Carmela Snelbaker

Author of "Thank You For Your Service, Sheep!"
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  • Tag: hospice

    • “Help Me”

      Posted at 3:24 PM by carmelasnelbaker
      Aug 13th

      “Help me”. When physical energy is extremely low and life’s burden is heavy, verbal requests are condensed to the most powerful, heart wrenching simplicity. I cannot tell you how many times I have sat with someone facing end of life when the simple request “Help me” is repeated.

      As a caregiver I have had the honor of taking care of and meeting many people of many different faiths.

      Our lives are so enriched by listening to stories, experiences and traditions of different cultural belief systems and religions. I try very hard to honor each individuals beliefs and show great respect for family wishes and traditions.

      The common thread that flows through each experience is that of Love. Love is the great universal connection we all share and we all need.

      Divine Love shines through with a beauty, purity and selflessness that is recognizable no matter what “label” it may come wrapped in. As the sweetness of sugar is the base for candies of endless recipes and names, Divine Love is the common ingredient in countless religious denominations and beliefs.

      1 Corinthians 13 : 13 Now faith, hope, and love remain—these three things—and the greatest of these is love.

      Inspiration and Wisdom will always find us when we ask for it. It does not have to be requested in lengthy prayers.

      There are so many songs that contain so much encouragement and inspiration. I am sharing two of my favorites below.

      The simple request “help me” reminds me of the song from the Sidewalk Prophets : Help me find It

            Help Me Find It
      (The Sidewalk Prophets)
      I don’t know where to go from here …..
      It all used to seem so clear….
      I am finding I can’t do this on my own….
      I don’t know where to go from here
      As long as I know that you are near
      I’m done fighting
      I’m finally letting go
      I will trust in you’
      It never failed before’
      I will trust in you
      If there’s a road I should walk
      help me find it
      if I need to be still give me peace for the moment
      whatever your will
      whatever your will
      can you help me find it
      I am including the song below I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. This group will be coming to York PA for a free concert. The link to more information and tickets for the event can be found by clicking here look for York PA west york middle school August 26
      Another favorite is Come as you are. Teaching us to forgive ourselves for not being perfect and to reach out for guidance and support in making better choices.
      “Come As You Are”

                Crowder

      Come out of sadness
      From wherever you’ve been
      Come broken hearted
      Let rescue begin
      Come find your mercy
      Oh sinner come kneel
      Earth has no sorrow
      That heaven can’t heal
      Earth has no sorrow
      That heaven can’t heal
      come out of saddness
      from whereever you’ve been
      Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can’t heal…….

       

      With Respect, Hope, Joy and Love,  Carmela

       

       

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      Posted in Meditative Writings | Tagged #Life, Blog, blogging, caregiver, caregiving, child loss, Christianity, Divine, divine guidance, Divine Love, faith, family, Grief, grieving, Health, help, Holy Spirit, hope, hospice, Hospice Care, inspiration, love, Mental health, Religion and Spirituality, self help, spiritual connections, Spirituality, Truth
    • I’ll Be Brave

      Posted at 9:47 AM by carmelasnelbaker
      May 21st

      bravery_motivational_by_serpent1212-d3er0vq

      Brave…… Spunky, Strong, Unafraid, Undaunted, Lionhearted, Herolike, Indomitable, Spirited, these are synonyms for the word BRAVE.

      How does one become brave? Is it something that we actually contemplate and then act upon? This makes me think of my beautiful grandson Wyatt who was meeting the challenge of living with Mitochondrial Disease. He would often state before having to endure one of the many painful pokes or procedures required for that day “I’ll be brave”.

      It is my belief that Bravery comes from within. It is also my Belief that we obtain it from Above. In my opinion as human beings we have limited abilities, knowledge and strength. When we rely on only what our human mind can plan for us we limit ourselves to small minded solutions.

      By reaching outside of ourselves and inviting in Divine Solutions, Bravery will come forth from within.

