What's Surprised Me

What's Surprised Me

My life has been...
I don't even know the word for it. And, maybe there are several words--not just one.
My mind is boggled at best.
I'm living a surreal existence right now.
I discovered something about my life that changes everything (but really shouldn't--but it does). And, the truth is, I have no idea what to think or what to do at this point.
Go to this blog for more information:

http://lhtmft.blogspot.com/ 

If you go there and find nothing, stay tuned. I will get a blog post--or several up today. It's something that will take most of the day today as I write several blog posts as I try to grasp what I've discovered and figure out what it means for my life.

Here's a hint:
Family Tree Journaling

Writing Progress on "A Journaling and Memoir Encyclopedia 2014: A Faith Journaling Resource"

Writing Progress on "A Journaling and Memoir Encyclopedia 2014: A Faith Journaling Resource"

Today, I've worked some on "A Journaling and Memoir Encyclopedia 2014: A Faith Journaling Resource" and it's now 408 pages and has 75,290 words.

Once it gets to 500 pages, I will edit it and publish it.

This is an everything you wanted to know about journaling and memoir writing book.

Again, once this one is written, I will add new material for the next six months to a year and will then publish it as a new edition. I plan on adding to it each year.

My goal is to make this not like any other resource out there on journaling and memoir writing. It will be larger, more comprehensive than anything else.

The entire book is a journaling exercise or prompt. 

Count Your Blessings Today

Count Your Blessings Today

I know this is a repeat. It is a reminder.

Do not ever forget to count your blessings each day. When we do, we fail to live as fully of a life as we could be. We're missing out. We forget about the things which matter most.

#GiveThanks # GratitudeJournaling #CountYourBlessings # BlessingsJournaling #Thanksgiving

The ‘Incredible’ Thing an 8-Year-Old Boy Did for a Soldier Will Be Remembered For a ‘Lifetime’ | TheBlaze.com

News Journaling: The ‘Incredible’ Thing an 8-Year-Old Boy Did for a Soldier Will Be Remembered For a ‘Lifetime’ | TheBlaze.com

This is the type of news that has the potential to transform our lives in a dramatic way, if we let it, apply it, and remember it.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/03/02/the-incredible-thing-an-8-year-old-boy-did-for-a-soldier-will-be-remembered-for-a-lifetime/

-- Stacy Duplease, Writer
Sent from Amazon Kindle Fire HDX
Faith Journaling Website & Blog:
http://faithjournaling.blogspot.com

Sofa Journaling: My Personal Journaling

Sofa Journaling: My Personal Journaling

By the way, you can tell any time I write from my sofa, or from my bed in the middle of the night. You'll see the signature block below.
I said earlier I wanted to do some sofa journaling all day today. It's 1:06 p.m. and I've been doing exactly that. Gotta love it. I can do personal and professional journaling from the comforts of my own sofa. It's showing... or sleeting at times. I have my legs tucked under me and beagle is lying on them keeping them warm. Hubby is next to him. Cat has been in and out of the family room. And, the smell of the pork chops, brown rice, chicken broth, and tomato sauce casserole is filling the entire house. I usually cook it in a crock pot. But, it's twenty-seven degrees outside, so warming up the kitchen has great appeal.
Life is good.
I feel better already. Thank God.
I'm counting each thing I just said as a blessing.

-- Stacy Duplease, Writer
Sent from Amazon Kindle Fire HDX
Faith Journaling Website & Blog:
http://faithjournaling.blogspot.com

Academy, Hollywood's failure to recognize "Lone Survivor" a travesty | Fox News

Academy, Hollywood's failure to recognize "Lone Survivor" a travesty | Fox News

Every now and then, I will talk about politics, religion, current events, religion, war, and the U.S. Military. This is one of those blog posts.

I am passionate about the USA, our military, and our history. Quite passionate.

*** This is big. Please read the link below. ***

If you are an American, you should see this movie and read the book. It matters. This has direct impact on all of our lives, whether we admit it or not.

#NewsJournaling #JournalingExerciseOrPrompt #Oscars #Movies #Patriotism #USA #U.S.Military #LoneSurvivor

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/03/01/academy-hollywood-failure-to-recognize-lone-survivor-travesty/?intcmp=HPBucket

-- Stacy Duplease, Writer
Sent from Amazon Kindle Fire HDX
Faith Journaling Website & Blog:
http://faithjournaling.blogspot.com

