HAPPY JULY 4TH

This year has brought changes in America that has not taken God by surprise; he knows all, and knew these changes would occur even before he created each and every one of us. It’s hard to think about the many men and women who died and the ones who are still dying today, to give us the freedom we have enjoyed for so many years, yet is being taken away from us each and every day. Our nation was founded on the principles of God and with every generation God is slowly and surely being pushed aside and told that he is not welcome, in our homes, our schools, our government, and not even in this world that he by just the words of his mouth spoke into existence. I want to say I’m sorry Lord, that I have not as a Christian stood  as I should and proclaimed your love to a lost and dying world, I haven’t fought for the lives of unborn babies like I should, I haven’t told the world that no matter how hard they try to pretend that you don’t exist, (you do) that your principles that this world was founded on don’t matter, because they do, that you are God and besides you there is and never will be another, because its true.  Today I boldly declare that you are alive in my heart, my life and you are welcome in my home, my family, and with your help I will do my best to let each person I meet know that you are God, you do exist, you are still in control and your word will stand throughout eternity. May God bless and have mercy on America.

NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION & AWARENESS MONTH

Well some of you may or may not know that April is Child Abuse prevention and awareness month. If you've never pulled up the statistics on child abuse, take some time to do so the results will shock you. The ones of you who know me and my story are aware that I know all too well not only about child abuse but also about spouse abuse. Last month marked 23 years that my son was murdered at the hand of an abuser. Unfortunately it also marked the end of a 25 year journey for me of 7 years in prison, 5 1/2 months in a halfway house and 14 years on parole. Why do I say unfortunately? Yes I am very thankful that this journey for me has finally ended, for the first time in 25 years I can say that I'm totally free. The fact is if I had known what to look for in the signs of an abuser, and my family would have known the signs of someone who was being abused, I may not have had to go through this painful time in my life and more importantly, I might be standing here looking at the grandchildren of my son instead of having to visit his grave. You see what people don't realize is, you don't have to be involved in the crime itself, all you have to do is be present at the time it happens and you will be charged as an accessory. The law doesn't look at the fact that you've never been in trouble before, you had no idea what was going on, or you were mentally incapable of acting at the time, they simply look at the fact that you as a mother should have gotten your child out of there before it was too late. Abuse in all of its aspects is very hard to understand, and unless you have gone through it yourself, you can never possibly begin to know the mental anguish, the fear not only what will happen if you stay, but also the fear of what will happen if you leave. If you'll look at the many cases of abuse, the abuser most always tracks the victim or victims down, and the end result unless someone intervenes is usually death of some kind. Sure it would be great if the death was always the abuser, but most of the time its the victim, and sometimes even the victims family. It doesn't matter if you've been touched in some way by abuse or not, we all know someone who knows someone who has or is still going through abuse right now of some kind. We owe it to ourselves, those we love, our friends and even those we are acquainted with, to know the signs of not only those who would be potential abusers, but those who are being abused. I know from experience, that you don't tell anybody when you're being abused. You've somehow come to believe that you're the one who's at fault, if you would just do things differently then maybe he wouldn't be so hard on you. You're ashamed of who you have become, feeling like a helpless frightened child who can only do what they're told. Its a prison nobody should ever have to be in. Its a cause just like cancer that should be recognized and fought for every day of the year, not just certain months. Please educate yourself today on all types of abuse, and be that person who can hopefully help to save the lives of those who are bound by this horrible prison. Thanks for taking the time to read this and God bless.