Hi!  My name is jennifer and I am 9 years old.  I am one of the keepers.  You know “the many people in one body” thing.  Believe me, it is might crowded inside this body.  There is a whole ton of people living in here and I am just one of the kids.  There are lots of kids inside here and that is a pretty good thing now cause it means we have each other to play with and talk to and watch movies with.  But it used to feel like an awful thing for all of us littles to be squished inside with all of our bigs.  That is cause our bigs never liked us littles very much at all and they blamed everything that went wrong on us  little keepers.  Sometimes the bigs were right cause us littles were feeling so bad most of the time that we did bad things and hurt the body and stuff.  We were bad but we did not mean to be.  It was just we felt so awful so much of the time.

I am one of the keepers who did bad things to the body.  I didn’t cut or anything like that but I kept on scratching for years and years.  I always felt like something was burning my skin and if I could get it off by scratching the burning feeling would go away but it never did.  Not for a long time anyways.  One of keepers daughters gave me a big old stuffed animal and tried to help me scratch that instead of the body.  That worked for a little while but then I needed to scratch the body again.  We tried all kinds of medicines but none of them helped.  Then our John Michael called a special phone number and asked what to do for bleach burns.  He got off the phone and did what they said.  My skin felt lots better and I did not scratch again for a while.  When I did scratch again, he did what the phone people said again and it got better again.  Pretty soon my itching stopped bothering me and it never ever came back.

I never liked being a little keeper cause it felt like nobody liked me at all and I thought I was a bad person for scratching up the body so much.  I used to hide all the time and I never could sleep.  I thought I was bad cause I was scared of everything.  But then I learned that sometimes being scared is the smart thing to feel so it was ok that I was so afraid.  Then, I learned that I can be very happy with just one or two people who love me.  I have those two people cause our JM and Pastor both love me and the other littles.  It would be nice if a lady loved me, too.  But maybe that is never going to happen for us.  Then our JM made our house safe so littles could sleep just like regular kids.  Now we sleep all night long and wake up feeling really really good.

I just want other little alters to know that you are good and your feelings are ok.  Even when they feel like they are bad feelings.  And I want all other little alters to know that you did a really good thing by saving the body when bad things happened.  And I want you all to know that things really do get lots better and life really does become happy.  It takes a lot of work and it is scary sometimes but now I get to laugh and smile and go to amusement parks and watch good movies and jus plain be a happy kid.  It took a long time but little keepers finally got our happy childhood and each of you will to.  I know that is true because each little alter in the whole wide world is a very good kid who just got dealt a really bad deal way back then.

jennifer

This morning, keepers received the news that the city of Florissant(the city that KEEPERSKORNER calls home) has passed a law making internet harassment a crime.  For us, this is extremely good news because KEEPERSKORNER has dealt with such harassment–not once–but twice in the last eight months.  Both of these experiences were extremely unpleasant and emotionally taxing on all keepers.  From there, the situations only got worse so knowing that our city is taking internet harassment seriously feels like a major step forward to our system of alters.

The worst of our experiences with internet harassment began last April by way of our blog and continued well into July at which point the harassment began to include actual threats on the lives of our JM and keepers which we took to our local police department.  To be honest, we felt so very grateful that the police took what we were saying seriously and helped us find the appropriate resources for dealing with what was happening to us.  We were very fortunate because posting on our blog that the police and the ICCC were both involved in catching the person/people who were putting us through such emotional torture brought an end to that experience with our being harassed so badly.  But, truth be told, a lot of emotional damage was done to keepers before we found the courage to take the emails we were receiving to the police station.  Keepers had begun fearing even checking emails because we never knew when another one would be there waiting for us.  Our system had reverted back to having trouble sleeping because the person harassing us had begun threatening to show up at our home.  However, our local police told keepers we should have a phone with us at all times and that they would be here in seconds once keepers called 911.  That helped us a lot and gave us more of a sense of security being here at KEEPERSKORNER alone so much.

