Alzheimer's "How Can I Help, You Already Have"

My Grandma Suffers from this Disease. When you read the cause in the book "You can heal your life" makes sense why this would have happened to her. Man I love you grandma and I know you need that love now more than ever.

My grandma has had enough and that is when the Dis-Ease set in. She grew up in a family that treated her like a step child after her mother died when she was still a kid. She had a big family so she could fill that hole in her heart and feel like she had a family of her own. Then my grandpa Nate died, the dog smoky ran away or was taken. Then the icing on the cake is when her Sisters son claims he is not her nephew so he could be with her sons kids mom and still look good in the church. I would assume based on the fact that he has nothing to do with her after getting married to her step daughter. This took her back to her childhood feeling of being a step child I am sure. Then her oldest child died and now we have this Disease call ALZHEIMER'S.

I am blessed to have her alive now, so "How Can I Help" is a big deal for me. And her response to me when I ask her "How Can I Help" is "You already have".

ALZHEIMER'S: Refusal to deal with the world as it is.

AFFIRMATION: There is always a new and better way for me to experience life. I forgive and release the past. I move into joy.

Namaste

TRIBUTE TO CLARISSA WALKER

TRIBUTE TO CLARISSA WALKER

AND DOROTHY WOOLFORK IN

CELEBRATION OF WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

HON. MARTIN OLAV SABO

OF MINNESOTA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, March 15, 2001

Mr. SABO. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate the historic achievements of American women this month, I wish to recognize two very special women from my Congressional district— Clarissa Walker and Dorothy Woolfork. For more than three decades, they have selflessly served the African-American community in Minneapolis through their work at Sabathani Community Center.

Ms. Walker—Sabathani’s Family Resources Director—and Ms. Woolfork—a Sabathani civil rights activist—have tirelessly aided those in need in the south Minneapolis community that Sabathani Community Center serves. I admire both of these women for their selflessness in reaching out to others to enact true social change. Mr. Speaker, I would like to tell you a little more about the life experiences that shaped Clarissa Walker and Dorothy Woolfork’s beliefs, and helped them become the dedicated women of conviction they are today.

CLARISSAWALKER

A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Clarissa Walker settled in Minneapolis in 1955. Her service to the Twin Cities community began when she worked as an operating room technician at the University of Minneapolis Hospital.

In 1968, Ms. Walker was recruited to work for Sabathani Community Center as a youth supervisor.  She quickly moved up the ranks, serving in various positions—social worker/counselor, assistant director, acting executive director, and agency director of the Center. In 1971, she earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology. Since then she has done some post-graduate studies in business management, and has become a licensed social worker. Ms. Walker has served in her current position as director of the Family Resource program since 1985. Through the years, Ms. Walker has worked diligently to enrich the Sabathani community in a number of capacities. She has donated much of her time to several important agencies and causes, including the Minnesota Extension Advisory Committee; the Neighborhood Reinvestment Regional Advisory

Committee; the Second Harvest Food Bank Board; the United Way First Call for Help Committee; the First and Secondary Market

Loan Committee; the Neighborhood Housing Services of America Board; and the Project for Pride in Living Board. She has also served as President of the Southside Neighborhood Housing Services Board President, and has served on the Central Neighborhood Improvement Association; the United Way Budget and Allocation panel; the Senior Citizen Advisory Committee to the Mayor; and the Lake Street Partners Board.

For over a generation, Clarissa Walker and Dorothy Woolfork have worked to open the ‘‘road less traveled’’ to other women seeking to enact positive societal change. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate Women’s History Month, we should salute these two exceptional women—ideal role models for women young and old across this country.

www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/.../pdf/CREC-2001-03-15-extensions.pdf

How Can I Help??

Mrs. Walker Facebook Fan Page

How Can I Help? This is a life changing question you can ask others as well as yourself.

This is the powerful message that I learned from my grandmother, Mrs. Walker as a young child. It has taken me until now to understand the true meaning of the question "How Can I Help." Now that I have matured and chewed on this meat for a while, I can digest it. Now I trust my ability and willingness to help.

Whenever Mrs. Walker answered the phone at the Food Shelf she greeted each caller with "How Can I Help". Through this organization she provided food and housing for the less fortunate in her community. Mrs. Walker believed in people and in giving them a "Leg up" when they needed it most. One of the services provided for the clients of the Food Shelf was the E House. This was the arm of this program that provided the homeless participants with an apartment which they could occupy for 6 months on a sliding scale. In this way, they had an address, a phone, as well as food and shelter. Because of this they could comfortably seek employment and feel like a productive part of the community.

