A scene from my unSCRIPTed life

Many who are familiar with Tricia Goyer are aware she recently released her book My Life Unscripted. To kick off her blog tour, she has challenged those of us, who will be a part of the blog tour, to write a scene from our life to share on our blogs. So, though she will not be featured on my blog until Oct. 10. I have written the script from a scene in my teen years and am ready to share it.

May anyone who knows a teen take heart to the sensitive issues surrounding their life.

Fade In

Int. School Hallway – lined with lockers
Lunchtime – Establishing

The hallway is lined with TEENAGERS EATING LUNCH. Several are SITTING on the floor. Some are STANDING near lockers, TALKING about their morning classes, last night’s television programs, etc. A COUPLE is KISSING.

With her locker open, JENIJO DEE, 14, is HANGING UP the lightweight jacket she wore during her morning classes. PJ MARTIN, also 14, has his locker OPEN beside her. Upperclassman CARTER is nearby and RAY is WALKING toward the open lockers.

PJ – Your Dad deserved to die. He was a drunk. It’s no wonder he got drunk, since he had such a goody-goody for a daughter.

JENIJO – (growing angry) Watch what you say about my Dad! You never knew him, and you have no right!

Carter WALKS over to the twosome after having overheard the exchange.

CARTER – She’s right! Don’t talk about her Dad. He was a good man….(shakes his head) Like you would know! If you make her angry, you’re likely to experience a lot of pain as a result…Believe me!

PJ FACES Jenijo.

PJ – Your Dad was a loser. He took the right path…getting away from you!

Jenijo’s FACE GROWS RED WITH ANGER and her KNEE MAKES CONTACT with PJ’s GROIN. He BENDS OVER in pain.

CARTER – I told you, man….you deserve it.

Ray REACHES INTO Jenijo’s locker while all attention is focused on PJ. He GRABS a BLUE BOOK, known to be her diary and RUNS in the OPPOSITE DIRECTION. She TURNS, SPOTS the diary and CHASES Ray OUT THE DOORS at the end of the hallway, past the QUAD BUILDING next door, up a SMALL HILL toward the GYM, DOWN the stairs leading from the gym to the hallway and back into the building. Ray HANDS OFF the diary to a junior named TRE.
Tre OPENS the diary and begins to READ.

TRE - …I couldn’t find my underwear.

JENIJO – Give that back! You don’t know what you’re reading!

TRE – (shock registering on his face) What is this?

JENIJO – (crying) It’s my rape!

Tre CLOSES the diary, looking sad that he had chosen to read it. He HOLDS IT OUT to Jenijo.

RAY – Now we’ll call you “Diary!”

Jenijo WALKS back to her locker in tears.

Fade Out.

Teens can be incredibly cruel to one another, but I knew something no one else in this scene of my life did. In spite of all the mean-spirited behavior they dished out to me throughout my years of growing up with them, I knew I could take it all to God.

Yes, I was devastated at what had transpired. No, no one in that hallway knew the contents of the diary. It had been between God, a small group of friends from another town, my rapist and me. God KNEW and I KNEW.

He brought three compassionate upperclassmen to my aid after I had returned to my locker. They comforted me and helped me to hold my head up the remainder of the day.

Someone reported the incident with PJ, and he received a three-day suspension for “disrespecting the dead.”

God brought me through that day and many others, growing me into a person determined to always show compassion toward others. I became stronger in knowing He is there in my worst moments as well as in my best moments. And, I learned there are caring individuals in the world, even if I am unaware of who they might be, when the world around me may seem to have gone awry.

Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God. I will strenthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.- Isaiah 41:10 Living Bible

For more about Tricia's book, go to her website www.triciagoyer.com
Her blog can be accessed via a link at the bottom of this blog.

God bless you all!

