Today She Rose. Bidding a fond farewell to a Phenomenal Woman

Today we have lost a great soul. The world morns and the angels rejoice. Wednesday, May 28, 2014 we bid farewell and safe travels to a Phenomenal Woman...Dr. Maya Angelou. Her written words open the minds and healed the hearts of countless souls. She gave a powerful voice to the stories of prejudice, female oppression and social injustice.

Dr. Angelou's life was much too vast and far reaching to summarize in a single blog post. Instead I share two of my favorite Maya Angelou poems, two interviews and a link to the best interview I've ever seen. She held court as the queen of words. I can think of no one better to tell her story.

These two poems speak to the heart of who Dr. Angelou was and the message she wanted to share with the world.

"Phenomenal Woman"

 "And Still I Rise".

I had the great honor of being interviewed by Dr. Angelou on Sirius Oprah Radio a few years back. I sent her a poem I had written about being part of the American Family. I was over joyed when I received the call inviting me to speak with her. 

Growing up in Los Angeles I rarely get "star struck" but speaking with Dr. Angelou was a different story. She was one of my lifetime heroes. A person I had admired and respected since I was a teenager. She walked with Malcom X, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela. She had faced war zones, segregation and being a teenage single mother. Dr. Maya Angelou was/is a giant to me. While you can't see us on radio, you can hear that I have a smile from ear to ear.

A few months before my interview I took my sons to see her when she spoke in Los Angeles. She was a captivating figure even into her 80s. She shared personal stories and read some poetry. The courage that she had in her life and in her art was inspiring. She broke through the mental and emotional cages of oppression, racism, sexism, poverty and abuse. She sang her courageous song without shame or apologies. Maya Angelou was the personification of what is possible.

In this interview from the Heaven and Earth Show Dr. Angelou shares stories about her grandmother, her faith, over coming challenges, Dr. King, Malcom X, brotherhood and sisterhood. It is a beautiful window into her soul. She says "human beings are more alike than unalike...The truth is we know each other and we tell ourselves we don't. There is a connection between human beings".

"I have no modesty. It's a dangerous affectation. Modesty is put on from without. Humility is what we want. Humility comes from within, out. Humility says someone was here before me. And I am here now. I have something to do. I too have responsibilities. And there will be someone coming behind me. Who I must prepare the way for." Maya Angelou quote from the Visionary Project. Follow this link to one of the most inspiring and comprehensive interviews of Dr. Maya Angelou. Visionary Project has a library of great minds here is the link to Dr. Angelou's interview http://www.visionaryproject.org/angeloumaya/. It is a must listen for any person wanting to realize their full human potential.

In this last video she shares this heartfelt and moving message to her daughter. And tells us that we are all her daughters. Take a moment to listen to her wisdom. Take a moment to open your heart to her love. (And if you get a chance to read the book please do. I loved it. The book was wise, witty and relevant.)

Dr. Maya Angelou will live forever in her works and in her words. May her legacy of "love conquering all" become the mantra for future generations.

For more information about Dr. Maya Angelou please visit her official website at http://mayaangelou.com
For more information about the Visionary Project please visit their website at http://www.visionaryproject.org/index.asp
We love you and thank you and wish you Peace.

You can find more information about my Women's Empowerment Organization at:

Website Women's Empowerment: http://www.empowerment.ws/home.html
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EmpowermentWS?ref=hl
Website Kadan Martial Arts: http://kadanmartialarts.com
Poetry Musings Blog: http://speakyourart.blogspot.com

Thank you for honoring the feminine and thank you for visiting. Wishing you peace.
POI

I.C.A.R.E. Dog Rescue 1,000 Lives Saved

Meet Bravo, the lucky 1,000th
ICARE dog saved.

I.C.A.R.E. (Into Canine Adoption, Rehabilitation and Education)  Dog Rescue has reached a milestone...1,000 lives saved! Bravo is the lucky 1,000th dog to be saved by ICARE Dog Rescue. ICARE is an all breed, no kill rescue. They rescue dogs at risk of being euthanized from shelters, abandoned, abused, and stray dogs. They also rescue many owner surrendered dogs; which are dogs that can no longer remain in their current homes due to financial or personal issues.

Beautiful Bravo loves
dogs and people.