The person attacking us first began on our blog.  Since it quickly became obvious that there was no pleasing this person, we put our blog comments into moderation which set off the wrath of our harasser.  This person’s IP address was untraceable by normal computer geeks so we had to simply block that address from our blog.  Then, this person went to commenting in our guest book on KEEPERSKORNER.  The fact the comments had to be approved again set off the wrath of this person because none of his/hers were ever approved.  Before long, we had to block the IP address from our guest book as well.  Then, this person went to sending emails through our Contact Us tab on KEEPERSKORNER.  We could not block the individual IP address from said tab so we had no choice but to disable our Contact Us Tab for a while.  Unfortunately, this did no good because the person had the address for KK and continued emailing until such point that our lives were being threatened.  The police–on two different occasions–told keepers and JM that we were dealing with a severely disturbed human being who was doing this to us.  For keepers that was a frightening thing to hear and caused us to go deep into seclusion for a while.

The truth is that keepers are not overly popular people in some ways.  We had finished our testifying against our former therapist which made it a real possibility that he was trying to get even with us.  The fact that keepers had reported two different male family members to DCFS for inappropriate behaviors with young girls also made it very possible the one of them was trying to get even with us.  And there was the possibility that people even closer to keepers were doing the harassment.

The authorities and other ministries also had keepers begin realizing that there would be people who were angered by our ministry at KEEPERSKORNER.  As hard as it is to believe, there are people who will do anything they can to shut down someone who is trying to do a good thing.  (That still blows keepers minds even though we have come to understand the truth of it). And there are people who are not happy that keepers have healed and found our calling which has brought us such joy.  Those people wanted keepers to stay sick and under their control at all times.  So, by healing and beginning to speak out while following our dream to do our ministry, we were literally putting ourselves in harms way which is a frightening thought indeed.

Keepers were extremely impressed by how seriously the City of Florissant took our complaint about the harassments when we went to the police station last July.  We are even more impressed with our municipality for making it law that internet harassment is a crime.  To us, it is just one more statement that the officials do listen and do act on behalf of the little people like keepers and JM.  Since this has come on the heels of our former therapist being convicted by the State of Missouri, keepers will always be able to truly say the both the state of Missouri and our local municipality have done right by keepers at all times.

Our situation with internet harassment turned out ok but only because extreme measures were taken to keep us safe.  The only reason keepers had the courage to take our harassment to the local police was that our has shown support of our ministry here at KK and because we have lived in this community for well over thirty years without our ever having crossed the law.  Besides, we had absolutely nothing to lose by going to the police since JM and keepers are on our own in every way.  And, keepers were smart enough to listen carefully to all we were told and to follow the directions we were given on how to keep ourselves safe.  Still, we saw it as a major thing to have to take emails sent to KK to the police and leave them there for further investigation.  However, I can truly say that keepers are so very glad we took that risk.

Keepers see internet harassment as a serious and frightening problem.  Someone can claim to be a boyfriend doing the harassing when it is in actuality someone completely different.  Someone can claim to be a daughter saying unbelievably cruel things when in truth the harasser is, once again, someone completely different.  So, on the net, one never really knows who is pretending to be who and how far an attacker will go to cause harm.  And it is difficult for people who live in multiplicity to deal with such situations without falling completely apart which keepers did do for a while.

We at KEEPERSKORNER really want to thank the City of Florissant for passing a law making internet harassment a crime.  We know that this is just the first step because such laws need to be widespread to protect people from such experiences.  But our City was among the first to take action in protecting its citizens while on the internet.  Thank you City of Florissant.  You make your citizens, like us, very proud to be a part of this community.

peace and blessings,

keepers

Keepers have been sitting here–thinking about all we have to deal with over the upcoming month. In the next couple of weeks, we have two separate hearings that we have to face in one way or another–one is for our tax exempt status and the other is the hearing where the disciplinary action against our former therapist will be decided. To be honest, just thinking about dealing with the hearing process twice in one month is quite overwhelming to our system. Then, keepers have to deal with our annual grief over the disintegration of our family that hits at this time of year. And we have to get the gifts shipped for those who have requested items from KEEPERSKORNER. We have them all bought. Now, we go into packaging and shipping to various people around the world. Plus, keepers really want to finish up painting KEEPERSKORNER so we can get back to normal with everything in its place again. We still have a hall and a bathroom and a stairwell to get painted before we are done. Somehow, we managed to save all of the more complicated painting for last which was probably not a wise thing for us to do. So, keepers are looking at the month of December in 2007 and feeling rather overwhelmed. We know we will get everything done and we will deal with the upcoming emotional roller coaster that always accompanies the holidays for us. I think, though, that we just wish this was the beginning of January and all that I have mentioned above was behind us.

