Could anyone feel any further “down” than my son? 4/14/11, my son had heard his verdict: Guilty. He knows he is innocent. Tears ran down his cheeks. His heart is broken again. How much further down can you get at this moment?

He could have pled guilty for a lesser sentence, but he wasn’t guilty.

We sat in court many times to watch what happens when you go to court so he could understand from seeing and hearing what a defendant has to go through. Then after we left the court, I would re-explain what he had seen and heard to him. Then we would attend court again the next day or a few days later to reinforce what he had seen, heard, and learned.

Marcus learns through repetition. He has to see, hear, and be explained to and then we repeat the scenario again and again. He has to have repetition constantly for him to understand and for him to remember.

Marcus was told to plead guilty whether he was or not over and over because as far as the Federal Government was concerned you are always guilty. They have a 98% prosecution rate in Federal Court. But Marcus was innocent. Weren’t the court and the Justice System about truth and honesty? No, it’s about whoever wins the game.

Marcus learned when you plead guilty in court, the judge asked you if could say in your heart and to God that you committed this crime today for which you are pleading? Marcus said he couldn’t lie to God, so he couldn’t plead guilty even if it would have made it easier for him.

We were told it was the Federal Court’s Burden to prove my son was guilty. That maybe true, but it was Marcus’ attorney’s burden to prove he was innocent. His attorney did not do his job. Marcus’s evidence was not shown. Objections were not made.

No one heard his eighteen years of medical records and or evaluations done by the state of Texas. Why, because he was not insane, incompetent, or incapacitated. He just had brain damage. That was the reason we were told. Was it true? Maybe not, but only our attorney would know for sure.

Marcus can’t read and write. Marcus is a very intelligent young man in his own way. He tries to figure things out in his own mind. Marcus couldn’t read a card to buy for his wife or his child in the card section of a grocery store, he couldn’t always understand a conversation be held, what a contract being signed was all about and he could not fill out a job application. Marcus did not do paperwork or finances. Others did it for him.

Normal persons have problems with understanding what contracts and applications say so wouldn’t he? Just imagine how difficult it was for him, but still he tried to work and be as independent as he could with the support of others. Some of those others used his vulnerability and his neurological deficits for their own greed and benefits.

Now he is paying the price.

Marcus has brain damage, but no one knows it unless you talk to him or get to know him. His is a man of few words. If you look at the MRI I have posted in the website menu, you will see why. Even the MRI staff people at the hospital were amazed at what he could do and say with the damage noted in his brain.

So when you talk about the word “down” no one could feel more down than Marcus does.

Hope, Health, and Happiness,

Vickie

2/5/12, today is my last visitation until March. Will Marcus be in camp by then? I pray so. He says he has done everything right. The biggest problem he presents to the prison is that he asks too many questions and keeps demanding that his medical records be put into the their computers. Could it be because he has a problem? I think so? Does he have a brain injury? I think so. Could I know because I have been there for the last eighteen years? Yes.

It’s 6:41 AM, I am now in the line on the road across from the prison once again. Today I am car number six. I was going to be here earlier, but I forgot my meds and I had to drive back twenty miles to get them. Sitting up is painful and if I don’t take a pain med I’ll never survive the five hours I try to stay visiting with Marcus and the drive home.

It’s so quiet out here and the only light I have where I am is from my computer and the dashboard if I turn my car on. When my radio is off it is very peaceful and thought-provoking. The street lights light up the black night, the parking lot across the street, and the shadows of the prison buildings. Occasionally a vehicle passes our way then disappears as the road goes down hill.

Each little family is hunkered down in their own car or truck trying to keep warm with their vehicles turned off so they don’t run out of gas or run their batteries down.

Shoot, I’ve only been here for 19 minutes and my car is getting freezing cold. I can hear the wind blowing quite a bit today. Engine on time! Heater on high blast time! A couple of other vehicles are also turning on their heat it looks like as red tail lights burn in the darkness of our early morning. The edge of sunrise is not even a blink yet. It’s going to be a very cold day, especially to a Floridian.