ICARE's mission is simple, they are committed to saving as many dogs as they can. They take the time to find good foster homes to fit the dog's needs and to help in his/her recovery and rehabilitation when needed. The ICARE Team works 7 days a week and have no "quitting time" when one of their dog's is in need. They are diligent about finding the best possible fit for their dogs' forever homes. Who they are shows in the smiling faces of each and every dog that is saved.

ICARE foster mom Tamsen Moritz,
Beautiful Bravo and
ICARE Super Woman Donna Mason. 

If you ask a foster, rescuer or adopter about a dog they have saved, most will tell you, "I didn't save her, she saved me". That's the beauty of what ICARE does. It sees the value and potential in dogs that would otherwise be ignored. They realize that dogs have a special power to heal a painful human condition and to bring unconditional love into any life. By saving and treating their dogs like the "natural treasures" they are meant to be, ICARE is saving people and not just dogs. But you don't need to take my word for it. Take a look at this video of some of ICARE's recent adoptions. The smiles and joy in the humans' faces speak volumes about the love a rescue dog can bring.

Jazzy was saved by ICARE on the day
she was to die. And just look at her today.
Click here to read more about her story. 

Being a foster for ICARE I've had firsthand experience seeing these people walk their talk. I have witnessed their commitment and compassion for dogs that had no other hope for survival. I've watched them foster seriously ill or injured dogs, Ke-ola being one of them.

Thanks to Ke-ola (my foster dog) I've had the opportunity to see behind the scenes. I've seen the work and care that goes into everyone of their foster dogs. I remember so clearly the night my son and I had to take Ke-ola to the ER. I saw that Ke-ola was struggling to survive and put a group text out to the ICARE board at midnight explaining his situation and asking for help. Elvira Torres responded right away and put us in touch with Gabby Alvarado. You can read about the ordeal on this link "Ke-ola is in hospital".  There is something important that happened that night that I didn't share in the original post. It brought me to tears and told me all I needed to know about the people running I.CA.R.E. Dog Rescue.

After the ER staff had taken Ke-ola back and assessed his state of health Steve, the vet tech, came to speak to us. He explained that Ke-ola was in a very serious condition. He asked, if Ke-ola coded should they try and resuscitate? This was my first foster and I told him he needed to speak with Gabby. I phoned Gabby in the early morning hours and handed Steve the phone.

Kadante (my son) and I looked at each other with concern because we thought that Gabby would say do not resuscitate. Ke-ola was so very sick that we would've been heartbroken but would've understood. We prepared ourselves for a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate). My heart jumped when I heard Gabby through the phone saying, "YES, Do Resuscitate, save his life". My shoulders dropped and tears swelled in my eyes. Again I looked at Kadante, this time with a hopeful heart. It was inspiring to see that I.C.A.R.E. was more than a name it was the creed they lived by.

Ke-ola asked me to put this thank you video together for his ICARE guardian angels. He wants to thank them for seeing past the dog that everyone had given up on to the healthy happy boy he is today. He is grateful for their vision and their faith in him and in his foster family. He's also grateful to the hundreds of people that shared his post on social media. He is alive today because a village of animal lovers from far and wide came together on his behalf. Ke-ola is a testament of what can be accomplished when open hearts and caring hands come together and take action.  Mahalo ICARE for Ke-ola...life.

Read more about Jasper
 by clicking here.

In my short time with ICARE I've watched people with enormous hearts and focused commitment. Some of the ICARE fosters specialize in small dogs, others with bully breeds, others with behavior rehabilitation, others with dogs that have medical issues. ICARE's experienced foster community is always available to help new fosters with questions or concerns. But the fosters are only as good as their leaders. A huge thank you to the team behind I.C.A.R.E. Dog Rescue: Corrie Bravo, Daniel Bravo, Paola Valencia, Michelle Rangel, Gabby Alvarado, Elvira Torres and Ashlie Hadley for setting the example for all of us to follow.

Jasper gets the surgery he needed to
correct his crippled front leg.
You can help with the costs
by clicking here.

I hope you'll be inspired to help ICARE continue to save more beautiful pups by donating, fostering, adopting or sharing this wonderful organization with your friends and family.

Thank you for saving 1,000 furry angels ICARE! May you continue saving them until the cages are empty and every pup has found a loving home. We love you I.C.A.R.E. Dog Rescue! 

Wishing you and your pack Peace today and everyday. 
Thank you for visiting. 

