain because the weather is rainy or…I can be thankful that the grass… Read more: Today…
I went to the pharmacy the other day to get a prescription filled. While I was standing outside waiting for them to fill it a young man come walking by. He looked up at me nodded his head and said hi. I nodded back and said “Hey, how’s it going”. He said “I would be… Read more: Try, Try, Again
My dad has bees.Today I went to his house and he showed me all of the honey he had gotten from the hives. He took the lid off of a 5 gallon bucket full of honey and on top of the honey there were 3 little bees, struggling. They were covered in sticky honey and… Read more: Three Little Bees
“After leaving out of the store today my daughter did something that really made me stop and think. There was this guy sitting there crying and she asks me ‘did you see that man crying? What’s wrong with him?’ I said yes but I’m not sure maybe he’s just sad…She said, ‘maybe he’s hot and… Read more: Out of The Hearts of Babes
IF If you can keep your head when all about youAre losing theirs and blaming it on you;If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,But make allowance for their doubting too;If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,Or, being hated, don’t give way to… Read more: IF
Watching someone you love, that has fought so hard to beat addiction, throw everything away and sink back into a life that will most likely lead to jail or death, is one of the hardest things you will ever do. You want to help them back to a clean and sober life but you realize… Read more: (no title)
Good morning said a woman as she walked up to the man sitting on the ground. The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new.. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life. His first thought was that she… Read more: Old Jack
Being Molested at a young age forces you to grow up fast. Some turn gay, have sex issues, bad attitudes, trust issues, love too hard, live in fear, etc. Some grow a shell and others do anything it takes to be loved because most times we miss that part and don’t understand and just want… Read more: (no title)
In our inevitable parallel world of the virtual community, website owners should take moral responsibility for eliminating dark websites. Society is … Social Responsibilities of Internet and Website Community
We have a human trafficking problem along with a myriad of unsheltered. We have already began to make our community aware, and we advocate for our Unsheltered friends; many of whom are Trafficked.
Back in the day… They used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot & then once a day it was taken & sold to the tannery. If you had to do this to survive you were “piss poor.”But worse than that were the really poor folk… Read more: Fun Facts
Addiction, What is it? Addiction can turn a perfectly healthy individual into a complete mess. So, what is it? Addiction is a habit that has taken control of us over which we have little or no control. We find ourselves in a position of being unable to break that habit. The cause of addiction… Read more: From Habit To Disease
What are your morning rituals? What does the first hour of your day look like? Once awake, usually awoken by my cats, I scurry to bathroom, wash my face, brush my teeth. Next on to feeding my dogs, cats, turtles. Most important part of my morning is the time I spend with Jesus!
I have everything that I wanted as a teenager, only 60 years later. I don’t have to go to school or work. I get an allowance every month. I have my own pad. I don’t have a curfew. I have a driver’s license and my own car. The people I hang around with are not… Read more: Aging Beautifully
On March 31, 1889, the Eiffel Tower is dedicated in Paris in a ceremony presided over by Gustave Eiffel, the tower’s designer, and attended by French Prime Minister Pierre Tirard, a handful of other dignitaries, and 200 construction workers. In 1889, to honor of the centenary of the French Revolution, the French government planned an international exposition and… Read more: This Day in History
Whoever Takes the Son Gets It All Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son, shared a passion for art collecting. Together they traveled around the world, adding only the finest art treasures to their collection. Priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many others adorned the walls… Read more: Take The Son
If you could have something named after you, what would it be? Recovery Community Centers are peer-operated centers that serve as local resources of community-based recovery support. People do not live at these centers, but rather these resources can help individuals build recovery capital at the community level by providing advocacy training, recovery information and… Read more: Recovery Community Center