7:36, there are only 6 cars again today. The silver car has come to cut into line again today. Is she rushing in front of everyone to see her man once again today? She must feel she’s more important than the rest of us. People were angry yesterday, I just hope no one loses their temper today.

Will I pass inspection today? I know I have no metal on. Somehow I forgot and had two little pieces of metal on my shirt sleeves yesterday and I had to change my shirt. Thank goodness I had a sweater on to wear.

7:58, a red truck that was parked in front of me darts around the others in line and somehow gets into the parking lot. I got sent back when I first came here for being in the lot at 7:59, but I didn’t know the rules yet. Today, they will find out the rules.

Hopefully this will be my last time at “low”, I am praying to be visiting Marcus at the “camp” next time I visit.

8:00 as usual our motorcade process begins and we greet the awaiting guard in the parking lot one by one. He has us wait until the one before us has completely parked before we can proceed. Then we head to the Visitor’s Building to turn in our paperwork and ID. Thankfully, as usual I have my paperwork pre-filled out and go ahead of those trying desperately to write as fast as they can to fill out their own paperwork to be the next in line. We all want to get in as soon as possible as we know our inmate is awaiting patiently for our visits. After we are given our “Outback” buzzers we all rush quickly back out to our cars as the wind is freezing today. 9 cars are in the parking lot total now.

I have buzzer number 5 today. It funny how a simple buzzer can come to mean so much in the theme of our lives especially mine and the others here today.

Please bless our day today, I pray. I pray for goodness and happiness for all today! May we all leave this place, this prison with smiles on our faces.

I see Marcus standing outside awaiting my visit. Today we both wave to each other. I left my hair down today because it helps him confirm it’s me from a distance. He looks so cold and lonely standing there.

Marcus and I hug as usual when he finally arrives in the visitor’s room and once again I kiss his cheek. He is loosing weight as his belt is bundling up the waist band of his pants. You don’t get new pants if you lose weight; you just tighten your belt a couple more notches if possible.

We talk. We laugh. We reminisce.  Marcus and I frequently go up to the vending machines.  Sometimes we walk back and forth across the room in front of the vending machines talking. It helps us both. It relieves the backache I sometimes feel.

Today I put money into the vending machine and instead of getting one Butterfinger out I got two. Marcus was upset. He told me I couldn’t keep the extra candy bar. I had to return it to the guards. So I took it up to them and told them Marcus said I had to give it to them and they said to keep it because they couldn’t keep it. They would have to throw it away. I couldn’t eat two candy bars so I gave it to a young girl sitting with her family awaiting their inmate’s arrival. She shyly smiled a thank you.

All in all it was a good day, yet a sad day. We both knew it would be weeks before we saw each other again, but we would still touch base daily to keep our emotional support link in tack. Marcus’s phone calls let me know he is okay and they let him know that I am okay. Knowing you have someone out there waiting for you, praying for you, and loving you is a big deal to an inmate, especially one who has lost most of his faith in our fellow human beings for what they have done to him.

Life has to get better. We are survivors and I know we will survive this too. We just don’t know when.

The visit has ended and I head home knowing it will be at six weeks until the next visit. Please God take care of my son and keep him safe. Bless all the inmates and their families and help them to handle their individual situations whether it was of their making or not. Life is short and must not be taken lightly.

Tears once again run down my cheeks as I drive home to Marcus’ home. How could this have happened? My thoughts race to find the elusive answers.

Hope, Health, and Happiness,

Vickie

Dad, you know what happens when we are “ready” and you are not? Don’t say we didn’t warn you. Patience is not one of our virtues! With lots of love from Misha and Sasha.