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Hello everyone, my heart is heavy tonight and I tried yesterday to post something, but my laptop has problems and deleted it all about the time I was getting finished. Must not have been meant for that one to go. I guess you could say my heart is heavy for several reasons. My son who was murdered almost 23 years ago by a man who had been arrested for wife abuse, child abuse and suspected of killing 2 other children other than mine, his birthday was October 6th, he would have been 29 years old. My birthday was on September 27th just a few days before and my mothers was October 2nd. I lost her 3 years after my son. This month hasn't gotten off to a good start. My daddy who is 78 years old went in the hospital the 29th of September throwing up blood, later was admitted to CCU with a diagnosis of a bleeding ulcer. We came closer to losing him than we ever have, my step mother who has been battling gastroperethis for years, has had several stomach surgeries, and now her stomach is one huge hernia, was admitted to the hospital the day they let my daddy go home. She now has an esophagus problem that has to be fixed soon. Hernia's no doctor will touch anymore because she has no stomach muscles at all. Both are home and daddy is getting stronger, but my step mother will still have to have the esophagus surgery soon. My friend Leatha was supposed to go in the hospital September 18th for a herniated disk in her neck and have surgery, instead she went in with severe stomach pain only to find out she has Lymphoma. One month later she is still in the hospital, now in ICU on a ventilator with fluid in her lungs and they can't do Chemo at all because it makes her worse. So if you don't mind please keep all my family and her family in your prayers. Now for the reason for my blog. As you know its Domestic Violence Awareness month, a very sensitive subject for alot of people, a world wide problem thats rarely talked about and highly misunderstood. As I said 23 years ago my son was murdered by an abuser of women and children. Back then there was no education on battered women, no understanding and no smypathy either. I as well as my mother inlaw at the time was there at the time the incident took place but I was unable mentally to stop it. Because of that fact, I too was arrested. The DA said he knew I had nothing to do with what happened and wasn't charging me for what I did, but what I didn't do which was to act at the time it happened. Long story short, I stayed in jail 2 weeks and was released to undergo counseling. 2 years later I was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 21 years in prison. I did 71/2 years and was released on parole. The DA said he was using me as an example as to what happens to women who stay in abusive relationships. Before I went to prison, my counselor suggested that I write down my feelings and the things I could remember about what happened for my trial. My writing continued after I went to prison and later was material I would use to write my book "A Time To Heal: The Struggles Of A Battered Woman." My book has been out since 2011 and as you would guess, its hard to get attention when you are a first time author unless of course you are popular already. My book targets several different types of people. Of course those who are going through, have gone through, or know someone who is going through an abusive situation. Also, those who have lost loved ones at the hands of an abuser or just in general. It targets teenagers in highschool and helps them to realize that we live our lives by the choices we make and all it takes is one mistake to ruin the rest of your life. It targets all people who are dating, starting to date, or just waiting for the right person to come along. I talk about the importance of taking your time to get to know someone, knowing the signs of a potential abuser, and the importance of getting out of that relationship if you see those signs. It speaks to those who are in prison, have been released from prison, and the families involved because our decisions and what we go through not only affects us but it affects those we love. I don't claim to be anybody special, and I don't think I'm any better than anybody else, I just want to help other women and other people not have to go through the pain I've been through in my life because of my choices. If you've been following my post on face book you know I've been posting a message about the Authors Show. I joined that contest in hopes of spreading the word more about my book. If you haven't done so, please click on my page and go to the bottom where it says vote now. It then takes you to another page, you click on my name then go to the bottom where it says submit. I appreciate all the votes I can get. I'm asking everyone who believes that domestic violence is a problem, whether you know someone who has been abused or not to please vote for me. If my story can save the life of one person whether it be man, woman or child then my son will not have died in vain. I appreciate all of your prayers for my daddy, step mother and my friend Leatha. Thanks and God Bless. Oh and I will be at the Christmas festival in Jonesboro next month on the 29th and at the Christmas festival in Clarks on the 15 of next month. Hope to see you there. Thanks and God Bless.