What are the dangers of boofing? Boofing isn’t without its own dangers, in addition to the usual dangers of substance use. First, boofing can irritate or damage the lining of the anus, leading to pain, bleeding, and infections. This is especially true if you don’t dissolve the substance in water and instead use the “dabbing”… Read more: Dangers of Boofing
Valerie Ann Smith, age 39 of Meadows of Dan, passed away peacefully at her home on June 20, 2024 surrounded by family. After months of fighting, I have finally won my battle against Renal Medullary Carcinoma and now sit at the feet of Jesus! I have been blessed to live my final 4 years in… Read more: Amazing Woman’s Self-Obituary
Psilocybin mushrooms, also known as “magic mushrooms”, have been a subject of human fascination for centuries. Deeply rooted in various cultures as a spiritual and mystical tool, these fungi have recently re-emerged in the spotlight of medical research. The renewed interest is not merely a trend, but rather a scientific inquiry into their potential therapeutic… Read more: Shrooms 4 Schizophrenia
t’s so important to make sure you take good care of your body, mind, and soul every day, not just when you get sick. Learning how to eat right, reduce stress, exercise regularly, and take a time-out when you need it are touchstones of self-care and can help you stay healthy, happy, and resilient. How Do… Read more: (no title)
Robert Wadlow, the tallest man who ever lived, in Ringling Brothers (1937)Taken during his time as the star attraction of the Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus, Wadlow is seen here aboard the Queen Mary Cruise. Press.Robert Pershing Wadlow (February 22, 1918 – July 15, 1940), also known as the Alton Giant and the… Read more: Alton Giant
High-profile human trafficking cases get a lot of attention because they seem unique. In some cases, that’s because of the status of the perpetrators, or because of the lavish lifestyles they show to those who would never otherwise see them, or the massive sums of money involved. But look behind the expensive scenery, or the… Read more: Patterns of Trafficking: The Ghislaine Maxwell Trial
The “iron law of prohibition” is alive and well. An animal anesthetic related to – but worse than – xylazine (Tranq) is called medetomidine. It’s starting to be detected in samples of illicit fentanyl. Just what we don’t need: another adulterant in an already-deadly street drug. And it’s all predictable. Attempts to rein in illicit… Read more: You Think Tranquilizer Is Bad? Meet Medetomidine
Is this you? Do you “boil over” at the littlest thing these days?Do you seem to have less and less patience?Does everything seem to be getting more challenging? Step out of the heat – maybe it’s a toxic relationship, a too-tight schedule, a financial stressor, or an unrealistic expectation. Today as I fixed rice for… Read more: Boiling Over
Piglet let himself into Pooh’s house to find his friend lying on the floor under his kitchen table with a blanket over his head. “Um… Pooh? What are you doing?” “Hiding,” muttered Pooh. “Hiding from what?” “Everything,” said Pooh with a heavy sigh. “Listen, I know we were meant to be going out with Rabbit… Read more: I’m Fine….?
What Is Stigma? Stigma exists when elements of labeling, stereotyping, separation, status loss, and discrimination occur together in a power situation that allows them.Link & Phelan, 2001 Stigma is a complex sociological phenomenon. It’s not inherent in mental illness; rather, it comes from social beliefs about what’s considered “normal” and socially acceptable, and what kinds… Read more: Stopping Stigma: Changing Attitudes
Awe Inspiring Meteor Storm The Leonids meteor shower is one of the 10 biggest meteor showers of the year. Every 33 years, however, it becomes even more intense as the comet 55P/Temple-Tuttle makes its closest approach to the Earth and Sun. The Great Leonids Meteor Storm of 1833, however, was unusually prolific and became one of… Read more: The Great Leonids Meteor Storm of 1833
Gangs mix another potent sedative into U.S. street drugs causing ‘mass overdoses’. Updated June 03, 2024 at 14:54 PM ET Public health officials say Mexican cartels and drug gangs inside the U.S. are mixing a dangerous chemical sedative called medetomidine into fentanyl and other drugs sold on the street. The combination triggered a new wave… Read more: Gangs Mix Dangerous Medtomidine into U.S. Streets
RUN THE DISHWASHER TWICE. When I was at one of my lowest (mental) points in life, I couldn’t get out of bed some days. I had no energy or motivation and was barely getting by. I had therapy once per week, and on this particular week, I didn’t have much to ‘bring’ to the session.… Read more: Run the Dishwasher Twice
