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  • Vanished With Absolutely No Trace

    3 months today Leah Croucher – my beautiful younger sister – went missing whilst on her way to work. She seemingly vanished with absolutely no trace.

    She is a stunning girl, with a heart of gold. A family that love and adore her, friends who think the world of her and many many other people who’s lives she has touched in one way or another.

    She has a bright future and at the age of only 19 a long future ahead of her at that. She is intelligent and sensible, kind and caring. She is essentially everything that you would want in a little sister. Everything that would make anyone proud to say she is their little sister!

    I’ve always believed in time being a great healer but sadly on this occasion my belief in that has most certainly changed. As it stands at the moment the more time that passes the stronger my fears grow. With each day that passes my sadness deepens. My heart breaks to see the pain that my family are feeling and I know in my heart that Leah would never want to see her family in this much agony! So here I am again, 3 months later but still with the same questions that I had on day 1. Is my sister safe? What / Who stopped her from reaching work on 15th February? Where could she be?

    I often dream that Leah has returned home. That she is fine and happy and has not come to any harm. When I dream this I wake up and I feel so positive, like nothing could ever take that positivity away but that feeling is always short lived.

    Short lived because in three months there have been no confirmed sightings of Leah and no accurate leads on her whereabouts.

    This is a time where I am surrounded by more love, kindness and compassion than I’ve ever had in my life yet I feel the most alone I have ever felt.

    Alone because I don’t know a single person who has been through this and alone because I know how unlikely it is that I will ever know anyone who knows how this feels!

    I have been told more times than I could count that I am “so strong” and I have to admit each time that is said it takes me by surprise. There are days where I barely want to get out of bed, there are days where I will cry all day, there are days that I feel angry and there are days where I feel afraid! I definitely do not feel strong! Of course these feelings describe the bad days (and trust me there have been plenty of them). There are also the days where I suppose you could say I’m stronger. The days that I slap on my smile and try to carry on with normality but the thought of Leah is always at the forefront of my mind. Never for a second going… and it won’t! Not until we have some news!

    As the amount of shares drop, and the features on the local news channels dry up I ask you all to put yourselves in the unimaginable shoes of my family and I for just a second.

    Imagine one day a person who you love unconditionally sets out for their normal day and does not return for months! You get no warning of this, no contact, no reassurance of their safety just emptiness.

    I am sure that in imagining how you might feel you will realise how important it is to my family that we continue to raise awareness of Leah’s disappearance. We cannot let her be forgotten!

    We need Leah home! We need peace of mind that she is safe! We want her to know she is loved by us all. I do not think that is too much to ask!

    I thank you all so much for everything you have done for us all so far! It’s overwhelming to see so many people come together with one main hope.. the hope of bringing Leah home ❤️

    Credit. https://www.facebook.com/jade.l.croucher

     

  • Dear Stranger I Think I May Have Ruined Your Day

    Dear stranger

    I may need to apologise to you, I think I may have ruined your day. You probably think I’m just another person who doesn’t understand, but I wanted to explain to you that I do. I get it. I wasn’t just another person staring at different, another person made to feel uncomfortable by a person not like myself. I wasn’t watching your son because I thought he was less than, I was watching him because I thought he was so much more.

    You see, in him I saw my future son. In you, I saw myself. You were just eating lunch, a normal everyday thing. Yet it was so much more than that. You were both deep in conversation, laughing and joking and oblivious to anything else around you. You just radiated fun, happiness and comfort.

    Your son has Down syndrome and he was happy. Living a life that others may view as worthless, yet it’s very clearly not. He shone! And you? The love and pride you have for your son was right there for all to see, you looked at him with nothing but joy. Not regret, not embarrassment and not pity. Just pure love.

    So I wanted to to thank you, because its parents like you that show parents like me that it’s going to be ok. It’s people like your son, that show parents like me a glimpse of our future and that we don’t need to fear it.

    I looked at you and I saw us.

    Yours sincerely

    A grateful Mother

    Credit https://www.facebook.com/IamRiverDownSyndromeAwareness/

     

  • True Story From A Blonde Mum

    True story from a blonde Mum.

