#Childcare in Brown Deer | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

artemis-potnia-theron · 5 months ago

Note

Hi 💙

I would like to worship Artemis, i've looking and investigate about hellenic polytheism and i have a special bond with the Delian triad (Artemis, Apollon and Leto), i love them, but i'm new in this and i want to start first with Artemis...

How i could start? How do you begin with her? I don't know how to start and what i have to do... Could you help me? I see how is your relationship with her and i love it ✨

Khaire! 🫂

So excited to hear about your interest in the trio!! They all hold very special places in my heart, so I love to hear when other people find them as well!

However, although I consider Apollo(n) to be my spiritual father and Leto to be my spiritual grandmother, the relationship I have with Artemis is an intersection of mother, sister, best friend, love of my life, spiritual mistress, queen, ect...so I will be approaching this from a more Artemis focused perspective lol. Hope that's okay!!

First, I would strongly recommend reading She Who Hunts: Artemis: The Goddess Who Changed the World by Carla Ionescu for a really solid, comprehensive overview of her worship. Understanding her history and domains can be very helpful in understanding Artemis as a goddess. Apollo(n) and Leto are featured in it, but mostly in relation to her.

Theoi.com is a good overall resource, but I would recommend sticking to 'scholarly' or peer-reviewed sources as much as possible when trying to get historical information about her cults, worship, and associated religious practices. The same goes for Apollo(n) and Leto.

In terms of personal practice stuff, it took me years to really forge the connection and relationship I have with her how. She can be prickly in certain ways. Her energy is as intense and wild as anything I've ever experienced. Early on, it felt like getting close to a roaming wolf or a hunting lioness. But once you bridge that gap, she's as protective and loves with as much ferocity as a mother bear. Apollo(n) and Leto were a bit less distant, even in the early days - at least for me. So take your time. Don't rush things with any of them, but most specifically not with Artemis lol.

In terms of activities/stuff she likes, I can list some random, everyday ways I connect with her!

- Being out in the moonlight, walking with the nightroaming critters 🌙🦇

- Going on nature walks, hikes, or just sitting outside! Touching grass really works haha

- Work on healing your 'inner child' through shadow work, but mostly importantly through therapy if it's accessible

- Taking care of and/or spending time with animals

- Reading her myths

- 'Ecstatic' dance. She shares a connection with The Mousai (The Muses) and to singing and music in general - a domain she shares with her brother

- Anything involved in childcare and/or childbirth

- Practicing archery

- Standing up for yourself

- Appericating solitude/independence

- Listening to folk music, lol. She loves The Amazing Devil

- Of course, connecting with others close to her helps! Apollo(n) and Leto are the most obvious ones, but she also has close ties to Hekate, Kybele, Dionysus, Persephone, Demeter, Zeus, Athene, Pan, and many more both inside and outside of her 'main' pantheon.

- In terms of symbols and stuff I've found she likes for her altars, she loves deer, bear, dog, fish, boar, and wolf imagery in particular. I associate green, brown, grey, blue, and purple with her. She's loves amethyst. And of course she loves any nature-related offerings!

- I also love connecting everyday stuff with her - albeit in a UPG kind of way lol. I associate the movies Beasts of the Southern Wild and Princess Mononoke with her as well as A Children's Bible by Lydia Millet and We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shriely Jackson and that's all super UPG! Personalize your practice to you, your life, and your beliefs.

What matters most is fostering a relationship with a good foundation. As cliche as it sounds, it really can be about the journey rather than the destination when it comes to deity work. Enjoy yourself, be respectful, decide what you believe, and listen to the lessons she has to teach you. The rest will come naturally :)

Don't hesitate to let me know if you have any other questions! May Artemis' arrow guide you always.

- Taylor 🌙🏹🦌

#helpol #deity work #deity worship #artemis devotee #artemis #artemis deity #artemis devotion #artemis worship

50 notes · View notes

goldenrat33 · 12 days ago

Text

untitled clyde oneshot

SCC backstory 1

It wasn't often he visited home. Why would he? All he cared for was taking pretty Jenny out on dates now and then - he'd much rather spend time with that woman than the little parasite that'd follow her around like a leech she couldn't shake to the two of them. Jenny'd rather spend time with her new, loaded, scruffy boyfriend than that pest of a seven-year-old, too. Hell, have it her way, she would've thrown him away the same way she threw away her ex-husband. But it's all too late now, and it's not like she minds the surplus of money she gets from that childcare program. At least he was good for something, right?

Either way, when her boyfriend eventually came over, it's not like he ever got to leave his room. And being a broken family of two living through the 1930s, he didn't have much more to entertain himself than the collection of raindrops at the windowsill, pouring down one by one to create such a divine, effortlessly beautiful puddle. At least, that's how his optimistic, childish brain viewed it. If you'd ask Jenny, she'd tell you quite the opposite - complaining about her rickety floorboards and too-loose windows that the water of every spring shower never failed to seep through. In his mind, it was a blessing. Every time the rain ended and the spring heat cast over their little three-room house shed, it meant the same black-and-brown furred, calico cat limp on over to nibble on the food he always played out for her. It always came over in the same unkempt style, hair soaked and sticking out in a multitude of different directions. He didn't mind. Every time she came to him like this, injured and unfed, he'd sneak her the leftovers of his reheated yet moist meal and run his fingers through her fur repeatedly until it was all straightened out and neat. Every other week, she'd come back in this same filthy, weak condition, and every other week, he'd make sure she was all cleansed and full.

The cat didn't have a name, a collar, and, obviously, no home, being a stray. And as much as he loved being open and honest with his oh-so-'loving' mother, he knew she'd probably shoot the poor thing if she ever found out about it. She'd reload the gun meant for a deer-hunting season and that'd be that. So he was forced to keep it a secret; even his dumb, foolish, too-trusting child-brain knew that much. And, if the cat ever came back with rabies, he might decide to die along with it because he loved that stray as if it were his own.