Photo copyrighted by VMS 2011

Mom, I am “ready” to brush my teeth, now! You know how important it is for me to brush my pearly whites before I go to bed. Lots of love from Marvalina

Photo copyrighted by VMS

The weekly photo is something that those of us who have blogs and like photography do to make our blogs more interesting. WordPress gives us a new theme each week and we give our site a photo to represent that theme. We hope all of our viewers enjoy a glimpse into our creative thought processes both in writing and photography.

Hope. Health, and Happiness,

Vickie

I saw this website and it is not only a great reference, but it is written by a brain injured nurse who has seen and felt life on both the medical side and the injured side of the healthcare situation especially for the brain injured. Read her private story and about her website. Thanks, Vickie

About brain injury self rehabilitation (BISR)

A Registered Nurse and member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nurses from Ohio is a victor after being assaulted at the age of 38. Dedicating the next 20 years to self rehabilitation and recovering on her own from an assault which occurred at work October 30, 1991. This motivated and determined soulful nurse has a voice to be heard from a perspective as a healthcare professional, a patient, a mother, a spouse, a sister, a friend, and finally a caregiver. The secrets of inside our healthcare from different perspectives are revealed. This nurse once silenced by poor treatment has another opportunity to speak out after receiving proper medical care nearly two decades after the initial injury. This truly is not a mystery diagnosis, and hopefully many brain injured patients and families will consider laboratory testing to see if this could be happening to them or their loved ones. America’s healthcare system is in critical condition and brain injury or any type of chronic condition is expensive, let alone the rehabilitation that most American’s never receive. Who qualifies for rehabilitation and how does one get it? In America, the majority of individuals need to deal with issues they do not know how to handle, neither does anyone around them. I hope to help give these people the tools to understand and educate how to overcome a system that cannot help.

This is a part of one of her posts:

What do I need? Or where do I go? To relearn my computer or purchase a new computer after brain injury?Posted on

Posted 2/3/12 by braininjuryselfrehabilitation.com

Please go to this website for the rest of the story and more insight into the needs and life of a brain injured person. There is hope:

http://braininjuryselfrehabilitation.com/2012/02/03/what-do-i-need-to-relearn-my-computer-or-purchase-a-new-computer-after-brain-injury/

Hope, Health, and Happiness,

Vickie

1/28/12, visitation day with Marcus at the prison…

6:53 AM, well I’m here, but I’m late today. I am number nine in line to enter the prison parking lot at 8:00 AM. I just had to stop at the 7-Eleven to get a coffee and use the facilities due to none being available once you park. You are stuck in line or lose your place to visit by 8:45.

It’s the same routine each visitation weekend, but different cars are on the road ahead of me today. Now someone is also behind me. Maybe some inmates have gone home. I pray they did for their sake.

The guy behind me has his lights on and he looks like he’s eating his breakfast. His wife or significant other is putting on her make-up.

Car number eleven is pulling in now.

While sitting here awaiting visitation, I found a radio station that was so funny to listen to, 102.1. They talked with and about the “married man” (character on the show) and how McDonalds was making parents, grandparents, aunts, and especially uncles’ lives miserable by taking away the “Happy Meal” toy because the meals are not healthy. The married man said who cares if the meal is not healthy? It’s the greatest babysitter he has ever had.

Do parents have no say so what their children do or get anymore? Have you seen a “Happy Meal”?  The portions are small. But people think getting the toy causes the child to demand the “Happy Meal” and taking away the toy will cause McDonalds to put healthier food in the box if they want to sell it. That doesn’t mean the kid will eat it. The “married man” says it will be an unhappy situation if this occurs especially for him.

The “married man” said it’s what the kids are being fed at home that’s causing obesity and the amounts not the Happy Meal itself. He said it was laziness on the part of the parents for not wanting to cook. He knew because that’s why he took his kids to get Happy Meals.  The McDonald’s Happy Meal was not meant to be a child’s only staple.

It’s 7:17 and the sky is beginning to lighten.

I am excited. It has been over six weeks since I last saw Marcus.  I miss him so. What changes will I see if any? Will he feel all the love I have in my heart for him today?