Watching Mrs. Walker at the Food Shelf was an amazing sight to see. She had the ability to motivate people to want to work, and I mean people that were not "The working type". She could even get me to work on Cheese Day by promising me a Big Mac or a Whopper with her after the work was done. Cheese Day we always had cheese and butter for the community and sometimes we would also have honey, rice or dried milk.

The usual Food Shelf offered canned goods, lentils and rice. One time I remember a family coming in that had special needs. The father told my grandmother that they were in need of food and living in their van. My grandma immediately got up, grabbed my hand and headed to the Food Shelf. I started grabbing food we would normally put in a food order like rice and/or lentils. She stopped me and explained that they could not use them because they are living out of the van. She educated me on what items could be eaten without being cooked like canned chili or baked beans. She is a smart woman.

One of the last things she created before her retirement, was preparing taxes for the community, especially those who usually don't get them done every year. Every Saturday she would be there with her team of volunteers to get a specified number of tax returns done. She also had a list of people that she worked with every season. One person mentioned that she did not see how Mrs. Walker would be able to get her taxes done with that mess on her desk. When my grandma called her to tell her that her taxes were done, the person was amazed because she received the biggest return ever. My grandmother is a very smart woman.

Because of my grandmothers dedication and contribution to her community, I have decided to honor her by starting a National Event called "How Can I Help". This first annual event is on November 6th 2010, Mrs. Walker's 79th Birthday. She is unable to continue on with this work without the help of everyone. The intention is to raise the energy level and vibration of our world. You decide what that means for you, and it starts with asking yourself "How Can I Help" wherever you are. You can change a person's life with a smile or giving a burger from the dollar menu at McDonald's. Imagine feeling like no one cares and it is you against the world, and then someone says to you, "How Can I Help"? You immediately start to feel you are not alone and someone does care. When you feel that connection with another being it is uplifting, inspiring and satisfying.

My grandma's desire to help lives in everyone, and Saturday November 6th 2010 is the day to awaken that helping spirit.

Please share this with anyone and everyone because this is one way everyone can be GREAT.

"Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. you only need a heart full of grace. a soul generated by love." -- Martin Luther King, Jr.

"If there is anything I can do in honor of this GREAT WOMAN, please let me know! She has been a blessing to all who have had the privilege to know her. I'm THERE!!!" ~ Desiree S. Potts

"This women is amazing. There aren't words to express the feelings she has given to others. Her heart was always full of love and her dedication to others was truly the spirit of God working. I will be involved in this for everyday the spirit of giving should be upon us as it was upon her. Thanks for honoring her"~ Deanna Nolen-Williamson

"HOW CAN I HELP" I've heard that more than a few times from Mrs. Walker. WE LOVE YOU.....
~ Pamela Weems

Thanks for your support

Homeless Vets

I recently got into a discussion about homeless vets in the us.  The conversation was good as a whole but started with the comment of.  We need to make sure the contract is read and understood.  I have never seen the contract before so I am not sure what is in it.  But I do know that no matter what is in it, it does not explain the homelessness.  It is hard for me to imagine spending my time risking my life only to be messed up in the head and left to fend for myself.

The reason why this is so hard for me is if you brain wash me in the name of preparation for war.  Then I finish my assignment and go back home to a life that does not even look the same.  I should be supported until I am able to fend for myself.  I call this "Giving a vet a fish until he trust in themselves to fish again".

We have to take better care of the people who take care of us.  We take care of them by providing the mental health they need as well as a place for them to feel at home in.  I know this is a hard thing to do considering everything going on here in America, but considering as much money as the Gov. waste on themselves.  This should be a part of what is needed to help those that have sacrificed so much for us all.

Namaste

BUILDING YOUR HOUSE: A TEACHING

BUILDING YOUR HOUSE: A TEACHING

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his

Plans to leave the house-building business to live a more leisurely life with his wife

and enjoy his extended family. He would miss the paycheck each week, but he

wanted to retire. They could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just

one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but over time it was

easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship

and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.

When the carpenter finished his work, his employer came to inspect the house.

Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said, "This is your house...

my gift to you."

The carpenter was shocked!

What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would

have done it all so differently.

So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best

into the building. Then, with a shock, we realize we have to live in the house we have

built. If we could do it over, we would do it much differently.

But, you cannot go back. You are the carpenter, and every day you hammer a nail,

place a board, or erect a wall. Someone once said, "Life is a do-it-yourself project."

Your attitude, and the choices you make today, helps build the "house" you will live

in tomorrow. Therefore, build wisely!

 

(c) 2008 Amy Flynn. All Rights Reserved.

 

Put your trust in the Creator

Put your trust in the Creator

My spirituality is not as strong as I thought. I learned this at the Grand Canyon's West Rim today. I know it's true because my youngest told me I don't trust her climbing on the Rocks close to the edge.

I do trust her but not my thoughts of something happening to her and God, her Universal Father letting something happen. As her earthly Father I refuse to watch something happen that could kill her.

If she fell my wife said she would have a heart attack. I would have jumped after her. So that leaves Alyssa by her self so how stupid is that, on my part. But this little girl holds a part of my heart.

The moment put me in the mode of something happening while there and emotionally I could not handle it.

The lesson for me is I have to let my kids go on a Spiritual level. Trust they are guided and will be taken care of, always.

I just keep thinking of the bible, "I see the wood, I see the knife, what will be the sacrafice". Is what I keep asking myself. I told my God that I am not there yet, I could not do what Mohamad did, and be ready to kill his own child.

We left the park as we came, together but I was changed by the experience. Changed because I now know I have a lot of work to do. It's no different than Alyssa cutting Trucks off, not driving in the center of her lane. The thing about her is she is older and she listens me on these safty levels.

Ths is a choppy post from my phone but I wanted to share how the Grand Canyon pushed me forward in my Spirituality.

"What you won't do for yourself, you'll do for your kids"

OBMO

When it is time to GO!!

When it is time to go it is time to go!!

My Family has been ready to move from the state of Minnesota for some time now.  It started with the desire to move to Maui, and now weeks away from moving to California.  Sometimes it does not seem like it will happen because I get stuck in my head about wanting to doing the right thing. 

It is time to do something else is what I keep telling myself.  Yes I have left the state before but that was with different intentions.  This time my intentions are new and my desires have changed.  See I have wanted to live in LA since I was 15 years old when my Father sent for me to live with him in South Central LA.  That was a long time ago and many things have changed since then.  I don't even know what it looks like now but I am excited to go see.  The difference is now I have a family to care for, and that changes the whole thing in my opinion.

This move is hard because of how many things we have to move and not sure what we need.  In my perfect world we would take what we can fit in our cars and that is it.  That sounds smart but may not be the smartest move so we contemplate on what to bring or not.  It is one of the hardest things I have every had to deal with because I just don't know.  Top it off with I don't have a job, much Money at all and don't know the little family I have out there.  Yet the door was shut and nailed closed!  It is amazing to me how that happens.

See I was blessed to get my last job.  I say blessed because no way in the world should I of have that job if you look at it from the outside.  See I was the Latin American Rep that did not speak or write any Spanish.  But I was so hungry that Beth could see it in my eyes and in my heart.  I got that job and turned it from a issue position to a complaint free zone.

Well this dream has started to out grow this position.  See I was doing good for the company and the customers but not for myself.  I was losing everything while gaining nothing.  I was losing my life, my life's desires.  My desire is to be a paid Public Speaker and a Life Style.  I have no idea how or when this will be but working a job in Minnesota does not allow for much space for that.  I put it on the back burner because my family welfare is very important to me.

But now that my oldest Alyssa is going to College in LA it made all my thought come to life.  See now I have a reason to move West.  My wife Nikki is a East Coast Girl and our youngest Lilli talks like she is from the east.  We made this plan to move far west Maui and now are moving to LA, so 2,000 miles closer.  To my surprise my team was let go after almost 4 years with the company. 

What is funny is it came 6 months after I told the company I was looking for work out West and if they could assist me with something that would allow me to support my family.  We began the search with no luck at all.  The reason it is funny is I was ready to leave my position but the Source said take some Unemployment with you, some Severance Pay, some Health care.

So now We just sold the house weeks before not I lost my job and planning to move to LA.  To me I took this a sign to move anyways.

To me this was the sign "It's time to GO!"a