      This doesn’t mean we will function as the Incredible Hulk with a visible strength busting out of our clothing and a relentless hardhearted attitude. Boasting and singing our theme song and successes.

      You may not know, but as we pray for Divine Support to fill our hearts and Guide us through difficult times, The Divine Spirit within your heart fills you with an endless wealth of Patience, Peace, Joy, Wisdom and Love.

      True Bravery is not boastful and loudly visible it is more noticeable as a beautiful, quiet, gentle, nonthreatening calm, peace and comfort that we are able to function with through whatever daily life sends our way. A Brave person filled with the Divine Spirit is someone you want to draw near to, someone who you can tangibly feel their strength and wisdom. Someone you want to be with and get to know and share their secrets from within.

      It does not mean though that we will be void of emotions. Even the toughest and bravest individuals even though they live with the assurance that they will have adequate courage to survive the challenges life sometimes deals us will experience sadness and tears from the life struggles we and others witness here on earth.

      Pray for those in need, that they may be filled with the Strength and Peace for Above. Pray that the many humans struggling in “human survival mode” reach out for Divine Wisdom, open their hearts to “Be Brave” (as Wyatt so perfectly and simply said it.)

      With Respect, Hope, Joy and Love,  Carmela

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      Posted in Meditative Writings | Tagged #blog4peace, B4Peace, be brave, beauty, bravery, Carmela Snelbaker, challenges, Child, Christianity, compassion, courage, daily post challenge, dignity, divine guidance, DPchallenge, family, God, grandchildren, gratitude, hope, hospice, inspiration, joy, kindness, love, Mental health, peace, positivity, Prayer, respect, spirit, Unconditional love, wisdom
    • Our Family’s Safety Ring of Peace

      Posted at 5:28 PM by carmelasnelbaker
      Feb 20th

      Peace-ring00

      Much time has passed since my last post. I seem to have been at a loss for words since the passing of my grandson. Grief is a very strange thing. There is much written about it and many thoroughly explained steps of grief are defined, but there is no quick recovery and each event is so very different.

      Several months before Wyatt’s passing he was very anxious and afraid. He was having bad dreams and medications were causing some hallucinations. I happened to be wearing a thin silver band ring with the word PEACE engraved on it. I gave him my ring, and had a conversation with him.  “This can be your safety ring. Do you remember in church how we share the peace with our neighbor?” Shaking hands and saying “Peace be with you”. “Yes” he answered. “Wear the ring to remind you that you are safe and fold your hands and say, Dear God, Please take all the scary stuff away.” The ring reminds us that we’re not alone comfort is just a prayer away. The ring and prayers brought him comfort.
      We also talked about having a family ring made. He could chose what he wanted it to look like and say. We each would have a ring and wear it so even when we are not together we can wear and feel safe. He discussed the ring with mom dad and sisters and they decided on having a silver band with a small heart stamped on the band and inside the band it would say forever loved. We had them made and wore them. We were comforted by the connection of the ring and the reminder we are not alone. The ring continues to bring me comfort I treasure the daily reminder of my loving grandson’s presence and the comfort of our loving God.

      With respect, hope, joy and love,  Carmela

      blogfamilyring

       

       

       

       

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      Posted in Family Stories, Meditative Writings | Tagged Carmela Snelbaker, challenges, children, Christianity, courage, dignity, family, grandchildren, hope, hospice, joy, loss of child, love, peace
    • Request For Support And Prayers

      Posted at 3:36 AM by carmelasnelbaker
      Sep 17th

      When you feel like you need to help someone you pray hard, offer help and support, but you want to be able to do more. This is when we use our hands and minds to help raise money and raise awareness. My grandson is receiving hospice care and has been diagnosed with Mitochondrial Disease. This week is Mitochondrial Disease Awareness week. I have crocheted a Prayer Shawl and placed it on ebay as a charity auction. The funds raised from the auction of the shawl will be donated to United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation to help to find a cure. Please consider visiting the auction link, sharing the auction or post with friends and family, placing a bid, or visiting  UMDF.org  and making a donation. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your help and support and prayers. Hopefully the new owner of the prayer shawl auction will wrap in the shawl as they pray for the many individuals who are living their lives with mitochondrial disease and the many who will be diagnosed with it in the future as well.