One good thing is that our JM will be off quite a bit of December. We have a couple of four day weekends coming up and JM will be off work for eleven days over Christmas itself. He gets off work on the Friday before Christmas and is not due back at work until Wed. January 2. Keepers always like having our JM home because our time together is very precious to us. Plus, we work well as a team which means we will get more work accomplished with him home. So, hopefully, having him home will make December a very productive month for KEEPERSKORNER. At least, keepers are hoping so.

Keepers do really wish that we were facing the disciplinary aspect of our case against our former therapist with the feeling that we have already forgiven him for all the harm he did to us and our family. But, this has become one of those things that is very difficult for keepers to truly forgive and let go of. Especially at this time of year, the harm he did to everyone in our family (John and our external kids) feels like it is glaring us in the face so much that we can not just let it go right now. Having a loving family was so very important to keepers. Knowing that our former therapist intentionally set out to destroy this for keepers feels like just too much for us to forgive. Keepers are angry at all he stole from us and dealing with that anger in healthy ways is not always easy for our system. So, the hearing will be held in December without forgiveness in keepers hearts which means we will be praying that our former therapist gets the most severe discipline possible but only time will tell. It is difficult because the actual decision is not made until after the disciplinary hearing which means we will have to wait months to know what discipline is being handed down to him. Keepers are not the most patient people in the world and this case has taken so many years already that waiting this last phase out is very hard for all of us.

Keepers do believe that if we can stay strong and grounded, we can maintain a positive attitude throughout December. which means we will be able to enjoy Christmas and, possibly, have some fun along the way. JM always takes our little keepers out to look at Christmas lights on Christmas Eve. And New Years Eve we always have shrimp and sausage and cheese which is fun for us bigs. And, hopefully, we will be able to go out to dinner once or twice over the next few weeks. It is important for keepers to remember all the fun things we get to do during times when our system feels overwhelmed like we do now. It helps us stay more balanced in feeling like our system can handle all that is around the bend for us.

Well, keepers really need a good night’s sleep so I am going to close out this blog by reminding all keepers how very blessed we are to have each and every friend we have made through our website and our blog. Each one of you has truly become a loved one here at KEEPERSKORNER. To each of you–thank you for being who you are and thank you for being such a wonderful part of our lives. The month of December, 2007 will be easier for each and every keeper because we know such awesome people like each of you.

peace and blessings,

keepers

Life here at KEEPERSKORNER is always very interesting because Max and Owen (our two cats.) are real characters. Somehow, this always manages to become even more true when the Christmas season rolls around. And this year it seems to be even worse because we are still in the midst of painting throughout the house. In fact, the above picture is of Max, who has become particularly fond of climbing the ladder whenever JM or keepers gets down off of it. The problem comes in when Max is ready to get down from his perch. This is something he has not figured out how to do by himself so he whines and meows until JM or keepers comes to his rescue by picking him up and setting him back on the floor.