The couple behind me has gotten out of their car to smoke and discuss the morning. Other cars have started their engines to warm their cars, which I will be doing shortly. My car is getting cold too.

I hope Marcus doesn’t go out and wait for me in the cold because I won’t get in with the first group. They take groups in by sixes so today I probably be in the second or maybe even the third group depending how many members each family has in it.

I am sad, as I have nothing positive to tell Marcus today except that Katie will be with me when I visit on Sunday. I know that will make him happy. I know how much he misses his daughters.

7:21, car number 13 is here. The line is getting longer.

7:27, car number 14 is here and the sky is much lighter out now.  33 minutes left before we get into the parking lot. How many minutes until I get to hug my son? That I do not know.

The radio now has “married man” talking with the “college buddy”. It’s hilarious. Then they run into the evil “divorced man” and talk with him too. Married man, college buddy, and divorced man are the names of the men talking on the radio show and making satire comments about their world.

Car number 15 and 16 are here.

It will be a good day! It will be a wonderful day today! My heart just knows it.

Today has the biggest line of cars I have seen since I have been coming here. I wonder why? Are there new inmates or are they trying to place inmates closer to their homes so their families can visit them?

The sky’s colors are turning beautiful as the daylight emerges. The sky is pale blue and the clouds are a peachy color. It makes you wonder what causes this phenomenon as you sit here patiently waiting?

Now, I’m looking in my mirror putting my make-up on. Smokers are getting out of their cars to smoke their last cigarettes for possibly the whole day. Everyone is getting ready. The count down is on. 15 minutes to go to parking lot time. It must not be too cold. One guy standing outside smoking is just wearing a t-shirt. He’s definitely made of stronger stuff than I am because when I turn the car off it gets cold in here. I think it’s in the high 30’s. I have on socks, tights, slacks, insulated shirt, then another shirt, and a light jacket. I have another coat to wear when I go outside. The sun is not shining upon us today. This is winter not the 80s of Florida!

It appears that a silver car is parking at the parking lot at its entrance to try to get there first ahead of all of us. Do they know that none of us can afford to argue or fight with teach other for our spots in line to see our loved ones. How despicable? I laughed to myself. Are we all so desperate? Yes, I guess so.

Well it’s now 7:53. There must be over 20 cars here today. It’s almost time to go so I will write later. The motorcade will begin shortly. The engines will be starting and away we go. Humor is one of the ways I handle this incomprehensible situation.

Listening to a red neck station is not really my thing either, but it’s hilarious and I need some amusement and entertainment to prepare me for the day ahead of me that I can do nothing to change or make better.

8:09, I walked fast into the Visitor’s Building because I had my paperwork filled out. So instead of the dreaded number 9 buzzer, I got the “Outback” buzzer number 3. Thank you to whoever is looking out for me. Is it my lucky day or what?

I turned in my paperwork. The female guard, who is always very pleasant and official asked me about my folded over paperwork. I explained it was my medical paperwork that tells them I am made up of screws, plates, and rods if the scanner goes off telling them I have metal somewhere. It hasn’t gone off yet, but you never know. The guy and woman guard laughed with me about all the metal holding me together. Then with my precious “Outback” buzzer I returned to the car with a smile on my face. The anxiety has been relieved once again.

Sleepy children are being awakened to go into to see an uncle, a dad, a brother, or grandfather. The parking lot is pretty full. Soon our day will begin. Please God make it the best day for us all. I hope we don’t have to wait for everyone to be signed in today. Today there are a lot of people in line to sign in!

Today I see a car from Utah.

8:16, no one has gone in yet. It looks like we do have to wait until everyone has signed in. It doesn’t look cold but it definitely is. I can see the people in line are shivering. Where are their coats? I’ve got mine.

I feel this tremendous smile spreading all over my face and lightening my soul. Thank you God for this day! One more day I can be here for Marcus.