WILL THIS NIGHTMARE EVER END? April 7, 20 years ago I got up, got dressed in my new clothes my Aunt had made for me, and headed to a courthouse 2 hours away. Only God knew what would happen this day. We were all very confident that things would be ok, after all God was in control, he had heard our prayers and we would all be headed home shortly after we arrived. After sitting there waiting for what seemed like an eternity, they finally called my name. As I stood there before the judge, confident that all was well, the next few words that came from his mouth were the hardest words I would hear. I hear-by sentence you to 21 years hard labor in the department of corrections with sentence to begin immediately. The deputy's immediately rushed to my side, handcuffed and shackled me right there in front of my family then led me away to the jail next door. All I remember was the voice of my mama screaming wait here's her purse. I had no idea that day where this journey was going to take me or just how long it would last. All I knew was I loved my little boy with all my heart and I knew I wasn't guilty of murder or manslaughter which is what they convicted me of. You see 2 years before this horrible day, my 6 year old son was murdered by my ex-husband. It wasn't until I was arrested myself that I found out that he had been arrested for wife abuse, child abuse and suspected of killing 2 other children other than my son. The lieutenant told me that the DA said he knew I had nothing to do with what happened and he wasn't charging me with what I did but what I didn't do and that was act at the time of my sons death. What kind of mother would stay with a man who was abusing her and her child? I asked myself that question and many more over and over again. I knew the kind of mother I was before I met this man. I loved my son with all my heart and was actually over protective of him. Well no matter what the answer was to this question and the many more that I had, I now had plenty of time to think about it. My ex-husband had been found guilty of murder and given the death penalty. The DA said he was using me as an example as to what happens to women who stay in abusive relationships. It was all so hard to believe. As they led me to the jail and got me settled they let my family come see me one more time before they went home. I can't describe the feeling I had, as I stood there behind a glass looking at the pain on my mama and daddy's face and the fear of not knowing what I was going to face. As we said our goodbyes my cousin came to the glass window and read me a scripture that God had given her to share with me. It was 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love and of a sound mind. I had no idea that day that the next 7 years of my life would be spent in prison. I've been home now for almost 14 years, this tragedy happened 23 years ago. My ex-husband has been on death row all this time, and has had numerous stays of execution. 2 years ago my case was on the front page of the newspaper. The headlines read 20 Years ago today. I couldn't believe after all this time that this would be front page news again. I wondered why, is this just a ploy of the devil to get me down, and discourage me, of course this is what he wants to do to all of us who are trying our best to serve God with all of our hearts. Not long after the article came out there was another article, this time setting another date for execution. Ever since then he has been given more stays. He has filed suit against the Governor, the state of Louisiana and God only knows who else. Each time somebody listened and all I could think about was his words to me years ago when I met him. "I can talk my way into and out of anything he said." Don't get me wrong, life and death is in God's hands and he will have the final say. Does he know the Lord? Well when I met him he was lifting his hands and praising God in front of people and beating me and my son behind closed doors. He's had 23 years to get things right with God, and truly only God knows where he stands today. From what I've heard from a couple preachers who have visited him in the last 2 years they said he was the biggest con artist they had ever seen in their lives. I've been contacted by reporters, and have done several tv and radio interviews since they have been trying to execute him these past 2 years. How do I feel about the execution is the main question? Well the bible speaks of the death penalty several times in the bible, but as for me, I forgave him years ago. I had no choice but to forgive him, I knew that I was never going to heal until I was able to forgive. If you would have asked me this question right after my sons death of would have said kill him, as quick as you can. The only thing I want now is for them to make up their minds what they are going to do. It seems that the only reason they can't set a date to execute is because of the drug they plan to use. Its what they call cruel and unusual punishment to make him suffer for a few minutes before he dies. It doesn't matter what he did, not only to me and my son but to many other women and their children. The fact is 23 years after the fact we should not still be debating on what to do about someone who has tortured women and children, his fate should have been decided and carried out a long time ago. As for me, I have relived this nightmare over and over again. I wrote a book that was released in 2011 called A Time To Heal The Struggles of A Battered Woman. It tells my story from beginning to the end and I am doing all I can to help educate women all over the world on the signs of a potential abuser, and how to tell when someone is being abused. It doesn't matter to me one way or the other what they do with him, I pray he has made peace with God, I just want them to decide one way or the other. This just tells anybody out there who is committing crimes that as long as they keep filing suit against people, they can put their punishment off for a long time. For those of you who know about abuse you understand and know what its like. I've had many people tell me, "I would have done this and I would have done that." The fact is you may think you would have reacted a certain way, but you never know what you will do in a situation until you are faced with it. Don't pass judgement on a person if you've never walked in their shoes. April 7th they were planning another hearing to talk about the drug that was going to be used to execute him. They denied the hearing. They are supposed to be setting another date for the execution, maybe sometime in May. Until then, I will wait and continue to do my best to share my story. I'm asking for anyone who has read my book to please tell someone else, if you haven't read it, please do. Abuse is something that happens every day to many women and children and its so misunderstood. You can visit my website at yvonnejonesbooks.com or contact me personally through my email on my website. I am available for speaking engagements so feel free to contact me. May God bless each and every one of you.