In the 1930s in the United States, sacks containing flour and grain were made of cloth, primarily cotton. The Kansas Wheat company, in the midst of the Great Depression, realized that the poorest families were reusing them to sew dresses for women and girls, so to make them more captivating they decided to print them… Read more: Recycling 1930 America
A great woman erased from history by idiots.The branding of the syrup was a tribute to this woman’s gifts and talents. Now future generations will not even know this beautiful woman existed. What a shame. The world knew her as “Aunt Jemima”, but her given name was Nancy Green and she was a true American… Read more: Aunt Jemima
The Origin of America’s Favorite Nursery Rhyme: Davy Crockett’s older sister, Effie Crockett was invited to help some mothers in the Muskogee Tribe. Once she arrived in camp, Effie laughed at what she saw. The Muskogee Tribe had a custom of cradling their pappooses among the swaying branches of birch trees. This protected their babies… Read more: Story Behind Rock-A-Bye Baby Lullaby
One morning, my husband discovered Mara snuggled in bed next to him with a pen in hand, scribbling all over his Bible. As he reached for the pen, Mara looked up and uttered the phrase, “Hi, Daddy.” This would be a typical response for a three year old. But our daughter Mara is severely autistic… Read more: Scribbled
Saying thank you is more than just good manners. It is also a way of expressing gratitude, appreciation, and recognition for someone’s efforts or kindness. Saying thank you can strengthen relationships, boost morale, and create a positive atmosphere. It can also improve your own well-being, as gratitude is linked to happiness and life satisfaction. A… Read more: Power Of Appreciation
Working with our Unsheltered Friends as well as Victims/Survivors of Human Trafficking, we encounter this disorder in most. Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality Disorder) Dissociative identity disorder, formerly referred to as multiple personality disorder, is characterized by a person’s identity fragmenting into two or more distinct personality states. People with this condition are often victims of severe abuse. What is… Read more: DID
The inner self is the subconscious repository of your thoughts, memories, emotions, and other aspects of your mind that make up who you are. It’s the private, internal part of yourself you generally do not share with others—the core of your being. Introspection means “to look inside,” and describes the act of thinking about your own… Read more: Introspection Into Inner-self
“How dare the world define beauty. God defined beauty when he made you! You are beautiful, you are a true beauty just the way you are!” ~ Rachel Hamilton “Beauty comes in many forms-and there is no form more beautiful than you. Just exactly as you are, this minute, right now, without changing a thing…you… Read more: What Is Beauty?
My dad has bees.Today I went to his house and he showed me all of the honey he had gotten from the hives. He took the lid off of a 5 gallon bucket full of honey and on top of the honey there were 3 little bees, struggling. They were covered in sticky honey and… Read more: Bee Kind
“He came into my restaurant asking me for some money. I looked at him and asked him why don’t you have a job? You are strong & healthy from what it appears. And nothing was ever given to me for free.. right? The man responded, “ I have a lot of felonies, and nobody wants… Read more: We All Deserve A Second Chance
The Sculptor’s AttitudeI woke up early today excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight.I have responsibilities to fulfill today. I am important.My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have.Today I can complain because the weather is rainy or…I can be thankful that the grass… Read more: The Sculptor’s Attitude
You can be a drunk. You can be a survivor of abuse. You can be an ex-con. You can be a homeless person. You can lose all your money or your job or a husband or a wife, or the worst thing imaginable, a child. You can lose your marbles. You can be standing inside… Read more: You…Matter
When you expect the worst from people-they will deliver. When you expect the worst, you’re assuming that something bad will happen. This is called catastrophizing, or worst-case scenario thinking. Catastrophizing is a tendency to exaggerate negative outcomes and anticipate problems where they most likely do not exist. It can be a symptom of anxiety, depression, and trauma. People who like… Read more: Stop Being Negative Nannies
If you say that someone talks the talk but does not walk the walk, you mean that they do not act in a way that agrees with the things they say. The word “walk” in the Bible is related to behavior, or how Christians live day-by-day. So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to… Read more: Walk Your Talk
