Origami Owl---My New Adventure.

ORIGAMI OWL 

I recently began a new adventure in my life.   

I'm now an Origami Owl Designer.  

I absolutely love this product, therefore, I thought

"WHY NOT SELL IT"

 If you'd like to shop my website, you can at

www.loriestridge.origamiowl.com 

OR, 

Find my facebook page at

https://www.facebook.com/loriestridge.origamiowl

If you'd like a book, just let me know. 

I'm believing that God's truly going to bless this new endeavor.  

OCD: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

 OCD

I wish I could make those 3 letters flash, but I can't.

This subject has been on my mind for awhile now.  I've just not really taken the time to blog about it. 

The following are some definitions that I found online.

__________________________________________

  Webster's Definition: OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER

: a psychoneurotic disorder in which the patient is beset with obsessions or compulsions or both and suffers extreme anxiety or depression through failure to think the obsessive thoughts or perform the compelling acts—abbreviation OCD;

Online Medical Dictionary Definition: 

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Disorder characterized by persistent, intrusive, and senseless thoughts (obsessions) or compulsions to perform repetitive behaviors that interfere with normal functioning.

__________________________________________

  
 

I think that OCD is one of the most overlooked mental disorders.

Yes, I think it's a mental disorder.

People with this disease suffer daily.

If you don't have it, you can't imagine how bad it is.

It is real.

It is painful.

The following are a list of things I HATE to hear people say:

Just ignore it

Just shake it off

I'd "MAKE" him/her change

They just do that for attention.

It doesn't matter if we do it "this way"--you'll just have to accept it.

(to someone with OCD--it does matter)   

Like most "mental disorders" no one person suffers like anyone else. 
 Everyone suffers differently.

The following are a few of the ways I personally suffer or someone in my family suffers:  

The numbers on a volume control--have to be even.

The microwave has to be cleared--on 0.

Flowers--you have to plant the same amount of each color.

You have to have the same number of flower pots.

Mowing---all stripes have to be one way.
If you punch my right shoulder--you have to punch my left one
Walking on stripes--either walk on all or none
Notebook dividers--have to be color coordinated
If you start writing in one color--finish with that color, don't change middle way through (unless it will be even)
 Leaving the cabinet doors open.
Everything has to be in a certain way.
Money facing the same way.
Having to count everything, like steps taken, stairs, even how many pieces of ice that go into a glass. 
If you start reading something outloud, you have to finish.



I know a lot of you will think--"Well I do that, or
that bothers me, but I don't have OCD".
Just doing/having one of these problems, doesn't mean you have OCD, but it's  the combination & severity of them.
OCD takes it to the extreme.  
OCD causes problems for the one suffering. 

I'm just wanting to bring awareness to this illness.
I've suffered from it--to a certain degree
I have a family member that suffers from it. 
There's people who will actually do things to irritate you--on purpose.  They truly don't understand that it really does hurt you, physically & emotionally.
 
 When someone has an episode, they can have several different reactions.  Anything from crying, anxiety attack, trouble breathing etc...

If you ever come in contact with someone who is suffering from OCD, I hope that you'll be more aware & more understanding.
I hope you'll know that they can't help it, they can't just snap out of it.  
It's not something that they enjoy.
It's not something they have any control over.
The way YOU treat them---you have control over.  
 

    

Teens----Dating Abuse

Teens---Dating Abuse

Yes, it's a real subject.

It's a subject that I know all too well.

You see, I know several girls who have suffered from such abuse.

(No, I'm not saying just girls are abused, I just don't know of any boys who are)

I personally know 4 girls who have suffered either emotional, verbal, and/or physical abuse at the hands of their boyfriend.

All 4 of these girls are now with new boyfriends (THANK GOD)

BUT, now these boys are/have moved on.

I see them with their new girlfriends and it worries me for the new girls.

I've wondered "Do I mention to the girls about how they treated the ex?"

"Do I mention to the parents, of the girl, about how he treated the ex?"

(Sticky situation--to say the very least)

GIRLS:

Abuse comes in several different ways. Sometimes, you don't even know you're being abused.

There's really no set form to this blog,

 just gonna talk to my girls.

PHYSICAL ABUSE: Whether he hits you, bites you, pinches you, pulls your hair, slaps you on the back--just a little too hard.

If he jerks your arm--making you retreat.

When he says "I was only playing", but he repeatedly does it.

When he says "I'm sorry, it won't happen again"

When he says "You know I wouldn't hurt you, I love you".

