MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

Of Gifts, Music and Life

In thinking about gift giving for the holidays, I go back to the first Christmas I spent any time with Bill, who is now my husband. He was in a sad season of his life and I remember making him a stocking stuffed with Bible verses and encouraging notes, as well as candy and small trinkets. We were just casual friends and he was always so kind and helpful to me and my daughter, Regina. He’d even offered to be our protector during a previous hurricane; turns out I had to save him from a frog that jumped into the doorway and behind the couch where he was sleeping! I think we all were more terrified of the frog than the hurricane. I was so relieved that I was actually able to throw the frog wrapped in a big blanket out the door during the lull in the storm.

The next year was our first Christmas together as newlyweds. We lived in a small house that didn’t have heat or air conditioning, but it was a sweet and simple time of our lives. It seemed, back then we all were happier with less. Despite the lack of heat, warm memories were made.

Life went on. Things got complicated. There were some years of ups and downs and then we decided to move back to Daytona area, to be closer to family. I’m so glad we did as within a few years Mama, then Poppa John passed away. I remember the last Christmas we spent together. Mama was so happy she was able to give a hundred-dollar-bill to all her kids. That was not a luxury she could not have afforded before, but by then she had her very own money from her Social Security check that she opted to get early. Looking back now I’m so glad she did get it early as she died the next year at age 62. She nearly made it to 63. She’d been so happy to have her “own” money that year and she wanted to share it with the world. Of course, if you knew my Mama, you know she already shared everything she had. That was nearly 23 years ago.

What gift gives you joy to give? Maybe you can’t give out $100 bills but you can give $5 gift cards to kids or the homeless for food at McDonalds. Maybe you love to give warm socks or pajamas? You can write a poem or a letter of encouragement to someone. Or perhaps you can give a senior citizen a ride to an appointment or take them to see Christmas lights? You may want to create your own stocking of notes and verses, as I did the first Christmas I spent with Bill.

These last two years things have seemed hectic and normal seemed to go out the window. The new normal might not look like what we’d hoped or dreamed for. Yet through it all we have to realize that as a family or as a nation, we still have so much to be grateful for. Listen to some beautiful music, watch a musical or a little child dance around. Shine as best as you can, smile, it will make people wonder what you are up to, and give like you’re my mama handing out $100 bills. Those are the gifts you will remember.  Donna Tinsley 2021

MUSIC TAKE US AWAY

 

Are you

Trying to find the love in the season

Trying to remember

Jesus is the reason,

Looking for some joy to rid yourself:

Of loneliness, physical pain

Or lack of emotional support?

 

Take a moment to listen

Music is all around you,

The beauty of a violin,

The pitter patter of tiny feet,

The swell of the ocean,

The quiet before the

The music of the storm.

 

Life has seemed like a storm perhaps this year,

A storm that brought fear

Of loneliness and pain.

This year

Many in our family

Have experienced loss.

 

Oh, the first night without a loved one,

As well as the first Christmas,

Anniversaries, birthdays,

Getting through them alone

Oh Jesus,

Why are they gone?

 

There are no words

I can give to

Make you feel better.

The comfort of our Savior

I offer instead.

 

To those who grieve

May you receive

The peace that the season offers

A daily refill from the Lord.

I offer to pray for you each day,

Just let me know

You need me to.

 

 

And I’ll pray the Lord

Will give you a song

In your heart,

One to remember your loved one by,

Till that grand reunion

In the sky.

 

MUSIC, TAKE US AWAY.

Donna Tinsley 2021

You won't be turning the lights out till you finish, Lights Out (The SNAP Agency) Paperback by Natalie Walters

 

Lights Out (The SNAP Agency) Paperback by Natalie Walters was not what I was thinking I signed up for but more than met my expectations for a page-turning, keep you awake, novel.

 

CIA analyst Brynn Taylor was reunited with Jack Hudson of the SNAP agency, (Strategic Neutralization and Protection Agency) and the drama, suspense and fireworks began. The chase was on as they looked for the Egyptian spy, Remon Riad and found a lot of others along the way.

Part of me felt like I was reading Designated Survivor with the constant suspense.

 

I’m sure I’ll be reading the rest of the books in the series and am grateful to Revell Reads for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

If you’re looking for suspense, try reading Crosshairs by Patricia Bradley!

 

 

If you’re looking for suspense, try reading Crosshairs by Patricia Bradley!

 

After reading Crosshairs by Patricia Bradley as the third book of a trilogy, I’ll need to acquaint myself with the first two in the series. It was intriguing from the beginning and the characters were believable, moral and interesting.

 

Ainsley Beaumont, who is an Investigative Service Branch ranger, the former FBI sniper Lincoln Steele, her grandmother and great-aunt Cora all have a story to tell in a very Southern setting. It was suspenseful and believable and a real page turner. Will there be a rekindling of romance or have the flames of love died between Ashley and Linc? You will find yourself rooting for him and hoping he will become bolder in his feelings.

 

I received this book free of charge from Revell Reads in exchange for my honest review.

My thoughts on the Netflix series, MAID, and Domestic Violence Month

 My thoughts on the Netflix series, MAID, and Domestic Violence Month  

 

The Netflix series, MAID, is a must-see for everyone in my opinion, especially those who work in Social Work and law enforcement.  

Having had multiple experiences as a child with domestic violence I know it can leave scars on a child that stays in their heart forever. There are pictures in their mind perhaps of their mother being beat or emotionally tortured and the child sometimes feels guilty for not being able to protect their loved one. 

A personal experience I had when I was about nine-years-old was the pain I felt when I found out that I slept through my mom being beat in the head with a gun by one of my stepfathers. I vowed I would never let him get away with hurting her again. The next time I heard her screams I ran out the door screaming, “Call the police!” only to find out the one time I was brave, it was a false alarm. Those screams were the result of the news that her mother had died. 