News Journaling: A Journaling Exercise or Prompt

News Journaling: A Journaling Exercise or Prompt

Every day, it's important to go to your favorite news site on the internet and read the news. In fact, it's important to do this a couple of times each day at least.
Why?
It's important to stay informed as to what's going on in the world, in current events. To not pay attention is wrong. The best citizens of this world are informed ones.
I won't lie. There are times the news is upsetting. Sure. But, that's life. Life has its highs and lows. We can't avoid the lows. If we do, we miss out on most of life. The lows are that which make us who we are. If we avoid them, then, we are a runner. We run from truth and life. So,we live shallow lives where all we want are the sunshine, happy times. How shallow is that?
Knowing the news impacts our lives. Yes. Not knowing it impacts our lives even more. We are going around with wishful, ostrich head in the sand viewpoints. We are missing truth. We are missing out on life.
The news reminds us how there is more to this life and world than me.
The news gives us perspective and more often than not, if we keep up with the news, we realize how blessed our lives really are, for we learn how others are living.
The news will make us want to give our time and resources to others, rather than hold on to them for ourselves.
The news let's us know the truth of this world. If we trust what others say, we are most likely learning lies.
Every day, we should journal about the news. We should write the three headlines in the U.S. news, and in the world news, in our journals and talk about how this impacts our lives. Most of the news stories will impact us individually. These impacts might get us to change our lives or actually contact our members of Congress, and so forth, or write letters to the editor.
The news impacts us. It talks about how our lives will, or could, change because of the ramifications of the news articles.
Also, the news impacts us and should be journaled about because the news is part of our lives. The news gives context to our lives and we need to keep it in mind in the years ago on come.
JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT: So, start today. Journal about the three headlines, at least, from your country and at least three headlines from the world that capture your attention and why.
I copy these six articles to my Springpad as well to help me keep them so I can read them again in the years to come and talk in my journal how the articles has changed me, my family, my city, my state, my nation, and the world.
Let me give you two examples of news stories that still impact my life today--and yours. Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941) and September 11th, 2001. Or, what about Columbine, Sandy Hook, the Boston Marathon Bombings, when Ronald Reagan was shot, when the Challenger exploded, etc.? These are just a couple of examples. What about Normandy? What about the death of Saddam Hussein or Usama bin Laden? What about when Princess Diana was killed? Again, these are just a few more examples.
Journal every day about the news. It's important. If you don't think so, you are missing out on some of the most important journaling you can do.

-- Stacy Duplease, Writer
Sent from Amazon Kindle Fire HDX
Faith Journaling Website & Blog:
http://faithjournaling.blogspot.com

Not Journaling, Deeper Journaling, Exhaustion, and a Snow Day (My Personal Journaling)

Not Journaling, Deeper Journaling, Exhaustion, and a Snow Day (My Personal Journaling)

I haven't really journaled, nor have worked on my memoir in fiction, in three days. Sure, I've done some here and there, but not as much as my heart desires. So, I feel empty and like something is missing. This is what happens when I don't or can't journal for whatever reason.
No matter what, I try to get at least a paragraph of journaling every day. I do this even if toothpicks are required. I know how much worse I would be if I didn't.
I sure miss the deeper journaling, where I get all of the surface stuff on the paper, sure. The surface stuff leads to deeper journaling now and later. But, what I need is some time deep journaling every day as well. Oh, how I miss it and need it.
My life has been go, go, go since I got home from a ten-day trip back home to Denver, Colorado and the Writing for the Soul, the Christian Writers Guild, conference. I still haven't had time to journal about the trip or the conference. That's how crazy it's been since I got back.
My husband's job has been go, go, go, as well, and we've been keeping some crazy hours. Consequently, we are both exhausted. Worn out, tuckered, exhausted, tired. We both said we need two weeks of vacation at home, where we have no plans and just rejuvenate. Or, at least a day of rest, rear ends on sofa.
Well, today is a snow day for hubby! And, there isn't any snow on the ground yet. Wait. Let me go get some coffee and look outside to see if this is still true. Hang on a second.
Yep. There is no snow yet.
Funny. The second I typed the period of the last paragraph, it started to rain. It was 954 a.m.
I'm a Colorado girl, so living in the Tidewater part of Virginia (Hampton/Newport News area), I find it amusing how in order for work and schools to get cancelled around here, all there needs to be is a threat of snow, so to speak. In Colorado, it requires at least eighteen inches of snow, in one sitting. I think I only had five snow days while growing up. Now, since living here in Virginia, there have been more.
I think it's good they make it a snow day, though. Here, it shows and then rains and then freezes, so that is quite dangerous. Since this is the Tidewater area, there are ditches along the edges of most city streets because they collect the rain. If you slide on the ice and go in a ditch, that wouldn't be good. Also, they don't have the snow removal equipment required for snow here. So, I get it. I'm not complaining. I'm only making an observation.
But, let me tell you this.
Never has a snow day been more sorely needed. B (my husband) and I are in desperate need for a rear end to sofa day.
Early this morning, we got the email notifying us of the snow day, so we were able to turn off the alarm. Wow. That was nice sleeping in. I got up around 8:30ish. I am a morning person, so that meant sleeping in late. B has never slept in as late as he right now. It's just after ten. So, this snow day has had a good start.
My sofa day looks like this: Journaling all day, while snuggling with hubby, beagle, and cat--when and if he makes an appearance. I may get out of my pajamas around noon. Maybe.
The journaling all day thing has great appeal and my heart soars just thinking about it. I sure do need it. Desperately.
So, I am counting my blessings: Snow day. Sleeping in. Snuggling with beagle on sofa. Drinking coffee. Hearing rain splatter on the ground window by the couch. Made homemade steel cut oats (oatmeal). Feeling the heat as it kicks on and warms the Family Room. Journaling. Unexpected surprises and blessings.