****YOU KNOW IF IT'S ABUSE

LOVE DOESN'T HURT

Do you have to "watch what you say" because you 

"don't want to make him too mad"

Do you have to "watch who you speak to" because you 

"don't want to make him too mad"

Do you have to "watch what you wear"

because you "don't want to make him too mad"

Do you ever flinch when he raises his hand?

 When he gets "too mad" what happens?????

Abuse isn't always physical.  It can be emotional too.

Emotional Abuse:

Does he say stuff like, "But baby, you don't need to go with your girlfriends.  If you love me, I'm enough"

"Baby, you mean you'd rather spend time with your friends than with me".

Does he find ways to put your friends down--so that you won't want to spend time with them?

Does he try to "Keep you to himself"? 
I know you're probably thinking, yes, but I want to spend time with him.  He is enough.  I love every minute with him.

But, if he tries to keep you isolated from your family & friends...that can be the beginning of abuse. 

If he keeps you isolated from your friends and/or family, you become even more dependent upon him.

Of course, he turns it to where you "think" this is what you want.  But trust me, in the end, we all need our girlfriends.   

We all need more than 1 important person in our life.  

Do you constantly have to stay in contact with your boyfriend?  

If you're not with him, do you have to "check in" with him.  Of course he'll say something like, "The only reason I want you to check in is because I love you."  

"I just worry about you"

"If you're not doing anything wrong, you wouldn't care to answer your phone/text"

Verbal abuse:

Does he cuss you?

Does he call you names?

Does he try to intimidate you with his words?

Do you find yourself making excuses for him?

Do you find yourself saying:

"He only does it when he's mad".

"I shouldn't have made him so mad"

"He doesn't mean what he says".

GUYS:

If you are one of the guys that I've spoken about..I hope that you've changed. 

I hope that you will treat your new girlfriends with respect.

If you have to force, intimidate, demand a girls attention---you don't need the relationship.

If you need to talk about it, I'm here. 

I don't know that I CAN help, but I know that I'll TRY to help.

Three of you boys, I know personally.

One, I even confronted.

I didn't confront the other 2. 

IF I EVER hear of you abusing your new girlfriends, I will go directly to their parents!!!!

Do you think that kids don't talk about it?

Do you think it's a secret?

What power does hitting a girl give you?

I hope that you'll get help---someway.
**One made the comment that they "had me fooled"  You don't, I just haven't said anything to you yet.  

I have a lot more to say on the subject, but I felt an urgency to share this part. 

Teens--Premarital Sex

Thoughts On/For/About My Teens

I truly believe that God has placed a calling in my life.  A calling for teens. 

(I guess you'd call it a calling)

I'm just naturally drawn toward them.

I just seem to connect with them.

I have several, that contact me often.

Some discuss things that they could/would never discuss with their parents.

I give them my parental view, but I also try to be understanding & not judge.

Kids are kids

Kids are gonna mess up.

They need to know that regardless what they've done in the past---that's the past.

They can change.

Premarital Sex:  

(Yes, I used the word sex--kids need to know)

IT IS A SIN!!!!

1 Corinthans 6:18

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body, but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body 

1 Corinthians 7:8-9

I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain,let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn.

 In saying that, sometimes it happens.

Sometimes you mess up

((((NOOOOOO I'm not saying it's ok))))
I'm just wanting you to know.

You can be forgiven of it.

Just because you've lost your virginity, doesn't mean that you're forever condemned.

Ask God to forgive you and He'll forgive you.

BUT, after getting forgiveness, you must abstain from sex.  

Don't have it anymore, until marriage.

This goes to boys & girls:  If you're dating a guy/girl and you have sex with them.

You then break-up and start dating someone else--don't have the mindset

 "Well, I had sex with _____, so it won't hurt to with _____.

Don't feel "obligated" (for lack of better words).

Say no---Mean no---

Your virginity is a gift.  

It's a gift that only you can give to someone.

It's a one time gift.

It's a gift that you should only give someone on your wedding night.  

If someone cares about you---they'll wait.

If they won't wait--they don't care about you.

***IT'S THAT PLAIN AND SIMPLE*** 

Father's Day??

Father's Day!!

(MY ABSOLUTE LEAST FAVORITE HOLIDAY)

You will not see me celebrating this day.  I quit celebrating it 17yrs ago.  

When my Daddy went to heaven.  

I can't really celebrate it.

This past week, Daddy has been on my mind almost obsessively.