Disobedience causes scare

Every parent faces the issue of telling a child not to do something, and the child disobeys.
Recently, disobedience led to an emergency room visit and x-rays.
My youngest child blatantly disregarded both my husband and myself in our instruction to NOT climb onto our garbage can.
The child was barefoot, as he prefers to be. We happened to be outside, watching the approach toward the green can that stands approximately four-feet tall.
Our response was to tell the young man, "Do not climb up there!"
We repeated our command several times, and he proceeded to do exactly as we had instructed him not to.
All is fine up to this point, and I approach the child in order to remove him and discipline him from the garbage can. Before I reach him, he jumps from the can to the uneven ground beneath him.
He complains at this point. His foot hurts, but he says he is okay.
This kid is tough, and he has apparently done this many times before, he let me know.
I administered discipline I had originally intended for the disobedience, receiving his complaint in return, and he resumed his activities of playing with the other children.
Problem taken care of, my husband and I return to the confines of the house.
Later, our son goes into the house and tells us his foot "really hurts."
I place an ice pack on it and give him a children's Tylenol.
The following morning, my husband informs me the foot is swollen, and he will not be going to daycare.
I figure, "This too shall pass."
After running over the different scenarios as to what diagnosis a doctor might have for that swollen foot, I decide I need to at least have the foot examined.
I take him to the local hospital after work and have the foot x-rayed in case any of those tiny little bones in his foot might have a break.
Children have growth plates in their feet, and I have been told that injury to a growth plate is very serious. And, in such a case, surgery is some times necessary.
Fortunately, the results of the x-ray did not show any breaks. The physician informed me that I did, however, make the right decision because the damage could have been very bad.
Another measure of being blessed is that bones in children's feet are very flexible.
So, my son was able to leave with instruction to give him Tylenol if the foot bothered him. It was just soft tissue damage and the foot will be tender for a while. But, otherwise he is fine.
What I am not fine about is the fact that I would have to go to such extremes just to ensure my son's antics don't cause him serious injury.
It is frustrating to be a parent.
But, the child's response to the whole matter would be cute if I weren't so upset with the incident. He said, "Mom and Dad, you were right. You are the smartest parents in the world."

Young boy stricken with cancer

ZILLAH - Every parent's dream for their child is a healthy life...the worst nightmare is a deadly illness.
Amy (Harris) and Jason Root are living that nightmare. She is a nurse for Toppenish Community Hospital, and he is a nuclear medical technician at Sunnyside Community Hospital.
The family's nightmare began when her son, Chase Morris, now 7-years-old, was first diagnosed with Osteogenic Sarcoma at the age of three.
A tumor was found on the right arm of Chase. His parents took him to Children's Hospital and the hospital removed his right humorous to extract the cancerous tumor. He endured a year of chemotherapy following the procedure.
Osteogenic Sarcoma, often known as Osteosarcoma, is the most frequent type of bone tumor commonly afflicting young people ages 15 to 25. It forms on the growing ends of the bones.
Amy said Chase seemed to be healthy after the chemotherapy, however they returned for a follow-up visit to Children's only to discover he had developed a new tumor in his right lung six months later.
"They removed a section of the lung with the tumor," she stated.
Again, the belief was that Chase would recover.
Another follow-up visit occurred eight months after the surgery. Another tumor was discovered. The tumor was discovered in Chase's left lung, according to Amy.
She said her young son was subjected to another surgery as a result of the discovery. "He had three more months of chemo," she added.
After a couple of years without any new tumors having been discovered, the family was breathing a sigh of relief.
This past summer, that relief was again met with a grim reality. "In July, we went for another check-up and another tumor was found," said Amy.
She said the tumor, located on the rib, was decidedly treated with experimental medications. "Chase spent a month at Children's and another month at home with the medication," Amy explained.
Over the course of time, Amy noted the tumor was not getting smaller. "I could feel it with my hand," she said.
Yet another surgery, this time to remove the rib affected, was scheduled. "He has had so many surgeries," said Amy.
She took Chase to Children's three and a half weeks ago to talk about the scheduled surgery.
"The tumor had grown to twice its size and three more tumors were found in his left lung," Amy cried.
The three tumors in Chase's lung are located near his airway, spine and blood vessels.
"Children's told me they felt surgery was no longer an option...We were told to get in touch with hospice," Amy said.
The current diagnosis is called Metastatic Osteosarcoma.
The family has found a cancer center in Los Angeles, Calif. that is willing to treat Chase. "They have helped a lot of people in similar circumstances," Amy said.
She said Chase has had a positive outlook through all he has had to endure. "There are days where he is tired or doesn't feel well because of the chemotherapy and medicine, but the center in California has given us hope," said Amy.
The other challenge of Chase's current condition is the amount of pain he experiences from the tumor in his rib. "Some times Motrin doesn't help and I have to give him Oxycodone," Amy explained.
She said he was in school for a short period of time, however the chemotherapy made him too tired, and the curiosity of his condition was distracting.
"Chase is doing really good," Amy assured.
Sunnyside Community Hospital's Malissa Garcia, who is helping with efforts to hold a fundraising yard sale to assist Chase in receiving treatment in California, said his diagnosis is terminal and the treatment he will be seeking is experimental, meaning insurance may not cover it.
"We don't care about the money as long as we can keep Chase," Amy said.
The hospital employees, however, want to help the family with the yard sale since the cost of treatment will be in excess of $600,000 and it will cost another $800 for the apartment Amy will be living in while Chase receives treatment.
"We're not ready for Hospice," said Amy.
The family will leave tomorrow (Thursday) to Los Angeles for Chase's treatment. "I have hope," Amy said.
The hospital's yard sale is to be held Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the corner of South 11th Street and East Edison Avenue.
Garcia can be contacted for more information or donations at 837-1760 or 509-832-0641.

