MEMORIAL DAY 2012

My name is Juju and I am a daughter of a Vietnam Veteran. 

Today is a very special day because it gives me, it gives you, it gives us, a chance - as a nation, to remember our fallen heroes. Memorial Day, although a great day for family get-togethers, BBQ’s, parties, celebrations, is more than that;  it’s a day that we should include into our celebrations the remembrance of the sacrifices made for us, for you, your children for because of our fallen heroes, you are able to enjoy this day in celebration, in full freedom without fear of attack. 

As a little girl I remember walking the streets of ELA with my dad looking for his next fix. You see, my dad, my War Dad, came back from Nam addicted to heroin and while my dad didn’t die in Vietnam, he returned unable to live a normal life; he was unable to be a father to me or a working citizen. He was addicted to heroin and I witnessed his self- destruction, I witnessed a person lose his spirit and slowly die after the war; he was dead on arrival. 

The horrors of what our soldiers endure at war are unimaginable to me, the post- trauma they come home with, if they survive, can also lead to a slow death.  

So, you see, Memorial Day encompasses more than just a nice BBQ - to me - if not for the fallen who lost their lives, if not for men like my dad - the ones who came home and continued to suffer until their death,  I wouldn’t have the freedom to enjoy a church service, I wouldn’t be able to speak freely, I wouldn’t be able to sleep soundly in my bed at night and for that I ask you today, before you enjoy that BBQ, before you sit for a meal, before you lay to rest tonight, take a little time to give thanks to almighty God for your freedom, say a prayer for a fallen soldier who carried your freedom and for those whom he/she left behind. 

You see, Memorial Day is alive and running for as I stand here today, we are still losing soldiers.   Don’t let their sacrifices get lost in a meaningless day of the month - because as their bodies are returned to their families, you and I are enjoying our freedom. 

May God bless you and your families and may we always be “One Nation Under God.” Thank you.

FINALLY FINISHED THE VIDEO

YAY! So now the marketing begins. I know, without a doubt, that my story can help many. I understand not all people live a spiritual life and I would never push anything on anyone, this is simply how I survived. Rise above, keep your mind clear and learn to love yourself so much that you refuse to accept a mediocre life. Reach for your dreams and you too can Be Amazing! 

Click on this link:

JUJU SANDS SPEAKER INTRODUCTION VIDEO

With Love, 

JUJU

COME AND MEET ME IN PERSON

SUNDAY MARCH 11, 2012

I'LL BE SPEAKING AT:

WATER OF LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH - YOUTH SERVICES

7623 EAST AVE, FONTANA, CA 92336

SERVICE TIMES ARE 8:50 A.M. 10:30 A.M. AND 12:10 P.M.

BRING YOUR YOUTH GROUPS, TEEN GROUPS, DAUGHTERS AND SISTERS!

ONE AMAZING GIRL

Once there was a girl.... and she was unique and talented and interesting and amazing and unforgettable....and real. And she knew, deep down, that if she tried something and things didn't go as she had hoped or wanted or dreamed or planned, she could just try something different or try the exact same thing again but approach it in a new or different way.

Then one day, her greatest hopes and dreams actually became true........

And her life was full of all these amazing and unforgettable moments and events and circumstances: incredible wins, of course, but also equally incredible-and worth it- losses. Because no matter what happened, she learned from everything around her and everything she went through. 

Yes, she fell sometimes (like everybody else does), but she got up and moved forward by always being true to herself....

And maybe one day she will even make a path for others to follow...until they can make their own paths, too.

You see, it is not that she was never frightened or sad or even knew when she woke up each day what to do (no one does). It was simply that she believed in herself and always shined on like a star...

And you too can be One Amazing Girl - if you just believe in yourself~

Juju

(Adapted from Blue Mountain Arts)

Dear January, I bid you a farewell. Take with you the negativity, the hurt feelings, the complex, the dark shadows, the bad memories, the ugly thoughts, the constant state of feeling unable to shake it, for if I stick with you, I will surely fail at everything I do this year and I refuse to go there again for I've been there before. So, I bid you a farewell, bon voyage, arrivederci, adieu, adios, bye-bye, cheerio, ciao and so long.

