Lillie Ammann's Blog, page 4

Love to Read? Celebrate Book Lovers Day

August 9 is National Book Lovers Day. You probably didn’t know there was a day. I didn’t until recently. The origins of the day seem to be lost in the mists of time, but the message is always timely:

In observance of National Book Lovers Day on August 9, we put away our smartphones and peruse a good book.

News D

I agree we should spend less time engaging in social media that sometimes seems more like a battleground than a social (if only virtual) gathering place. Hooray for putting aside the electronic devices for a short while rather than scrolling mindlessly or play solitaire one game after another.

But for me, and I’m sure for many other people, the electronic device is my book. Print books are wonderful, but with poor vision and arthritic joints, it’s hard for to hold the books and see the text. EBooks and audiobooks are equally valuable and as much books as print books.

Earlier this year, we celebrated Get Caught Reading Month and encouraged those who love to read to “get caught” reading. Young people often admire adults in their lives: mentors and role models, teachers and parents, friends and neighbors. When they see these people reading, the young people are more apt to become avid readers.

There are many benefits to reading. You can read about the physical and mental health benefits on the Healthline website. The most amazing to me is that it may help prevent age-related cognitive decline. We don’t expect older people to have the cognitive abilities of younger persons. But cognitive decline may not be something that has to happen. Or maybe it doesn’t have to become as severe as it does for many people. Research is beginning to show that senior citizens who keep their brains active are far less likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. My father and husband suffered with Alzheimer’s. These two men were among the smartest I know. Yet neither of them cared for reading and did little of it. I don’t know if their health situations would have turned out differently had they read more. However, for myself, I am reading every day and also working several online puzzles in an attempt to keep my brain active and possibly ward off the dreaded Alzheimer’s or at least slow it down.

Booklovers Day is another good excuse to spend some time reading today – and perhaps inspire others – children, certainly, but also many adults need to discover themselves that reading isn’t a bore. Reading opens up the world to us. Perhaps we don’t have the resources to travel around the world, but we can find books that virtually take us to places we may never see in our real lives.

We can be carried away to worlds that don’t exist and fall in love again with the characters in a romance. We can learn history, new skills, hobbies, and so much more. If you aren’t already a booklover, I hope you’ll try reading regularly for a while and see if you don’t join the club.

 Image: sky.cublue/Depositphotos.com

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Illness, a Dead Computer, and an Unexpected Move

The last couple of months have been chaotic. First, I had problems with my computer. My printer kept having paper jams. I called tech support, and they tried to resolve the problem remotely. When they realized that wasn’t working, they sent a tech to my home. At first, he was confident it would be a simple fix, but after a few minutes, he said, “I hate to give you the bad news, but the problem is not with your printer; it’s with your operating system. Windows 10 is corrupted and is not communicating with the printer. There’s nothing that can be done.” I asked him if this would spread to other programs, and he said it was unpredictable. It would probably totally destroy the computer, but no one could guess how long or what programs would be affected. I decided to replace the computer but tried to keep it hanging on a little longer, as I was sick at the time. However, in a matter of a few days, all the programs I use regularly quit working.

I have been sick for a significant amount of time for the last few years after I moved into the senior assisted living facility. I used to say it was a good thing I moved when I did, so I had the care I needed. I have more than a dozen chronic conditions, but the sickness I’d had off and on for almost three years wasn’t easily identified.

Then unexpectedly I got a notice of a rent increase and a requirement to sign a new lease as of July 1. I imagine I had the notice on June 1, but I wasn’t aware of it until mid-June. Since I was so ill, I didn’t get out of bed much and didn’t check my message inbox outside my apartment door. A friend brought me an envelope from the management, but I never opened it as I thought it was a receipt for my rent payment. When friends started talking about the terms of the new lease, I opened the envelope and discovered it was a notice of a rent increase and the requirement to sign a new lease. I was surprised, because I had only one lease with the facility, for one year, from April 23, 2020 to April 23, 2021. In the ensuing years, I’s had a rent increase, but I never signed a new lease.

