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FREED’S LAW

Rachell decides to look up “FREED’s LAW” passed in the state of Tennessee as she contemplates returning to the legislature to do more work. She recalls the last time she checked TN code 28-3-116 her law status and discovered the estate clause had been removed. And then she notices something has changed. There is more law amended to the civil recourse for survivors of child sex abuse.

Rachell can hardly believe her eyes. The amended law stated that civil restitution is available to sex trafficking victims. The amendment to Rachell’s law happened some six months earlier in July 2024.

She thinks what lies ahead. The restarting point is further along the path due to the trafficking amendment addition. She is flabbergasted how good this change to her law is making her second legislative effort. She does not need to modify existing law except for paralleling the statute of limitations at 30 years for both types of offense, and that is if she chooses.

Rachell takes a deep breath realizing the next days will be spent researching new breadth of her law to help victims of child sex abuse and sex trafficking at the federal level. Her law, “FREED’S LAW.”

Link to the law: Tennessee Code § 28-3-116 (2023) – Action for injury or illness based on child sexual abuse :: 2023 Tennessee Code :: U.S. Codes and Statutes :: U.S. Law :: Justia 

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Meet Me on a Podcast

Please learn about my story in this new podcast Talk It Out With Marla P and let me know if you want to chat.

YouTube 

Apple Podcast 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talk-it-out-with-marla-p/id1754759986?i=1000671823825

Watch for these podcasts too:

  • Wisdom on the Front Porch
  • 60 Minutes: Shining Through your Words: Behind-the-pages
  • Magnificent Authors
  • Stories That Inspire Hope
  • Insights of a Survivor
  • Speaking from the Heart – airing August 7

Alone

Alone, we all enter this life

                Into a world of turmoil and strife.

We struggle and fight will all our might

                To survive the hardships, we must smite.

Valleys of low, mountains so high.

                It is a wonder we’ve gotten by;

Our inner strength holds the key,

                And with HIS help, what will be, will be!

                                                Ggr ~ Oct 1, 1992

Note: “the anniversary of my birth in the life of CHRIST.”

                ~ HE’S ALL I NEED!

All Those Miles

You’d walk all those miles for me?

Yes, I would.

I have come all these miles on the eve of my first visit to “the Farm” in Conyers, Ga.

I am in anticipation of my spiritual journey tomorrow. I am certain of you.

Lord, I have travelled far to experience the who, why and what of you that you come to share with your children.

Please guide us in your will, direct us in your way, work thru us for thee.

And thank you for today.

Give Yourself a Standing Ovation

My legislative journey lasted 20 years.

Yes, this is the message I received after my bill signing became law in Nashville, Tennessee, outside the legislature. I had bought a handful of these chocolates for celebratory imbibing on my 3½ hour drive home from the capital.  

I never dreamed this effort would take so very long, but God kept placing the stepping stones to take one by one in front of me.

Was this sweet message harmony with my mission complete? I believe so!

Lesson learned: NEVER GIVE UP!!! 

~ 4/6/2016 ~

See details about the legislation.

Rx Do Nots

Being on anti-depressant medication is not what I signed up for. But assimilation to the status quo was easy. I was told I may always need them because of the PTSD disease I suffer. And for many years I accepted this fate. I lived life with subdued highs and lows in order to get through a normal day. Think about this for a second or two. Not experiencing the magnitude of one’s joy and happiness?

The day came when I realized I was ready to go off my anti-depressants. I recognized my meds only allowed a minimized range of living. I knew I wanted to live life with the epitome of highs and lows and nothing in between. I knew I reached a point where living on life’s terms came within the realm of true possibility for me.

I spent many years getting mental health care that is needed for victim to become survivor and ultimately become thriver. Psychiatric sessions that focused on the root cause of my disease, not the symptoms brought me this freedom.

I weaned myself off the drugs that assisted my every day. I no longer wanted them. I wanted more! I’m getting more and more every day. What a BLESSING!!!

Back to Mom and Me

Mom giggled and laughed with me. I feel so comforted to have spent some time with her. Her uplifting personality will carry me until the next time. I am branding the conversation on my mind so I can recall the happy of her. Father God, “Thank you!”

I told her how proud I am for her to be my mom. This round she taught me how to set boundaries, period. I can set mine just like she set hers to keep everyone from calling and texting while she was recovering so she could focus on her rehab. I am SO PROUD OF YOU, MOM!!!

You have always kept me close and maintained teaching me… my relationship with God to learning to set boundaries. This feels really good to say these things for her to hear. I like her to know how she has made what my life has become. Teaching me about God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit number one. And taking care of myself first!

My day started with me writing a text that remained DRAFT. I looked for another way because I felt I just had to talk to her today. God worked this out.

I texted my brother for us to talk, and as we were, I realized Mom is sitting on her back porch enjoying the sunshiny day. I got him to give her his phone so we could talk.

What a blessing to my day. Envelop these feelings to my heart so I can grow and thrive from them.

Thank YOU, GOD. I LOVE YOU!!!

Thank you for my MOM!!!

Talk with my Mom

I talked with my mom today. I was thrilled deep inside with a love so strong I swelled with each intake of air. The instant I heard her voice my body tension eased. She sounded happy and filled with joy like always. She taught me that it takes 42 more muscles to frown than it does to smile. That is the secret to her young look, she’ll tell anyone!

She’s gotten home a week ago from a rehab facility that ultimately did surgery on her right arm break a month ago. They wanted to see how she would heal those first three weeks and see if surgery on the arm would not be needed. Well, we know the answer now. No. She ended up getting metal in the arm for function.

Timing: My sister had her back surgery on Thursday, and then Mom fell on Sunday and broke her hip and right arm at the femur… like, broke!

Mom’s birthday was the next day. Imagine that!

She said, “My good arm is not good, and my bad hand is still bad.” But, she has a great attitude. My brother said, “Her attitude is sassy,” so she is making the most of this situation.

Her husband fell on the day she came home and scraped up both hands. My brother said he should call the ambulance, but he would not even go to the hospital. My brother bandaged him up when he needed stitches. Low and behold, five days later his hands are good to go. My brother says his skill set was what did the trick. So glad he is there to take care of Mom and her husband. And he is just taking it day by day.

Learn To Meditate

This meditation exercise is to be done while sitting still. 

Sit in comfortable position supporting back and neck

Deep diaphragm breathes in and out… really deep, deep breathes.

Set an alarm if time matters.

1st couple of times thought comes and let it go…

2nd thought comes and let it go…

Keep doing that. Keep emptying your mind out.

Once you’re blank, all you like to do is feel. You are not trying to get answers to your ?s. You’re just feeling the energy coming in.

Bring in the white light of protection from the ethereal. 

Envision the light coming in through the top of your head all the way down to the center of your body, all the way down to your feet.

And all you do is allow this white energy to encircle you over and over and over and over.

This white energy is protection. Protection from everything. This human world. The ethereal world. Just complete safety.

Visualize the pink light of unconditional love for yourself and all others inside and outside of yourself.

Then say out loud that you command all non-beneficial and benign energies to leave you and transmute to unconditional love,

Do this every day. It should take you about 15 minutes. After a couple of times your body gets used to it. This is fun. This is easy.

Meditate on GOD

breathe

deep breathes.

Feel HIS presence!

Feel HIS love and HE IS in me!  

                Ask HIM for protection around me!

Praise HIM as protector, provider, healer!!!