    In a hurry, no time for full shower b4 going out but as its really only the hair that needs washing, i quickly grab *my* shampoo and proceed to wash my hair over the bath tub, only realising half way through that it doesn’t smell like mine but the kids. OH WELL, ITS A 3 IN ONE – shampoo/conditinor & INCLUDES NO TEARS!

    BOLLOCKS!!!!! The pain of trying to brush my hair took me back to my childhood. When I was 100% sure my parents where trying to take my head off with the brush. The tangles in my hair nearly broke my hairbrush and the stream of tears was unbelievable!!!

    Moral of story – slow down, read bottles and SUE company for lying and taking me back to pains of the past!!!

  • Our bodies surrender to themselves to allow another human into this realm

    I catch myself giggling when I hear boys and men talk about “thick girls” or even body types in general.

    The rhetoric around it is usually 100% the same.

    Big thighs , big butt and big boobs with a small flat tummy.

    I have news for the world. . .

    These tummy’s ain’t meant to stay flat , tight and without stay without flaw.

    Right underneath is the womb, an organ that grows ONE THOUSAND times it natural size to accommodate life.

    WE DO THAT.

    Some of us over and over and over again, some of us back to back to back.

    Our bodies surrender to themselves to allow another human into this realm.

    I remember the day I gave birth to my first who was 2 ounces short of 10lbs. Her father said “Will her belly stay like that forever?”

    I remember my sister holding me as I cried after he said this. My body has already changed so much so to look down and see my body again, 100 times different than it was just yesterday, was hard.

    It made me question my femininity.

    How sick, right?

    Right after birth I was soOo concerned with how my body wasn’t “womanly” enough anymore.

    How fucking insane!

    I just BECAME a NEW woman, an even more powerful one.

    I surround myself with women who love their bodies , women who hate them and women trying to find a way ….and I promise you one of thee single most common “I wish “ is about the TUMMY.

    “I wish I were skinner , I wish my tummy was flat, I wish this cesarean scar was gone, I wish my belly didn’t hang ….”

    Imagine an elephant or a tiger worrying about what their tummy looked like after giving birth.

    Imagine how much that would take away from their journey and how it could eventually put them and their baby in a vulnerable position.

    ITS SO NON ESSENTIAL.

    SO WHY ARE WE ALLOWING THEM TO WIN?

    We must stay awake and shake societies bullshit about youth being the prize.

    Youth is FOREVER FLEETING.

    Wait until you become and elder and have the ability to giggle at such small minded things such as , how thick a woman is or “she ain’t thick if this” or “she ain’t thick if that.”

    Do y’all even understand the stories these bodies carry?

    Some mothers have birthed children who were born sleeping , some have birthed children who left this realm early… it’s not just a belly. It’s life, it’s a LIFETIME, it’s death, it’s happiness , it’s grief.

    To reduce the love gathered inside of me that is proudly displayed on my tummy to anything other than a majestic goddess-hood is criminal.

    Ten lives grew inside of me.

    How ethereal that the proof is right here on my skin.

    I don’t care bout your abs.

    I don’t care about your cocoa butter.

    I don’t care about your lipo.

    I don’t care about your BBL.

    I don’t care about your tummy tucks.

    I don’t care about your sick marketing ploys that day after day try to infiltrate this blissful motherhood I’ve been allowed to experience.

    I DONT FUCKING CARE ABOUT A FLAT STOMACH ANY GOD DAMN MORE. DO YOU HEAR ME?

    I won’t waste another day, dollar, outfit, opportunity because of my skin. I am AMAZING. My body is INCREDIBLE.

    No more of society’s lies.

    It’s a tummy.

    It’s MY tummy.

    It’s mushy.

    It hangs.

    It is FULL of stretch marks.

    It can probably hide a box of crayons in it, if I tried.

    I won’t be reduced to a term like “thick” and I won’t be exiled because I don’t have the flat tummy society screams at women to have.

    Fuck your flat tummy, I like my refurbished water bed.

    Credit https://www.facebook.com/jayjrizzy143

     

  • Rude Joke Of The Day

    A nun teaching religion was speaking to her class one morning and she asked the question, “When you die and go to heaven….. which part of your body goes first?