So, as the rain fell, he spent every last drop thinking about the precious furball. He had a broad smile, the same stupid smile he'd always worn.

That must have been why he held his gentle, subtle frown when it didn't show up the day after rainy weather. Nor did it come back the next day, or any day after that - in his head, the cat got rescued by a family that'd love her in ways he couldn't, one with more money, better food, and shelter. That's all he wanted for her - he wished it would've spared him a goodbye so he could hug it one last time.

He wasn't the type of kid to cry, being the happy-go-lucky, optimistic child he was. But he couldn't help himself, back pressed against his door and knees held up to his stomach as he listened into his mother's conversation with her new boyfriend in the living room, complaining about this rodent that 'attacked' her when she was walking back home. He was young but mature enough to understand the implications of her words.

#oc #oc writing #oneshot #angst

4 notes · View notes

brokenjardaantech · 4 years ago

Text

abstract ghosts, concrete lives

written for this prompt challenge. rated T for potentially disturbing scenes but nothing too graphical imo.

relationship: captain allen/simon

fandom: detroit: become human

summary:

also on ao3

---

Louis Allen prides himself in being able to more or less take care of himself properly despite having lived alone for more than ten years. Of course, his usual routine has been disrupted since the arrival of a certain little kid on his doorstep, but that doesn’t change the fact that he goes to sleep and wakes up regularly unless his child needs him and he is woken up by their cries; even if he is tired enough to sleep through them, there is always Simon to take up the job, and by now Shub sees the android as their second father more than anything else - not that Louis will have it any other way, the android being more human than most actual humans he has ever met.

But there are also times like this when his mind betrays him. Images too fleeting to be described even in the broadest sense flash in front of his mind, haunting him and dragging him to the deep end no matter how hard he tries to focus on the good, the neutral, the reality, Shub being compressed into the simplest shapes before shattering like broken glass, Simon’s body falling apart piece by piece as his face twists in the gravity of an object heavier than a black hole and his arm stretched outward awkwardly and his mouth open in a static-filled scream, a tide of white and brown that manages to remind him of the darkness at the same time sweeping them away until he blinks and his heart races and suddenly he is back to staring at the ceiling of his bedroom with Simon curled up against his side, the android’s breath too deep and regular to be a regular human’s but his movement and position also too human to be a regular android’s. Simon’s mere presence and regular heartbeat are usually enough to calm Louis down, but as the cycle repeats itself for the sixth time and midnight passes, he knows that it isn’t going to help tonight. Not wanting to disturb the android’s stasis with his own tossing and turning in case those images turn into actual nightmares which he would have no control over, he slides off his bed, careful not to disturb Simon, and pads first to check on Shub, finding them still sound asleep and their vitals steady and strong, then climbs the stairs to the attic which is, most of the times, his own space.

A small window allows him a narrow view of what is outside his house from this angle, and normally speaking he can stare at the nothingness until he bores himself out and falls asleep because of it, but tonight, the shadows and darkness only brings out the ones his mind creates for him to fill the gaps in his memory that he has known since a long time ago that exist but never sought them out: they are mostly from before his eighth birthday which to this day he still has zero recollection off, but on top of that there are also moments with his mother who went MIA shortly before he graduated from high school, things that he did together with his father that returns as him speaking more than ten languages without a single memory on why and how he learnt them, events that he brought his sister to (or vice versa) that confuses him whenever she mentions them because he never remembers. Tonight, they all blend into one, reality mixing with imagination and memories that should have been long gone but choose this moment to resurface temporarily before disappearing like wisps of dissipating smoke, untouchable and uncontrollable and gone just like the ages. So he alternates between drawing and writing, trying to capture bits and pieces of the images at the front of his mind with his stylus and his fingers while being completely oblivious to the numbness of his crossed legs and the knot forming on his back and the dryness of his eyes, but even though the logical and adult part of him tells him that he isn’t exactly twenty and young anymore and he should be aware of the strain he is putting on his body, the part of him that has always been running from the lost memories, the one that somehow manages to remain a scared little boy despite four decades’ worth of life experience and growing pain - it just takes over and urges him to let everything out until his entire body is shaking and the page is full. Guided by the magnets within the two devices, the stylus snaps to the side of the tablet automatically, its light blinking yellow to indicate that it is charging, and Louis puts down the tablet on the floor next to him before he closes his suddenly-heavy eyelids and unwinds his body with a wince and too many popping joints and needles underneath his skin. He picks up his tablet again to take a better look at what the hell he spent the last… two hours and a half working on just to hear the familiar creak of wooden floorboards, the attic illuminated by the faint blue glow of Simon’s LED. Louis freezes like a deer in headlights.

The android folds himself into the already-cramped space of the attic and sits with his legs folded underneath him next to the human, his hand reaching for Louis’ thigh, and the warmth through his sweatpants is enough to drain whatever fight that remains in his body away. So much for going back before Simon notices.

‘I woke up and you weren’t there,’ Simon whispers without breaking eye contact. Then he cocks his head, his LED spins yellow, and he continues, ‘You didn’t sleep at all.’

Louis blinks and looks away, suddenly embarrassed. ‘Can’t.’

He can feel Simon’s intense gaze on his own face. ‘Why?’

He starts fidgeting with the stylus by removing it from where it’s attached to the side of the tablet just to let it snap back again. ‘Memories,’ some images still flash in front of his eyes, but they are less haunting now, less graphic, less detailed, ‘or lack thereof. I try not to think about them.’

‘But…?’

‘Sometimes they just come back and haunt me.’

‘Do you want to talk about them?’

