Thanks to all of you who have been joining us here. The response has been wonderful. We just past 3,625 new subscribers. That is a huge increase in 2016. We only had 1,000 a year ago. Help us to make it to 4,000. Could you be the one that puts us over the top? Our goal for the end of this year is 5,000.
Help us continue to grow by subscribing today if you haven’t already. Just click on the icon right after the title of this post to do that.
____________________________________________________________
Doug Bolton, the founder of the blog, Signs of Hope, which is at www.dailysignsofhope.com, has written a new book, “Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life.” It will be reaching out the many military and veterans who may be battling anxiety, fear, depression, addictions, rejections, and the many other usual suspects. There are 22 military connected suicides every day. That is almost one every hour. Doug wants to help stop those statistics.
______________________________________________________________
If you follow Twitter, join me by following @heavenencounter. Many veterans are starting to follow and we hope to have many more to share thoughts and ideas with. You can also connect with my on Facebook by putting my name in the search area.
______________________________________________________________
I see it has been almost three months since I last posted here. I have spent my whole summer battling an infection in my spine. I am just starting to feel well enough to be able to stop the daily IV doses of antibiotics.
I missed so much because of this. My family went on summer trips, but I couldn’t go because of the IV treatments everyday.
I wasn’t able to drive because the effects of the antibiotics made me drowsy and sleepy. So, not only was I in severe pain, I also was grounded and sent to my bedroom like a disobedient child. I spent three weeks staring out my bedroom window hoping some birds or squirrels might come by for me to see.
This is a pretty sad story so far.
I want you to know something. I never faltered. I never cursed God. I never gave up my positive attitude.
I could have given up and let the dark side have its way.
It reminds me of when I was in a huge battle with depression while in the military, and beyond. I spent many days wondering what the world was all about, and if I wanted to be a part of it.
In 2001 I actually was sitting in my Ford Explorer thinking of checking out of this hotel called earth.
God woke me up that day. He stopped me in my tracks. He had plans for me, and it wasn’t my time to leave this earth. So now I am writing this post to you to share hope.
I also share hope on my blog at www.dailysignsofhope.com. As the title states, you get daily signs of hope. Check it out and join me there as well. Find out why 94,000 people are subscribers to the blog.
I have been labeled as the “hope whisper.” I go to writer’s conferences and people address me with that name.
Why? Shouldn’t I be angry at the world? I had over ten years of serious ailments including five surgeries. This latest trial has been one of my hardest to accept.
I don’t feel anger. I don’t think this world is an awful place to be.
I have learned that we will all face trials and storms. Some will be raging storms. I have also learned that each time I make it through the storm I am a little stronger. I even learned that I can use my adversity, pain, and suffering to help others who may be going through the same things.
Remember:
You are never alone.
You are never forsaken.
You are never unloved.
And above all…never, ever, give up!