Is there a Dentist in the house?!

Calling a Dentist in Dallas!

Or someone to may sponsor dental work

Here is Karen’s story (not real name). She tells her story so well, I’m going to let her use her own words to share her story with you.

My husband and I are young couple of 24, which we recently got married, moved from Los Angeles to Dallas, and started Dallas seminary all within the last year and a half. For a while, I was working as a licensed hair stylist to help support our family while my husband attends grad school full-time, but once we got pregnant that all changed. I happened to be one of those women in the 2% that have severe illness during the first four months of pregnancy. So needless to say, I was unable to work completely and was on bed rest for 3 of those 4 months due to the amount of medication I had to stay on in order to eat or drink anything. So my husband was pulling quadruple duty taking care of me, the house, school, work to keep an income in our home.

Since then, my symptoms have eased up to where I am not constantly sick, but at the same time, still not consistently well enough to go out and get a job. So being a self-employed cosmetologist, I do what I can every now and then to add a little income so we can pay our bills. My husband is a musician at two churches, so we are both self employed workers that do not receive any insurance. He makes just enough to pay rent, some groceries, gas, and some utilities. And we both have cars that are more than ten years old that are in constant need of repair, an expense which does not fit in our budget. So in order to make sure the baby would be cared for, we got Medicaid to cover the pregnancy and so that I could receive decent medical care in a clinic. We cannot afford insurance for ourselves, and I have had serious dental needs for a while. Before we were married, my parents insurance covered some of my dental needs, but we never got to finish all the work, and so now my teeth are going downhill again, which I hear can affect my overall health, and that concerns me. I am searching for a Dentist that will help me fix my teeth or someone who will offer to pay all/part of some work directly to a Dentist that I can see.  In return, I can offer some services.

Like I said before, I am a licensed cosmetologist, skilled in hair care, nail care, and make up. I do not necessarily have all the tools and equipment that a shop has or the mobility and capability that I had before pregnancy, but this is definitely a skill set that I can use to help someone else. Or if there is anything else, for that matter that can give or know of that someone else can be helped by, I would like to help in whatever way I can.

If you are a Dentist in the Dallas, TX area or someone that understands the importance of healthy teeth and want to send payment to a Dentist she can see, please comment or leave an email for me.  This couple is working hard in ministry life and Karen is willing to serve others in need.

Little Zackary’s wish will cost you less than a dollar! Great way for your children to give!

Zackary’s story (real name)

 

Seven year old Zackary would like one thing to brighten his day!  He would like to get something in the mail from someone.  So, for the cost of a stamp, you can help brighten this little boy’s day. 

Zackary and his family were escorted back in January to Disney World, compliments of Make a Wish Foundation.  You see, Zackary has a life threatening disease called Neurofibromatosis. (NF2)  This disease generally causes tumors on nerves in every part of the body and makes him suffer from neural tissue damage.  Zackary currently has over 60 tumors.

 Here is a little information about Neurofibromatosis:(http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1112001-overview)

 

            Neurofibromatosis is an autosomal dominant disorder that affects the bone, the nervous system, soft tissue, and the skin. At least 8 different clinical phenotypes of neurofibromatosis have been identified and are linked to at least 2 genetic disorders. Clinical manifestations increase over time. Neurologic problems and malignancy development may supervene.

 

1. http://www.neurologychannel.com/neurofibromatosis/index.shtml  

            Type 2neurofibromatosis results from mutation (or rarely, deletion) of the NF2 gene and is transmitted on chromosome 22. In this type, tumors form in the nervous system, usually within the skull (intracranial tumors) and spinal canal (intraspinal tumors). Tumors on the eighth cranial nerve (vestibulocochlear nerve), which are sometimes referred to as acoustic neuromas, are most common. This type causes hearing loss and loss of sense of balance (equilibrium), usually during the late teens or early 20s. These tumors may become cancerous.

Zackary lives with his dad & mom.  He has a brother and two sisters.  Mom is Zackary’s primary caregiver and says that Zackary loves getting mail.  Her wish is that people will shower him with love by sending him a card.   

   

One thing about Zackary that I have learned is that he, EVEN with the NF2 he is a giver.  He is a part of his church group called “Royal Ambassadors” and was part of the group that raised over $5,000 for “heat from the heart” where they donated the money to make sure people had heat over the winter. 