Louis unlocks the tablet to view his creation again, a mixture of abstract images and words that don’t make sense when put together that hurts his head to look at, telling him that keeping it and letting anyone else even glance at it is a mistake, is a torture, and that it shouldn’t have existed in the first place, but they are a representation of his own head so they must have been there since a long time ago but it’s just his damned fault for avoiding the issue and running away instead of facing it heads-on and maybe solve the problem instead of losing sleep and making shitty evil art and making other people worry about him and probably not being able to be a good father for his child in the morning because of sleep deprivation and -

The tablet is taken out of his hands with its screen turned off, suddenly leaving his hands empty and flexing and scrambling for something to hold onto, and the next thing he knows is that there is a warm body pressing against his own and wrapping his arms around his shoulders, grounding him and giving him very little choice on where his hands should go apart from winding them around the android’s waist as well. He inhales deeply, smells the detergent on Simon’s shirt and the body wash that they share, and the chain of thoughts slows down and turns itself down until the thud of their hearts overwhelm it. He suddenly feels restless, his hands twitchy and itching for things to do, but he’s lost, his brain isn’t working, and his eyes refuse to close even though he’s suddenly so, so tired.

Simon stills, and that is when Louis realises that the android has been rubbing circles on his back in an attempt to further calm him down. ‘Let’s get back in bed, shall we?’ he asks, his voice soft and barely audible, but the way he phrases it makes it sound more like a command than a question, so Louis lets himself be guided down the attic and back into their bedroom under the covers, the two of them lying on their sides and facing each other. ‘Do you want me to stay awake with you, or may I go into stasis for now?’

‘Stasis,’ Louis answers immediately. ‘You need it.’

‘And so do you, but here we are.’

‘You are aware that you will most likely take over most of the childcare, aren’t you?’

A soft smile appears on Simon’s lips. With a hand on Louis’ cheek, he leans forward to kiss the human chastely and then pulls back. ‘We’ll figure that out when we wake up again. For now, try to go to sleep, okay? And don’t leave the bed even if you can’t; it’s better than getting up and working.’

Louis nods, and Simon’s eyes slip shut and his body relaxes immediately as he goes into stasis. He scoots close and holds him to feel his breath on his skin and his chest rise and fall against his hand again, and even though the images pull him away from slumber whenever he nearly falls asleep, everything remains relatively peaceful compared to the overwhelming barrage from before. Head now clearer, he thinks of what he will do after both Simon and Shub are awake, recalling bits and pieces of information that he gathered from his surroundings and his work to help himself make decisions: tomorrow is a weekday and has a high chance of being sunny for the whole day on top of being his day off. There are no appointments for Shub and neither does Simon need to report back to a CyberLife store for check-ups anymore, there are enough ingredients in the kitchen and the fridge to make a light meal for himself and Shub, the parks will also be relatively quiet because all other children are at school; maybe he and Simon can bring them there, have a picnic together, let their child have their fun without being harassed or bullied by other children because of their cybernetics and prosthetics that extends all the way from their face to their feet. He might need some strong tea to keep himself awake or a nap in the park to recharge halfway through the day, but it will be another day when the family can spend the whole day together and relax, another happy memory for Shub before their inevitable… no, he has faith in his sister and her people. They will figure out a way to make sure that Shub has many happy years to live before old age takes them. They have to.

Dawn comes with light alongside the grumbles of a hungry child rousing but not quite awakening yet, and Louis feels more than sees Simon’s smile against his neck as the two of them slide out of bed and begin their usual morning rituals with practised fluidity. He forgoes going to the gym in favour of spending a slow morning smelling of tea and warm breakfast at home with his family, knowing that it won’t matter much if he only skips it for a day and doesn’t let it become his habit. Ah well. Not like staying up all night is something he is planning to do often.

‘Picnic, Shub?’ he asks after swallowing a mouthful of pancakes. ‘Just you, me, and Daddy. How does that sound?’

Shub’s wide green eyes and her flailing limbs are answers enough, and as Louis’ own eyes meet Simon’s sky blue ones, it is as if one gaze is enough to communicate everything between them, Louis moving to prepare for the upcoming trip to the park that may seem insignificant to most children but is certainly a big thing for their child while Simon coaxes Shub to finish the last of their breakfast and swipe the plate away from grabby hands before loading it into the dishwasher.

It is another day.

#siallen #dbh simon #detroit: become human #dbh captain allen #a man an android and a somewhere in between

1 note · View note

teesunflowerus · 5 years ago

Text

Grumpy Dwarf This Jolly Enough Christmas shirt

And this afternoon boys and girls we will talk about integrity ,honesty discipline and conflict resolution. Free and reduced lunches, at risk after school programs, latch key. Oh by the way, please come to school. Our nation has an alarming truancy and attendance problem and Grumpy Dwarf This Jolly Enough Christmas shirt. I am not your parent. I am your teacher. Sadly, in some cases I am all some have left.