Light casts out darknessSpring forgets her harsh winterNew life ushers inJAWoods 2021
Oil keeps it burningThe Light now shining brightlyHoly Spirit flowJAWoods 8.21.2021
Fog now creeping inI can choose to be fearfulOr soak, in the peace.~J.A. Woods
Listen up! We have a heck of a problem with Syphilis in our unsheltered community. We have condoms! Please use them! What is syphilis? Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that spreads when you have vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has the infection. A bacteria causes it. Antibiotic medication treats syphilis.… Read more: Syphilis Is Back
17 [I always pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him [for we know the Father through the Son]. 18 And [I pray] that the eyes… Read more: Made For More
Today I was in a shoe store that sells only shoes, nothing else. A young girl with a tattoo and green hair walked over to me and asked, “What brings you in today, I looked at her and said, “I’m interested in buying a refrigerator.” She didn’t quite know how to respond, had that deer… Read more: Aging Is Comfortable
What does it mean to stand in the gap? One Bible scholar defined standing in the gap as the call “to expose oneself for the protection of something.” This means you take the position on the battlefield in place of a wounded brother or sister in Christ. In Ezekiel 22:30 the Lord says, “I looked for someone… Read more: Standing In The Gap
All that we see or seem/Is but a dream within a dream. -Edgar Allen Poe In this poem, Poe explained how the reality of life is more painful than his past. He would rather dream, and avoid reality because of how the abrasive effects of reality have beaten and shaped him. The speaker’s tone, or attitude,… Read more: A Dream, by Edgar Allen Poe
The true meaning of ‘courage‘: Courage is the quality of being ready and willing to face negative situations involving danger or pain. A close synonym is bravery. Showing courage is often thought of as facing such situations without fear, but it also involves facing “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end… Read more: Courage: Try Again
As we struggle through the recovery process, it is common to have conflicts with other people. We are sometimes in pain, and it can be very easy to turn against the people who are causing that pain. Our battles should not be waged against one another. We need to concentrate our energy against much greater… Read more: Fighting The Real Enemies
This must STOP!!! This happens at EVERY SINGLE CHURCH… (Author unknown) One night in a church service, a young woman felt the tug of God at her heart. She responded to God’s call and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. The young woman had a very rough past, involving alcohol, drugs, and prostitution. But,… Read more: Don’t Erase Your Past
Philip Yancey observes a church that levels the playing field. What is it? From CHRISTIANITY TODAY, Vol. 27:96097, Feb. 4, 1983 The Midnight Church by Philip Yancey Its members consciously lean on one another I attended a unique “church” recently, one that exists without a denominational headquarters or paid staff and yet attracts millions of committed members.… Read more: The Midnight Church by Philip Yancey
So tonight as I was cooking, I was thinking about life. And I said in my subconscious “I’ve reached my breaking point.”I began to make cornbread and cracked these two eggs and I heard “Now I can use you!” You see an egg can’t be used until it’s broken.I immediately found joy in the breaking!!… Read more: Joy In The Breaking
Please join me in this prayer for our nation by Billy Graham. 🙏❤️🇺🇸 Our Father and Our God, We praise You for Your goodness to our nation, giving us blessings far beyond what we deserve. Yet we know all is not right with America. We deeply need a moral and spiritual renewal to help us… Read more: National Day of Prayer
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay: Tips and Resources for Mental Health Awareness Month Main page content Date: May 01, 2024 Category: Mental Health By: Anita Everett, M.D. DFAPA, Director of the Center for Mental Health Services It’s May, so just checking in… “How is everybody doing?” In case you missed it, Sesame Street’s lovable Elmo posed that very… Read more: It’s Ok
Jesus loved the unnoticed, the undervalued, and the unwelcomed. Those are the neighbors He taught about. 34 “Then I, the King, shall say to those at my right, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, into the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you fed me; I… Read more: Unnoticed and Loved
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother’s womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it. 15 You were there while I was being formed in utter seclusion! 16 You saw me before I was… Read more: Just Be Yourself