YOUR JOURNALING

Please don’t skip this. Everything we read is an opportunity to learn, grow, and journal.

1 Does any of this resonate?

2 Journal your thoughts.

3 How does this apply to your life?

4 How can this influence your life?

5 How can this influence your journaling--today and in the future?

6 Count your blessings today.

-- Stacy Duplease, Writer
Sent from Amazon Kindle Fire HDX
Faith Journaling Website & Blog:
http://faithjournaling.blogspot.com

Updated on March 05, 2014 0947 a.m.

A Journaling Exercise or Prompt

What story do you have to tell?

What stories do you have to tell?

How is each story sacred?

What makes each story a blessing?

Journal your response to each question. 

Journaling Exercise or Prompt

What makes you hesitant about journaling or writing your memoir?

Journal your thoughts. Get them on the page. 

Journaling Prompt or Exercise

Do you journal?

Are you writing your memoir?

Do you want to journal?

Do you want to write your memoir?

Journal your thoughts.

A Journaling and Memoir Encyclopedia of 2014: A Faith Journaling Resource Cover

A Journaling and Memoir Encyclopedia of 2014: A Faith Journaling Resource

A Journaling and Memoir Encyclopedia of 2014: A Faith Journaling Resource

It's been my desire for years now to write an encyclopedia on and about journaling. I want it to be all-inclusive, where it has everything I ever learn and have learned about journaling. I will publish a new edition every year and will add the material I blog about and learn from the previous year in the newest edition. 

Stay tuned. I will publish this as soon as possible. This is the writing project I've moved to the forefront and will publish as soon as possible.

As I write it and add to it, I will offer parts of it for free on wattpad.com, so stay tuned for that as well. I will also put the samples on this blog as well. 

Do you journal? 

Have you always wanted to journal?

Do you memoir write?

Do you to write a memoir?

This resource will be an amazing resource for your journaling arsenal. 

EVERY STORY IS SACRED

#Journaling # Journal #FaithJournaling #JournalingPrompt 

Etc. Etc. Etc.

Every now and then, I will write something that doesn't really fit into a specific label or category. So, I will tag it with this image.

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS TODAY

Count your blessings today.

Don't wait for tomorrow. Tomorrow may never come.


#Journaling # Journal #FaithJournaling #JournalingPrompt #Thanksgiving #GiveThanks

A Friend

There is something magical about a friend.

There are few real friends in our lives.

A Friend...:
Is the one who don't judge. Is there when the sky falls. Will get on an airplane at a moment's notice. Knows your warts, and weaknesses, and still loves you any way. Will never expect to come before your spouse or children. You can not talk to them for a year and it's like a day hasn't passed. Is the family you choose to have in your life. Will put as much into your friendship as you do. Will never hold a mistake you've made against you. Nor will they remind you of it later. Says what they mean and mean what they say. Is someone you don't have to impress and you can be you with. Knows when to be quiet and listen and when to just be there. Is a gift from God.

(Image credit: Microsoft images online 2008-2014.)

Updated last on Feb/26/2014, 126 p.m.

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU EXPECT FROM THIS BLOG?

I've decided to make this blog about these two things:
1 Faith
2 Journaling

However, there are several more categories that stem from those two facets:
1 Faith.
1a Bible study, daily Bible reading, and Christian living.
1b Prayer.
1c Journaling about having a life of faith--Faith Journaling.
2 Journaling.
2a-c See 1a-c.
2d Writing about my life of faith and faith journaling in fiction, but it's really my memoir and is based on mostly fact. This is my spiritual memoir, but I will do it through faith journaling and fiction. I will call this: "A 1607 FAMILY: A STORY ABOUT FAITH AND JOURNALING."

PAST BLOGGING

PAST BLOGGING: OTHER STUFF

I've added some past blogging that I've done to this blog. 

Why? It's so this blog will include far more information than what I'm going to focus on today. But, I wanted it all here. Plus, it will give you a sampling of previous writings. I've included Bible studies, devotionals, prayer journaling, and journaling materials.


(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online 2008-2014.)


Updated last on Feb/25/2014 at 735 a.m.

This is a Blog for Anyone Who Wants to Keep a Journal

This is a Blog for Anyone Who Wants to Keep a Journal

I hope this blog inspires you and teaches you how to journal--as I also share my personal journaling with you. This is a blog to share in Faith Journaling--in matters of faith and matters of journaling. 

Therefore, this is a blog for you as well as it is for me.

Journaling is a way of life and is how to live. 

Do you keep a journal? Do you want to do so? This blog is for you--just as it is for, and is about, me.

Enjoy!