Keepers have two very little alters who absolutely love the Christmas Tree being up in our house.  One is named Noel (she is 3 years old) and one is named Pretty (only around two years old.)  So, each year we try to put our Christmas tree up right around Thanksgiving.  However, Max loves to scale the Christmas tree and curl up on one of the higher branches.  This is a real problem for two reasons.  First, Max might hurt himself because the branches are not that strong and, second, Max might break the tree because it does not bear up well under his weight.  Owen, on the other hand, loves to play with the ornaments.  He will get up on his hind legs and bat at the ornaments until the fall off the tree which is not good as many of our ornaments are glass and he could cut himself in the process.   Well, this year, JM had only half the tree set up when he discovered Max lying in the middle of what had been set up and Owen looking upward–trying to figure out how to meet his brother halfway up the tree.  So, our boys were automatically banished to the basement which made them and us very unhappy as we thought this might turn out to be a month long banishment.  However, Mini-mes told our JM about a product we could spray on the tree so it would repel Max and Owen instead of attracting them.  So, after a couple of days, our boys were allowed back upstairs.  Owen chose to stay far away from the Christmas tree but Max began searching for a spot on the tree that did not have the odor of the spray which he found by getting on the windowsill behind the tree.  Once JM sprayed that section Max gave up on the tree and joined Owen on the recliner in the living room which is the picture below.

Please do not be fooled by sweet Max and Owen look curled up in the above picture.  For the most part, each one of them is wonderful to have around but each one also has his own way of keeping things hopping here at KEEPERSKORNER.  They are constantly climbing where they should not be and the fight like crazy but when all is said and done, the curl up with each other and fall fast asleep.  Needless to say, both JM and keepers love these two cats very much.

peace and blessings,

keepers

** For an update to this situation please go to JIP’s blog, at Life’s Spacings

Over the last few weeks KEEPERSKORNER has put up two differenct prayer request for our dear friends JIP. This morning we received an email from JIPs therapist saying how she believes the prayers going up for JIP have made a huge difference in how things are going. She is very appreciative of our Prayer Warriors through Save Our World Ministries and of the prayer circles around the globe where people have joined together in raising our voices and asking God to come to the aid of JIP in times when she needed it most.

At around 4:00 this morning, our toll free number rang and it was JIP on the other end of the line. I could hear that she was suffering greatly as her tears were making it difficult for her to speak or even breathe. JIP had only recently received a call that her sister–who has cancer–has very little time left on this earth. JIP called keepers because she was unable to reach her therapist at this painful time. Now, only a few moments ago, JIP called keepers again. She sounded even more drained and frightened than she did early this morning. In fact, JIP did not sound like herself at all which let keepers know how very bad she is feeling right now. However, JIP mentioned the possiblity of her sister getting better somehow so keepers know that JIP is following our five minute rule that states DON’T GIVE UP FIVE MINUTES BEFORE YOUR MIRACLE HAPPENS.

There is a theory on this earth that we are all one and united together regardless of age or distance or religious preferences or nationalities. Keepers fully believe this to be true. On some level our differences do not matter at all and our strength is in the unity we all share on some unseen level. For this reason, keepers feel great empathy for what JIP is having to endure right now and we are suffering along with her at this horrendously painful time. You see, JIP has become a part of keepers heart which means her system is as much keepers sister as our own blood sister. This is true of so many of the people that come through KK and reach keepers on levels that we never thought would be possible.

Since JIP and keepers live half a world away from each other, all keepers can do is turn to our Prayer Warriors and our cyber family, asking for ongoing prayers for both JIP and her sister while they are suffering so badly. Keepers are praying for JIP to feel understood and truly loved as things unfold for her in this situation. And for her sister keepers are praying for Divine Right Action. Our prayers will be virtually continual until such point that they are no longer needed for JIP and her sister.

Over the span of many years, keepers have dealt with the passing of two of our siblings. For us, it was a pain that defies description. Even when there is serious discourse in a family sibling often sepate from one another but the unique bond siblings share is always there and the possible loss of a person who grew up knowing us and seeing all that made us who we become is an incredibly unbearable thing to endure. So, keepers are feeling great empathy for JIP right now and we are doing our best to walk with her through the next few days or weeks. From half a world away, we fear keepers can only fall short in doing that but every time JIP picks up the phone and reaches out to keepers–we will be there for her without question.