Hello February! Let's be friends, yes? Hello to Me again and all my accomplishments, love, good times, new opportunities, positive outlook and most of all, faith in myself, my ways, my decisions and my GOD!

IT'S A NEW YEAR WITH NEW BEGINNINGS!!!

SHORT AND SIMPLE: HERE ARE 8 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO GET YOUR YEAR STARTED ON THE RIGHT PATH.

1) Make a short-term list of 4 things you would like to accomplish by June. They should be small and attainable. Do not set yourself up to fail.

2) Make a long-term list of 4 things you would like to accomplish by December. They should be believable to you. If you can't see it in your mind, it won't happen. As you work on your short-term goals, these long term goals should be ongoing in the background of your day.

3) Decide that every morning, before your feet hit the floor, that you are going to give God thanks for waking you up, for the good in the day to come and for anything that comes to mind. The goal is to start your day by being grateful. Get your mindset on a positive path and don't let anything interrupt that system.

4) Decide to take a break from certain foods. What are you over-indulging on? Chips, soda or dessert foods? Could it be breads, sugar, coffee or alcohol? You decide but give up what you know is bad for your health.

5) Decide that you will walk for 20 minutes a day 4 times a week. If you can't get outside, put on some music and dance for 20 minutes in your house. If you have a treadmill, then get on it!

6) Decide to forgive yourself for not being perfect. Realize that no matter what others expect of you, you will never live up to their expectations so forgive yourself and move on. Strive to be your best!

7) Decide to forgive others this year. Forgive those who have hurt you. We are all God's children and if He can love us, as messed-up as we are or can be, then we in turn also must forgive and love. I know this is a hard one but if you can clear your heart, you will free yourself of those thoughts that kill a part of you everyday. I'm not saying you have to surround yourself with the people who have hurt you, but simply, let the pain associated with them go........

8) Finally, enjoy life! Laugh more, smile more, give more, hug more, be more and in all you do, seek God first and all his righteousness, and ALLLLL these things shall be added unto you!  

Mathew 6:33

With Love~

JUJU

December 21, 2011 by Wesley Perkins  (click to see a picture)

 

I  have PTSD

I was a Marine and I was a soldier

I served my country with honor, both in peacetime as well as in war

I’ve been called “hero” but I simply followed orders

I did so voluntarily, for tradition and to serve our great nation

The “heroes” are my fallen brothers and sisters who will never return home

Not a day goes by that I don’t see their faces and hear their voices

Not a night goes by without the same

I scream the same question, over and over every day, yet no one can hear

Why did I get to come back? I’m nobody special

I see the pain in the faces of families of the fallen

They are sons, daughters, wives and husbands

They will never again get to see their loved ones, as I get to do every day

What makes me so special?

I want so bad to take their pain away, but there is nothing i can do

I can’t help but constantly remember….that could’ve been me

I used to love to sleep at night

But now i know that’s when the demons come

My wife, she loves me, yet cannot sleep with me at night

I wake startled in the middle of the night…….it’s so dark and quiet and no one to say…”It’s all right”

I have to take a pill every night and hope….will I sleep well tonight?

I already know the answer…it’s going to be a fight.

I try to talk about it, but the words are hard to come by

I push the ones who love me away and think I’m protecting them

All the while screaming for their loving embrace

This thing I have, it strains my marriage

it threatens to take what little I have

I want to scream “Please help me!”

But i don’t know how to do that

I have been laughed at for having this, even by those I thought I could trust

When people ask and I tell them I’m a disabled veteran, I see their eyes gaze up and down

I wonder what they are thinking, so then I explain it yet again

Not all wounds are visible; this one is hardest to treat

I see my counselors and talk to other vets, those who will understand

I know i will have this for the rest of my life

And so i cope with it, morning, noon and night

I hope everyone reads this, and maybe someone it will help

Because it takes a lot of courage to stand up and say……

“I have PTSD….can someone please help?”

Wesley Perkins is an Operation Iraq Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom Veteran. In his free time, he speaks to students and others about PTSD and its effects on Veterans and their families.