I found the terms of the new lease unacceptable, especially in light of issues we had been experiencing. We had only one elevator, and it was not working for three weeks in December. Between January and June of this year, it was out at least once a month, for periods from four hours to four days. Since I was sick much of that time, it was scary not having a way to get downstairs in my electric wheelchair. There were other problems as well, so I gave notice that I would not be signing the new lease and would move out at the end of June. That gave me ten days to find a new apartment and move.

When Jack and I were first married, he traveled a lot for his job. Every time he was away, I visited his grandmother and took her shopping or out of eat. We often just spent time together in her apartment, where she tried to teach me to knit and crochet until she finally had to admit it was a lost cause. But I fell in love with Old Mama, as his grandmother was affectionately called, and I fell in love with the building she lived in. It was one of the first assisted living facilities in San Antonio.

Long after Old Mama moved into a nursing home and then passed into Heaven, there was a fire in the building. It was closed down for a number of years, and it had not opened when I moved out of my home. I had wanted to stay in the neighborhood I’d lived in for fifty-three years but couldn’t find anyplace I could afford. Now when I was desperately searching for a new home, a friend told me the building I loved had been completely renovated and was now open as a 55+ active lifestyle apartment complex. I visited two days in a row and chose an apartment on the second visit.

With the help of fifteen friends, I was out of my previous residence and into Ensemble Senior Living by the last day of June. I am so grateful to all those who helped. Some packed, some ran errands, some moved, some unpacked, some helped set up the new apartment. Four of the helpers were clergy. It almost sounds like the beginning of a joke: Three Anglican priests and a Baptist preacher … Most of the people who helped were from my church, All Saints Anglican. Others included my next-door neighbors from when I lived in my house, a lady who worked for the moving company who moved me from my home, and a client who has become a friend and her husband. I appreciate the help of each and every one of them.

After a month, I’m finally settled into my new home. It’s much larger than my last apartment. It has wonderful, huge windows in both the living room and bedroom with nice, wide windowsills that I have filled with plants. Everything is comfortable and functional to maneuver my wheelchair, although I did run into door jambs quite a bit at first. I discovered that white weatherstripping is ideal to put on the areas that I tend to run into. It isn’t noticeable against the white walls, and it protects the walls, my wheelchair, and my arms.

I’m still working on a solution for the bathroom. I thought I could get into the tub/shower because the tub has a cut-out. I have a bench that sits outside the tub and extends inside so I can slide across. Unfortunately, the shape of the tub puts the bench too far forward for my legs to fit through the cut-out and too far back to reach the faucets. We’re figuring out a conversion to make it work. In the meantime, I have a home aid who comes twice a week to give me a bath. She lifts my legs through the cut-out to get in the shower so she can reach what I can’t. Between her visits, I give myself sponge baths using the sponges similar to what hospitals use.

I’m very happy in my new home, and best of all, I haven’t been sick a single day since I’ve been here. I don’t know what was causing my illness in my previous apartment, but I’m thrilled I don’t have to contend with it anymore.

Image: londondeposit/Depositphotos.com

The post Illness, a Dead Computer, and an Unexpected Move first appeared on Lillie Ammann, Writer and Editor.

World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

Today is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. I have written a number of posts about human trafficking. If you aren’t aware of this worldwide scourge, read some of the articles. You can find them in a search on my blog.

The theme of this year’s observance is:

Reach every victim of trafficking, leave no one behind

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Human trafficking in any form – whether it is smuggling migrants to work in forced labor or hooking a woman on drugs to compel her to perform as a sex worker or any of dozens of other types of trafficking – is reprehensible. Perhaps the most egregious is the trafficking of children to be abused and tortured in material watched by people for entertainment. What is entertaining about seeing an infant tortured?