My response to the article in last Saturday's paper about Chris Sepulvado's execution. Hello my name is Yvonne Jones, Author of a Time to Heal the Struggles of a Battered Woman. I'm writing in reference to the article printed on Sat. January 25, concerning Christopher Sepulvado's execution. It simply amazes me what our country has come to. This man has been on death row for 22 years, and still to this day wants somebody to have sympathy enough for him to keep him from having any pain a few short minutes before he dies. I know for a fact that his man was arrested for wife abuse, child abuse, and suspected of killing 2 other children before he was arrested for the murder of this child. He had also been arrested for numerous DWI's, and was at that time driving without a driver’s license. They had been suspended because of those DWI's. There was also a child in a mental institution who was unable to function because of the abuse he sustained from this one man. My question is where was the law when he committed all these crimes? Why was he considered to be just a good ole boy who can't stay out of trouble simply because as he put it "I can talk my way into and out of anything." Don't get me wrong, everybody deserves a second chance, but when you've had as many chances as he's had and still after 22 years on death row his only concern is how much pain he's going to endure for the few short moments before he dies, then it tells me the only thing that changed while he was locked up was the fact that he got older and that’s it. What about the pain and death he caused the people he abused. Louisiana is one if not the main state with the highest crime rate. Its because people like him are able to convince the law that they're pretty good guys, they just have a few problems they need to deal with. The problem is abuse like this didn't just start, its been going on for years now and until people get educated on what to look for in someone who is abusive, and women learn to look for those signs before getting involved with someone, then this cycle will never end. Children don't have a choice in the people we choose to get involved with or marry, but their opinions are usually the last to get heard, if they are heard at all. Abuse is something no one wants to talk about, but the problem is its happening everyday all around us and nobody including the law understands it. Unless you've been in an abusive relationship you won't understand how easy it is to get involved with an abuser, or how hard it is to get out the longer you stay once you are involved. I'm sorry but the reason we have such a high crime rate is people like him know that they can get away with murder, or anything else for years before anything is ever done to them. Why is this one case so important to me, because this was my son he murdered, and I too had to go to prison for 7 and 1/2 years because there was no understanding about abuse and what happens to a person mentally while they are enduring abuse. I too suffered at the hand of this man and my family as well as my son’s family is still suffering today. It’s just sad that after 22 years you can't set a date for an execution because nobody wants the poor guy to suffer a few minutes before he dies.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING Well good morning everyone, I pray that your month and day has started out to be a good one. Time fly,s by fast, it's already the 11th day of the month. Thanksgiving will be here before you know it. I got up with some friends on my mind this morning as well as some family members, and I just felt led to write this blog this morning. Satan is out to kill, steal, and destroy our lives and he always starts in the home. If he can get the husband and wife against each other then it cause's confusion, with each other, the children, and just life in general. God has a prescribed order for victory. What is that you say? Well its what God's word says about any situation, the way he intended it to be. He has a plan for all of our lives and he has an order for everything to take place and when things are out of order, in the home, or anywhere else then there will be confusion and it won't work. Its sad to say but in most homes today, things are way out of order. I'm sorry if I offend some of you by what I'm about to say, but its Bible so don't blame me. Ladies, whether you like it or not, God's prescribed order for victory was for God to be first in your's and your husband's life, the husband to be the head of the household, you are to be next and the children last. There are some homes where that is taking place and if you look at those homes, most of them are or lets say seem to be running smoothly, because nobody except the people living there know exactly what goes on behind closed doors. No home is going to be without problems, thats just life. I also know that many women have no choice in being the head of the household because they're husband's have left, or just to put it bluntly, are just to sorry to take care of their families. Men are not being the leaders God called them to be and that's a huge problem in the