Please, bow your heads in prayer one more time for our sister survivor JIP and her sister who is so ill. The more voices asking God to have mercy on both of them–the better. And keepers are talking to God about our five minute rule as we ask for this to be a situation where the miracle is but five minutes away.

peace and blessings,

keepers

Well, here we sit at 4:30 pm on the evening before Thanksgiving here in the U.S.  Every other year, this particular moment in time has been one of the worst for keepers.  In childhood, we always sensed the impending doom that came to us when our parents and aunts and uncles and grandparents were all gathered together in party mode.  Actually, this sense of impending doom just before a holiday is something keepers carried with us into adulthood.  It took us way too many years to understand that we could put the weight of that feeling down and begin to find happiness in celebrating holidays.  But, even after we laid that to rest, holidays have been so difficult for keepers as our external family has disintegrated into nothingness which has left our system feeling unwanted and uncared about–especially on days when families gather together and celebrate the love of being a happy family.

But, this year, something is so wonderfully different for us.  I have spent time with our little alters today and found no sadness or fear in them at all.  I even spent time with our teen keepers and discovered the same was true of them.  So much so that I have the very real sense that keepers have, at long last, turned the corner on how we see holidays.  You see, this will be the first one ever that keepers have just sat back and enjoyed without thinking of what holidays used to mean or how it feels to have so many who choose to not sit at our Thanksgiving table.

Thanksgiving at KEEPESKORNER is very special for us this year.  Requests for gifts from little alters are coming in regularly which makes keepers feel very good.  Our toll free number (1.888.752.9070) has been busy all day.  Since we manning our toll free number 24/7 from now until Monday morning, we are full of anticipation that the line will be quite busy and many new friends will contact us over this holiday.  And tonight, big keepers will be reading PADDINGTON BEAR on webcam to a young alter in another system along with reading to little keepers.  Tonight, we are going to curl up with our JM and let our littles watch SHREK III to begin our holiday movie tradition.  Over the next thirty days , we will also watch MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET; THE BISHOPS WIFE; IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE and three different versions of A CHRISTMAS CAROL.  We also have HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS and other favorites from when our external children were little to watch this year.

Tomorrow, out turkey will roasting in the over early in the day.  We will spend time talking with some very cherished friends who have come into our lives and we will again spend time watching movies.  We will wind up our Thanksgiving by placing a call to Pastor since we feel he is truly our family these days.  Late night, we will have snacks and enjoy some quiet time before heading off to bed.  The toll free number will still  be manned throughout the night hours so feel free to call if the need or desire arises.

Friday morning, our JM will finish up painting the trim in our studio so that we can set about putting up our Christmas tree.  This will be the first year we have ever put the tree in our studio but that makes it nicely different than ever before and puts it in a place where keepers can enjoy it as we work from day to day on KEEPERSKORNER.  Our little keepers absolutely love decorating the tree so us bigs will sit back and let the littles work with JM on getting the tree just perfect for this year.  However, us bigs will come out to answer the phone any time someone calls our toll free number over the next few days.

So, all in all, this promises to be a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend here at KEEPERSKORNER.   Our system finds that rather amazing since happy holidays are truly a new experience for all in our system.  But it is an experience keepers are readily adjusting to and one we will all give thanks for over many years to come.  Maybe keepers turning the corner on how we see holidays is the beginning of our system turning the corner in many other ways as well.  To us, that is an awesome thought and one we are eternally grateful to experience having.

peace and blessings,

keepers

The above picture is of Marky–the kitty cat that we did a post on just a few days ago. He has feline diabetes and we were helping our friend look for a new home for him as our friend is on disability and affording the insulin each month was well beyond her abililties. Well, this blog is to inform our readers that a lady has come forward and wants very much to include Marky in her family. The transfer of ownership will take place this coming weekend at the office of Marky’s veterinarian so the new owner will have all medical records to take with Marky to his new home. So, we are very happy to say that little Marky did find a new home and our friend is well satisfied that it will be a loving and caring home for her ailing cat. For all of us, this is a true blessing because everyone was concerned about little Marky.

peace and blessings,

keepers

One year ago (at this time of year) KEEPERSKORNER had attained our license as a not for profit organization here in Missouri.  Once that license was hung on the wall of our studio, KK set out to seek our tax exempt status both on the state level and the federal level.  It was Nov. 19, 2007 when KK submitted our application to the state of Missouri requesting our tax exempt status.  However, we never heard a single word on whether the application had been received or, especially, if it was being considered.  Although, this was frustrating, it was also something JM and keepers took in stride knowing how antiquated and sluggish government processes can be.

