Joys of life

These are the joys of life that NO TYRANT can take away from me! Of course there are many more than these five, but these are the ones that I have pictures of at the moment.

Welcoming a new animal into my life....

Watching animals interact with each other.....

Spending time with my husband of 29 years....

Wearing mother-daughter dresses--or jumpers in this case...

Playing piano duets with Cora Beth....

AND writing on my blog......

At least no tyrant has tried to take these from me yet. JUST LET THEM TRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Worse than I thought at first

Today was wonderful and terrible all at the same time. It was wonderful to have lunch with a lot of alternative health care practitioners at the hotel and feel what it was like to be a part of a group of healers. I've spent most of my life alone and have, most of the time, felt alone. However, today I was a member of a group that I can honestly say that I am proud to be a part of. That was the wonderful part.

The terrible part came at the capitol, when I got more of the details about what we are facing. To be honest, it is worse than I thought at first. Several Reiki practitioners in the Dickinson area have actually had the police interrupt their sessions. The police officers had massage therapists with them who made them do their work under close scrutiny to see if there were any massage techniques in use. THIS IS IN AMERICA, FOLKS!!! IN FACT, THIS IS IN NORTH DAKOTA!

There were about 30 people in the very small room. I was very proud of everyone who spoke up for themselves! I had no idea whether or not I would speak as I prefer to let Elizabeth represent us BodyTalkers. She's been in BodyTalk for 7 years and I only 2 1/2 years . However, towards the end of the meeting, Elizabeth turned towards me and asked me quietly if I had something to say. DID I!!!!!!!!

Elizabeth had said in her testimony that, through BodyTalk, she had been able to save several people's lives who were in the room. When I spoke then, I shared that I was one of the people that she had saved. I told briefly how I'd had shingles on my brain and almost died in 2006. I shared how I'd had almost 750 beestings in my head to try to keep living. I also said that I now work with others, some who are very ill, and that we NEED BodyTalk to be available to the people of North Dakota. I said that I happen to resent the massage board for thinking that they can try to keep me from helping others. This was a common viewpoint amongst all of us practitioners from every modality there--I think there were 5 modalities represented.

We all agreed that the Massage Therapy board MUST print a rebuttal in EVERY newspaper in the state and apologize to all of us!!! Elizabeth said that 2 certified BT practitioners in the state have decided not to do BT until they feel that it is safe to do so again. It's up to each practitioner to decide whether or not they want to take the risk as there is a $25,000 fine attached here. THIS IS CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What we need now is for all of you who have had BodyTalk sessions, to sign a form that states that you know that I was NOT doing massage on you when I worked on you. If you are willing to do that, please send me an email here: savedbybodytalk@gmail.com. I'll email you the form and you can send it back to me. I'm collecting these forms and will send them in together, along with my personal story of how BT saved my life. They will all get sent to the massage therapy board. One of the Core Synchronism people said today that many of her clients were a bit upset about this whole deal. They made comments about the massage board thinking that they're pretty stupid if they don't know the difference between a massage and a Core treatment. I could say the same thing about BT sessions. All of my clients would be deeply disappointed if they had thought I could give them a massage!

I asked Elizabeth how she will proceed with her business in light of this threat. She said that she is in the process of revising her consent forms. She'll include something about BT not being massage and her not being a massage therapist on the new forms. I guess I'll do that too. This means that I will need to have all of you resign consent forms the next time that you come in for your session. I apologize for any hassles here but it looks as though we need to take this extra precaution because SOME people want to rule the world. ): By the way, that's why I picked this picture. It's a little poke to those who think that they're so high and mighty that they just tower above everybody else.

Well, I am tired now and I have an hour and a half until most of my family gets home, so I'm going to rest a bit. The family went up north to look at another grain cleaner for Andrew to start cleaning with. After they decided to buy it, they went to the Bartlett's farm for a short visit. They left Andrew there for the weekend, so he is elated. This means extra work for me tonight at chores so I'd best get a little bit more energy before I need to do that.

Thank you to all of you who were praying for the Lord to protect us today. Actually, we don't know anything yet as the Assistant Attorney General (a very nice man) was merely collecting our thoughts. They will be passed on to to the massage board which should make some ears a bit red.