For more information about I.C.A.R.E. Dog Rescue, to find your perfect new pack-mate or to see how they are saving lives please use this link. I.C.A.R.E. Dog Rescue. You can also find them at:
General:   rescue@icaredogrescue.org
Website:   http://icaredogrescue.org 

Meet our dogs: icaredogrescue.petfinder.com
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ICARE.rescue

Join our group on Facebook and share your love of Shelter Dogs at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1405355683042930/

POI

Forgotten Shelter Angels and a young artist trying to make a difference

Sky is our Husky X. She was saved from
 the Dover Shelter in San Bernardino, CA.

Forgotten Angels
by Roland H. S. Ferrer

As many of my readers already know our pack consists of three shelter dogs. All three are mixed breeds and two of them were set to die the day we brought them home. They were all sick to some degree and two needed to be hospitalized. It was not an easy road in choosing to save dogs that were so sick and injured but no one in my family has a single regret. They have become the heart and soul of our clan. Our Shelter angels have taught us so many life lessons, not the least of which is compassion.

River is our Shepard X. She was saved
with Sky from the Dover Shelter. 

Ke-ola is a Pit Bull X. He was saved
from the Carson Shelter in Carson, CA.

My family and I thought that by adopting these poor dogs that we were saving their lives yet as it has turned out it is they that have saved us. Sky, River and Ke-ola each brought a set of challenges as well as a multitude of gifts. While it hasn't been easy it has been some of the most rewarding work we have ever done. Our shelter angels have enriched our lives in ways we could not have foreseen.

Sadly hundreds of animals are euthanized in our state's shelters (California) everyday. These are animals that won't have a chance to enrich the lives of humans. They have been discarded and forgotten. Their gifts are wasted and no one will benefit. It is humanity's loss. 

Shelter animals have an uncanny ability to recognize grief and despair in their humans. We are only hurting ourselves by not realizing that these injured, abused, neglected animals have the power to heal the deepest of human hurts. My family and I see these furred and feathered babies as angels among us. That's why I couldn't be prouder to share "Forgotten Angels" with you.

My youngest son, Roland, created the "Forgotten Angels" piece for his senior AP art concentration. The theme of his work was indignation vs inspiration. In this piece we see a sad and dishearten angel sitting above the bones and pelt of a euthanized shelter dog. Roland said he made this piece so that more people could see what animal/nature lovers already know...each animal has a special role to play in the ebb and flow of life. Every time we kill a shelter animal we are killing the possibility of bringing an angel into the life of a human.

I hope you'll find this piece meaningful. "Forgotten Angels" makes me cry every time I see it. I cry for the needless loss of these beautiful angels and I cry with pride that my son has been touched by their love and wants to share it.

Being a voice for the voiceless is something we can all do. It just takes one person willing to speak up to inspire others to do the same. Please consider adoption from a shelter or a rescue the next time you want to bring an animal into your life. Together we can make the world better for all creatures, great and small. 

Wishing you and your pack peace today and everyday. Thank you for visiting.

You can find us on Facebook:
Page https://www.facebook.com/iloveshelterdogs
Our page hopes to encourage more people to adopt not shop by sharing stories of successful shelter/rescue dog adoptions & useful info for a healthy dog.
Group  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1405355683042930/
This group is an open group for rescues, fosters, shelter staff, volunteers to post dogs in need of adoption, transport or rescue. Our group’s admin is not affiliated with any posts or posters nor do we have any further information about a post. We are merely offing another place online to help get dogs seen, safe and in their forever homes. 
Roland is also a professional musician for more information about him goto his Facebook music page at https://www.facebook.com/RolandHFerrer

POI

Happy Mother's Day from your dog

These are not my images but were so beautiful I had to share. Thank you Chi Pet!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day 2014

Happy Mother's Day 2014

You can find more information about my Women's Empowerment Organization at:

Website Women's Empowerment: http://www.empowerment.ws/home.html
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EmpowermentWS?ref=hl
Website Kadan Martial Arts: http://kadanmartialarts.com
Poetry Musings Blog: http://speakyourart.blogspot.com

Thank you for honoring the feminine and thank you for visiting. Wishing you peace.
POI

Happy Mother's Day 2014

Thank you for visiting. Wishing you Peace today and everyday.

Website: http://manakeepers.com
Shop: http://shopmanakeepers.blogspot.com
Instagram:http://instagram.com/manakeepers
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Google+:https://plus.google.com/u/0/105556986469018357772/posts
Blog: http://manakeepers.blogspot.com

POI