If you REALLY want to make Zackary smile, make sure your card has Buzz Lightyear on it! That was his favorite character at Disney! 

Leave a comment or email me and I’ll happily send their address to mail your card.  My 5 year old is making his card for Zackary tomorrow and sending it in the mail.  What a great way to allow your children to do something wonderful for another child!  It’s so simple, cost VERY little and yet, will do so much for this little boy! 

Hey Moms…Patsy is the primary care giver for Zackary AND his dad.  Both have NF2.  I can not know the energy and time it takes to balance the entire family’s needs, wants and wishes each day.  Why not drop a card in the mail to support her, as well.  I’m sure she could use a smile, also! 

To see the article written about this family going with the Make a Wish Foundation to Disney, click here:

http://www.thetimesnews.com/articles/zackary-22054-scott-wish.html

Brenda’s Story & Needs

Brenda’s Story (not her real name)

 Brenda’s life is busy.   She has 4 children!  If that didn’t make life busy enough, all four children have disabilities and require her constant attention.  Brenda also is a full time student (on line) to learn medical coding and get a billing degree so she can continue to work from home. 

Her oldest is 8 and is so excited to learn to read!  She has overcome many disabilities such as being born with hip dysphasia and a lazy eye.  She was in a body cast for the first 6 months of her life.  Since, she’s had three eye surgeries, has tubes and hearing aids in her ears.

 The 7 year old has been in the family a year, today.  She has a speech disability and is getting help.  Her mother says she is a wonderful, happy child now that she is in a safe home… 

 The 6 year old is all boy!  He also has learned to read.  He has asthma and needs open communication from his doctors to make sure he stays healthy.

 Last, but certainly not least, is the 5 year old.  He has a development issues and stays in contact with medical services for everything that can help him grow up healthy.   

 Life took a harsh turn when her fiancée was laid off from work 6 months ago.  He is out looking for work everyday, but has yet been able to find anything.  He’s never been able to receive any unemployment compensation which has put a huge strain on the family.  He is an electrician by trade.  He’s also talented in fixing computers and cars.  He is able to accept work in Clayton, Smithfield , Garner, and Raleigh, Cary  NC or surrounding areas.  He will be happy to accept p/t, one time/side work or full time work.  You can leave a comment if you have some work or know someone that does. 

 With the hardship of a lost job, Brenda and her fiancée have been trying to sell everything they can on craigslist and has already pawned everything possible to make sure the children were provided for during this crunch time.

 Money has become scarce and Brenda can’t keep up with the month to month bills, such as the phone bill.  She says, “We don’t go anywhere that we don’t need to so we can conserve money and are at the point children are in need.”

 It’s not a luxury for Brenda to keep a phone due to her children’s medical condition.  It’s a dire need to keep in touch with the children’s doctors.  This is the most important line of communication for Brenda and the children’s doctors.  The phone may be cut off tomorrow.  The total bill (including the past months not paid) is $277.26.  She has a cell phone (pre-paid) and a home phone.  This covers both phones which are about to be turned off.  The home phone covers her Internet Service that she needs to keep on for class. 

 If you feel that you can help with the phone bill (or even donate a part of it), leave a comment or email me.  I will find out the account # and the money will go directly to the phone companies. 

 The family also needs gas cards to get back and forth to the doctors.  If you are interested in donating a gas card, email me or comment.  I will give you an address to get it to the family.  I personally will make sure they get the cards.  I will also encourage the family to comment as they receive anything from this blog, so that the giver KNOWS the gift was received. 

 Hopefully, this family can find relief with a job!  That is the long term answer to securing this family’s financial situation.  If you know a place hiring that needs Brenda’s fiancée’s talents, please feel free to leave a comment or get in touch with me. 

Together, we can make a difference.  If everyone pitched in a small amount of money, we’d be able to help this family catch up on the phone bill, have some gas to put in their vehicle and even better, maybe someone out there is looking for a man with the fiancees talents and offer him a full time position.

Time to focus!

It’s time to get back to the focus of this blog… Inspired by another!  My goal with this blog site is to help others and inspire others and I will start with that with new stories about people. 