    Suzy raised her hand and said, “I think its your hands.”

    “Why do you think its your hands, Suzy?” said the Nun.

    Suzy replied, “Because when you pray, you hold your hands together in front of you and God just takes your hands first.”

    “What a wonderful answer!” the nun said.

    Little Johnny raised his hand and said, “Sister, I think its your legs”.

    The nun looked at him with the strangest look on her face.

    Now Little Johnnie, why would you think it would be your legs?

    Little Johnny said,”Well I walked into mommy and daddy’s bedroom the other night..

    Mommy had her legs straight up in the air, and she was saying, “OH GOD, I’M COMING!”.

    If dad hadn’t pinned her down, we’d have lost her!”

    THE NUN FAINTED! 😂😂😂

  • I have seen a lot of people making fun of these shoes

    I have seen a lot of people making fun of these shoes.

    A lot of people with children too. Smh.

    Listen. Your kids literally don’t know the difference until they hear YOU make fun or crack jokes.

    Your kid don’t know to want NAME BRAND until you made the comment “he ain’t wearing no off brand shoes”

    So then your kid goes to school, sees the less fortunate student has on the “off brand” and now your child is mimicking YOU and bullying another student….

    Quit teaching these kids a Name Brand means something… I PROMISEEEEE they wouldn’t of cared until YOU MADE THEM CARE.

    My daughter always picks out some paw patrol shoes or sandles out… and we’ve bought “fake vans”

    Do you know it took a whole day before she got red kool aid on them and they were ruined? Do yall know how mad I’d be if I had spent 40 or 50 on shoes just for her to spill Kool aid on them 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

    But they were only 13, so I could go grab another pair to replace if I had really wanted to.

    The point I’m trying to make is… your kid doesn’t care if the shoe has a Nike, Vans Or Jordan logo… at least they didn’t until you made it very clear that YOU had the issue.

    There is NO ISSUE with kids wearing knock off shoes. None. Especially how these kids like to kick up mud and dirt around and spill Kool Aid on things 😂😭🤷🏻‍♀️

    NOTE: To the people who are some how triggered by this post, I’m not sorry 🤷🏻‍♀️.

    This isn’t a “parent bashing” post.

    Credit https://www.facebook.com/jessa.porter.1

     

  • I Value My Life So Much More Now

    Exactly one year ago to the date, my life and entire world had been flipped upside down by such a surreal accident that completely changed my outlook and the way that I live my life. I was bitten by one of my sub-adult West African Gaboon Vipers, and nearly lost my life.

    I Value My Life So Much More Now
    I Value My Life So Much More Now

    I was in the ICU for 8 days ( almost not making it out of the emergency room within the first 24 hours ), followed by four surgeries including an amputation of my left index finger. Doctor expected that it would take a year-and-a-half to two years to fully heal and your man was fully healed in under eight months and cleared to fight! 😎😎

    I have been keeping snakes and exotic pets for over 15 years and been keeping hots for about 5 years. I had always been very big on safety and proper handling so I never expected that I would be in that situation, until I really was. It was the most eye-opening experience I have ever had in so many ways!

    I Value My Life So Much More Now
    I Value My Life So Much More Now

    I value life so much more and I am so grateful just to wake up and be able to take a breath of fresh air every day. The people I have met through this and have been able to help educate and learn from my experience is so incredible & I know I will be able to do that for years to come! People will never understand my love for snakes, because it made me love and respect them even more than I ever thought I could. I would not change my life or what I do for anything in the world! & this is just a celebration of all incredible animals, all of the good vibes, & all of the great people that I have in my life and will for the years to come! I truthfully am living my best life! 😁😎🐍👑😘

    Credit https://www.facebook.com/austin.limberger.5

     

  • I Was A Kick Butt Mother And Then This Happened

    So, I was a kick butt mother this morning.

    My doctor upped my medicine last week and I’ve been feeling goooood. No more out-of-control, fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants type parenting for this mama.

    Not anymore.

    I am Mary Freaking Poppins, y’all.

    So today I baked muffins and read books to my babies and picked out adorable matchy-matchy outfits, all before school.

    They didn’t even fuss when I got them dressed.