Grumpy Dwarf This Jolly Enough Christmas shirt, Sweater, Ladie Tee, Vneck, Bellaflowy, Kids Shirt, Unisex and Tank Top, T-shirt

Buy it Now: https://teesunflower.com/trend/grumpy-dwarf-this-jolly-enough-christmas-shirt/

Home page: https://teesunflower.com/

https://teesunflower.com/trend/awesome-antlers-trophy-hunting-pun-reindeer-christmas-oh-deer-sweater/

https://teesunflower.com/trend/awesome-boxer-christmas-funny-dog-lover-gift-xmas-sweater/

https://teesunflower.com/trend/awesome-cool-christmas-cute-male-boy-reindeer-face-tees-sweater/

https://teesunflower.com/trend/awesome-im-a-wolf-duh-great-christmas-or-halloween-gift-tee-sweater/

https://teesunflower.com/trend/awesome-im-the-grandpa-elf-christmas-group-matching-family-xmas-sweater/

https://teesunflower.com/trend/baby-yoda-and-master-yoda-water-reflection-best-sweater/

https://teesunflower.com/trend/baker-mayfield-baker-claus-cleveland-brown-ugly-christmas-sweater/

https://teesunflower.com/trend/basset-hound-let-it-snow-christmas-shirt/

https://teesunflower.com/trend/beautiful-all-hearts-come-home-for-christmas-sweater/

https://teesunflower.com/trend/childcare-provider-love-what-you-do-shirt/

https://teesunflower.com/trend/chocolate-labrador-let-it-snow-christmas-shirt/

https://teesunflower.com/trend/eagles-pittsburgh-steelers-legends-players-signatures-sweater/

https://teesunflower.com/trend/fortnite-battle-royale-nike-just-play-it-logo-shirt/

https://teesunflower.com/trend/grateful-dead-55th-anniversary-1965-2020-signatures-shirt/

https://teesunflower.com/trend/grumpy-dwarf-this-jolly-enough-christmas-shirt/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/186028241@N08/49211749383/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.customink.com/fundraising/campaigns/3517981/story

https://www.deviantart.com/tulao1234/journal/Awesome-Antlers-Trophy-Hunting-Pun-Reindeer-Christ-823353506

https://www.thehunt.com/the-hunt/97MgkK-awesome-antlers-trophy-hunting-reindeer-christmas-sweaterbuy

https://www.flickr.com/photos/186028241@N08/49212459687/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.customink.com/fundraising/awesomdfghe-boxer-christmas-funny-dog-lover-gift-xmas-sweater

https://www.deviantart.com/tulao1234/journal/Awesome-Boxer-Christmas-Funny-Dog-Lover-Gift-Xmas-823353555

https://www.thehunt.com/the-hunt/yKbhHP-awesome-boxer-christmas-funny-dog-lover-gift-xmas-sweaterbuy

https://www.flickr.com/photos/186028241@N08/49212237566/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.customink.com/fundraising/awesomdfghe-cool-christmas-cute-male-boy-reindeer-face-tees-sweater

https://www.deviantart.com/tulao1234/journal/Awesome-Cool-Christmas-Cute-Male-Boy-Reindeer-Fa-823353604

https://www.thehunt.com/the-hunt/AoMDLe-awesome-cool-christmas-male-boy-reindeer-tees-sweaterbuy

https://www.flickr.com/photos/186028241@N08/49212240486/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.customink.com/fundraising/awesomdfghe-im-a-wolf-duh-great-christmas-or-halloween-gift-tee-sweater

https://www.deviantart.com/tulao1234/journal/Awesome-Im-A-Wolf-Duh-Great-Christmas-Or-Hallowe-823353659

https://www.thehunt.com/the-hunt/4bPsek-awesome-wolf-duh-christmas-halloween-gift-tee-sweaterbuy

https://www.flickr.com/photos/186028241@N08/49212467897/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.customink.com/ink/fundraising/frequently-asked-questions

https://www.deviantart.com/tulao1234/journal/Awesome-Im-The-Grandpa-Elf-Christmas-Group-Matchi-823353719

https://www.thehunt.com/the-hunt/NpwZyG-awesome-grandpa-christmas-matching-family-xmas-sweaterbuy

https://www.flickr.com/photos/186028241@N08/49211762843/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.customink.com/fundraising/baby-yodfgda-and-master-yoda-water-reflection-best-sweater

https://www.deviantart.com/tulao1234/journal/Baby-Yoda-and-Master-Yoda-water-reflection-best-sw-823353835

https://www.thehunt.com/users

https://www.flickr.com/photos/186028241@N08/49212474157/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.customink.com/ink/fundraising/frequently-asked-questions

https://www.deviantart.com/tulao1234/journal/Baker-Mayfield-Baker-Claus-Cleveland-Brown-ugly-Ch-823353893

https://www.thehunt.com/the-hunt/uTHKbZ-baker-mayfield-claus-cleveland-brown-christmas-sweaterbuy

https://www.flickr.com/photos/186028241@N08/49212252231/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.customink.com/ink/fundraising/frequently-asked-questions

https://www.deviantart.com/tulao1234/journal/Basset-Hound-Let-It-Snow-Christmas-shirt-823353966

https://www.thehunt.com/the-hunt/SmP6TN-basset-hound-snow-christmas-shirtbuy

https://www.flickr.com/photos/186028241@N08/49211772508/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.customink.com/ink/fundraising/frequently-asked-questions

https://www.deviantart.com/tulao1234/journal/Beautiful-All-hearts-come-home-for-Christmas-sweat-823354033

https://www.thehunt.com/the-hunt/hZYafy-hearts-christmas-sweaterbuy

https://www.flickr.com/photos/186028241@N08/49212258251/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.customink.com/ink/fundraising/frequently-asked-questions

https://www.deviantart.com/tulao1234/journal/Childcare-Provider-Love-what-you-do-shirt-823354106

https://www.thehunt.com/the-hunt/T44zAG-childcare-provider-love-shirtbuy

https://www.flickr.com/photos/186028241@N08/49211778963/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.customink.com/ink/fundraising/frequently-asked-questions

https://www.deviantart.com/tulao1234/journal/Chocolate-Labrador-Let-It-Snow-Christmas-shirt-823354174

https://www.thehunt.com/the-hunt/zz5eGZ-chocolate-labrador-snow-christmas-shirtbuy

https://www.flickr.com/photos/186028241@N08/49211781833/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.customink.com/ink/fundraising/frequently-asked-questions

https://www.deviantart.com/tulao1234/journal/Eagles-Pittsburgh-Steelers-Legends-Players-Signatu-823354223