The Tim Tebow Foundation has a campaign, called “Unknown,” to raise $1,000,000 to aid in rescuing the 50,000 children being exploited. Each of those precious children is created in the image of God and is of infinite value. They should NOT be “unknown.” They should be “known” and “protected” and “loved.”

 Image: vectotaart/Depositphotos.com

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The Top Mistakes to Avoid When Starting a Blog: Guest Post

Embarking on the journey of blogging can be an exhilarating experience. You’re filled with ideas, passion, and the urge to share your thoughts. But blogging isn’t just about posting your thoughts online—it’s about creating value, building relationships, and carving a unique space in the digital world. There are many mistakes to avoid when starting a blog, some of which can determine whether your blog sails or sinks.

One fundamental aspect that many new bloggers overlook is finding their unique writing voice. That distinct style sets your work apart from the vast sea of content online. As we dive into this guide, we’ll uncover the common pitfalls in blogging and provide practical tips to navigate your way to success. You can make a lasting impression on your readers by sidestepping these mistakes and crafting your unique style. Remember, success doesn’t come overnight, but you’ll find your footing in the exciting blogging world with perseverance.

Ignoring Your Target Audience

A successful blog isn’t just about what you want to write—it’s about what your readers want to read. One of the significant mistakes to avoid when starting a blog is disregarding your target audience. Your readers are the lifeblood of your blog, and understanding them is paramount.

What are their interests? What problems are they facing that you can solve? Furthermore, what tone and language do they resonate with? Asking these questions can help you create content that caters to their needs.

You can begin by conducting audience research. Social media and online forums can be treasure troves of information about your potential readers. Create reader personas and profiles that embody your ideal readers’ traits and preferences. This can help guide your content creation and make it more targeted.

Remember, your blog is not a diary. It’s a platform to communicate with your audience and provide value. Each post should be crafted with your audience in mind, creating a bridge between your thoughts and their interests. Keeping your target audience at the heart of your content strategy can foster a community of engaged, loyal readers.

Inconsistent Posting

Here’s a reality check: maintaining a blog requires commitment and discipline to write. One of the significant mistakes to avoid when starting a blog is inconsistent posting. Your readers crave consistency, and erratic posting schedules can confuse them and lead to a loss of interest.

Think of your blog as a magazine subscription. Readers anticipate new content regularly, and inconsistency can cause them to question the value they’re getting. Hence, you must set a realistic posting schedule that you can stick to.

Creating a content calendar is a powerful way to ensure consistent posts. It allows you to plan topics ahead of time, balance different types of content, and ensure you’re not scrambling for ideas at the last minute. You could post once a week, twice a month, or whatever suits your schedule and capacity. The key is to set a routine and stick to it.

Blogging takes discipline. It’s about showing up, even when inspiration seems to have taken a vacation. Remember, consistency is crucial for building an engaged readership and establishing your blog’s credibility. Keep your audience in anticipation with regular, engaging content.

Neglecting SEO

Imagine crafting a masterful blog post, only to languish unseen in the lost corners of the internet. This scenario is common for many new bloggers who neglect the power of Search Engine Optimization (SEO). One of the fundamental mistakes to avoid when starting a blog is overlooking SEO strategies, which can significantly boost your blog’s visibility and organic traffic.

SEO is optimizing your blog content to rank higher in search engine results. It involves keyword optimization, where you incorporate relevant keywords that your potential readers might be searching for. On-page SEO elements, such as optimizing your titles, meta descriptions, and image alt texts, are essential for improving your blog’s search engine visibility.

Link-building is another crucial component of SEO. This involves earning backlinks from other reputable sites, which can improve your blog’s authority in the eyes of search engines.

Moreover, SEO goes hand-in-hand with promoting your content. Sharing your blog posts on social media, engaging with your readers in the comments section, and collaborating with other bloggers can also boost your SEO efforts.

It’s important to remember that SEO is not a one-time effort but a continuous process that needs to be integrated into your blogging routine. By giving SEO the attention it deserves, you can attract more readers to your blog and ensure that your excellent content doesn’t go unnoticed.

