INTRODUCTION, PLAN, NANOWRIMO AND NOVEMBER
Written 2014-10-14 10:49:31, Tuesday
INTRODUCTION
Hello. I'm Stacy Duplease and this is my blog. I'm a Christian, writer, journalkeeper, wife, and mom of five four-legged kiddos (Zack beagle, Sinan Maine Coon Cat, Shelly and Harry Aquatic Turtles, and our latest addition, a feral cat, Kara (black and white). Coffee and the elliptical are a couple of my addictions, along with reading and watching old television shows.
Volunteer chaplaincy and psychology are also part of my educational and experiential background. My husband is in the ministry and we tag-team whenever possible from couple's therapy to all around life issues and wisdom. In fact, one of our favorite things to do is lead a couples' Bible study and marriage retreats. We also do hospital visitations where we support the patient and their family and friends.
STORIES OF BLESSING MATTER A GREAT DEAL
Stories matter to me. Every story I hear, I am impacted by each of them. Stories are important, and have always been, in all cultures and all times. I rather enjoy hearing a story and capturing them on the page.
The end of life transition and preparation is something else that matters deeply to me. I enjoy being there for those in the hospital, a nursing home, and in hospice. I like to be there and stand in the gap with them, and their family and friends, when they are dealing with these health changes. I also enjoy walking with them when others are not. One of my favorite things to do is help them to tell their story and leave a legacy, whether it's one story of blessing or many. After all, there is no more important time to search for blessings, and counting them, than when dealing with health matters.
Furthermore, if a patient doesn't have any family or friends, I like to collect their stories so they can leave their legacy and not be forgotten. A piece of them will touch the lives of everyone who learns their story.
Blessings are something else that really matter to me. I'm a firm believer that we are given several blessings in every moment, and are surrounded by them, if only we would open ourselves up to see them. This is true in the days of sun and the days of storm, as well as in the days of intermittent clouds. Life can be tricky at best and I find we can get so much more out of life when we look for the blessings in every moment and count them. It makes us not take a day for granted and helps us to live a life of joy and not of chosen yuckiness.
This blog is to help walk people through telling their overall Story and all of the segment stories which create the main Story of that person's life. It's also to help us to stop, look for, and count our blessings.
Also, don't we all need some encouragement and a pick-me-up from time to time? And, what about a reality check or a change of perspective? Reading this blog will offer each of those facets and more.
WHAT MADE ME START THIS NEW BLOG, STORIES OF BLESSING
There isn't a blog or publication out there that focuses on Stories of Blessing. Hence, I decided it was time to start one.
Additionally, some people would love to share their story, but aren't sure how to do so, or where to do so. And, some do not want to start a blog or write a book. Hence, this blog has been birthed.
This is a permanent site where people can share their stories of blessing, and can send the link of their stories to others to read, if they so desire. This is my vision.
AN ANTHOLOGY AND COLLECTION OF STORIES OF BLESSING
If you have shared your story on this blog, there is a good chance your story will also be combined into an anthology or collection and published as another means for people to read Stories of Blessing.
MY PLAN WITH THIS NEW BLOG
See the previous sections.
There is another reason why I'm starting this blog. I want to share the blessings I've encountered and counted in my life. I hope it will be an inspiration to you.
THE DESIGN OF THIS BLOG
I will not include pictures/images/photos/drawings on this blog.
I realize it may not be what you prefer. However, let me explain the reason. The stories matter. I do not want anything to detract from the stories, the blessings found, and lessons learned.
MY NANOWRIMO BOOK AND THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER
November of every year is a month of something called, National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). I usually try to participate in it. The premise is to write a novel of 50,000 words (which is a shorter novel) in 30 days.
This year, I'm going to write a minimum of 50 stories of 1,000 words each. They will be some of my stories of blessing. I will share some of these stories between now and then, which I will add to the fifty stories expected in the month of November 2014. Hence, it's a Non-Fiction, Anthology, Christian Living, Faith, and Spiritual Memoir book (not fiction or a novel at all).
Here's the information on the book so far:
Working Title:
Stories of Blessing in My Life: A Spiritual Memoir, Vol. 1
Starting Date: October 14, 2014
At the end of NaNoWriMo, I will either edit it and publish it or will add more stories to it. I'm not sure. We shall see.
You can find my book and information for NaNoWriMo at the following link. But, I will warn you, there will not be anything to really look at until in the afternoon of November 01 and every day during the month of November. Here's my NaNo link:
I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR STORIES OF BLESSING
Whether you're telling your stories of blessing, or someone else's, I'm looking forward to hearing your stories. Please send them to me in an email or as a comment at the end of any blog post.
Have a blessed day!
-- Stacy Duplease
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