What can the average person do to stop human trafficking? Know the facts. Find out how human trafficking happens in the United States . Be alert to situations the people around you may be experiencing. Seek help. You might know someone who is in a trafficking situation — a family member, student, patient, tenant, co-worker, or someone else. If… Read more: Ten Things You Can Do To Stop Human Trafficking
On April 22, 1945, Adolf Hitler, learning from one of his generals that no German defense was offered to the Russian assault at Eberswalde, admits to all in his underground bunker that the war is lost and that suicide is his only recourse. Almost as confirmation of Hitler’s assessment, a Soviet mechanized corps reaches Treuenbrietzen, 40 miles southwest… Read more: Hitler Admits Defeat 1945
A girl bought an iPad. When her father saw it, He asked her “What was the 1st thing you did when you bought it? “I put an anti-scratch sticker on the screen and bought a cover for the iPad” she replied. “Did someone force you to do so?” “Don’t you think it’s an insult to… Read more: Put A Cover On
When you die, don’t worry about your body… your relatives will do whatever is necessary according to their possibilities.They will take your clothes off, wash you, dress you, take you out of your house and take you to your new address.Many will come to your funeral to “say goodbye.” Some will cancel commitments and even… Read more: You Only Take What You Gave
At 5:13 a.m., an earthquake estimated at close to 8.0 on the Richter scale strikes San Francisco, California, killing hundreds of people as it topples numerous buildings. The quake was caused by a slip of the San Andreas Fault over a segment about 275 miles long, and shock waves could be felt from southern Oregon down to Los Angeles.… Read more: The Great San Francisco Earthquake 1906
“When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt Sounds like great advice, right? But what does it really mean? I think Roosevelt was trying to tell us a couple things. Meaning, “end of your rope”; a state in which one is not able to deal… Read more: Tie A Knot and Hold On
Blue Campaign is a national public awareness campaign designed to educate the public, law enforcement, and other industry partners to recognize the indicators of human trafficking, and how to appropriately respond to possible cases. Blue Campaign works closely with DHS Components to develop general awareness trainings, as well as specific educational resources to help reduce victimization within vulnerable… Read more: Stop Human Trafficking: Blue Campaign
On this day in 1947, Jackie Robinson, age 28, becomes the first African-American player in Major League Baseball when he steps onto Ebbets Field in Brooklyn to compete for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson broke the color barrier in a sport that had been segregated for more than 50 years. Exactly 50 years later, on April 15,… Read more: Jackie Robinson Breaks Color Barrier
BEST POEM IN THE WORLD I was shocked , confused, bewildered as I entered Heaven’s door, not by the beauty of it all, nor the lights or its decor. But it was the folks in Heaven who made me sputter and gasp– the thieves, the liars, the sinners, the alcoholics and the trash. There stood… Read more: Will You Be There?
What is the human trafficking rate in Missouri? 4.32 per 100,000 people As recent as 2020, Missouri had the fourth highest incidence rate of human trafficking at 4.32 per 100,000 people (Polaris, 2023a).Dec 31, 2023 Is Missouri still a hotspot for human trafficking? Missouri comes in at 20 for highest human trafficking cases reported. According to the… Read more: Homeless & Trafficked
I’d rather my silence be misunderstood than my words be misquoted or my presence be mishandled. The phrase “silence is often misunderstood” suggests that silence or the absence of words or communication can be misinterpreted or misunderstood by others. It implies that people may perceive silence as a negative or passive response, when in reality… Read more: Silence Often Misunderstood
More to come. How many Americans are unemployed or underemployed?U.S. unemployment level seasonally unadjusted number 2022-2024. In the United States, approximately 6.6 million people were unemployed and looking for work in March 2024. The data has not been seasonally adjusted. Losing a job can certainly increase the risk of experiencing homelessness, especially for individuals who… Read more: Homelessness Rising
Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards. Today a simple thought around living life. Learn from the past, analyse it, study it all you will, so you can learn more about yourself, others, your business, your leadership. When it comes to the future, however, trust yourself.