Well, this morning, keepers went to check our mail box after we heard the postman outside.  Frustration was all we felt as we pulled a huge pile of envelopes out of the box.  It seems like all we ever receive is bills through our snail mail and those are especially unwelcome at this time of year since shopping for Christmas seems much more important than paying for gas and electricity right now.  But, as we sorted through the bills, we noticed that one was from the Department of Revenue in our state.  Actually, keepers figured it was our personal property tax receipt for this year which always comes in around this time.  But when I opened the envelope, I found the notification that a hearing is being held in Mid December to determine the tax exempt status of KEEPERSKORNER.  This letter also stated that JM and keepers are required to be present at the hearing to answer any questions the board may have concerning what KK does and how we operate.  So, keepers got on the phone to our JM and he sceduled a day off for the day of our hearing concerning KEPERSKORNER becoming tax exempt.

Keepers very often hear people say “Every little bit helps”.  Well, we always understood this statement but it has come to mean much more to us since we have been doing our ministry here at KEEPERSKORNER.  Doing KEEPERSKORNER has taught both JM and keepers how to wring everything we can out of each dollar.  In fact, we have gotten to the point where we sit in amazement of how far our funds go in terms of doing what needs to be done or offering what we think will make a difference.  Still, anything that helps us stretch our dollars a little bit further is very important to us and something both JM and keepers feel grateful to have.  Having this tax exempt status (even on the state level) will make quite a difference in how far our revenues will stretch.

Of course, we do not know for sure if we will be approved for our tax exempt status but something inside of us is very hopeful that our hearing will have a very positive outcome.  KEEPERSKORNER already has the respect and support of our local community.  We have the credibility of our license and we have the support of corporations like the one our JM works for.  And KEEPERSKORNER is well respected by the five different ministries that make up SAVE OUR WORLD MINISTRIES.  So, both JM and keepers will be walking into our hearing with confidence that KEEPESKORNER will gain the approval needed for us to have tax exempt status.

In doing our ministry, keepers have learned to ride the ebb and flow of good times and bad times.  It is isn’t always easy for us to believe we are truly on the right track.  In fact, there are many times when keepers get very discouraged and begin to lose hope or start thinking about what we are doing is not worth it.  Each time keepers fall into that type of negative thinking, something comes along from the outside world that gives us the realization that we are doing exactly what we are meant to do.

These last ten days or so have been really hard for keepers.  We have been walking through the dark days of doing our ministry for a couple of weeks now.  Much of our time has been spent reading and seeking inspiration from others who have been successful in their devotion to living a life of service.  Still, keepers have been oscillating between keeping on keeping on just as we have been and veering off in a totally different direction.  This has been a time when keepers have felt real hope for our ministry and yet felt discouraged beyond words.

But even as we have walked through our dark days, the universe has been sending us messages that we are on the right track and that we truly do need to keep going.  One of these messages was finding out our niece is depending on our website as a source of support for her as she begins her own healing path.  Another one of these messages has been in the form of our being able to afford doing our massive painting to rid KEEPERSKORNER of the influence of our abusive background.  Now, the third message is that the state of Missouri once again heard us and has scheduled a hearing where KK can present our case for becoming tax exempt.  So, keepers are now working on getting the negative messages out of our minds and replacing them with the hope and inspiration we are receiving from some very unusual sources.

For keepers, something very personal and quite awesome is happening as well.  It was not so long ago that keepers had no faith at all in the system. And it was not so long ago that keepers thought it would always be impossible for us to have the courage to attend hearings in court while actually speaking our piece with grace and dignity.  Yet, court hearings are becoming just another part of what keepers do.  We testified against our former therapist.  We are dealing with the upcoming hearing on disciplinary action against him and now we are dealing with the hearing on KEEPERSKORNER becoming tax exempt.  The truth is that doing things like this are becoming a natural part of keepers lives which means so much to us because it tells that we have truly grown beyond our living in complete seclusion.