I didn't correlate it with Fathers' Day, until I started writing this blog

I really believe that it's my subconscious knowing that
Father's Day was near. 

Daddy had been having some medical problems.

"I" made him an appointment to go to VA to get some test ran.

On June 19th, 1995 (the day before my birthday) we went back to VA for his test results.

They nonchalantly told us "You have lung cancer"

It was devastating--to say the least.

((I've always felt like it was my fault that he had the cancer & died.  Had I not made him go to the doctor, he probably would have lived longer & had a better last year of his life))

We were told that it was not the "spreading" type.

Prognosis was good---so we were told. 

 He had lung surgery--

they removed the bottom portion of his right lung.  

He goes back for  a recheck and we're told that it

"jumped" to his liver & brain.

 When asked about them saying it didn't spread, their sly remark

(((We said it didn't spread--it didn't it jumped around)))

I did not appreciate that sly use of words.

So, Daddy's brain cancer was a rare kind.  

Carcinoid (a word I still cringe over, when hearing)

UK had only had a few cases of it.

So, again, they give us good hopes.

They tell us that if he has "gamma knife"--which was relatively new at the time, 

 He'd have a good prognosis.

(((Why did we believe them again?)))

He gets the gamma knife-which they only needed $17,000 up front.

It didn't work.  DUHHHH

(( Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me))

September 5th, 1995, he begins radiation.

Radiation---legal way to burn someone.

It was awful.  The places that it left on him--horrible.

HE NEVER GAVE UP.

He always thought he'd be ok. 

I think that's what makes me so mad--so hurt.

He really "thought" he'd be ok.  

After treatments--it was just a wait and see. 

A part of me, is thankful we found out he had cancer.

 (although another part thinks it's my fault) 

I had never remembered my Daddy being saved.

He was saved before I was born, but backslid.

(Yes, we're pentecostal & believe in backsliding)

December 20th, 1995, I was on my way to work.

I always tried to just stop in and say hi to him & mom.

I walked in, he was sitting in the back chair at the kitchen table.

(I can still see it vividly)

He said, "Well, I did what you all have been wanting me to do,

I asked the Lord to forgive me".

That was one of the happiest days of my life.

You see, I wasn't saved, but I knew, I believed.

Who's to say, if he hadn't found out he had cancer, he may not have gotten saved---that would have been infinity x infinity worse than finding out about cancer. 

 He just went downhill from there.

I won't say that he ever gave up, but when he couldn't physically hold a fork and feed himself, that's when he changed.

March 2, 1996, he was getting really bad.  

I started a week of staying with him.

If I remember correctly,  Me, Cheryl, Karen & San

all stayed most of that week. 

Hospice had told us that Daddy was hanging on for some reason.

I still to this day think it was that he was wanting to see my sister Kathy, 

but she didn't come. 

She had her reasons, I guess.

I also think he wanted his mom to come--which she didn't.

I cannot even begin to imagine her reasons.

Yes, Grandma Parker was old, but that wasn't an excuse--for me.

My Granny Beulah was old & feeble, but I KNOW, she would have crawled to go see one of her kids on their death bed.  I know it.

OK, moving on. 

.

Thursday, March 10th, we all gathered around Daddy's bed. 

We told him that he could go on to heaven. 
We told him it was ok.

We told him we loved him & would miss him, but we'd be ok.

We told him we'd meet him in heaven someday.

After everyone left the room, 

 I sang "Let's Meet By The River" to him.

***You see, I wasn't saved, but I knew.

Saturday, March 9th, 1996.

We had tickets to take Jared to see "Beauty and the Beast" on ice.

Everyone told me to go ahead and take Jared.

Everyone said that Daddy wouldn't want Jared missing it.

Everyone said daddy would be ok.

((Everyone was wrong!!!!))
We go to Rupp...see the show.

I couldn't get home fast enough.

When we pulled up, I knew.  

There was lots of vehicles at the house.

Jerry drops me off & goes & turns around.

Duck meets me on the porch--shakes his head no--

and I collapse into his arms.

I still remember his blue "windbreaker" jacket.

They had allowed mom to keep Daddy in the house until I got home--- 

which was greatly appreciated.

Won't go into details--hurts too bad.

So, Daddy's funeral was March 12th, 1996.

While at the funeral, I got saved. 

I didn't want that to be the last time that I saw Daddy alive.  

No doubt in my mind--He's in heaven today.

We had always been a close family. 

I was not Daddy's favorite--that title goes to Karen, but

I know Daddy loved me. 

We were poor, but he always made a way.