The devil appeared to three monks and said to them: if I gave you the power to change something in the past, what would you change? The first of them, with great apostolic fervor, replied: «I would like to prevent you from leading Adam and Eve to sin, so that humanity does not separate from… Read more: Conquer With Truth
Human trafficking has severe impacts on survivors’ physical and mental health, and healthcare systems are not always equipped to care for them. Any type of human trafficking — sex trafficking, labor trafficking, and forced marriage — can have grave health consequences. One study by Loyola University found that 99% of trafficking survivors had at least… Read more: Human Trafficking Survivor Health Issues
Can you see me? I am everywhere. Why don’t you see me? When I look at you, You turn away I’m not invisible. Judi A Woods 4.5.24 What does it mean to be hidden homeless? That is, those whose accommodation is temporary or lacks security of tenure. Known as the “out of sight, out of mind”,… Read more: Not Invisible
HUD reports that on a single night in 2023, roughly 653,100 people in the U.S. experienced homelessness, up about 12 percent from 2022. The Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement reports the official poverty rate in 2022 was 11.5%, not statistically different from 2021. Why is homelessness the biggest problem in America? Scholars, healthcare… Read more: Homeless in America
How Guardian Angels Help You While You Sleep By Whitney Hopler Updated on May 23, 2019 Angels never get tired, since they don’t have physical bodies with limited energy like people do. So angels don’t need to sleep. That means that guardian angels are free to keep working even when the people they’re caring for are sleeping and dreaming.… Read more: How Guardian Angels Help You While You Sleep
The Sculptor’s AttitudeI woke up early today excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight.I have responsibilities to fulfill today. I am important.My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have.Today I can complain because the weather is rainy or…I can be thankful that the grass… Read more: Today…
I went to the pharmacy the other day to get a prescription filled. While I was standing outside waiting for them to fill it a young man come walking by. He looked up at me nodded his head and said hi. I nodded back and said “Hey, how’s it going”. He said “I would be… Read more: Try, Try, Again
My dad has bees.Today I went to his house and he showed me all of the honey he had gotten from the hives. He took the lid off of a 5 gallon bucket full of honey and on top of the honey there were 3 little bees, struggling. They were covered in sticky honey and… Read more: Three Little Bees
“After leaving out of the store today my daughter did something that really made me stop and think. There was this guy sitting there crying and she asks me ‘did you see that man crying? What’s wrong with him?’ I said yes but I’m not sure maybe he’s just sad…She said, ‘maybe he’s hot and… Read more: Out of The Hearts of Babes
IF If you can keep your head when all about youAre losing theirs and blaming it on you;If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,But make allowance for their doubting too;If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,Or, being hated, don’t give way to… Read more: IF
Watching someone you love, that has fought so hard to beat addiction, throw everything away and sink back into a life that will most likely lead to jail or death, is one of the hardest things you will ever do. You want to help them back to a clean and sober life but you realize… Read more: (no title)
Good morning said a woman as she walked up to the man sitting on the ground. The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new.. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life. His first thought was that she… Read more: Old Jack
Being Molested at a young age forces you to grow up fast. Some turn gay, have sex issues, bad attitudes, trust issues, love too hard, live in fear, etc. Some grow a shell and others do anything it takes to be loved because most times we miss that part and don’t understand and just want… Read more: (no title)
Back in the day… They used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot & then once a day it was taken & sold to the tannery. If you had to do this to survive you were “piss poor.”But worse than that were the really poor folk… Read more: Fun Facts
Addiction, What is it? Addiction can turn a perfectly healthy individual into a complete mess. So, what is it? Addiction is a habit that has taken control of us over which we have little or no control. We find ourselves in a position of being unable to break that habit. The cause of addiction… Read more: From Habit To Disease
I have everything that I wanted as a teenager, only 60 years later. I don’t have to go to school or work. I get an allowance every month. I have my own pad. I don’t have a curfew. I have a driver’s license and my own car. The people I hang around with are not… Read more: Aging Beautifully
On March 31, 1889, the Eiffel Tower is dedicated in Paris in a ceremony presided over by Gustave Eiffel, the tower’s designer, and attended by French Prime Minister Pierre Tirard, a handful of other dignitaries, and 200 construction workers. In 1889, to honor of the centenary of the French Revolution, the French government planned an international exposition and… Read more: This Day in History
Whoever Takes the Son Gets It All Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son, shared a passion for art collecting. Together they traveled around the world, adding only the finest art treasures to their collection. Priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many others adorned the walls… Read more: Take The Son
What are the dangers of boofing? Boofing isn’t without its own dangers, in addition to the usual dangers of substance use. First, boofing can irritate or damage the lining of the anus, leading to pain, bleeding, and infections. This is especially true if you don’t dissolve the substance in water and instead use the “dabbing”… Read more: Dangers of Boofing
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