My buzzer keeps beeping. I wonder if it’s just the battery beeping? Or is someone calling me. I don’t want to miss my turn. Usually though, the whole buzzer starts blinking red and buzzing so I’ll just sit and wait.

I love you Marcus. Feel my presence. I am here for you today as you are here for me!

Only six people left in line to turn in their papers and IDs. Are we next, the ones already sitting in their cars cuddling their buzzers in their hands, the faithful waiting?

I saw the same parking lot guard today. He’s a welcome face along with the female guard. This is a tough situation and their friendliness reduces the anxiety we all feel.

8:30 AM, will I go in by then? Yes.

After being checked in as always just like at the airlines before you board your plane, we sign in. Then we wait. I am the chosen one for a random drug check today. Do I mind? Definitely not. No problem, I passed with flying colors as I knew I would.

Then we wait for the guard to accompany us to the Visitors’ Building.

As always the guards are very nice and professional. It makes this kind of situation more tolerable. There’s an inmate’s mom, a newbie, here and she is overwhelmed as I once was. You could see it in her eyes as they darted around wondering what was next. I reassured her it was okay and she would survive and told her what would happen next. With teary eyes, she said, “I know, I’ll be okay.” I warned her about the 10:00 AM count and not to worry as they always do it. She said “OK”.

Then we were all ushered to the Visitors’ Building. It was definitely cold outside and I could see Marcus waiting in the freezing cold to make sure that I had come. How long had he been waiting there? I waved to him, but he did not wave back. Maybe we aren’t supposed to be waving to each other.

Then we entered the nice warm building to await our inmate’s arrival. The guards in the Visitor’s Building are also nice and professional. They don’t talk much, because they are not here to make friends with us. They are here to do their job.

We all are brought up with the terrible misconceptions about all prison guards from TV. I am sure there are some somewhere that have their moments. But in this case they are just doing their jobs and they try to keep things on an even keel.

As I watch the interaction with the families, friends, and inmates,  it appears to be a  wonderful day for all. The smiles, the animated talking, the children playing, and the babies being held as they sleep are all comforting. Except for the uniforms, both guards and inmates, you would not know that this is a prison visitation room.

The vending machines are emptied as people buy everything they would never buy at any other time. Marcus usually eats two Angus charbroiled cheeseburgers, which really aren’t too bad. I had to just taste one to check. Then he usually has three Dr. Peppers and a package of Reese’s Sticks. I asked him if he wanted a slice of pizza for a change and he said no. He doesn’t have breakfast before we come and I usually stay until 1:30 PM.

We talked and we laughed. I’m so thankful I can bring a smile to his face and make him laugh. We laugh because between the two of us if we don’t speak our minds immediately when an important thought comes to our minds neither of us can remember it seconds later. Then when we try to remember what we were talking about before the interruption of the important thought, we can’t remember that either. We are quite a pair sometimes.  Marcus with his head injury and me with mine.

All in all it was a great day and everyone was very pleasant.  Marcus had tears in eyes when I left, but I knew he was excited about tomorrow because his daughter, Katie was going to visit him and she was his life along with his daughter Madison.

Hope, Health, and Happiness,

Vickie

My hope is that he will be freed from the prison he is in for what he didn’t do. Marcus is innocent. If his medical records would have been shown, he would not be in prison today. But he was not insane, incapacitated or incompetent. He suffered brain damage at the age of 18. He cannot read or write. He was taken advantage by two unscrupulous men. See our website realestatesavant.wordpress.com for the whole story.

Don’t forget that March is “Brain Injury Awareness Month”

Hope, Health, and Happiness,

Vickie

Photo copyrighted by VMS 2012

The morning will come much too early. In Tampa, you have to be to the airport 2 hours early. My flight is at 6 AM.

I’m one of those last minute people. So now it’s 10:45 PM the night before and I am finally ready to go. Sleep will be a loss tonight.