 

My mom went on to marry another man with issues but she learned to fight back. Most of his problems came from being an alcoholic, but thankfully, in their later years, he quit drinking and there was peace in their home before they died. But my mom’s choices of men showed a pattern and also the low self-esteem that many women carry once they have been abused. 

Sometimes law enforcement who haven’t been trained about domestic violence victims can make the victim feel violated all over again. Statistics say that the average woman forgives or goes back to the abuser on the average of seven times before they get true help. The recent case with Brian Laundrie a person of interest in the killing of Gabby Petito, where there was video of Gabby looking very scared, but not filing charges comes to my mind. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was a trained domestic violence worker sent out on these calls? 

 

 

Recently a family member decided to get a restraining order. There was a lot of paperwork to fill out and then she still had no chance of getting help on the day she filed. 

From an online site it says you need to prepare a petition for a temporary injunction and file it to the appropriate civil court. Within 15 days, there will be a hearing, and a judge will decide whether to grant your request for a permanent injunction against your abuser. Yet the 15 days or so that you may have to wait to get to court can be days of anxiety and torture as you wonder if you will be stalked or hurt while waiting. 

How to Get a Restraining Order in Florida (wikihow.com)  

 The court will look at a variety of factors when determining “imminent danger”:[3] 

• the history between you and the abuser, including threats, stalking, physical abuse, and harassment 

• if any attempt has been made to harm you or your family members 

• if you have been threatened to have your children harmed or kidnapped 

• if the abuser has intentionally injured or killed a family pet 

• If the abuser has used or threatened to use any weapons against you 

• if the abuser has restrained you from calling the police or leaving your home 

• if the abuser has a criminal history involving violence or threats of violence 

• if there is any prior order of protection entered against the abuser 

• if the abuser has destroyed your personal property 

• any other action that would lead you to reasonably believe that you are in immediate danger of domestic violence 

 

When you have a family member facing this type of issues, sometimes you can only pray. This week I felt led to write a prayer request on the local PRAYERLINE that my loved one would have God’s favor and protection. Yesterday I found out the person she is trying to get a restraining order against was arrested for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Thank the good Lord that this assault was not upon my loved one. My hope is that he will get time for the charge he is in jail for and be far removed from our lives. 

I’m glad the series MAID is not only helping victims to learn that they are not alone, but also educating the community about domestic violence. Things are not always what they seem. Sometimes that second chance for protection doesn’t come in time. 

 

The psalm that is getting me through the days

 The psalm that is getting me through the days:

This psalm has been my “go to” verses during this time of recuperation from knee surgery. In the midst of my recovery something else started going on with me that made it nearly impossible for me to eat or have energy. It might’ve been from my being anemic and all the iron I was prescribed to take. I’m just now starting to get my appetite back. Right after my surgery Bill had his birthday and I remember listening to his birthday song from my sickbed and thinking maybe this is how it is in heaven, knowing what is going on but not being a participant. Then I had to really fight a depression that tried to overtake me and make me want to leave the earth. I know that sounds bad but it was where I was at for a bit. But for the Lord my God. I thought about quality of life, I thought about the pain issues, I thought about the hard work to get my knee back in shape and wasn’t sure I had it in me. There are always some family hurts that seem to be on my mind, and I feel the pain of those with overwhelming life issues. Yet, my main thought is FOR THIS WE HAVE JESUS, and JESUS PLEASE DO WHAT IS THE VERY BEST FOR MY LOVED ONES.

Although I had plenty of time, there was no inspiration to write and now my regular computer seems to have died. My back-up seems to have left some files out, so once again, I’ve lost work that can’t really be replaced. But listening to Facebook church broadcasts, and WAPN, sending prayer requests to PRAYERLINE, reading daily Bible and daily devotions such as Suzi Yelvington’s books, have helped me press on. And thoughts of my children and grandchildren.

 Psalm 116 THE PASSION TRANSLATION

I am passionately in love with God because he listens to me.
    He hears my prayers and answers them.
 As long as I live I’ll keep praying to him,
    for he stoops down to listen to my heart’s cry.
Death once stared me in the face,
    and I was close to slipping into its dark shadows.
    I was terrified and overcome with sorrow.
 I cried out to the Lord, “God, come and save me!”
 He was so kind, so gracious to me.
    Because of his passion toward me,
    he made everything right and he restored me.
So I’ve learned from my experience
    that God protects the vulnerable.
    For I was broken and brought low,
    but he answered me and came to my rescue!

Now I can say to myself and to all,
    “Relax and rest, be confident and serene,
    for the Lord rewards fully those who simply trust in him.” God has rescued my soul from death’s fear
    and dried my eyes of many tears.
    He’s kept my feet firmly on his path
and strengthened me so that I may please him^[a]
    and walk before Yahweh in his fields of life.

Even when it seems I’m surrounded
    by many liars and my own fears,
    and though I’m hurting in my suffering and trauma,
    I still stay faithful to God and speak words of faith.

 So now, what can I ever give back to God
    to repay him for the blessings he’s poured out on me? I will lift up his cup of salvation and praise him extravagantly
    for all that he’s done for me.
 I will fulfill the promise I made to God
    in the presence of his gathered people.

 When one of God’s holy lovers dies,
    it is costly to the Lord, touching his heart. Lord, because I am your loving servant,
    you have broken open my life and freed me from my chains.
 Now I’ll worship you passionately and bring to you
    my sacrifice of praise, drenched with thanksgiving! I’ll keep my promise to you, God,
    in the presence of your gathered people, just like I said I would.
 I will worship you here in your living presence,
    in the temple in Jerusalem.
    I will worship and sing hallelujah, for I praise you, Lord!