https://www.thehunt.com/the-hunt/pvKUMx-pittsburgh-steelers-legends-players-signatures-sweaterbuy

https://www.flickr.com/photos/186028241@N08/49212267206/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.customink.com/ink/fundraising/frequently-asked-questions

https://www.deviantart.com/tulao1234/journal/Fortnite-Battle-Royale-Nike-Just-Play-It-Logo-shir-823354287

https://www.thehunt.com/the-hunt/ENHnRB-fortnite-battle-royale-nike-play-logo-shirtbuy

https://www.flickr.com/photos/186028241@N08/49212269946/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.customink.com/ink/fundraising/frequently-asked-questions

https://www.deviantart.com/tulao1234/journal/Grateful-Dead-55th-anniversary-1965-2020-signature-823354350

https://www.thehunt.com/the-hunt/XSYzhp-grateful-dead-55th-anniversary-1965-2020-signatures-shirtbuy

https://www.flickr.com/photos/186028241@N08/49211789693/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.customink.com/ink/fundraising/frequently-asked-questions

https://www.deviantart.com/tulao1234/journal/Grumpy-Dwarf-This-Jolly-Enough-Christmas-shirt-823354402

https://www.thehunt.com/the-hunt/qfK4bq-grumpy-dwarf-jolly-christmas-shirtbuy

0 notes

rebelheartsmustbefree · 6 years ago

Text

So this is Christmas PT2....

*I ignored the funny looks at the store when I walked in holding a baby, a newborn swaddled in nothing but a blanket. And me holding the little guy only made me stick out like a sore thumb. I was not impervious to the hilarity of the sight we may have been. Me all deer in headlights, wandering around aimlessly just trying to find the baby section. I finally lucked my way into the area I needed to be in, grabbing up some infant diapers, some formula and some baby soap stuff that smelled amazing by the way. Don’t really understand why they didn’t make this stuff for grown ups...but that was another fight for another day. I could see how people could get lost in all this baby stuff, all the toys and clothes, blankets and really soft stuffed animals. I was completely unprepared for all the stuff there really was to look at. Deer meet those headlights once again. But the little dude needed some proper clothes and I was all he had right at the moment. That thought filled me with such sorrow. It wasn’t reasonable for me to keep this child. With the betrayal of Ezekiel still fresh on my mind, there was no guarantee that more trouble wasn’t lurking around some dark corner for me. All it would take is one slip up and something could harm this baby. And I wasn’t willing to risk his life over the choices I made for myself. God help me if I get this baby killed… Hell would be the best place for me at that point. Oh how delighted Levi would be.

So.. let’s just say that if it wasn’t for how-to books and the internet, this baby wouldn’t have fared so well. The little boy was doing much better since I finally got him home. He has this dark brown hair, fiercely green eyes. He was a little cutie pie. I mean as babies go. And he seemed to like me. I only say this because he hasn’t cried anymore since I found him. From what I’ve gathered about babies from the net, they aren’t forming real thoughts or anything yet. But I still like to tell myself he likes me. The little guy is really serious about eye contact though, always watching me, judging me I’m guessing since I first attempted to put a diaper on...backwards. That was not my finest hour. Once I had gotten the both of us home and warmed up, I started doing the research why he slept. Still managed to screw up the first diapering even with all the new intake of knowledge. That was also when I figured out babies could totally pee on you. But after a few rounds of trial and error, I managed to properly diaper a baby without the whole pee fountain thing happening. I had quite a few laughs at my own expense, the baby would have laughed too if he could. I just know it.

Once I had things handled with the proper ways to change a baby, it was pretty much smooth sailing from that point on. I had watched a couple videos on YouTube on how to bathe a baby before giving it a go for myself. I placed him right in the kitchen sink, knowing it wasn’t so deep and I thought it would be safer this way. I was still awfully nervous. The baby boy couldn’t sit up on his own which made me obsessively cautious, not wanting the newborn to slip under the water if I blinked for too long or something. So with one hand securely at the back of the little guys neck, I carefully gave him a bath. I had a certain mindset when handling the child. Something akin to handling a china doll. He would only be cared for with the utmost gentleness. Even though I had all the mindset stuff under control, I was still petrified that I would mess this up and hurt the baby. I was not equipped with the right tools to look after an infant. Or any child for that matter. It wasn’t just about being a dude with no real clue about childcare, I was an angel. The one that was feared the most by my own kind. This baby needed a proper home. But I knew in my heart that I did the right thing by bringing the boy home with me. His mother dead, sent up to heaven by my very own hand. At least I had done something good by saving the child. I would keep doing right by the little one and make sure he was well taken care of wherever he may end up. One day I knew I would have to give him up. But right now we were two boys with dead mother’s in heaven.

I just needed a couple more days with him.

After feeding him a bottle, I gently patted at his back to help him burp. Something else I learned while immersed in all my baby studies. Once I was sure we had gotten out all the little air bubbles from sucking down the that bottle so fast, I lay down on the couch to rest my eyes. The little one was fast asleep against me, the rise and fall of my chest had lulled him right to sleep. I had to smile to myself as I thought of my mother. Oh she would have loved to me and this baby. Maybe she would have been able to help me. You know...like help me with this kid, what the right thing would be to do with him. Hell, even to give him a name. I haven’t gotten around to doing that. I’m sure it was mostly due to the fact that I wasn’t keeping the little guy. I could already tell this was going to be hard. He wouldn’t even remember me, but saying goodbye was something that I was putting off for as long as I possibly could. Or at least for those couple days I had mentioned before. He was blissfully unaware of the world around him, sound asleep, freshly bathed, diapered, fed, burped. He was a happy little warm ball of baby all curled up on my chest. He had the softest little head. And he smelled good. Probably that shampoo for babies. He is a precious little soul. I hope that he can remain this sweet and innocent. Before all the ugliness of this world inflicts flaws unto him. I wish I could protect him from all that was coming his way. I guess the best that I could do was wish him the best and maybe look in on him once in awhile.*

“You know that’s what a good guardian would do, son.”