He asked us if we would be willing to meet with the massage board soon, in a bigger room, to discuss all of this. EVERYONE AGREED THAT WE'D DO THAT but that means more stress while we wait and another day at the capitol. The state's attorney told us after the meeting was over, that hardly ever do people attend these meetings and here we packed the room. I told him that he had hit on a nerve. He said that he had noticed. We all laughed because it isn't HIS fault--poor guy!

Well, I wish you all a blessed Sabbath rest. I miss my whistling boy already. Cora is bringing something home, though, that may help with the empty house syndrome. You'll want to check her post late tonight as I doubt very sincerely that she'll be able to sleep without writing about it.

Weary,

Dawn

PS. One awesome bit of news is that I picked up my courage when Bel and Tone-Lise, fellow BodyTalk practitioners, said that they were going to climb the stairs up to the 17th floor to get a little exercise. Bel and I both (we're both in our 50s) had to stop every couple of floors to pant, but we MADE IT TO THE TOP. Then we enjoyed the view together and went down one story to the meeting room. I just hope that my legs aren't stiff tomorrow. :) Thanks for your patience Tone-Lise--you're in GREAT shape!!!!!!!!!!!

Threatened

Dear friends,

I have been burdened of late and have not written until I could hopefully have some good news to share. You see, over a week ago we learned that the North Dakota Message Board has decided to throw it's weight around. Further, it decided to throw it's weight around in MY direction. It seems that someone on their board has a personal grudge against someone in another energy modality. This person wrote a rather ugly article which the Dickinson Press published. Here are a few of the details.

It seems that this particular massage therapist (I have several friends who are massage therapists and I'm happy of it) took it upon herself to try to stop EVERY energy modality out there. She stated that people who do Reiki, Core Synchronization, Healing Touch etc (BodyTalk falls under the etc.) ARE practicing massage therapy without a license to do so.

There are a few of our techniques which involve rubbing on the skin but we are doing BodyTalk and not massage. Our intention is to normalize stress levels in the body or to move their lymph. We were taught to ask if we are to do the rubbing or if the client is to do so and to act accordingly. This is how I know that I have not ever offended a single one of my clients by touching them if they minded. Further there are no complaints against any BodyTalk or Reiki practitioner from anyone in the state.

Communication attempts have been made on our part, but the massage therapy board is still taking it's complaint to the Assistant Attorney General's office tomorrow at 3:00. Well, what are we to do?

The meeting is open to the public, so many of our practitioners are planning on attending. As I am also a Reiki Master/Teacher this affects me on both accounts. Elizabeth will be representing us as BodyTalk practitioners and the other modalities are also having their leaders speak out about how we are NOT doing massage therapy.

I'm asking all of you to pray that the people listening to the "Evidence" will have clear minds and will listen to ALL of the thoughts presented. Further, if you could pray for me to trust the Lord and NOT GET STRESSED OUT, I would be very grateful!!!

I'm enclosing below (in black) Elizabeth's email from last night for those of you who want to read up on this. If you are interested in attending the meeting, it will be held at 3:00 tomorrow afternoon on the 17th floor of the Capitol building in the Attorney Generals office. I plan to take pictures if I am allowed to do so. There was some talk of television coverage, so this could end up to be a big thing.

One of my main reasons in writing here is so that you will know, if you hear about this on TV or in the newspapers, that this whole thing is motivated by jealousy. We are getting wonderful results and some people have come our way who may have gone to massage therapists previously. It's totally ridiculous, really, as there are so many hurting people that we couldn't possibly have enough alternative health practitioners! Besides this, like I said to Robert, "There's nobody stopping ANYONE in the world from pursuing training in BodyTalk!"

As Elizabeth mentions in this email, a number of BodyTalk practitioners have begun to collect signatures from their clients stating that they are VERY happy with their sessions. If you are one of my clients (or another BT practitioner's) and would be willing to sign such a petition, please let me know. I'm not pursuing this for tomorrow, as there is no way to be sure if they would even take such "Evidence" at this time. However, if the need arises in the near future, I would be VERY thankful for your support. If you could drop me a short email at: savedbybodytalk@gmail.com, or a comment here, stating that you are willing to speak up for your right to continue receiving BodyTalk sessions, it would certainly relieve some of my current tension. May God bless you for it!!!

