A soul can wonder
From branch to branch
Never finding a home
It does battle
With all it meets
But its light
Has barely shown
Then one day
It heard a whisper
And it stopped
And began to quiver
Like the leaves who
Stand alone on trees
Waiting for fall to come
This soul then knew
His place belonged
Right where the
Heart sang a
Soft sweet song.
Written by,
Terry Shepherd
12/31/2014
Another year has come and gone, quicker than before. I have made resolutions over the past and failed them like so many. This year has brought too many changes for me; some good, some bad.
What ever your plans for New Year’s Eve, be safe, have fun, and carry new hope into the next beginning.
I Am Who I Am
I am who I am
A grain of sand
A pebble on the beach
Mixed among those
Beside and within me
From the years of
Meeting and drifting on
Or sticking by my side
I am who I am
I have tried the trends
I have changed the outer
I have lost the weight and gained
I laughed at your jokes
I wept when you cried
I spoke the words
You wanted to hear
I am who I am
A woman with empathy
Filled with compassion
Seeing into your feelings
Love unstoppable
Beauty from within
Hope I cling to
Embedded with faith
I am who I am
I can be no other
I must accept that I am
Who God hath created
That the path which I walk
Will guide me where needed
I will finish what needs to be done
For I am who I am
Written by,
Terry Shepherd
12/31/2014
I did what I needed to do today so I ventured onto U-Tube and looked at various videos. I came across this one that fascinated me. It took up a few minutes and I enjoyed watching it.
Do you want to see it also? I thought so, so I got the link for you. Enjoy, even the kids will like this, but if they want to try any of the tricks, an adult will be needed for supervision.
Ever since Al passed away, I have had a deep desire to reach out to others and help them. MSA, multiple system atrophy is just not any regular illness. It is rare, and it is a completely bumpy roller-coaster ride from beginning to end.
I have taught a Hospice group and I have helped several people on Facebook that have had questions. It seems the biggest question I am asked is what stage is my loved one in?
I finally decided that my desire was so strong that maybe, just maybe God was using Al’s illness for me to go further in my life. Does that make any sense? It does to me. Every thing I did, all that I saw, every fear I experienced, every question I googled and learned, I want to help others not to have to go through what caregivers live through.
I decided to test the waters, step out in faith and build me a page on Facebook. I opened it two days ago and each day I have added things to it, such as photos and videos.
It is called;
You can find it at the link below;
https://www.facebook.com/MSAfeelingstressed
It is a site where friends, family, and caregivers can come and just talk, have a good listener, vent or cry. I added to it today that I will come to you and speak to your community, nursing home or where ever I may be needed.
I have never done this before, but I feel led to do it. I have tried putting in so many resumes since I moved here to Kentucky. I never get anywhere. Maybe, just maybe this is the route I am supposed to walk. I ask God to help me by opening the door, if he wants me to walk through it.
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
Madison Square Garden can seat 20,000 people for a concert. This blog was viewed about 65,000 times in 2014. If it were a concert at Madison Square Garden, it would take about 3 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
The New Year Coming
We grew familiar
In this year we lived
Knew our path
Got used to the bumps
And now we come
To a jog in the road
Which way we travel
Is our choice
Follow your heart
Feel your instincts
Take comfort
Believe
That life will
Treat us
Even better than before.
Written by,
Terry Shepherd
12/29/2014
Two friends, both 12 years old, hung around together constantly. These two boys were always getting called-out on being too mischievous. They didn’t really get into trouble with the law; but they were constantly testing the waters.
It was a dreary day. In fact, it was January 1, 2014. School was on break and these two, Ryan and Mark were bored. They decided to go out on an adventure. They didn’t know where they were headed. All they knew was that they had to be back by the time their parents got home from work.
They headed down the gravel road. They kicked rocks. They tried to see who could throw the stone the farthest. The boys raced to see who was the fastest. They laughed and didn’t really notice anything about their surroundings.
Ryan and Mark came upon the old house. It was worn down. The story was, an old man went nuts and killed his wife years ago. There hadn’t been anyone interested in the property so it became abandoned. The paint was gone. Windows were broken.
Their parents told them to never go too close, because they could get hurt. Today was different. Having nothing to do led them closer to the front door. They both became quiet as they listened for any unfamiliar noises to shout out at them.