*I peeked one eye open. One was all I needed to shoot a dirty look right at my Pops. For some reason I found myself holding onto the baby just a little bit closer to my chest. And if I’m not mistaken, I think I growled a little as I caught sight of Michael sitting in the chair across from the baby and I.*

You’re lucky I just got this kid to sleep or I would happily show you right back out of this house.

*He laughed as if I was kidding. I really wasn’t. Just because my voice stayed calm, didn’t mean I was all thunder and lighting on the inside.*

“I came as soon as I found out you had him. I met his mother. And I need to tell you something.”

*I really wasn’t in the mood. That was a huge understatement. Usually when good old dad came by to talk, something bad or life changing was about to happen. And laying here with this little one in my arms pretty much had my plate on full. I wasn’t in a position to take on anymore issues via the horse’s mouth. But yet, he continued with the words.*

“Look Isaac, remember that girl you resurrected at the bar? She tried to commit suicide? Well, that’s her baby. The very child you saved from the cold and brought into your home. And if you think this was by happenstance, you’re sorely mistaken, my child. So needless to say, there’s a few things you need to know before you make your choice on where to place this baby.”

#TBC

0 notes

yegcityofchamps-blog · 7 years ago

Text

What makes Edmonton A City of Champions? www.facebook.com/YEGcityofchamps

Being part of #AlbertStrong, May 2016 and for months after.

Some say that the deep love for the City of Champions spirit that Edmonton has is just for generations long passed by with time. This of course is just not true! Edmontonians can be very PROUD of their efforts! Citizens of all ages line-up to help evacuees from the Fort McMurray area as the northern Alberta city of up to 90,000 was completely evacuated as the “BEAST” engulfed whole neighbourhoods with an unstopped wall of flames.

It is still a miracle that no one was killed in the first day of this incredibly crippling, record-breaking wildfire. While hundred of thousands of Edmontonians literally stepped up to volunteer in countless ways, the City of Edmonton sent first responders, equipment as well as other city employees and supplies that could help with the unfolding disaster. These brave people risked their lives without question to help everyone they could in the Fort McMurray region. Emergency response managers had more employees volunteering than they needed to go north when called. This was such a massive event that Canadian military personal were activated to help support first responders, including members from 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron based at Edmonton Garrison.

"I know the pain that the Fort McMurray people feel,"

Quotes from @CBCEdmonton;****_ www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton_

With the countless amount of people taking part in all levels of the Fort McMurray wildfires relief efforts only a small percentage of first responders, city, business employees, government workers and volunteers were ever featured in the media or online. Not widely reported at the time was an incredible offer of help from a small group of brand new Edmontonians that were not just financially strapped but completely displaced themselves. This small group of Syrian refugees showed just how BIG the City of Champions spirit can be. Morhaf Aldiri, in spite of arriving from a dusty refugee camp in Jordan to Edmonton in February 2016, he plus 20 other new Syrian refugees, also living in a northwest Edmonton neighbourhood stepped up to help with a small, but very thoughtful and kind gesture. "When I came it was very difficult," said Aldiri. "Another country, I don't know anything, any people, but lots of people help and help me, so it's very nice." Aldiri and his family know what it is like to run for your life leaving everything behind when their house was hit by a bomb in Daraa, Syria, in 2013. They had been without a home and country-less since that fateful day.Knowing what it is like losing everything in a second, Aldiri, 25, explains through a translator, "I know the pain that the Fort McMurray people feel," he said, "I lost my home as well in Syria, and it really touched me." His family not only knows what it is like to be without a home but also without a country anymore.

The very grateful Aldiri said “we want to return the favour", the group talked about what they could do to support the people affected by the monsters fires in and around Fort McMurray. The small group came up with the very family oriented idea of raising money to pay for a very special homemade traditional Syrian meal for as many evacuees that they could muster resources for. As word spread, more joined the effort, now with the help of around 60 Syrian families, other. Edmontonians and locally canvassed businesses, $3,500 was raised. With the help from the city of Edmonton the best date and venue was picked to hold the event. These Syrian refugees fit right into Edmonton’s championship spirit, if things work out they might one day be sworn as full-fledged Canadian citizens. Edmonton and Canada should be that lucky; for now Aldiri is very grateful for being able to re-build his life in a city and country where he finally feels safe

The Edmonton Journal listed just SOME of the service offered by Edmonton’s citizens, businesses, non-profit and government agencies; www.EdmontonJournal.com

Reception and Rallying Centres

With the help of Canadian and international donations the Edmonton Red Cross was able to help through many agencies in Alberta.

Edmonton’s Expo Centre at Northlands, 7515 118 Ave., was the main rallying point in the Edmonton area, offering access to phones, TV’s, radios, beds (including onsite pet care), food, cloths, personal and general supplies, showers, medical, mental, clerical/religious services, government agencies set-up to offer all services Alberta normally offers for supports to its citizens, plus pre-loaded credit cards, AHS had health care teams onsite plus beefed up Health Link lines, insurance companies set-up their adjusters onsite to offer services, food truck should up to help feed people. Volunteers showed up to offer help and so much more.

Many entertainers volunteered on site and the players from the Edmonton Eskimos football team, the Eskimos Cheer Team and team mascots also visited evacuees housed at the Edmonton Northlands reception centre.

Food and Refreshments

The Edmonton Food Bank helped supply ten’s of thousands of people with food and personal supplies during the 2016 wildfire disaster.

