This will have to do, til I get back to you. Home will be fun only. Happy Easter

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/14Z1ohLjpX4/ 

Connects to my facebook share.  Don't worry.  Be happy.  Have some fun!

Happy Easter Everyone. I have two photos for you. The first is on top of my mantel (for Easter) the second is from the Art Class (also on the mantel)

      Last Friday I participated in an Art Class and I loved it.  Jenni is the Instructor and she believes anyone can make Art.  She loves it when someone says can't.  If she was closer to me, I wouldn't hesitate to take a continuous class.  She teaches everyone from 9 years old to 109 and that is what gave me hope.  I felt like I was nine and I think my art is a reflection of it.  The one on the far top and right on the wall is yours truely.  I tried to sell it but there were no takers.  The Instructor thought I was funny.  I suggested a trade half way.  Again no takers.  I was told that I did everything I was told.  I am glad that I am able to follow instructions.  She told us we would have fun and though I didn't quite believe her, we all did.  I don't think I did too bad for my first time, but I will leave that up to you.  If you are interested in taking a class contact Jennie at artwithjenni.ca

    She told us that she had an art show and sold half of her art.  We all celebrated her victory.

I am making this a short week because give me a reason to celebrate and well, I do.  Jennie gave us all a paint brush which she states is expensive and it looks it but I am going to give it to my little niece because she is very creative and smart.  I was going to give her my painting, but I didn't want her to feel compelled because she wouldn't want to hurt my feelings.   So,  I'll hang it up and get used to it and then maybe the wall on the basement.   I don't want to throw it out, because I want to see if I improve, if I have the opportunity again.

I wish you all a wonderful Easter.

Selfie Harm: Scholar's Hub (found notes on this but realized video was out)

The Business of Bigotry - Hate is not free speech. Hate kills.

 

Writer’s Corner (Sisters of Crime) (men are included) cont.

 

     Networking is important.  Dedicate time for writing.  The wider and deeper network - the better.  Respect, empathy and resilience.  Share what is learned (yup, that’s what I am doing with everything) when asked and appropriate.  Lift up others.  Be general and set healthy boundaries.  Volunteer and be generous with it.  Volunteer an hour or two at conventions.  Give back and be connected.  Build community and trust in people.  One speaker received a contract through her networking.  Don’t take it personal.  Learn to discern.  What information is valuable?  An agent is heavily invested in your success.  What can you take from the

 critique, staying true to what you need? 

     Ok, let’s see what I am doing.  Networking?  My bad.  But, I have an excuse.  Yup, we all know about excuses.  I need to be better.  I actually like people and usually try to help, keeping in mind boundaries.  Writing has always been a constant for me as a hobby.  I have been invited by other writers to events but due to my schedule, I have just let it pass.  We cannot do it all so I have to prioritize.  Now I am making my home and books a priority.  You all know the nightmare I went through last year trying to sell my home in Toronto to move to Niagara Falls.  My network is all in Toronto.  However,  I do want to slow down and enjoy a tourist town so I can be on a constant holiday.  I have no problem setting up a network in Niagara (I don’t think they have one, but may be wrong).  I gave up my psychotherapy practice because it was too much to do it all and though I had all my conference education, I found that the College was micro managing too much and I have actually achieved a point in my life where I don’t tolerate nonsense unless I have to.  Through staging my home, items were broken, furniture scratched and damaged and I am still missing two pieces of art.  I shall never again stage - ever.  If you do, take pictures of it all before hand, and be there.  I was encouraged not to be there.  Then I was bombarded with real estate agents to sign up with them.  What they haven’t figured out is that I will never deal with overbearing disrespectful people.  The market is terrible right now and so I am focusing on what is staying and what is going.  I have given much away and am thankful to a friend who has a second property and loves my stuff.  She keeps me happy with home made meals and I keep her happy with treasures.  It just worked out that way without intention.  People have been selling their homes in Toronto for less money and some just need to sell because of this economy.  I don’t have to.  For these annoying agents, they can show me a contract from a prospective buyer or get lost.  You can read previous blogs from last spring  for more details.  I had planned on writing my next book spending at least an hour a day, but my bad.  Though I am very structured, when it comes to writing, I am not.  I love writing my books, so I don’t think of it as a job.  Don’t get me wrong, I also have always chosen careers that I liked and found interesting, keeping in mind that pensions were required.  Networking was always a given in my careers and that took precedence.  I enjoy the company of writers because they have imagination and smarts and hope.  I do intend to network more because it involves dinners and fun.  I now can make time for that.  I do not intend to ignore invites anymore.  I want to grow.  Volunteer?  I am still trying to step down from volunteer positions.  There are also others waiting for me to say yes.  I need to rest a bit and re-set.  Do I have an agent?  No.  I think I sent my last book out to two and they said it was not their genre.  This time,  I need to focus more on that as I slowly get organized.  To conclude,  I am always approached by hopeful writers at events and I answer their questions.  They need to have answers and why not?  I now encourage them to join an Association as well.  At Word on the Street, Sisters in Crime will have a booth and I shall direct them there.  I have my own mini booth this year (I am now on a budget) but always enjoy sitting with other Authors.  So that is all for now.  What do you think? Have a nice weekend and my tip is to trust in yourself and surround yourself with positive and loving people.

Land of Moah (Old Testament cont) Theology notes

 

     Before Israelites went to the promised land - Moses engages them with the covenant of God.  The Bible is the story of human kind with God.  Covenant is an image that expresses strongest between  people in this case, between people and God.  Covenant is a relationship.  Any relationship has two aspects to it - 1. Gifts   2.  Tasks.  Wherever have a gift, you have a task; where have a task, have a gift.  Image we inherent and adapt it to hope.  Sinai is a task.  What happens when you break it?  What happens to the relationship when all you have is gift?  God promises life - gift.  God does not give conditions.  It is a promise.  Abraham did have to leave his family and land - that was the task.  Get up and go and I will give you these three promises:  Last time he speaks to Abraham is to get up and go and sacrifice your son. It begins with a task and ends with a task.  A grant, a gift but something has been done and something is expected.  Think of a cycle.  Get up and go - and I will give your ancestors land and you will be blessed.  Story continues, Genesis moves to Egypt - to people - they become numerous in Egypt.  They become oppressed and cried out to the Lord.  God is the one who brings out his son out of Egypt.  With Abraham - get up and go -  God takes people out of Egypt - Then in the desert.  Finally God brings them out of Mount Sinai.  God brought out of Egypt - gift.  People say they will bring out Torah - task.  They will follow this task.

To be cont. 

Project Fatherhood: The Retrofit by James Schrage SMW (Founder ) and Devon Ivey ED.D., MEd. notes and Fathers and Families Coalition of America

.24 million children in America.  One out of every three live in biological father absent homes.  Nine in ten American parents agree this is a crises.  National Father Initiative (2019).  Focus is in the well being of children.  Located in Long Beach California, minimum needed in California 80,000 a year is required to live and have a mortgage.  100% of their dad’s have been victims of IPV.  They don’t report and say they never experienced it but through education with the project they understood they are victims.  Children are used to control them.  Increased rates of mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, suicide ideation.  Entire staff is social workers.  They have support groups, group therapy, groups for different age groups of children groups for mothers.

Fathers and Families - Coalition   of America (Speaker is a social worker) 

States higher education is limited.  America is # 1 at divorce and never married.  Money is in Family Systems and not fathers (I would like to say that fathers are incorporated in family systems).  The first program he designed was for fathers in Arizona.  More single fathers coming out of poverty.  He is looking for funding.  Had a grant for 175,000 for three years.  He wants fatherhood funding.

This ends this conference.