5:05, I am sitting at the gate in one of their comfortable, uhg, wheelchairs awaiting my flight. I always get the pleasure of traveling by wheelchair to the gates. It’s not so bad as you never miss your flights. Tips for your transporter add up, but it’s well worth it. I cannot walk any distance with any bags and I definitely cannot run if the need presents itself.

Turning off all my electronic devices is next on my agenda.

Already my back feels like I have a backpack full of bricks on it. Sitting for any length of time can be unbearable at times.

It’s 5 AM and an adorable three-year-old girl with dark black hair pulled back into two little ponytails, wearing her fluffy, purple hooded jacket is very unhappy this morning. I think she’s telling her mom “I don’t want to be here! I want to be home in bed!” She throws her baby doll at her mom and then throws herself on the floor kicking her feet and screaming.

 Now she’s rubbing her eyes as she’s crying her eyes out. Her mom finally picks her up off the floor and hugs her as she rests her little head on her mom’s shoulder. She looks so innocent. Only time will tell. She has a little bit of devilment in her little, dark brown eyes as she stares at me with a look that says, “Who do you think has control of the situation here?” Then she puts her tiny little thumb in her mouth and smiles.

Hopefully she’ll go back to sleep instead of yelling her lungs out. Hopefully she won’t be sitting next to me on the plane!

My flights were uneventful. It was me who fell asleep instead of the little girl. I must have been a sight with my mouth hung open and my head drooping.

I finally arrived at the Midland Airport and it is cold here. It’s supposed be down to 29 degrees tonight. My Florida blood is just chilled thinking about it. The high tomorrow will be 50 degrees.

I got my Avis Rental car without too much trouble only to find out that my rental car is a gas hog. I signed up for a compact. The Avis website had said no problem with getting a compact. Instead at the airport rental center, they wanted to give me a van. I think not. So I went back to the desk with the poor transporter who had already put my luggage in the van before I decided to complain and demand a small car. After a little bit of haggling, the lady at the counter finally gave me a small Nissan Versa for which I am forever grateful.

I was so grateful, that unbeknownst to me, I took the other rental car’s keys with me. This I didn’t realize until an hour and a half later when trying to open the Nissan with the wrong keys.

Needless to say I had to head back to the airport to return the keys. It was only 30 miles away. Am I saving on gas? I think not.

When I returned back to Marcus’ house after running the beginning of my errands, exhaustion took over and sleep overwhelmed me. I laid down for a nap.

When I finally got up again. I was off and running again. It seemed like I had slept forever when it had only been an hour.. There’s so much to do and so little time. What’s next on my agenda? The Courthouse? I’ve already been there. Reviewing mail, done. Paying bills?  Not yet. Talking to lawyers? That’s for next week.

Thank God the weekend is here and most errands will have to wait until Monday.

Tomorrow is a very early morning once again.

I’ll to driving to Big Spring prison to see Marcus. It’s an experience you’ll never want to participate in, but I wouldn’t miss seeing and hugging my son at any opportunity, no matter the situation; especially if it was one not of his making.

Back to bed once more, as I barely keep my eyes open.

Hope, Health, and Happiness,

Vickie

Prevent brain injuries! They last a lifetime. Not only the brain injured suffers. We all do!

Welcome to the Brain Injury Association of America   http://www.biausa.org/

Brain injury is not an event or an outcome. It is the start of a misdiagnosed, misunderstood, under-funded neurological disease. Individuals who sustain brain injuries must have timely access to expert trauma care, specialized rehabilitation, lifelong disease management and individualized services and supports in order to live healthy, independent and satisfying lives.

The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) is the voice of brain injury. We are dedicated to increasing access to quality health care and raising awareness and understanding of brain injury through advocacy, education and research. With a nationwide network of more than 40 chartered state affiliates and hundreds of local chapters and support groups, we provide help, hope and healing for individuals who live with brain injury, their families and the professionals who serve them.