Many in the general public took in evacuees to house and feed them. Others made food and drive it all the way up to Fort McMurray to hand it out to first responders that they would find just driving around. Amazing extra efforts.

Kinnikinnick Fresh at 10940 120 St. is offering gluten-free food and $50 vouchers to Fort McMurray evacuees with celiac disease.

The Pint Public House Edmonton locations at 10125 109 St. and 8032 104 St. offered a free meal for evacuees with Fort McMurray ID for a week.

Fatburger offered fire evacuees a Fatburger with cheese and soda or a free kids meal at their locations at Edmonton City Centre 10205 101 St., 5611 23 Ave., South Edmonton Common 1755 102 St., West Edmonton Mall, Namao 15987-97 St., locations in Fort Saskatchewan & Red Deer

Block 1912 at 10361 82 Ave., offered a free scoop of gelato and a coffee for Fort McMurray evacuees.

O’Byrne’s Irish Pub at 10616 82 Ave., offered a free pint of beer and a meal for Fort McMurray residence

Naan-O-Licious at 10331 82 Ave., offered free biryani for evacuees.

Earls Edmonton locations including 11830 Jasper Ave., 8629 112 St., 4250 Calgary Trail, 13330 50 St., 9961 170 St. and 1505 99 St., offered any evacuees a free sandwich and drink.

Padmanadi Vegetarian Restaurant at 10740 101 St., offered free lunch or dinner to fire evacuees.

On The Rocks 11740 Jasper Ave., offered free meal & drink for evacuees.

Delux Burger Bar at 9682 142 St. and 14111 23 Ave., offered evacuees a free burger and drink.

Sandwich and Sons at 10184 104 St. and 13119 156 St., offered a free sandwich for evacuees.

The Bhartiya Cultural Society of Alberta at 9507 39 Ave. is offered free vegetarian meals to evacuees.

Moxie’s Grill and Bar at 10628 Kingsway Ave., offered a free entree and drink to fire evacuees.

Chianti Cafe & Restaurant at 10501 82 Ave., offered a free half-size salad or soup, any one of their Pasta Creations and a non-alcoholic beverage for evacuees.

Mary Brown’s locations at 11358 104 Ave. and 14969 Stony Plain Rd., offered a free meal evacuees.

Wheat Garden Chinese Noodle and Dumpling Bazaar at 10703 103 St., offered a noodle bowl or rice dish to evacuees.

LOVEPIZZA 10196 109 St., offered free pizza for evacuees the first week.

Gurdwara Millwoods at 2606 Millwoods Rd., offered free vegetarian meals for evacuees 24 hours a day.

Celebrate Gluten Free Bakery & Cafe at 15213 Stony Plain Rd., offered free breakfast or a sandwich for Fort McMurray evacuees.

Quiznos, 5366 Windermere Blvd., offered a free lunch for first 2-weeks.

Remedy Cafe offered evacuees free wraps in all of their Edmonton locations at 10279 Jasper Ave., 8631 109 St. and 10310 124 St.

Fuss Cupcakes at 10441 82 Ave. and 17298 Stony Plain Rd., offered evacuees a cupcake and coffee for the fire evacuees.

Noorish at 8440 109 St., offered free vegan, vegetarian & gluten free meals for wildfire evacuees. They also collected donations of toys

Shelter

Hotels, motels and everyday Edmontonians opened their rooms and homes to countless fire evacuees.

Ronald McDonald House Northern Alberta in Edmonton supported families with children with medical needs.

Inclusion Alberta helped people with developmental disabilities displaced by fires in northern.

Airbnb has activated their Disaster Response Tool, waiving all fees so those with Edmonton residences available to evacuees.

Alberta REALTORS Support for Fort McMurray posted available housing for evacuees on their Facebook page.

The Al Rashid Mosque is opening their doors for evacuees in need a place to stay at 13070 113 St.

The Guru Nanak Sikh Society through their members they were able to offer dozens of spare bedrooms, basement suites and motel rooms available free of charge for Fort McMurray area evacuees.

Showers

All #Yeg YMCA locations open the doors to Wood Buffalo area evacuees so they could access drop-in facilities & showers, at the Don Wheaton YMCA at 10211 102 Ave., Jamie Platz YMA at 7121 178 St., Castle Downs YMCA at 11510 153 Ave. & William Lutzky YMCA at 1975 111 St.

The Fraser Community League at 14720 21 St., community league members opened up rooms and showers in their homes for evacuees, plus the league gave away food, general supplies and first aid item

Education/Childcare

Edmonton’s Public and Catholic schools accommodated Kindergarten through high school students from the Fort McMurray area.

Children’s Autism Services of Edmonton offered respite care and supervised safe play space at the Maier Centre at 17451 103 Ave.

The Educational Daycare Group offered up to 50 daycare spaces free for one month for children evacuee parents in need.

The six Edmonton-area Campus Alberta post secondary institutions – including Concordia University, King’s University, MacEwan University, the University of Alberta (for undergraduate and graduate students), the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and NorQuest College offered evacuee students help completing coursework and help them get official marks and transcripts.

Pets and Animals

The Alberta SPCA coordinated support for livestock, horses and other farm animals brought to the Edmonton Expo Centre.

The Companion Animal Welfare Society provided temporary care for pets including cats, dogs and small animals including reptiles.

The Edmonton Humane Society and Edmonton’s Animal Care and Control Centre coordinated animal care for people arriving in Edmonton.

Champion Pet Foods at 11403 186 St., offered free cat and dog food for Fort McMurray area evacuees.

Cozy Kitty at 4610 97 St. is offered shelter for displaced cats.

E&E Kennels offered free boarding services for dogs, cats and small pets at their #12 Boulder Blvd location in Stony Plain.