Some of these people are struggling and need help in some way.  I will tell their stories and send out their needs to my readers.  If you are a person who wants to help another – inspire another-  and you find a chance to help someone on my site, please comment and let me know or email me.  I will figure out the correct way to get that help to the person in need. 

Maybe you are asking… What are YOU getting out of this?  Right now, nothing (financially).  One day, I would like to figure out how to feed my own family and continue to help people as a full time job.  Right now, it’s a ‘hobby’  that feeds my soul.  I feel fruitful and like my life counts for something more than just driving back and forth to a job.  There is so much more that we can do and I want to be a part of the giving!  A go-giver, so to speak.

There are a few rules to the people who ask for help or want me to write their story. 

• The person I’m writing about can tell about their hardship and needs.
• They need to tell what they are doing to help themselves.
• They need to give back/forward in any way they can to help someone else and commit to helping another. I know for a fact that no one is so bad off that they can’t share a talent or something they have to help out someone else.
• Cash is not given to the person from this site.  If money is needed to pay a bill (for example), it will go directly into the account. 
• The person’s needs are limited to once per need.  (For example, I will NOT post another story about the same person asking for money for electricity to the same account number.) 

I do not know these people personally and in some instances, I will NOT be able to verify that everything I am told is 100% true.   At some point, I would like to be able to verify all information so that we all know that the effort to help is for a good reason.  I understand we are reluctant to help another because of all the scams going on.  It ruins it for those in real need.  That is why cash will not be given to anyone. 

So, my goal is to build a reader list of givers!  I want to offer givers to have the chance to give to those in need.  You read the stories.  You decide who to give to and help.  If you need more information, ask.  If you have any comments or questions about any story, feel free to comment or email. 

So, on with the first story!  (OH… and always check the comments for results.  I will follow up each time I have a match of a giver/helper.  I will also follow up with the person to find out when the needs are met.)

Could this be the real deal?

I just tried this new ‘at home’ business.  I could not find anything negative about it, it’s totally affordable, and it looks like there is a lot of potential for this one to work. 

Take a look at this link:  http://www.4×1fortune.com/index2.php?id=2674 and see for yourself. 

1.  It cost $11.00 ONLY ONE TIME  to do this business.

2.  You can continue into 4 levels.

3.  The people above and BELOW you will add to your income.  So, you aren’t doing it all alone.

4.  Gives you a chance to ‘pay it forward’ and help others get started.

5.  They offer free training on how to make this happen.

If you’ve done this before, please comment and let me know what you think.  If you haven’t, take my invitation and let’s give it a try!  I’ve turned down a lot of home businesses and have been staying up really late at night studying them!  This one is the best that I’ve come up with that doesn’t cost so much to get started.

I’ll keep you posted.  I know many people have to ’see to believe’ and I’ll be happy to be the ‘guinea pig’ here and let you know how it turns out!

My “Perfect Job” is a Scam!

I placed an ad on www.craigslist.com, looking to work from home.   I’ve gotten a few responses and this one.

I don’t think of this as an ‘inspiring” blog, but if I can help someone else that gets this job offer not to get involved, then this blog is worth the time it takes to write it.

My offer came from Chad Gaven from the UK.  He writes me (and I quote- grammar mistakes and all):

Hello good day am Chad Gaven from Md.textile am looking for an assistance who will be able to help me get my job updated in the state i am in UK now and i gues i will stay in UK for about 3 month before coming back to the state so i will want you to assiste me in printing out check to our client in the state  i do print check to our client and post to each of there address through ups carier or FeDex pls if you have a printer and you think you will be able to do this job kindly reply and immediately add me to your yahoo IM messanger for easier comunication chadgaven@yahoo.com you will be earning more than $1000 Monthly.

The red flag is already waiving madly in my face,  but I want to be sure.  I don’t want to turn down a good paying “stay at home” job.  So, I respond with a few more questions.  (and I quote myself, bad grammar and all).

can you tell me more about this?  What is the full name of the company?  What is it that you are wanting me to do?  Print out checks?  I do have a printer.  Tell me more of what my job description is exactly and how it will be that I will earn $1,000 or more a month.