Hearing nothing, Mark turned the door handle. It was broken and the door slowly, squeaked open. Mark and Ryan looked at each other. Both pairs of eyes looking at the others for answers to their question; should they go in.
Mark didn’t go in. He went to the side windows and tried to see the best he could while his eyes adjusted to the darkness. Coming back, and knowing they were safe, they ventured in the front door.
Spider webs greeted them. Dirty, white sheets covered the furniture. Spots of old blood still rested upon a couple of the sheets. Ryan shivered, a little from the unknown. Mark ventured to each piece of furniture, lifting the sheets, trying to imagine what was in the mind of the detectives who had once hung out here.
They then explored the kitchen and the bathroom. Seeing nothing exciting they decided to go up the stairs. The long set of stairs looked warped and uneven. Their first step set off a loud creak. Both boys stopped in their tracks as if waiting to see if maybe someone had heard them.
Seeing no one they continued to climb the squeaky stairs. One stair caved a little and Ryan jumped quick to the next stair afraid he was going to fall through. Once to the top they saw four closed doors.
Opening each one they saw a bed and two dressers. One had a big oval mirror on it and the words murderer were carved in the dust. They left that room and walked into each of the others. They all looked pretty much the same; except this room was bigger and it had a fireplace in it.
They took the dusty sheet off the bed and laid down on it. It was pretty soft which led them to both use the bed as a spring-board. Laughing and tumbling they spent several minutes on the bed.
When they tired of this they sat down and they each pulled out wrapped sandwiches they had made earlier. Ryan had a bottle of pop that the two shared.
Afterwards they both went back down the creepy stairs and they saw a door that was nailed shut going off from the kitchen. They had to investigate this. They worked and worked and finally broke the board.
There were no lights but they could see it led to a basement. The stairs here were cement and both boys headed down. More spider webs attacked them and they were busily wiping them out of their faces.
When they got to the bottom they saw old pieces of chairs and broken picture frames. They saw things crawling on the floor as if to escape being stepped on. There were three basement half-sized windows that provided a bit of light.
One looked like it had held an old coal furnace. There were several black pieces of rock still laying in a pile. The other two rooms looked like they were used for storage. There was one small door that led off of the coal room.
Ryan tried the door handle and it too, was broken but opened with ease. He walked inside but there was no window so he could see nothing. Mark waited on the outside for Ryan to say it was clear to enter.
After a few minutes ticked by and Ryan saying nothing, Mark called out to his friend. ” Hey, Ryan, you ok? What you see in there?” There was no response. ” Come on, quit trying to scare me. You know I don’t scare easy”, he said with just a tiny quiver in his voice.
Still no reply. Mark’s legs became cement. He knew something was wrong. He realized he should go in to check on his best friend; but his legs wouldn’t move. He began cursing himself. He called himself a chicken for standing there and he argued with himself about going further in.
He finally won, and his feet began to move. He walked in the dark room but didn’t see anything or Ryan. ” Come on Ryan, joke’s over. This isn’t funny anymore. I think it is getting time to go home, come on, let’s get out of here.”
Nothing, no sound, no stirring, no Ryan. The door slammed shut. Mark jumped and about peed his pants. Before his heart could quit racing a hand came over his mouth and he was drug into a secret door he had not noticed.
Alright dear friends and followers of my blog; complete this story.
Today marks the third posting on my new advice column. What you need to do is read the problem and then offer your thoughts.
Mary and Jeff had three children. Their ages were 7,9 and 12. Both parents thought they had a hassle-free family. They were all loved in the community. They attended church regularly on Sunday mornings. The kids got good grades in school.
In fact, Jeff was a school teacher at the two younger kids school. He thought this was so cool that his kids waved to him in the hall and asked dad if he could go on school trips with them.
Mary was home one evening and was doing laundry. She was sorting clothes into different piles and checking pockets for anything that shouldn’t be washed. When she came to the 12 year old’s pockets, she pulled out a beaten up pack of cigarettes.
Her mouth gaped. Totally astounded, she put them in her pants pocket, and after starting a load of clothes she took the pack and showed it to Jeff. He didn’t know what to think. He said nothing for a moment.