Lack of Engagement with Readers

A blog isn’t a one-way street; it’s a platform for conversation, connection, and community. A common mistake to avoid when starting a blog is neglecting to engage with your readers. Interaction fosters community and makes your readers feel valued and heard.

When readers leave comments on your blog posts, it’s a golden opportunity to connect with them. Make it a point to reply to comments and spark discussions. This builds rapport with your audience and provides insights into their thoughts and perspectives.

Another way to foster engagement is through calls to action in your posts. Invite your readers to comment, share your posts, or subscribe to your newsletter. Encourage them to follow your social media channels and join discussions there. You could even conduct reader surveys or polls to involve your readers in your blog further.

Remember, engagement is a two-way street. It’s not just about your readers engaging with your content, but you engage with them as well. By fostering a lively, interactive space, you make your readers feel valued and build a community around your blog. Engagement fuels loyalty, and loyal readers are the backbone of a successful blog.

Final thoughts

Starting a blog can seem daunting, filled with hurdles and pitfalls. However, armed with the right knowledge, you can navigate your way to a successful blogging journey. You’re already stepping ahead of the crowd by steering clear of these common mistakes to avoid when starting a blog.

From understanding your target audience to maintaining a consistent posting schedule, from not ignoring SEO to encouraging reader engagement—each aspect plays a critical role in your blog’s growth and sustainability. And remember, amidst all these strategies and techniques, your unique writing voice is what truly sets your blog apart.

Embrace the journey with patience and persistence. Learn, evolve, and grow with your blog. With time and effort, you’re bound to turn your blogging venture into a platform that resonates with your readers and stands out in the blogosphere. After all, the world needs your unique voice, your unique perspective. So, go forth and share it with confidence.

Author bio

Samantha Hopkirk is a seasoned blogger and an expert SEO writer dedicated to helping new bloggers navigate the digital world. Her keen insights and practical tips have guided numerous aspiring authors and freelance writers to create successful blogs. Samantha collaborates with Convert More, continuing her mission to transform how we approach blogging.

The post The Top Mistakes to Avoid When Starting a Blog: Guest Post first appeared on Lillie Ammann, Writer and Editor.

Nearing Adulthood

My blog is almost an adult after turning seventeen today. On June 11, 2006, twelve years after the first blog post appeared online, I wrote my first post. In those early days, the blogosphere was far smaller than it is today. Individuals, not corporations maintained most blogs , and many of us came to know one another and follow each other’s blogs. I still am in contact with bloggers I met in the first year or two of blogging.

You can see a timeline of the history of blogs on the Notre Dame of Maryland University website. You can read posts that tell the story of this blog by doing a search for blog birthday.

For several years, starting a couple of months after I began this blog, I maintained a blog on Blogger.com as well as on my website. I’d almost forgotten about that until I saw Blogger on the blog timeline. If I remember correctly, I thought I would get more traffic on Blogger.com. That site contained many individual blogs on one site, whereas to find the blog on this site, people had to look for it or find a link somewhere. Most of the posts on Blogger were simply links to posts from this site.

I’d had a website for about seven years before I added the blog. I had a page of news, where I posted time-sensitive material, but I had to make the entries in HTML any time I wanted to update. Then I was able to add WordPress to my website through the control panel for the site. It was essentially a separate installation. However, it was connected to the main site, and I didn’t have to add code to make any changes. Then WordPress grew and became a content management system. I could create pages as easily as posts, so I moved my entire site to WordPress and have used WordPress exclusively ever since.

In that first post, I mentioned topics I would cover in my blog. Through the years, I have covered those topics, but I also cover themes that I didn’t realize would be important to me. Devotionals and posts about faith abound. In fact, there are way more posts about Christianity than any other topic.