Working on Noah's Ark

My youngest attends a very wonderful preschool, and each year the preschool has a fabulous float in a parade held in Sunnyside during Sunshine Days. This year's float was Noah's Ark. Here are a few pics of the float before its completion. I will try to get photos I took of the completed project added soon.

The Me I didn't know I was

Christina Berry, a friend of mine, posted her profile on her blog and I was curious...Hmmmm!



ESFJ - The "Supporter" Myers-Briggs Personality Types (Free Test)

ESFJs are social butterflies that value relationships, supporting and nurturing others. Never one to shy away from social events, they are often the host. They are great encouragers of teamwork. ESFJs are responsible, dutiful, observe traditions and follow rules. ESFJs have a deep concern for others and often end up as caretakers. They are sensitive to criticism and have a need to be appreciated for the good they do for others. ESFJs are understanding, generous, have a quick wit and a knack for composition and beautification.

Preferences

Extraverted
Sensing
Feeling
Judging

Temperament
SJ (Protector)

ESFJ Population
Total: 10%
Male: 6%
Female: 14%

Primary Function
Extraverted Feeling

Secondary Function
Introverted Sensing

Tertiary Function
Extraverted Intuition

Least Function
Introverted Thinking


About the ESFJ Expert Quotes & Links

"Guardians of birthdays, holidays and celebrations, ESFJs are entertainers. They enjoy and joyfully observe traditions and are liberal in giving, especially where custom prescribes."
- ESFJ Profile (TypeLogic)

"ESFJs are people persons - they love people. They are warmly interested in others. They use their Sensing and Judging characteristics to gather specific, detailed information about others, and turn this information into supportive judgments. They want to like people, and have a special skill at bringing out the best in others. They are extremely good at reading others, and understanding their point of view. The ESFJ's strong desire to be liked and for everything to be pleasant makes them highly supportive of others."
- Portrait of an ESFJ (The Personality Page)

"...values relationships and families over intellectual pursuits, group oriented, follows the rules..."
- Jung Type Descriptions (ESFJ) (similarminds.com) "...take it upon themselves to arrange for the health and welfare of those in their care, but they are also the most sociable of all the SJs, and thus are the great nurturers of established institutions such as schools, businesses, churches, social clubs, and civic groups."
- The Portrait of the Provider Guardian (Keirsey)

"At work, ESFJs contribute their ability to cooperate with others and to complete tasks in a timely and accurate way. They respect rules and authority, and handle daily operations efficiently. They tend to be well informed and up-to-date on organizational actions that matter to people. They do what they can to make sure that personal relationships are running smoothly. Because they pay close attention to people's needs and wants, they are often involved in work activities that meet people's practical, day-to-day desires."
- ESFJ - The Helper (Lifexplore)