Then out of his mouth the words came. ” I don’t think we should make a big deal of this Mary. What would people think if they knew one of our kids was smoking? Let’s just keep quiet and watch and see if we notice any more cigarettes.”
Mary said, ” Absolutely not. We need to nip this in the bud right now. We need to teach our children that smoking is bad for their health. Let’s call our 12 year-old in here right now and get to the bottom of it.”
Friends, what do you think?
I went home to Indiana for Christmas. I had a good time. It was wonderful to see my kids and the grandchildren. It went so fast. I arrived late Thursday evening and left for KY Saturday, late afternoon.
While I was there I played with the babies, and talked and ate too many goodies. There were cookies and candies, desserts, turkey and the trimmings.
I went outdoors Friday night and took some photos along with some Christmas photos. Of course I am going to show them to you. You don’t even need to ask me to place them here for you.
https://dailypost.wordpress.com
You wake up one morning to find a beautifully wrapped package next to your bed. Attached to it is a note: “Open me, if you dare.” What’s inside the mystery box? Do you open it?
Christmas is better than I thought it would be. I spent the evening and night with my daughter and her family. This helped me so much. Every year for years my family would spend Christmas with my parents at their home on Christmas Eve.
My parents have been gone for some time. Mom passed in October of 2000, and dad passed in December of 2007. After Al passed this year in March, the last thing I wanted to have happen was Christmas.
No one can fix this for me. Nothing can make 2014 not pass on, taking the words of Al passed away this year and turning it into Al passed away 1, 2, or more years ago. Thankfully my memory part of my brain still functions and I can remember my parents and Al very well.
So when this topic on Daily Post came up it gave me an opportunity to live out my secret wishes. So here is my story in my mind as it plays out.
Christmas was so lonely, but only on the inside of me. I had a wonderful time with my family, but I knew something or some people were missing from my celebration. I did my best. I smiled and carried on conversations. I played with the grandchildren. I ate a wonderful meal. We shared a wonderful time; but way back in my mind I couldn’t help but keep thinking of my parents and my brother, Al.
The evening light turned to dusk. I lit the candles and listened to Christmas music on the television.After some time, I realized how tired I was so I blew out the flames and left the music playing. I brushed my teeth and got dressed into my pajamas.
I laid in my bed my mind turning over and over as if I could ever forget the memories of mom, dad and Al. An angel must have sprinkled some angel dust over my eye lids because the next thing I knew it was daylight.
I had nothing going on and didn’t really feel like starting a new day, but my brain was thinking hot coffee. I sat up on the edge of my bed and reached down to get my slippers when I saw a beautiful box wrapped in silver and draped in gold ribbons.
There was a gift tag on it. It wasn’t signed but it did say, open me if you dare. I picked it up and noticed how light it was for such a big box. I shook it and heard nothing rattle. I wondered how it got there, but decided to open it. My curiosity got the best of me.
I carefully took the ribbons off and tried to take the paper off gently so I could save the pretty color. Once the lid was off there were three pieces of paper inside. I took them out and placed the box off to the side on the bed.
Unfolding each piece one by one tears began to fall gently down my cheeks. Then they showered my face and a smile beamed like a ray of sunlight. This is what each piece of paper said.
Dear Terry,
I know when I left this earth, you would be sad without me, but I knew you were strong and you would make it through. I have been watching over you and I am so proud of you. You have wonderful kids and grandchildren. You took excellent care of dad and Al. You published two books. Be happy Terry. Heaven is wonderful. Mom
Dear Terry,
You did such a good job taking care of me Terry. I know it was tough having to listen to words from others that hurt. I know you could have had more help caring for me, but you pulled it off. I wanted to tell you all those years I didn’t go to church or read my bible, well I am glad I changed my life because heaven and God are awesome. I love you Terry. See you when you get here. Dad
Dear Terry,
I know you have suffered so much sis since I left. I have seen you crying when you thought no one was looking. I know you understand that I had to go. God kept telling me he could heal me of MSA. I wanted to stay with you but I wanted to heal more. I am glad you moved out of the house. I know and understand why you did it. You have a wonderful Christmas. I am not there but I am with you in spirit. Feel that soft breeze going through your hair? It is me doing it. I love you sis, Al.
Who I am 