home today. You show me a home where the man is reading the word of God on a daily basis, praying with his family, and making sure all of them are in church weekly, then I'll show you a home that's staying together and running alot smoother than most. That is God's prescribed order for Victory. I'm sorry men, but if you want your wife to love and respect you the way God intended then get in the word and find out what God's will is for you as a husband. What men fail to realize is, most women or lets say most Christian women have no problem loving, honoring, or being submissive to her husband if he is looking to God to help him lead his home. When our home's get right and everything is in God's order then things begin to fall into place. When our homes are not in order, our children are not in order, school's are not in order and everything is chaotic. We as a nation have so much to be thankful for. Regardless of what's going on around us, if we have Jesus Christ living inside of us then we have all we need. He is our leader, our guide and promise's in his word that he will take care of us no matter what. One thing I shared in our church bulletin yesterday was, if you have a spouse, be thankful, and love each other because there are many people who go to bed lonely every night. If you have children, spend time with them, because they won't be children for long, one day you are going to look up and they will be graduating high school and getting married. If your parents are still living, honor them and love them because many have lost their parents. For every thing or person you have in your life, someone else doesn't. God wants us to have joy, peace, and live in harmony with each other. He has to be first in all of our lives before there can be any order at all. I pray that everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving, and no matter what kind of problems you are facing today remember God is already there and he knows your every hurt and every need. He is waiting on you to ask for his help. If your home is out of order, let go of the pride and give God and your husband their rightful place in the home and if you're a man, don't abuse that place because one thing is for certain, you will be held accountable to God on how you lead your family. HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH As most of you know its National Domestic Violence Awareness month. If you've made it to my page then you already know that this subject is close to my heart because I lost my 6 year old son to domestic violence 22 years ago. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about my son, and I want to do everything I can to reach women and anyone else who's life is or has been touched by domestic violence. One of the most frustrating things to me is it seems so many people seem to sit in judgement of someone who stays with an abusive person, criticizes, or I've even known some who just flat out disowned their daughters because they refused to leave an abuser. I've also heard many people say, "I would have done this, or I would have done that if it had been me." The fact is no one actually knows how they will act until they have walked in that person's shoes. Everybody was created different, we all have different personalities, were raised different and handle situations differently. I said many years ago that I would never let a man beat on me and now I've written a book sharing my story of abuse. What I want people to realize is, you don't know who you're sitting or standing next too so many times and what they are going through or have been through for that matter. The legal system is the same way, they criticize and judge women who won't press charge's against an abuser, not giving any thought to the fact that the abuser has probably threatened them with death to loved ones or themselves. In my case my ex-husband had been arrested for wife abuse, child abuse and suspected of killing 2 other children other than mine. He was arrested for numerous DWI'S and was driving without a drivers license during the time I knew him because of DWI'S. They kept letting him go because he was what they called a good ole boy who just couldn't stay out of trouble. Well if the law had done their job and tried to learn about domestic violence, and take steps to help make people aware of what to look for, while at the same time taking men like my ex-husband off the streets, I would have never met him and my son would still be alive today. Its important to realize there are more kinds of abuse than just physical. There is emotional abuse, verbal abuse, sexual abuse, and mental abuse. No matter how you slice it, its all abuse and it needs to be stopped. Please help me make people aware of the importance of getting out, telling somebody, or making sure you take your time and get to really know a person before you become so emotionally attached. I am having a book-signing the 24th of this month at the Corner Coffee House in West Monroe. If you would like more information, would like a copy of my book or just need to talk, I will be there from 11:00 am till 2:00 pm. God bless.