Famous ESFJs

Real ESFJ People

Danny Glover - actor
Desi Arnaz - actor, comedian, musician
Dixie Carter - actress
Don Knotts - comedian
Elvis Stojko - Canadian figure skater
Jack Benny - comedian, actor
John Connally - politician
Mary Tyler Moore - actress, comedian
Nancy Kerrigan - Olympic figure skater
Sally Field - actress
Sally Struthers - actress
Steve Spurrier - football player
Terry Bradshaw - football player
William McKinley - American President


Fictional ESFJs (Characters)

Donald Duck - Disney cartoon character
George Babbitt - Babbit (Sinclair Lewis)
Hoss Cartwright - Bonanza
Leonard "Bones" McCoy - Star Trek
Monica Gellar - Friends
Nurse Haleh Adams - ER
Rabbit - Winnie the Pooh





ESFJ Career Matches

ESFJs are often happy with the following jobs which tend to match well with the Supporter/Protector personality.

Accountant
Administrative Assistant
Administrator
Bookkeeper
Child Care
Church Worker
Counselor
Dental Assistant
Family Doctor
Homemaker
Human Resources
Marketer
Nurse
Office Manager
Organization Leader
Radiological Technologist
Receptionist
Researcher
Social Worker
Speech Pathologist
Teacher
Trainer

What kind of vacation is this?

by Jennie McGhan
Each year I have a tendency to try and schedule my vacation at the wrong time.
There have been years where I have tried to schedule early and someone else on staff has already picked the same dates as I have chosen.
Other years, I found myself busy and didn't want to overburden my fellow employees with a special section or some pending deadline so I held off as long as I could possibly see fit. My mistake. By doing so, I landed myself into an impossible situation.
Another co-worker had a baby that year and her delivery coincided with the dates I had chosen for vacation. Fortunately, the "powers that be" saw my misfortune and granted me an extension that year.
There have been other years such as this year that have given me much desire to have a "re-do." I ended up ill during my vacation. Ugh!
This has happened a couple of times to me, and it stinks. What kind of vacation could I possibly have if I am not feeling well? That is why we have "sick days."
Though I had nothing special planned, I would have liked to have felt well enough to get out of bed. Instead, I lingered as long as possible each day that I was nauseous, trying to consume fluids and act as though I am half-human.
I felt fine the first couple of days I was on vacation and spent some much-needed time with my husband. I delivered two of my offspring to their respective classrooms on the first day of school and was asked to give a presentation to fifth graders on the fourth day.
I didn't get that housework I needed done. I did accomplish some reading and tended to a couple of other neglected tasks.
But, by Friday, I couldn't fake my way through the "yucky feeling" I had in my tummy. I wanted some TLC and no one could provide it.
The kids were at school most of the day, one was at his daycare after he insisted he would miss his friends if he didn't go and my dear husband was trying to catch some sleep since my daytime is his nighttime.
So, do I really want to take vacations? Yes. Unfortunately, I dread the thought that misfortune may strike again?after all, I have five more days to consider before January.

Nice Matters...Really?

I've just been given the "Nice Matters Award" by my friend Christine H.

"This award is for those bloggers who are nice people as well as good friends, provide inspiration to others and are a positive influence on the blogging world. Once you’ve been awarded please pass it on to seven others whom you feel are deserving.”

I appreciate all the wonderful things Christine has said about me and I hope to honor that by continuing in my efforts to be uplifting. I don't always have much time to post on my blog. However, I intend to spend more time and devotion on my "me time," which includes my blog in the near future. God has not always said "yes" to my plans and that is why I say "I intend." I just hope that those who do visit my blogs are touched by my words in some way and God is glorified in everything that I do. May God Bless each person who has been so kind to me since my journey began. :)

I would like to pass this along to my friend Christina at Christina Berry: Posting with Purpose. http://authorchristinaberry.blogspot.com/.

She has been very kind and sincere with me, offering me a little laughter amidst some tiresome days. Thank you, Christina, "Nice Matters."