To find out more on the brain, stroke, and other great health topics go to this MedCrunch at this website address for a more personal touch:

http://mariadorfner.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/act-fast-to-reduce-risk-of-brain-damage-from-stroke/

The following can help you remember what to do quickly if you think you or someone else is having a stroke.

Act FAST.

Physicians treat patients with a  clot-busting drug that can help protect the brain against permanent damage, but the drug must be given within THREE hours of the stroke’s onset.

So recognizing the signs quickly is critical. Teach your kids to recognize them too.  They are:

F = FACE:  Does the face look uneven? Can the person smile?

A = ARMS:  Can the person raise both arms and keep them there?

S = SPEECH: Is the person’s speech slurred or strange?

T = TIME:  Call 911 if you notice any of these signs.

According to Stroke.org, Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in America and a leading cause of adult disability.

Up to 80% of strokes are preventable; you can prevent a stroke!

Pasadena Community Church, photo by CWRS 2012

The other night, I cried for my life and for my son’s life. I just could no longer understand why all of these terrible things have happened to my son and I may never understand. I haven’t sat in church much this year even though I talk to God and ask for my son’s protection each day.

Today, I did sit in church with hundreds of others. I asked God, once again, to protect my family and everyone else whether I loved or care about them or not.

I listened to Dr. Reeb, the Senior Pastor, at the Pasadena Community Church in Florida. His topic was “Rainbows: can come from mistakes. We just have to keep looking for them. Well, I shall keep looking. God will deal with those who abuse others’ trust and vulnerability. I just know it. We have many vulnerable persons in our states, in our counties, and in our cities. Someone must keep them safe, when we, their families, cannot.

Dr. Reeb made everyone laugh to set the stage for his sermon with a joke about taxi cab drivers and ministers. He said how taxi cab drivers were more accepted in heaven because parishioners prayed in church as needed and taxicab occupants prayed continuously that the cab would get them safely to where they needed to be. The taxi cab drivers got more people to pray than ministers did.

I sat in church and watched the people sitting all around me as I listened to the sermon and sang the songs. I thought, what was their challenge today? How were they feeling? Were they dealing with thankfulness or secrets only they themselves knew about and God? Were they praying for forgiveness, for gratefulness, for pain relief, for the life of a loved one, for their salvation or for their loved ones salvation? No matter what they were here for, they were here to gather in a place where peace could fill their souls like I was here today for too.

I had never been to a 9 AM church service. It was different yet the same. Two of the persons collecting the offering were a man wearing shorts and a twelve year old boy. I thought that my grandmother would approve of this change. She was one for change even when it wasn’t advised. She wore pants and shorts in a world where women wore only skirts. There was no dress code here today. You were accepted here as you are and that’s what’s important.

The choir didn’t wear robes or any specific dress themselves either, but what did it matter? It was their beautiful voices that counted and their harmony. The band behind the choir and to the side of them consisted of a guitar, a keyboard, and you name it, it was there. The music was as uplifting as were the words of the songs themselves.

We all were there for a reason, a need that resounded deep within our souls. At least I know it resounded deep within my soul. I prayed silently for God to help me with my burden today and to help Marcus deal with this situation which had changed his life forever and to give him the strength that I could not give sometimes when he needed it most.

As the service ended, my need felt as if it had been fulfilled and my soul and heart had been lifted once again to fight and survive the battle which still lay ahead of me. I felt so much stronger. The sunlight gleamed through the stained glass windows in various colors. Was that my rainbow for today?

As I left the church, a smile caressed my lips and the day looked even brighter as I walked out the church doors. I knew I could handle today and the tomorrows ahead of me without tears and without fear once again knowing I was not alone. I would have my good days and my bad days as we all have, but for today, I once again had the strength to persevere and handle whatever came my way.

Hope raineth eternal in my everyday life. May it raineth eternal in your life also.

I prayed for you today. I prayed for everyone today and I prayed for myself too.

God Bless!

Hope, Health, and Happiness,

Vickie