He had gotten hurt when I was around 2. 

He hurt his back & was disabled.

He had 5 daughters and couldn't get any help.

Back then, they didn't give out medical cards etc... so freely.

We could never get any help.

Daddy made a way to provide for us.

I'm so very thankful.  

THIS is the reason that I don't celebrate Father's Day.

Some may think it's crazy--and that's ok, but,

it's me & my choice. 

 

Do I help the kids celebrate Father's Day with their daddy--YES.

He's a wonderful dad.  

He goes above and beyond to provide for everyone. 

 He loves his kids.  

He tries his hardest to make sure they have not only what they need,

 but most everything they want.

CRYSTAL-SPECIAL (but not because of her needs)

Last year, I met a girl named Crystal. 

She got to come see us again this year.

Here's a few things I know about her:

                         1.   She's 24

                         2.   She loves to witness about God

                         3.   She is very well mannered

                         4.   She's very clean--showers, housework

                         5.   She has an infectious laugh

                         6.   She's suffers from epilepsy

                         7.   She's one of the sweetest people I've ever met

                         8.   She's changed my life forever

                         9.   She's very special.

                      10.    She loves Minnie Mouse

                      11.    She lives in Michigan

                      12.    She is special needs. 

Until I met her, I was never comfortable around special needs people.  I know that sounds horrible, but I never knew how to act, what to say etc...  It just made me nervous.

She has enlightened me.  She has shown me that in a lot of ways, she's smarter than "normal" people.

Yesterday, I took her to the Dollar Store.  She was wanting some Minnie Mouse sheets--which they didn't have.

We were standing in line and a friend of mine came in.

I introduced my friend to Crystal.

Within 5 minutes, Crystal had said the following to her:

God is in Heaven

He is there for you and me.

He stretched His arms out on the cross for us.

He loves us. 

WOW!!! WHAT A WITNESS!!!!

We should be so brave.

She also went on to tell about how she was mistreated/bullied  in school.

She told how some people would hold her head in the toilet 

& make her drink pee out of the toilet.  

After all of these years, she remembers their names Pam & Vickie.

Although I don't know them, she remembers them.

She says that she hates them, but I tried to tell her that they will get paid back---

maybe they already have?

I just don't understand how anyone could be mean to Crystal...she's seriously so sweet. 

I know a lot would think "They were just school kids".

I DON"T CARE!!!
I look at the special needs kids in school today & I can proudly say that the students at JCHS welcome them, protect them, are good to them and love them.  

When everyone is criticizing this generation--

I see some good in it.  

So, I'm about to go to bed last night & get a message from my friend that I saw in the Dollar Store.  

Those few minutes we spent in line with her--

Crystal touched her life too.   

You never know when or how God is gonna touch your life.

Always be ready to accept his blessings.

They come in all different shapes, sizes, colors, ages etc....

I just felt the need to blog about Crystal.  

She's gone back now and it's untelling when I'll get to see her again, but she will remain in my heart, mind, thoughts & prayers. 

 ((A lot  would probably think---"Well, she's around Alex & he's special needs.")) 

Well, that's true, but Alex is just Alex to me.

He's so smart--it's hard to think of him as being special needs.

He's just Alex. 

Probably Will Regret This

Based on the way I'm feeling, blogging should probably be the last thing I should be doing. But, gotta get a few things off my mind.

Have you ever prayed & prayed & prayed & prayed and still not seen an answer.  

Have others mentioned doing the same and you tell them "Not in your time, but in God's time...You have to pray for God's will, not yours". 

Umm, not so easy to accept that when it's you doing the praying & the waiting.  

I'm trying not to question God, but there's something I've prayed about for years. Something that only good can come from.

I don't understand why my prayer hasn't been answered.  It only seems to be getting worse.

Well, it seems better--then worse.

Seems like it could be turning around & then NOSE DIVE

I'm truly at a loss as to what to do.  

I've prayed, believed, just haven't received--yet. 

I just wish God would show me my next step.

Show me what "I" need to do to get my prayer answered.

 My heart aches.

To most people, they probably see me & think

"She's so happy".

Umm, so often, the ones with the big smile,

are the ones who are crying the biggest tears

on the INSIDE. 

If you read this blog and pray.

Please pray for my situation.

I need someone to reach God for me...

since apparently, I've got something blocking me from reaching Him :( 
I feel like there's a wall up, blocking my prayers from even getting to Him. 

I usually try to stay positive--or at least not let my negativity or my problems show, but I'm seriously needing help--immediate help.