Please cover us with your prayers tomorrow!

Dawn

PS. Elizabeth is the woman whom God used to save my life in 2007, and I hold her in the highest regard!

Thank you to those of you who took the time to view and listen to the telewebinar concerning the changes to the North Dakota Massage Therapy Law. At the time of that meeting, Xxxxx let us know that there was to be a meeting with the Attorney General’s office on January 29th concerning this law. Since I did not have any prior knowledge of the meeting I could not elaborate on it at that time. Since then I have spoken with many alternative modality providers across the state and learned more about the situation.

What I originally stated in the telewebinar remains true. The ND massage law has changed. The wording of it is suspect that the massage therapy board is attempting to regulate those who do alternative therapies, other than massage. However, the current law that went into effect in August 2009 does not affect our practice of BodyTalk because we are not manipulating tissue for the purpose of massage.

One of the biggest issues has been the ill worded and misleading article that appeared in the Dickinson Press on December 15, 2009. This article overstepped the letter of the law and made suspect anyone practicing alternative modalities in North Dakota who does not have a massage license. Because Reiki, Core Synchronization, Yoga, Healing Touch and Hands on Healing were named specifically and BodyTalk was included in the "etc” many practitioners have been upset and worried about the future of alternative therapies around the state. A news article appeared in the Bismarck Tribune last week, very different from the one in Dickinson and very, very short and factual. It lacked the misleading information and just informed the public that the massage therapy laws has been changed with an address to contact the board.

As stated in the telewebinar the best way to combat this type of misinformation is by having clarity with the pubic including our clients and family that what we “do” is not massage and by the professional behavior of all who practice alternative modalities. For a complete list of what you can do to make sure your clients all understand what you do and the laws of ND please refer to the telewebinar.

Concerning this meeting on Friday, January 29th at 3 pm I have learned that it is an administrative rules meeting regarding the implementation of the statues regarding massage therapy article 49 of the ND century code. This is a strictly a procedural meeting. It is open to the public but it is unclear if any evidence or complaints will be heard. You are welcome to attend.

The meeting will be held in the 17th floor conference room of the North Dakota State Capital. In the last week YYYYYYY has had conversations with the attorney general’s office which makes it seem that attendance is not really urgent at this time. I am planning to attend and invite you to come if you wish to observe the proceedings and lend your support to North Dakotan's having the right to choose alternative therapies for their care.

Some efforts have been started by many around the state to get their clients to sign an affidavit stating that they understand that the alternative modality being provided is not massage and that the practitioner is not a massage therapist and sending these to the state Assistant Attorney General Mr. Edward Erickson, (600 E Boulevard Ave. Bismarck, ND 58505-0040.) This is a great way to show the attorney general how many people this unlawful attempt at regulation may be affecting. Others are contacting their state senator or representatives to let them know that they want alternative therapies available in North Dakota. This is also a good way to let our elected officials know we care about having alternative therapies available in this state.

There is talk and cooperation between the various alternative therapies to join together and form a board of alternative therapies so that this type of overstepping of authority by the massage therapy board will not happen again. North Dakota’s next legislative session begins in a year and a half and legislative sponsors have been secured to create a board so it is a goal that is possible.

Elizabeth Hanson, CBP, BAT, RMT

-- BodyTalk North Dakota--An organization to promote the BodyTalk System of Health Care and support BodyTalk Practitioners in their pursuit of excellence

Progress

Dear friends,
Our experience with the GMO wheat battle in 2002 was the beginning of our political involvement. I'll always remember that hot day in July, as our crops were drying up, sitting with 3 children all day as we listened to testimony from EVERY realm of life (except Monsanto's of course) how GMO wheat would destroy our farm economy!!!!! How well I recall our education THAT day! How well I recall our subsequent houndings of our congressmen in Bismarck only to hear the same thing over and over, "Republicans are NOT opposed to progress."