He quickly responds with (his words exactly). He seem to forget to answer my questions about the name of the Company, but does detail my ‘job description’ a little more.  Note the spelling of a Hiring Employee that can write Company checks!  (again in his own writing).

thanks for your interest…. the job is all partime job and never distob you not to do other busines of yours
1. is all about printing of necesary notice to all our client in the state
2. you will be printing checks to our client for there payment weekly
3. and you will get it sent to them through UPS carier or fedex to each of there address
4. the company will provide you their Bank Account details to download on your printer to print out checks from and ups account which you will use for the internet label and they will order for envelop to get it dispach to each of our client addreses
All you needed for the job to start is
1. you will need to get and download versal check 2008 software to your printer
2. you will need to order for check paper
After this have been done you will be train how to get work started and you will be provided all necessary things then you get this done once in a week depends how many client you will get check printed to and you will be paid through western union or cash monthly for your work well done
i will be looking forward to hear from you if you are realy willing to do business with us.

Ok.  I didn’t respond to this and he quickly adds another email…. Here we go with the personal information. 

and also we will like to know your full name and address phone number for better record to keep asap.

Before I enter into any more conversation with my new pal Chad, I began doing a little research about buying the software and this type of check writing.  Very quickly I found an article from Dateline “Promises, promises:  Work from home scams.” After reading it, it sounds almost identical to my above emails.  The ‘rest of the story’ is played out by unsuspecting folks, like myself,  just looking for some work during these hard times.  See the link:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29903354/page/2/

and the videos:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/30070044#30070176.

So this is one job I won’t be taking and I’m very happy to have the internet to research things like this before I make a move.  Please be very careful out there.   I know there are many people, like me, searching hard for good jobs – at home.  Don’t make your life worse than it is with scams like this one.

Let’s send a student to college! You with me?

I just finished the movie, “Freedom Writers” starring Hilary Swank.  (PG-13).  I precariously picked this movie, really not knowing what to expect at all.   I was touched that this movie was based on a true story which makes me feel my time was well spent watching this movie.  

The movie stars Hilary Swank as a young teacher who inspires her ‘at-risk’ students by keeping a journal or diary of their daily thoughts as they read works such as “The Diary of Anne Frank”.  Their combined works become known as “The Freedom Writers Diary”. 

This movie goes much deeper than just sitting back to enjoy  a movie.   A movement called, “The Freedom Writers Foundation” began in 1996.

The Freedom Writers Foundation is a nonprofit organization that impacts communities by decreasing high school dropout rates utilizing the Freedom Writers methods. But like any nonprofit organization, its heart only beats when people like you get involved. There’s more than one way to help. From donations to sponsorships, your support will help teachers engage and inspire their students to have a vested interest in the classroom and their community. 

 

Information on the foundation and the works of “The Freedom Writers” can be found at http://www.freedomwritersfoundation.org/site/c.kqIXL2PFJtH/b.2300105/k.A517/Mission_Statement.htm

The foundation gives opportunity for an individual or businesses can sponsor a teacher or a student.  With a donation, a student can attend college or a teacher can be trained by the Freedom Writers Institution.  A donation can also supply books to an entire classroom. 

So, I have a dream.  Let’s send a kid to college!  What do you think?  I’m searching more information about how to do this and if I can find out WHICH student we’d be sending to college.  It would be nice to know a little about the person. 

Let me know if you’d be willing to help send a kid to college?  Even if every reader here gave $5.00, we’d already have enough.  If I get enough responses and a name of a student, I will update where and how to send the money.  I’ll collect checks made out to the Foundation and send them in collectively when we reach the goal.  Together, with our small donation, we can send one deserving student to college.  The money will be invested in a future, an education of knowledge.  This money will go toward taking a kid off the street  and instead of being a burden to the community, now giving BACK to their community.  I’d say that is money well spent!  Anyone?  Care to join me? 

I’ll keep you posted on details and how this dream can come a reality!  Let me know what you are willing to do to make this dream come real for one deserving student.

The Power of a Smile

The Power of a Smile!   

If the most powerful weapon is our tongue, maybe the most powerful defense…is our smile. 

