Ramblings of a puzzled reader!

A piece in the Feb. 25,2016 News-Leader by Jean Carnahan, former first lady of Missouri, caught my attention. She fully supports
Hillary Clinton for President and the piece outlined her rational.  It is now March 22 and I have given some time and thought to
Mrs Carnahan's thoughts on Hillary Clinton,I respectfully think most, including the author of the piece,
have painted a much too rosy picture of our former first lady.

 I may not be an octogenarian, but if I were I would be not closer to agreeing with her. My mother was a child in 1919 when all citizens
regardless of gender received the right to vote.  We women have certainly come a long way, no one can disagree with that.  We are represented
in both houses of Legislature, all professional fields, the military, etc. and I might add, well represented.

 She brings Roe vs Wade into her observations. It did legitimize abortion and saved undoubted lives while it took life away.  No one likes to think about that way.  Just a few statistics
for your consideration.  These are reported from the CDC, you can look it up.  1% of all abortions are the result of rape. 74% are more or less a
birth control issue.  Another interesting fact is that the procedure for abortion has changed very little but the use of antibiotics has taken
much of the danger away.  Just a little food for thought.  Now what that has to do with Hillary, I don't know, but I do know she says more in
regard to supporting our currant administration than what she will do for women.

Obama care cannot be defended any longer.  Too much packaged into it is destructive to the economy of the United States from those whose rates have
risen, while the cost of living has skyrocketed, too much is on the backs of those who can least afford the burden of increased medicaid, free stuff ( as I
hear the young people remark), etc.  It seems our author lives well above the average individual and is out of touch with the reality of life for
a great percentage of our population. Mrs Clinton has done nothing to earn my respect when she diminishes life in her failure to accept responsibility
for her role as a citizen, for Benghazi, for helping and approving the outrages growth of government.  Government growth over the past decades has
become irresponsible, abusive, and frightening.  History does repeat itself.  It can again.

Ok, so now that I have offered up MY random thoughts, this will go to my blog rather than the News Leader where first intended ( Mrs Carnahan's
 "voice of the day" piece was published in this Springfield paper).

Catholic!

The Charity Hospital run by the Sisters of Charity in New Orleans, along with the Upjohn company developed the plasma system in the 1930's that saved so many lives in WWII, Korea, Vietnam and in the middle east now.
 
During the Civil War most of the nurses in the US were nuns.
 
Even if you are not Catholic, this is eye opening:
 
When the Catholic Church was founded, there were no hospitals.
 
Today, one out of five people in this country receive their medical care at a Catholic hospital.
 
When the Catholic Church was founded, there were no schools. Today, the Catholic Church teaches 3 million students a day, in its more than 250 Catholic Colleges and Universities, in its more than 1200 Catholic High Schools and in its more than 5000 Catholic grade schools.
 
Every day, the Catholic Church feeds, clothes, shelters and educates more people than any other organization in the world.
 
The new Obama  Health Mandate could end all this and the tax payers would have to make up the loss.
 
Also, all Catholic adoption services will come to an end.. a human disaster.
 
There are more than 77 million Catholics in this country. It takes an estimated 50 million Catholic votes to elect a president.
 
Think about this when you to go to the polls in 2016 and be united in replacing all Senators and Reps with those who will respect what the Catholic Church is doing and contributing to the American way of life, all Christians, and all Religions with perhaps the exception of Islam.
 
Mr. President, you said, "The USA is not a Christian Nation". You are wrong - we are a Christian Nation founded on Judeo-Christian values allowing all religions in America to worship and practice freely... something that Islam will never do.
 
Oh, by the way, on MUSLIM HERITAGE in America ....Have you ever been to a Muslim hospital, seen or heard of a Muslim charity, heard a Muslim orchestra, seen a Muslim band march in a parade, ever seen Muslims shaking hands with a Muslim Girl Scout, or ever seen a Muslim Candy Striper volunteering in a hospital? Just asking.
 

2016

Recently, I posted two entries and mysteriously, they are no longer viewable.  Maybe something I did or did not do; regardless, reminds me of my days of late.  2016 came in calmly enough, but also presented us with the challenge of radiation and chemo treatments for David.  I am hoping the cancer will resemble the entries... no longer viewable when testing time rolls around.  Caused by the HPV virus, the cancer at the base of his tongue has been removed as well as three lymph nodes in his neck. The care and compassion shown to us during this ordeal is commendable.  Initially, I was in doubt of how this would go, as I had witnessed the lack of it with my Mother and Father in their last days.  Thinking it may have been due to their age, I was concerned that David's 76 years would be a factor in the concern shown but I am happy to report the professionals at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Mo. have been exceptional in their relationship with both of us.  This brings us to the power of prayer.

Prayers have been instrumental as exceptionally supportive friends stepped up to do some of the daily driving into Springfield and drop by to visit and most of all the incredible sense of peace and confidence that surrounded us.  When we are able to put our problems in God's hands, amazing things happen.  David is healing at a surprising rate and while his energy level is low, he is optimistic and already planning his next project. 

Sometime back, I put my son on our church prayer list.  My prayer was specific, "please Father, put a person or persons in his path to help him find his way back from an extremely difficult situation."  As time has passed, I am happy to say a person appeared and he has been finding his way back ever since.  Again, it is not amazing as some may think.  For me it is as it should be.  The answer is not always what I thought I wanted, but it is always the best answer for the situation.  Again, hindsight is twenty-twenty! Life is short, a little help comes in the form of answered prayers....if you just ask.  

The mask is part of the radiation .....when finished, the mask goes home with the patient.  Courage Unmasked is a one of a kind show displaying the beauty of artistry when the mask is used as the foundation for a work of art.  From illness to health.....now visible.