This was when Robert got busy and testified in front of the ag committee about how GMO wheat would destroy, not only our organic farm, but also our cleaning business. I am very pleased to announce that OUR REPUBLICAN SENATOR was the only one who voted against the introduction of GMO wheat. WHY? Because Robert took the time out of his very busy schedule to personally sit down with our Senator and show him that HE is representing US.

THAT WAS WHEN I GOT MY FIRST GLIMMER OF HOPE THAT WE DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO OUR REPRESENTATIVES.

To make a long story short, all of the other Republicans voted against protecting us from destruction. In other words, they IGNORED all of the expert testimony advising them of the dangers to our state and to our state's farms if they would not act to block Monsanto's moves to force us to accept GMO wheat pollen into our atmoshpere.

What happened then is that the group we were involved with, DAKOTA RESOURCE COUNCIL, got a grass roots campaign going. Through MANY people talking against this, Monsanto withdrew their campaign and WE WON. What this taught us was that a lot of people working together can even stop an international corporation who will use ANY methods to get what they want. What do they think they can take over the whole world and we're just going to lay down and and let them???????????//

So this morning, when I read this new release from Parental Rights.org, I was again greatly encouraged. We hear so much rubbish about big business and big government that it serves to make us feel small and insignificant. Can you see now that this is EXACTLY HOW THEY WANT US TO FEEL????????

Please take a few moments to sign the petition for the PARENTAL RIGHT'S AMENDMENT to pass. EVERY LITTLE PERSON IS A VOICE WHICH, WHEN JOINED TOGETHER, WILL BE HEARD!!!!!!!! Every person who can grasp this concept IS progress.


Turning America Back: What Brown's Election Means
One week ago, the unthinkable happened; the state of Massachusetts elected a Republican senator, and that in an election with a very high voter turn-out. Since then, we’ve heard countless pundits telling us precisely what Senator Brown’s election does and does not say about our nation. As a general rule, of course, no two of these pundits can actually agree.Regardless of what the “experts” say, it’s clear to us that Americans are simply tired of out-of-control government and even more out-of-control spending. We want less government, more respect for our money and our personal rights, and greater control over our elected officials. We’re tired of telling our lawmakers what we want, only to have them ignore us and spend billions of dollars on whatever they feel like anyway.We want to turn back to the days of limited government and strong personal responsibility. We want to get back to respect for the Bill of Rights, which preserves personal liberties by placing specific government limits into the text of the Constitution.

The proposed Parental Rights Amendment does exactly that. Our government federalized banks, then federalized the auto industry; it is in the final throes of a failed attempt (we hope) to federalize health care. But it is still in a position to federalize child rearing through court decisions and the potential ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. By prohibiting the government from intruding on parental liberties except in cases of abuse or neglect, the proposed Parental Rights Amendment mirrors the example of the Bill of Rights and turns back a government bent on control. Please click here to sign the petition to support it.
Action Item
We urge you to help in two concrete ways this week. First, pass the above message on to all of your freedom-loving friends and family members, and urge them to sign the petition at parentalrights.org. Second, pass the message along through Facebook, Twitter, blogs or bulletin boards, especially those you frequent and those connected with freedom organizations or the new freedom/Tea Party movement.
Together, let’s get the word out about parental rights. For many lawmakers, it was the last thing they heard before the din of Health Care drowned everything out. Let’s grow our list toward making it the first thing they hear in the ensuing quiet as well!
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To summarize my thoughts, I decided to share this quote that Jacob just read to me from Marian Wright Edelman,founder of the Children's Defense Fund. What do you think of this thought? "So often we think we have got to make a difference and be a big dog. Let us just try to be little fleas biting. Enough fleas biting strategically can make a big dog very uncomfortable."

GO FOR IT,

Dawn

What do you do if? Part 2

Q. What do you do if there's a blizzard outside and everyone else in the house is busy except you?

A. You draw up plans for a brand new house that maybe SOME DAY you'll build. I'm not holding my breath, as this is the second house that Robert has designed for here, but it sure is fun to dream a little. We were all putting our thoughts into it and didn't realize that it was getting very late. The guys were looking at brand new pool tables on this computer while Cora and I were looking at brand new grand pianos on hers--what a bunch of dreamers.