 

As I think back in my past, there are quite a few times that a person’s smile made a difference in my life.   There is something about a smile that is hard to keep from responding to.  For example; when I am rushing through the store to grab one thing and my 5 year old is bouncing off the walls, I can feel my stress level defining that horrible wrinkle that I hate on my forehead which makes a frown appear on my face.  Then it happens.  A grandmother or another mom with a small child will smile at me, either out of empathy for me or just smiling because ‘it’s not happening to them’.  (isn’t it funny how we moms can smile at someone else that has a wild child, but can’t find that smile when it is OUR child?).   When they smile at me, I can’t help but smile back and think, “OK, he could be worse!”.

The day the twin towers crashed down was the day I separated with my husband.  With everything going on in the world and going on in my personal life, it was a very depressing time for me.  I was at work, and my “X” had just paid me another visit to make the situation even more stressful and I was feeling really gloomy and ready to give up. 

A few minutes later, a man walked through the door.  I hadn’t opened the doors for business yet, but he walked through.  He was a huge, muscle man with a clean shaved bald head.  He wore cowboy boots and had a huge belt-buckle.  I figured he had to be a bouncer, professional wrestler or a police officer!  At first glance, he scared me because I didn’t know him and I was alone in this building.  I didn’t know why he came through the door.  I looked at him and he had the biggest smile on his face that I have ever seen.  I wondered if he thought I was a movie star or someone important because he was smiling as if he just met someone famous and like I really mattered.  His smile calmed all my fears and I came out from behind my desk to shake his hand and introduce myself to him.  I couldn’t keep the smile off MY face as I spoke with him.  As depressed and stressed out as I had been a moment before, as he smiled, I couldn’t do anything but smile back.  I even felt a little silly because I couldn’t get my smile OFF my face.

John had just come by because he was new in town and had just opened a martial arts center near the place where I was working.  After he left, his smile stayed on my mind and I spent the rest of the day smiling when his smile appeared in my mind.  That has been years and years ago, but even now I can still see his huge smile on his face and it makes me smile.  That’s the power of a smile! 

Back in 1993, I was keeping a small child that came to visit.  He stayed with my family for about 6 months or so.  (this is another blog story), and I was very attached to this little guy.  When he had to leave, I became physically sick and was overcome with sadness.  I went to the doctor because my throat was swollen and I had trouble eating, drinking and sometimes breathing.  I’d cry at the drop of a hat and I felt very alone even though I had my own children.  This went on for about two months and the doctors kept telling me that nothing was wrong with me.  I had just left the doctors office and went to get a milk shake at Hardees in town.  I decided to go in and just sit down and drink it.  A man came up to me and asked me if I went to his high school.  His smile raced my memories back to high school:

     It was Valentines Day and the Men’s Ensemble was singing tel-e-grams for a fund raiser.  Interrupting my typing class, this handsome senior with a winged baseball cap, knelt on one knee and took my hand.  He sang, in a wonderful voice, “You’ve Lost That Loving feeling” while my classmates jumped around laughing hysterically at me. 

Here was that smiling face right in front of me.  Right away I knew who he was even though we were many towns from where we went to school.  His smile (and the memories) brought a smile to my face.  It was the first smile I had made in the last two months. We sat and talked about what 20 years had done to both of us and I left with a milkshake mustache and a smile on my face!  That very day, my throat cleared up and I was able to start eating again without pain. 

Another 6 years have past since I saw Rob at Hardees.  We crossed paths again on myspace and I was given the opportunity to share with him the power his smile had on me.  Unknown to me, Rob was going through a very hard time of his own and he said it was MY smile that got him through.  Wow!  The power of a smile! 

  Smiling is so powerful, yet simple.  It can be so simple that we simply forget the power it can bring.  Each of us has the power to melt a little stress in another person.  It can bring joy and happiness to each person without costing a penny.  Your smile may be the one thing that kept a stranger from suicide.    That’s power! 

A smile can turn around depression, as in my case.  It can possibly lower the stress level of a parent about to snap.  So, technically, a smile has the power to save a life, and spare another abuse from a stressed out partner or parent.  A smile can change your mood which ripples out into the world.  Your smile = making another smile = making another smile… you get the picture!  Speaking of picture, next time someone is taking yours, remember to shout “SMILE!”  and then hang on to that smile the rest of the day! 

