A deep apology for the lengthy time without upgrades on this site. Personal health issues kept me from upgrading while the volunteers kept committing but never showed to help in my absence. The good news is recovery is getting me more able to address this on my own while I still seek volunteer help. 

There have been many changes for veterans and their resources in the last year, so keep coming back for information and what I consider positive changes. 

A quick overview of what will be added:

Updates on new services

• Veteran Wellness Centers
• VA Choice and Community Access for care
• Options for Integrative Care/CAM  regarding pain management
• Increased access to VA Resources
• VA Peer Program
• Community Networking
• Spokane Community Launch of  I.H.A.V.E. (Integrative Health and Veteran Educcation
  
• More ...
  

Looking forward to better support for all!

Thank you for your patience and support! 

This year started awesome with a lot of promise. The Fall returned a lot of lost image of self-value when the 2014 Women Veterans Summit was held in Spokane. The very gesture of being on the team to help make this happen connected me with some very dynamic individuals that renewed my faith in others and passion for the cause. 

I was recognized for the involvement, received a lot of kudos, and even a few unexpected blessings along the way. Almost immediately after the event, I started losing family members to cancer. Emotional issues connected with loss came down hard involving close family members, friends and even a suicide among our close knit community. In all, six people that I loved and appreciated in my life were suddenly gone.  

To top it off, I was backed into by an automobile. Walking across the parking lot, suddenly found myself going sideways. No, I did not fall or get anything broken, though my back and hips have been acting up since. That is, causing stress more than usual.

Prior to this latest incident, I had support through the VA including chiropractic treatment. It was working! My mobility was stepping up, my attitude was embracing more passion for life. And, I was excited about the potential to hope, plan and reach for my dreams of travel, photography, painting, remodeling my home, being able to do more with friends, etc.  I almost let the disability get back to controlling my life. It has its days, however, I refuse to let it take me from a positive journey in life. 


I am sharing my story, because I hope it will help others to address their own challenges and soldier up to them with passion to embrace the positive life they deserve. 


Because of denial, time to time self-defeat, undiagnosed PTS, and accepting negatives as a part of the process, it took more than a decade of my life wandering around lost a world that I never wanted or believed would happen to me. Don't let any challenge or disability in your life take away precious moments or time that can empower you and those around you. 


Once I recognized the beast (PTS), it was almost like being an alcoholic in that choices in life could start the stair step out of the hell hole that living had become by learning how to control my choices and actions. Counseling, for me, helped. I discovered a vital point in that I was not alone, recognition was a strong factor in getting past the PTS control, and I could start modifying my actions to return to stronger abilities. 

I know there is hope. Before I knew the issue, my brain would just go haywire with stress leaving me incapable of making choices or even regular conversation. Working with outreach communities to help other veterans, healing began and became stronger with each new issue. I had found hope. 

The recent issues did have an affect on me. Being unable to move forward because each new death happened just as I was starting to address the loss, they all became jumbled enmass of a swirl of issues in my thoughts. It did not matter what I was trying to address, I could not get past 3 items on a page before my writing went crazy and my thoughts started to hurt.  I pulled back on all contact because my brain and body were unreliable. I would be on the computer for a short time, pain in my back from the injury not allowing full follow through,  would have to lie down, sleep took over, depression closing in. Was I returning to the fog and dark hole that I fought so hard to leave? With my age, was this going to be a permanent change in my back? 

My friend's suicide jolted me. Unexpected and senseless - he was deeply loved, admired, and had communities of people that followed his lead. Much younger than me, it was senseless. I was angry, with so many fighting to have one more breath, why did he do this? Some would think that would have a darker affect on me. Think it was opposite ... it drove me to soldier up .. to fight whatever issue is trying to drag me down and overcome it. It is more important to recognize that even though darkness seems to be closing in, even a small light can pierce the darkness. Life has a way of going up and down. We have a way of turning it around, if we have the patience and ability to believe again. That is where helping each other along the way is potent. Nothing heals the heart than having another veteran tell you how important you are in their life and their positive journey. We still have value, we still have the soldier within that lead us forward before the challenges came. 

I have seen many veterans waiting for help, help comes from within. The struggle may be harder without help from those that "owe" us, however, it is much easier when we soldier up, embrace those who are there willing to help and find a path to move forward. 

In this season of Believing ... no time is better than now ... believe in yourself, believe in the future and embrace life in the fullest.  

We can do it. 

On November 9, 2011, I was invited to speak about Veterans to the two assemblies of students that met in the small assembly hall of a warm and loving elementary school in Spokane, WA.
Compared to the newer modern architectural structures, this historical school had a touch of warmth and closeness that evoked positive memories from my past.

The program of presentation of colors, Pledge Allegiance, medleys of songs of honor to veterans and their families, and military songs for each branch of service brought back memories of fresh support, faith and hope.  Though so many I meet seem to have lost their way, these children and their teachers presented a promise that the growing generation has a belief in tommorrow and beautiful trusting faith that the current generation in control will keep them out of harms way.  This is a trust, that we must take seriously and honor.