      prayer shawl photo(87)

      http://www.ebay.com/itm/281169193505

      With respect, hope, joy and love,

      Carmela

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      Posted in Family Stories | Tagged Auction, Carmela Snelbaker, Conditions and Diseases, Health, hospice, madebycarmela, Mitochondrial Disease, Neurological Disorders, superwy, Thehouseofdestephano, wyatt
    • OOPS!

      Posted at 9:40 PM by carmelasnelbaker
      Aug 3rd

      Was I kidnapped for a short time and forced to write an angry post on my blog? I was just looking at the daily prompts.  One of them is Why did you start your blog and the other one is Write an anonymous letter to someone you are jealous of.

      Is is possible to write a post that covers both of these questions? I so believe, I just may have that one covered.

      Did you ever get that little tiny voice in your heart that is nagging at you? Causing you to feel not exactly comfortable, but better explained, as unsettled?

      I have been having that feeling since I made my last post. I wasn’t exactly sure about why, until I seen the two prompts that I mentioned earlier.

      The answer to the first prompt, why did you start your blog?, would be to share and teach Respect, Hope, Joy and Love. Now to answer the second part of this question (have you found your blog going in another direction?)  if you read the last post that I have made you would probably say, Yes. The title just might clue you in on it…. Ugly Greed, Vanity, and Selfishness. In the post I address the National Drug Shortages. These shortages are truly happening. In my article I shared links to the Washingtonian reports that have found that while the hospital is on shortage, and having to triage the use of life supporting medicines, there are places that have no shortages and are supplying the very same items found on the shortage list to give a quick recovery from a hangover! There is actually a bus called “Hangover Heaven” where Fourteen people can be getting an intravenous drip of the very vitamins that are needed to help to support newborn infants who have undeveloped digestive system and need intravenous drips to survive!

      I found myself very angry at this! I have an amazingly courageous grandson who is being kept alive by these much needed vitamins. He not only is on TPN but also has been affected by other needed drugs on the shortage list. The majority of people who live in the United States do not even know that there is a National Shortage List of Medications. My anger and outrage about this causes me to speak out in order to draw attention and hopefully help correct it.

      However when we speak out in hopes of bringing about a positive change it should not be done with anger. This is where the Daily Prompt helped me to realize why I was feeling that small unsettled and annoying voice in my heart.

      The post asking us to blog about someone you are jealous of made me think. Had I not have written this post and felt a little uncomfortable about it, I would not have realized that I am jealous of people who have healthy loved ones not in need of these lifesaving medications!

      Most likely the people who are accepting the intravenous hangover therapies and “cosmetic” vitamin boosts for beatification do not even know that there is a National Drug Shortage List! And I pray the providers of these service are not aware of the shortages and would happily hand over the needed nutrition if it is possible.

      My being angry with them will not change a thing, but calmly raising awareness just may. I am going to go back and change my title to “Please Help American Children and The Profoundly Ill”

      I hope you will consider sharing the post and helping to bring about awareness and a solution! America is capable of so much better than this! We just need to open people’s eyes to the problem. Please Help, here is the link to my previous post. Thanks for sharing!

      I love this quote : The things you take for granted, someone else is praying for

      Oh, Don’t forget to listen and examine that still small voice in your heart! Recognizing it and sharing it can be quite calming 🙂

      With respect, hope, joy and love,

      Carmela

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      Posted in Meditative Writings | Tagged Anger, Carmela Snelbaker, drugs, hospice, huffington post, Infant, Intravenous therapy, jealously, life support, love, respect, United States, Vitamin, Washingtonian
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