As a result there's not enough time left for me to go outside and help with chores as I need to do a distance session at 9:00. I need to finish supper dishes yet too but I wanted to share this little forward that a friend sent over today. Some people have the knack of saying a lot with just a few words, but that isn't me. :)

I hope that you'll enjoy this thought and I hope that you all are staying warm in a house with ELECTRICITY!!! Many people around here have been without it for a few days already. We're so thankful that ours only flickered a little bit on Saturday--even if it was when I was in the shower. THAT WAS INTERESTING!!!

Keep warm everyone.

Dawn

WITHOUT GOD….our week would be:

“Sinday”,
“Mournday”,
“Tearday”,
“Wasteday”,
“Thirstday”,
“Fightday”,
“Shatterday”, ….

Without God – makes one WEAK!

What would you say if...

What would you say if your neighbor called you up and said, "Can I come over and bring you a belated birthday present?"

"Sure, why not come over for tea tomorrow afternoon," is what I said.

Then, what would you say if your neighbor said, "Well, it's just a 'Little something' that I've been working on," and when she comes you learn that it's a brand new quilt that she made especially for you because she knows that you love roses and birds....

What would you say later on when you realized that you were so excited to see the new quilt, and then to visit with her, that you didn't even serve her any tea? "What kind of a hostess am I

?" is what I thought. MY GOODNESS--HOW EMBARRASSING!!!!!

What can I say now but, "Tamera, your gift has touched my heart in a VERY special way! I most certainly WILL think of you every time that I snuggle up with it." THANK YOU FOR EVERY STITCH THAT YOU PUT INTO IT WITH LOVE! I AM HONORED BY YOUR FRIENDSHIP MORE THAN I COULD HAVE SAID THAT DAY, BUT I'M SAYING IT NOW.

I hope that all of you will enjoy these pictures from that day!

I have more to say along these, "What would you say if," lines, but I need to get cleaned up for Sabbath, so I'll share those thoughts for later. Besides, Tamera's quilt deserves a post of it's own. Wouldn't you agree?

A blessed Sabbath rest to you all,

Dawn

Oh for joy--a quilt made with love just for me! I have never received such a gift before and I am at a loss for words to express my joy!

"You said it's for snuggling up with someone that I love so you were the first, dear friend and neighbor!"

Jacob, Sophia, Josiah, and Mariah playing as we moms got caught up on our news. I'll admit that it was a bit heavy on the goat end of things as Olivia kept calling her mom with the latest kid news. To quote the narrator in Scrooge, "What of it--it is the very thing that I like!" I also learned what may have killed several of our goats recently (goat polio) and what to do to prevent it. Thanks for being willing, as usual, to share from your vast supply of knowledge, Tamera! :)

My family and I looked at the pattern closely that evening. I was struck with awe that Tamera would spend so much time to make a quilt just for me! How it warms my heart now to think of it again.

The border is just strikingly beautiful. Tamera said that, when she saw it, she knew that she would make the quilt for me. It is this rich fabric covered with lovely roses. It's a little hard to see here but there are also birds in brown so that one gets the lovely sensation of being in a garden. Tamera knows me well enough to know that there is nothing that I love more than being in a garden. She also put some roses in the star burst. Can you see the large stars? I can honestly tell you that I know enough about quilting to grasp the vast amount of work that went into this gift. I further know that I am NOT gifted in this area, so most likely will not be the kind of grandma to make quilts for my grandchildren's births. Fortunately I have a neighbor who just happens to love that sort of thing. :)

THANK YOU TAMERA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Puppies

What is it about puppies? My brother, Duard, sent me some pictures of dad in his new home. One of the nurses in the assisted living facility brought in some of her new pups. Look at my dad. He always was a nut about dogs. I am soooooooooo grateful that he is happy in his new home. What's not to like?

I want to write soon about my neighbor, Tamera's, visit yesterday but I can't do that wonderful subject justice now, so it will have to wait in my "To write about," bin. Sorry Tamera, but the perfectionist in me just will not allow me to deal lightly with your gift. :)

Later,

Dawn

PS. Who on earth could resist a cute, little puppy?