Also a list of Edmonton veterinary area practices offering assistance evacuees; www.albertaanimalhealthsource.ca

Stress Relief Services

The Distress Line 780-482-4357 within Edmonton added extra support staff. those outside can reach the Rural Distress Line at 1-800-232-7288.

· Boyle Street Community Services at 10116 105 Ave., The Mustard Seed Society, with locations at 10635 96 St. and 10568 114 St., is offered counseling, clothing and hot meals to fire evacuees.

Medical

Netcare helped people fill prescriptions through Edmonton pharmacies.

Evacuated breastfeeding mothers were offered services.

Mental health support was offered 24-hours-a-day through the Mental Health Help Line at 1-877-303-2642.

Mint Health + Drugs locations offered free emergency medicine for evacuees who left their medication behind.

Urban Vision and Optometrists at 15957 97 St., offered a free pair of prescription glasses to evacuees who either lost or damaged theirs.

The Southwest Family Dental Clinic at 1719 Towne Centre Blvd., offered free emergency dental care for evacuees.

Business supports

The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce offered complimentary office space to businesses displaced by wildfires in the Wood Buffalo region at their World Trade Centre Edmonton building at 9990 Jasper Avenue.

Regus opened up their fully-serviced business lounges to assist business professionals displaced by Alberta wildfires. www.regus.ca

Local business of all kinds also offer, space, vehicle storage, and other supports to their business piers and competition.

Storage

The U-Haul Company of Northern Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories including Edmonton offered 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box container use for people evacuated.

·StorageMart donated a free month of storage in Edmonton for evacuees.

Entertainment

City of Edmonton offered free admission to all city-owned attractions & facilities to evacuees, including , Muttart Conservatory, John Janzen Nature Centre & Edmonton recreation facilities

People displaced by wildfires were offered free admission to any Edmonton and any of the 17 Alberta provincially owned and operated historic sites and museums. www.culture.alberta.ca

Allstars Playland at 9510 12 Ave., offered free admission to wildfire evacuee families the first week.

The Devonian Botanic Garden in Highway 60, five kilometres north of Devon, offered free. www.devonian.ualberta.ca

The University of Alberta offered free access to all of its recreation facilities and libraries – including their computers – for all Alberta wildfire evacuees.

The Telus World of Science at 11211 142 St., offered free admission for evacuee families the first week.

Spa and Salon

Est-elle Academy of Hair Design 8004 Gateway Blvd., offered a shampoo, blow-dry service with a scalp massage for evacuees the first week.

The Beauty Parlour, located on the second floor at 10011 82 Ave., is offered a free shampoo and blowout for evacuees.

Echo Hair Design #205 8135 102 St., offered free hair cleanse & style

Many more locations also offered the same and even more free services.

Miscellaneous and extra supports offered

Fountain Tire at 8550 Yellowhead Tr., offered free repairs to tires damaged during the massive evacuation.

K.C Photography and other local photographers offered free family photo shoots to evacuees.

Edmonton Wedding Gallery & Bridal Plus Boutique at 10404 68 Ave., offered 50% off for those who lost wedding gowns during the wildfire.

Anytime Fitness Old Strathcona at 10469 80 Ave., opened their gyms for evacuees to use while they are in Edmonton.

The Celtic Ceilidh Dance Academy at 6325 Gateway Blvd., offered free Highland and Irish dance classes for evacuees.

Fort City Church from Fort McMurray partnered with Edmonton’s Beulah Alliance Church 17504 98A Ave., to host a special church service.

Yoga Central at #104 5124 122 St., offered free yoga for Fort McMurray evacuees. They also collected donations of yoga clothing for evacuees.

Long-time Edmonton children’s charity, www.SportCentral.org stepped up BIG-TIME to help Fort McMurray kids replace as much lost sports equipment that the “Beast” incinerated when it swept through the neighbourhoods. Over the summer with the added help from 3rd generation United Cycle sporting goods store owner, tireless, humble community worker, Wilf Brooks, they collect donations from citizens, suppliers and manufactures from across the country totaling more than

$500, 000 worth of hockey, baseball, football and other sports equipment. In early September 2016, Sports Central’s single largest donation headed north 435+ kilometres thanks to Rosenau Transport’s donation of a big-rig and driver.

The jam-packed 52-foot semi-trailer was greeted with cheers and smiles from RCMP personal as well as hugs and tears from other community members.

Just a small sampling of the stories and events during May 2016 that featured the never wavering grassroots community spirit that runs extremely deep and into all corners of the community, without a doubt cementing Edmonton as Canada’s undisputed;

“It is amazing what you can accomplish when nobody cares who gets the credit.”

Check out our Facebook PAge; www.facebook.com/YEGcityofchamps

#editorial #edmonton #cityofchampions #cityofchamps #city council #fortmcmurray #fort mcmurray fire #wildfire #alberta

0 notes

teesunflowerus · 5 years ago

Text

Grateful Dead 55th anniversary 1965 2020 signatures shirt

My husband is a teacher and a great one I must add! He sacrifices a lot for his students including working in the poorest neighborhoods where we found out the Grateful Dead 55th anniversary 1965 2020 signatures shirt, they have routine “floor drills”. Often he texts me on the ground saying “another shooting right outside our school but hey at least I get to lay down”. He works so hard and he really believes in the difference he is making. His school is TRUELY one of a kind. He is now part of the administration as well as being a teacher and that support Each other.

Grateful Dead 55th anniversary 1965 2020 signatures shirt, Sweater, Ladie Tee, Vneck, Bellaflowy, Kids Shirt, Unisex and Tank Top, T-shirt

Buy it Now: https://teesunflower.com/trend/grateful-dead-55th-anniversary-1965-2020-signatures-shirt/