In my post celebrating my blog’s fourth birthday, I wrote this:

As I looked forward to the blog’s fourth birthday, I noticed that another milestone was also approaching. I was very close to 800 posts. So for the last three weeks, I’ve posted four times a week instead of three, and voila: post #800 appears four years after post #1.

 I could quote other statistics, such as 14,000+ real comments and 285,000 spam comments. However, the most important highlights of four years of blogging can’t be measured. The friends I’ve made, the things I’ve learned, the fun I’ve had have made the past four years a delight. I look forward to the next four years and the next 800 posts.

4 Years and 800 Posts!

I haven’t allowed comments on the blog for several years now. As you can see from the stats above, comments required a lot of time and effort to moderate and delete the spam. Legitimate comments seldom appear on blog posts anymore; posts on social media linking to the blog get far more comments than posts on the blog. So I save time and energy by not allowing comments.

Now, it’s 17 years and 2,493 posts, and I still look forward to more friends, more lessons, and lots more fun!

The post Nearing Adulthood first appeared on Lillie Ammann, Writer and Editor.

Remembering 56 Years Ago

Fifty-six years ago today, my father walked me down the aisle to meet the love of my life at the altar. I imagined a lifetime of joy, but what followed was even more joyous than I could have imagined. Sure, like everyone we had ups and downs, good times and not-so-good times, but we always had love and laughter.

When we went through pre-marital counseling, the priest warned me that I would probably have to take care of my husband when he was old since he was thirteen and a half years my senior. And I did care for Jack for several years at the end of his life when he suffered with Alzheimer’s. But before that, he had to care for me when I had a stroke at the hands of a chiropractor at age forty-five. Both of us considered it a privilege to be able to care for the other, as we were always each other’s biggest cheerleaders and supporters.

Someone asked me recently, “Are you married?” I answered, “Yes, although my husband has been in heaven for ten years.” I still find myself wanting to tell Jack something or ask him a question. I frequently quote witty things he said. He was a remarkable man, and I’m not alone in believing he was my most unforgettable character. Our life was good before he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s; it was good after he was diagnosed.

The post Remembering 56 Years Ago first appeared on Lillie Ammann, Writer and Editor.

They Answered the Call

Today is Memorial Day, a day to remember and honor those who gave their lives in the service of our country. The video below is rather graphic, but I think it’s important for us to recognize and remember the sacrifices made on our behalf.

ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, in whose hands are the living and the dead; We give thee thanks for all those thy servants who have laid down their lives in the service of our country. Grant to them thy mercy and the light of thy presence, that the good work which thou hast begun in them may be perfected; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen.

1928 Book of Common Prayer

When I was a child, we always wore poppies on Memorial Day to honor those who gave their lives in military service. I explained why in a previous Memorial Day post. However you observe the holiday, take a little time among the barbecues and swimming parties and other celebrations to remember and honor our fallen heroes.

The post They Answered the Call first appeared on Lillie Ammann, Writer and Editor.

You’re Not Crazy!

I’ve always said, and truly believed, that mental illness has no stigma compared to physical illness. However, recently I’ve experienced symptoms that can have either a physical or a mental cause. I didn’t hesitate to schedule appointments for various tests to determine a physical cause, but when the neurologist suggested I see a psychiatrist, I resisted. I decided to wait until I complete the imaging and other exams that might reveal a physical cause, and only if no physical cause can be found will I schedule a psychiatric evaluation.

Why is a psychiatric evaluation more frightening than MRIs and EEGs? I’ve tried to determine why I so immediately and vigorously denied the possibility that I have a mental, rather than a physical, illness. It seems that what frightens me so much is that physical disease does not change my personality. I’m still the same person, just the same person with diabetes or fibromyalgia or COPD or kidney disease. But mental illness may change the essence of who I am. My behavior may change; my ability to show my love for family and friends may lessen; my control of my own actions may vanish.