Keepers can not even begin to explain why things happen the way they do.  We have no explanation of why our dear sweet niece would turn to KEEPERSKORNER in this–her hour of need.  Nor, do we understand why–after a year of waiting and hoping–this was the time when our hearing was scheduled.  We can not explain because we have no answer.  However, both JM and keepers have hearts very full of gratitude for all the wonderful things that happen here at KEEPERSKORNER.

Please keep a good thought (and maybe even say a prayer) that our tax exempt status is approved.

peace and blessings,

keepers

***Give the world the best you have and you will get kicked in the teeth. GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU’VE GOT ANYWAY*** Mother Teresa

Our ministry at KEEPERSKORNER has been up and running for the last year and a half. That means our ministry is just in its toddler stage and has a very long way to go before it reaches adulthood. Like any growing thing, KEEPERSKORNER needs attention and nurturing in these early years so that it will have a strong foundation as we grow and expand into what will be our adulthood in our ministry at KEEPERSKORNER. But, like any new mother learns, our young ministry is far from fragile and seems to have a very definite will of its own. Being just a mom and pop ministry has given us challenges that larger ministries take in stride but each day we are learning and figuring out what we need to do and where our ministry needs to go from here.

One of the greatest things about doing our ministry at KEEPERSKORNER is the phenomenal learning experience it has proven to be. One of the hardest lessons keepers have had to deal with learning is that we can not please all of the people all of the time. Our trying to keep absolutely everyone happy and content with KEEPERSKORNER is not a realistic goal for us or for any ministry in the world. However, both JM and keepers feel like we have been extremely blessed because almost every experience we have had here at KEEPERSKORNER has been a good one and enriched our lives in some way. JM and keepers are all so very glad that we decided to do our ministry in the way that we have–with each individual mattering very much and with our trying to give our very best to everyone who reaches out to KEEPERSKORNER.

But like the above quote says, you give your very best and sometimes you get kicked in the teeth. Keepers took out the GIVE THE WORLD part simply because we have found that much of the world responds to what we have to give with common consideration and respect for what we are trying so hard to do. But in every ministry there is that occasional person who takes the best we have to give and then turns around to kick us in the teeth for having cared about that person. In all honesty, this occasional person is not something we had ever been prepared to deal with. We just never saw it coming. But, keepers are slowly learning how to deal with this and move on with our ministry with the same commitment we have always felt.

GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU’VE GOT ANYWAY. Both JM and keepers know that our ministry is very small and very limited right now. We see ourselves as one tiny drop of water in the ocean. Still, our hearts have the caring spirit and our pocketbooks seem to always stretch wide enough to help a few people each week. That, to us, means we are on the right track and we need to keep going day by day and giving the very best we have to give.

To be honest, some times it is very hard to give the world our very best–especially right after we have experienced being kicked in the teeth by someone we trusted. Keepers are very sensitive people and we can feel devastated by what happens through KK. But we have learned to deal with our hurt feelings or accept our fear when we are threatened and get on with the business of doing our ministry to the very best of our abilities at all times. You see, to keepers, it is of the utmost importance that we give our very best anyway–if that makes any sense to anyone.

Finding the above quote by Mother Teresa has helped keepers a whole lot. Very often, we feel like we are the only ministry that has ever felt that kicked in the teeth phenomenon. Even though Pastor Brown of SAVE OUR WORLD MINISTRIES has told us time and time again that he and other pastors have experienced the same thing–keepers have just not felt better about it happening to us through KK. But reading the above quote showed keepers that even Mother Teresa with all of magnificent work she did still had times when she felt kicked in the teeth for giving her very best. No, keepers are not comparing ourselves to Mother Teresa in any way but the fact that someone like her experienced this phenomenon makes it a lot easier for keepers to bear.