By the way, you do not have to have the most beautiful smile in the world to get this same reaction from others.  It doesn’t matter if your teeth aren’t pearly white or straight.  It really doesn’t even matter if you have teeth or not!  A smile is unique to each person and that’s exactly what makes it so special!  So, before you use that weapon of destruction (the tongue), keep it inside and flash your power of defense first.  You may find, that you never need to use that tongue again as a weapon! 

Do you have any stories about how someone’s smile made a difference in your life?  I’d love to read about them here.  Just leave a comment and include your story!   

What if…?

This blog is dedicated to my 5 year old who loves this “game”.  It’s called, WHAT IF…?   For him, ‘what if…?’ began with things like:

What if the bridge breaks when we go over it?

What if I get sick while I’m taking nap at school?

What if you die and I can’t figure out how to call Grandma to come get me?

We’ve changed this ‘what if…?’ into a game to think a little lighter and more positive than our ‘what if worries’.  If I hear a ‘what if…?’ that is negative, we think of five positive ‘what if’s’.  This usually results in a lot of laughter and silly ideas!

What if we woke up and didn’t have to go to school tomorrow and spent the whole day at the lake?

What if I speak to everyone I see today and they smile?

What if everyone in the whole world planted a fruit tree today?

What if everyone at school didn’t hit or yell at anyone today?

What if every person picked up a piece of trash and recycled it today?

You get the idea.  So, let’s continue the ‘what if…?’ game and add some positive thoughts to this blog.  Feel free to add one or a hundred!  I’m looking forward to your thoughts and ideas. 

Don’t let those bugs BUG you.

I don’t think the pest control companies are going to like this blog, but those who do not like to waste money will appreciate it very much.

Not long ago, I moved into another place.  When I got here, it was roach infested.  I hate to see roaches in my house. 

I first bought three boxes of bomb sprays and set those off in the house.  It killed a few roaches, but they were still running around in the day and evening (and probably mostly at night). 

So, I bought another round of bomb sprays and the same thing happened.  With those two rounds of bombs, I spent nearly $50.00. 

Since that didn’t work, someone told me about “Home Defense Max” and I bought that.  I think it was around $12-14.  I sprayed it as instructed and the roaches were running right through it.  I think I could hear them laughing as they climbed the walls.  Only if I sprayed them directly until they drowned, would they die with the spray.

Finally, I tried an old fashion trick that I didn’t believe would work at all, but at this point, I was willing to give anything a try.  I bought a bottle of $2.25 Boric Acid which is the least toxic product that I’ve put in the house so far. 

I laced the corners and back-splashes with a white powder.  Before I even finished, I saw a roach walking through it.  It was as if he came out to inspect what was going on.  His antennas were wildly flipping back and forth.  I had a very hard time letting him move on, knowing that he’d take it back to his little home and spread my love.  That was the very last roach I have ever seen. PERIOD. 

I can’t believe that Boric Acid works so well on roaches.  If you have an infestation or just a small problem with the occasional roach, you have got to try this before buying all those other ’so called’ roach killers.  At least give it a try before calling in an expensive pest control company.  I have used pest control on rental properties, but never again.  I will go in with my own ‘pest control’, a simple bottle of boric acid and take care of them myself. 

You can find Boric Acid in the pest control area (usually on the very bottom shelf), or in the laundry area “20 Mule Team Borax” or even at the Dollar Stores. 

Let me know what you think after you give this a try.  I’d love to hear your feedback!

Oh, and just for kicks… I will leave you with one more little tip.  Take those dryer sheets out of the laundry room and hang one on your belt loop to keep mosquitoes away.  Since I do not have a screen door, I hang two at the top of the doorway and it keeps them from entering the house. 

I tested this out with a wasp that was determined to stay in my bathroom.  He was flying around the vent for hours and would not leave.  I took a sheet and hung it on the bathroom mirror which was not TOO far from where he was flying around.  While I was washing dishes, I noticed the wasp had left the bathroom and was flipped over on his back on the countertop in the kitchen.  I was once again amazed at something that cost SO little does a better job than some of those expensive sprays.  And you’ve got to admit, they do smell better than some of the bug sprays out there! 

Do you have any tips for readers out there?  Something that you can testify that works?  Please take a moment and share it with us.  With the scare of all the disceases that pest carry (not to mention the new scare with the flu),  we all need ideas that will help keep us healthy.