What I said to loved ones after my neurology appointment reveals my reaction. “I don’t have Parkinson’s,” I said. “I’m just crazy!” Praise God that the neurologist ruled out Parkinson’s as a cause of my symptoms. Now I’m praying that the cause is something that is curable or at least treatable.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This year’s theme is #MoreThanEnough.

It’s an opportunity for all of us to come together and remember the inherent value we each hold — no matter our diagnosis, appearance, socioeconomic status, background or ability. We want every person out there to know that if all you did was wake up today, that’s more than enough. No matter what, you are inherently worthy of more than enough life, love and healing. Showing up, just as you are, for yourself and the people around you is more than enough.

NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness

Everyone, regardless of health, social status, prior history, or anything else that limits ability and stigmatizes, is worthy and valuable. We are created in the image of God, and we reflect our perfect Creator. The idea that I might have a mental illness made me feel “less than,” and I regret that knee-jerk reaction. I’m embarrassed that I, at least temporarily, believed the lie that if I have a mental illness, I am not enough, not good enough, not worthy enough. I am equally valuable whether my symptoms are caused by mental illness or physical illness. Of course, I need appropriate treatment to eliminate or alleviate the symptoms, but whether I have physical illness or mental illness, I am worthy and valuable as a child of God, created in the image of my Maker.

Last year, I wrote about mental health awareness from the standpoint of someone who has never had personal experience, though I have several loved ones who have some form of mental illness. This year is different. Whatever the cause of my symptoms turns out to be, this experience had given me a different perspective, a very personal one.

I hope you aren’t touched by mental illness, but if you are, you will find resources on mental health at the National Institute of Mental Health. And remember, you are #MoreThanEnough.

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Honoring Our Military

Today (the third Saturday in May) is Armed Forces Day, and the month of May is Military Appreciation Month. Memorial Day honors military members who gave their lives in service to our country. Veterans Day honors men and women who have served in the military but are no longer on active duty. Armed Forces Day honors military members who are currently risking their lives for our safety serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard.

O LORD God of Hosts, stretch forth, we pray thee, thine almighty arm to strengthen and protect the soldiers of our country. Support them in the day of battle, and in the time of peace keep them safe from all evil; endue them with courage and loyalty; and grant that in all things they may serve without reproach; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

1928 Book of Common Prayer

You will find more posts on military appreciation in a search on my blog.

Image: waseemkhan224422/Depositphotos.com

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Get Caught Reading

May is Get Caught Reading Month. The event is aimed primarily at children and teens to introduce them to the joys of reading. However, the Get Caught Reading website offers free posters for schools, libraries, and bookstores of authors, celebrities, and cartoon characters getting “caught” reading. Seeing people they admire reading may motivate youngsters to want to emulate their heroes. Once they start to read, it is likely that they will enjoy it and become readers.

When I was a child, I could be caught reading often. My mother used to say I always had my nose in a book, and I was so engrossed in the story that I didn’t hear her when she called me.

Today I can still be caught reading anywhere, anytime. Because of poor vision and arthritic hands that make it hard to hold a book, you won’t catch me reading a print book. But if you saw me sitting in a building lobby waiting for handicapped transportation, you would see me reading an ebook on my phone. At home, you might catch me reading an ebook on my phone or my Kindle or listening to an audiobook on my phone.

I love stories – whatever format they are in. Did you know that E-Readers Read More?

Reading is so important, not only for entertainment, but also for learning. And just think of the practical necessity of reading, things like filling out a job application or finding directions. I wrote about this in What If You Couldn’t Read.

If you are an avid reader, you might be interested in 100 Essential Sites for Voracious Readers.

Are you an aspiring writer? Then you need to Read More to Become a Better Writer.

Would you like to improve your social skills? Develop Your Social Skills: Read a Novel.

There are many benefits to reading, and I’m glad to know that children and teens are being encouraged to read, not just because they have to read something for school, but because reading is fun. It’s my number one form of entertainment, and I hope it’s one of your favorite activities as well. Maybe you will be caught reading this month!

Image: baranq/Depositphotos.com

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