KEEPERSKORNER is committed to doing and giving our very best at all times. We accept that there will be rare occasions when we do get kicked in the teeth. But after we are, keepers will smile our toothless grin (until we can get to the dentist) and give our very best anyway–no matter what.

peace and blessings to each of you,

keepers

Recently, keepers have been blogging a lot about KEEPERSKORNER. Our system had made the decision to wait until the beginning of the New Year and then start moving what is on our website to our blog and just closing out the site itself. To us, this seemed like a very good way to go because the website itself has become more of a thorn in our side than something we are relishing in dealing with. Anyway, it was resolved–keepers would focus on Christmas at KEEPERSKORNER and then we would move into switching our entire site to our blog where we would maintain our ministry in a more simple way.

However, several months ago, keepers wrote a blog about our young niece (who is in her early twenties) that is seriously addicted to meth. We put up that particular blog because this niece had contacted keepers through KEEPERSKORNER the day before she was due to be admitted to an intensive rehab program. Her father (keepers brother) had taken her to work with him. He sat his daughter down at a computer and typed in KEEPERSKORNER. While her father was busy with his work for the day, our niece was wandering around KK and found the courage to write to keepers through our Contact Us Tab. Our brother told us that she even printed out parts of KK to take into rehab with her. Anyway, by the time our niece was due to check in to rehab the next day–she had changed her mind and returned to her own underworld of living the addicted life. At that point, there was nothing anyone could do but hope and pray this niece would find her own way to recovery.

Well, a few weeks ago, keepers niece did find her own way into rehab. I hear that she simply realized living the addicted life was not what she wanted for herself or her very young son. Perhaps, the change in thinking came about for her when our brother and his wife adopted her little boy and she lost all parental rights with him. Whatever the reasoning, our niece did enter a rehab program and has stuck it out quite successfully. She is at the point now where she has weekend passes to go visit with her Dad, his wife and her own son. Every time keepers think of how far she has come in the last couple of months, we breathe a huge sigh of relief and thank God for taking care of this beautiful young woman while she was suffering so badly in her early withdrawal days.

On her second weekend pass, our niece went to her Dad and asked him again for the link to KEEPERSKORNER so that she might visit her aunt keepers while continuing her rehab program. Of course, our brother supplied the link and let keepers know because he is hoping that we will hear from our niece at some point in the near future.

Keepers can not put into words how much it means to us that our young niece has found something she needs through KEEPERSKORNER and that our website is where she goes for the hope and strength to continue on her own healing journey. But that is the truth of what is happening and it touches keepers hearts so deeply that changing our thoughts on where we are going with KEEPERSKORNER, the website, seems only natural now. You see, if KK is doing this young woman any good, we want to keep our site up and running in spite of it feeling like a thorn in keepers side. Our dealing with the behind the scenes problems of a site such as ours is a small price for keepers to pay if it really make a difference in the life of our niece. So, KEEPERSKORNER the website will be up and running for a very long time to come. We can not guarantee that changes will be made or that updates will come to our site with any frequency but our niece has shown keepers that maybe those things are not as important as keepers once thought they were.

There is a quote that says THE NEEDS OF THE MANY OUTWEIGH THE NEEDS OF THE ONE. (I think keepers first heard that statement in one of the Star Trek movies years ago.) Keepers know and respect how very true the above quote is but something inside of us has come to really understand how very critical for the needs of the one to be recognized and met in this world. Maybe it took our niece being where she is for keepers to see that meeting the needs of the one time and time again is just as important as meeting the needs of the many. Just as keepers look at the needs of the multiples who reach out through KEEPERSKORNER, we are seeing the needs of our own young niece and making decisions that we hope will let her know that she always has an aunt out here who loves her dearly and wants to go the distance with her. Keepers know all too well that she has suffered greatly in her short life. We know beyond any doubt that she has shown great strength and courage by choosing to enter rehab on her own and begin her personal healing journey. For us, this is a situation (like so many others) where the needs of the one matter so very much.

Everything on KEEPERSKORNER, the website, is still functional and everyone is welcome to visit there or even write to keepers through our CONTACT US TAB but right now keepers are waiting for the day when we receive that very special email from our niece who has been through so much. We offer her our hand so that we can walk together. We offer her keepers shoulder to cry on and we offer her all the love we have in our hearts for her.

peace and blessings,

keepers