    I was patient with their breakfast table meltdowns and gentle with discipline.

    I was pretty much a bastion of parenting perfection.

    Somewhere between packing lunch boxes and brushing ponytails and generally herding cats (like moms do), I threw my black skirt in the dryer to get the wrinkles out.

    Who has time for an iron, ammiright?

    Not me!

    I was busy being SuperMom. Into the minivan kids! Time to sing happy songs on the way to school!

    We got to the preschool five minutes early, and when the teachers pulled my babies out of the car, I blew kisses.

    “Bye kiddos! Mommy will be back at 3!”

    Maybe we will bake cookies. #Fromscratch

    Then I drove to my doctor’s appointment all the way across town with ten minutes to spare.

    That’s right. GLANCE UPON MY GREATNESS, YOU UNDERLINGS. I am SUPER MOM.

    I hopped out of my van with my Starbucks and my side ponytail and

    WHEEE is it breezy today or is it me?

    Omg.

    no pants no pants no pants

    NO PANTS!!!!

    My skirt is still in the dryer!!!!

    But now my appointment is starting so I guess I’ll be clinging to this tunic like a wet cat to a curtain for the next two hours?!

    And OH. I just realized I’m wearing floral granny panties. The HOLY kind, if you hear me.

    NOOOO!!!!!!! 😭😭😭😭

    YES Lord, I have heard Your voice. Pride cometh before the fall and I was was so proud—SO PROUD—to be Mary Poppins.

    Welp. I guess it’s true that I won’t be flying by the seat of my pants, today.

    Because I DONT HAVE ANY FREAKING PANTS.

    #ThatSkirtIsStillSpinningAtHome #TheBreezeIsSwifterThanIRealized #AtLeastImWearingATunic #throwback

    Credit https://www.facebook.com/MomBabble/

     

  • Please Check Your Rabbits

    As feared the warm, humid weather has produced flystrike cases. Please check your rabbits x 2 daily, as it can happen quickly. Fly eggs look like grains of rice laid in clusters, often round the tail area. If the eggs have hatched, the maggots will be burrowing into the skin and you will see open sores. It is agonising for your pet, and if left, will result in death. If you are unsure, call your vet asap for advice. If looking for something to help prevent flystrike here’s a link:

    A quote from RWAF: https://www.rabbitawareness.co.uk/…/flystrike-know-how…/

    “a topical treatment can be applied to the rabbit to help prevent fly strike. F10 wound spray with insecticide and Rearguard are examples of these topical treatments. F10 wound spray needs to be applied weekly to the rump and genital area. It is TOXIC to cats so don’t use on cats or in households where the cats and rabbits interact.

    The main ingredient in Rearguard is Cyromazine (an insect growth regulator). It is recommended by many Veterinary practices and is widely available in pet shops and online. It should be applied at the start of summer before any flies are seen and gives approximately 8-10 weeks of protection. This product does not repel flies or kill maggots but works by preventing any eggs laid on the rabbit from hatching into maggots. Rearguard can also be applied on rabbits that have been successfully treated for fly strike to help prevent re-occurrence.”

    Credit https://www.facebook.com/WestoeVetsLimited/

     

  • Parents Beware When On Holiday

    A 7 year old girl has been left with horrific scars after suffering chemical burns from a temporary henna tattoo!

    She was on holiday with her family in Egypt when she was treated to the black henna design on her forearm. But shortly arriving home, the seven-year-old complained the pattern was itchy.

    The pretty swirls soon erupted in a series of painful blisters, which had to be cut off by medics at a specialist burns unit, leaving the girl with permanent scarring.

    Black henna tattoos have become fashionable as a temporary, but realistic looking, form of body art. A chemical called paraphenylenediamine (PPD), is added to henna to make the tattoos darker and increase their lifespan. While PPD is present in many products, such as hair dye, it is usually used in very small doses. The addition of PPD into henna can cause chemical burns and lead to allergic reactions. In extreme cases, black henna tattoos can lead to swelling, blistering and permanent scarring of the skin. Black henna tattoos can also increase sensitivity to PPD, meaning you could have a serious allergic reaction to legal hair dyes.