Forgive us, Lord

We have lost sight and forgotten your Word.

We have ignored You, Lord, for far too long. 

Forgive us.

Help us to unite again in You.

Guide us.

Help us seek Your ways and not our own. The way we live isn't working. We have failed. 

Forgive us. 

The Sandy Hook Massacre shows how far off your path we are as a nation. Lord, help us not need another trajedy to get our attention. Let this one be it.

Our problems are not guns. It is the moral decay of our nation as a whole. This is something government cannot legislate or change. The change must come from each of us individually. 

Forgive us. We are listening and are open to You and your guidance.

-- Stacy Duplease
Writer
Sent from my cell.

I do not understand

There is something else I do not understand. It is the blog world. I find is heartwrenching how many are talking about the merry days of Christmas and nothing about the Sandy Hook School Massacre. 

I do not understand.

When did we ever become so callous and so quick to live in denial?

Yes. The meaning and spirit of Christmas is above all this. That is true. 

However, 20 elementary age children were brutally murdered yesterday. Where is our respect to them and their families?

What about a period of mourning? 

-- Stacy Duplease
Writer
Sent from my cell.

What has happened to the USA?

The country I live in is not one I recognize.

We are more than lost. 

We are so selfish and me oriented.

We do not pursue excellence and embrace mediocrity.

Chrisitians sit by silently as the USA goes against the Bible and God in every way.

Elementary School students are gunned down.

Socialism is accepted.

Handouts are expected.

Abortion, the murder of babies, is fine.

Step on everyone you can to get to the top.

Division is welcomed and unity is pushed aside.

We do not keep our priorities.

We believe lies people say rather than learn the real truth.

We have forgotten the lessons learned the hard way in the past.

We live in denial. We actively choose to ignore what is in front of us.

We excuse immorality.

We take a stand on nothing or on things that are wrong or do not matter.

What has happened to us? How have we gotten to this place? How have we sat by idly and not stopped it? 

When are we going to realize this is our business? 

These are the thoughts of a woman with a broken heart and lots of questions... who realizes she is part of the problem. 

JOURNALING EXERCISE

What gets to you? What grabs your heart? What makes you question things? 

-- Stacy Duplease
Writer
Sent from my cell.

Journaling Exercise after the Massacre

Yesterday is another day I will never forget. 

I refused to blog or do anything other than pray, listen to the news, and journal.

I know my life was changed. I do not know about you. But, when 20 elementary school students are gunned down, and the innocence stripped from others, this is inevitable. Reflection and prayer is the only proper response.

How my life was changed, I am not sure. Time will tell.

But, the one thing I know for sure is I will not be silent. Not any more. 

JOURNALING EXERCISE

* What happened yesterday?

* What does this do to and for your faith?

* What are you going to do in response?

* How has this touched you and your life?

* What are your thoughts?

* How are you feeling?

-- Stacy Duplease
Writer
Sent from my cell.

Prayers

My prayers are with everyone involved with Sandy Hook Elementary School (because of the shootings)--along with their families and friends.

I will go silent on my blog today so we can pray and journal for them.

Stacy Duplease

Family Journaling: A Journaling Exercise and Prompt

How has your family influenced your life?

Take a great deal of time to think this through and journal. . Go through each and every one of your relatives--way back on your family tree generations upon generations ago. And see how each individual has made their stamp on your life.

~ Stacy Duplease

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)

One of Those Days and Journaling Anyway

Today is one of those days for me. I barely slept last night. I have a lot of things on my mind (Christmas, how the Hobbit comes out tomorrow, being terrified about my new 2013 journaling project, etc. Never mind some other stuff I don't want to share yet). Therefore  I am finding it difficult to journal and blog. And, I never find it difficult to journal or blog. As a matter of fact, I am not sure if I really want to journal. (But, I know that I will regret it if I do not.) 

So, what do you do on these days?

Ever hear of the story of the Little Engine that Could--or the one about the tortoise and the hare? Both have the same message: Perseverance. 

Journal anyway. 

Write. Journal. Put something, anything, on the page. Be present. The enxt thing you know, you'll have a moment of insight and clarity that will break through the clouds of your journaling day. That is when you'll find your silver lining and will make the cloudy day useful to you. But, you cannot find that ray of hope to cling to until you start to journal.

I usually write in my journal: "I have no idea what to say." If I need to, I repeat that phrase, or something like it, over and over until I come up with something else to say. I will keep searching for the silver-lining and ray of hope. I expect it--knowing that it will come. I just need to journal anyway. I need to be present in my journal and see where it takes me. 

My journal will focus me, once again  on what is really important  My journaling will bring me proper perspective and will give me insight.I just need to give it a chance and persevere--even on one of those days. 

~ Stacy Duplease

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)

Journaling & Storykeeping Community on Google+

I just wanted to let you know that I've started a journaling and storykeeping community on Google+ for anyone who would like to join. It's at:

https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/113054405863121223338/stream/79d3984d-1df6-4c49-b8bc-ca9a764bb455

Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

The Remembering Your Present Journal Keeping Series

Storykeeper 2121 Blog and Website: http://storykeeper2121.blogspot.com

Email: storykeeper2121@gmail.com

Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Storykeeper 2121

My Personal Dream

THE VAGUE PART

Last week, I had 'an experience'. I am not sure what to call it, frankly. Maybe it was a moment of enlightenment. But, the one thing I know for sure is I received the Lord's guidance and things became clearer to me than they have ever been.

I have known for well over 12 years that my dream was to be a writer. That has never been in doubt. Writing is something that is very important in my life and makes me who I am. When I do not write, I feel like half my heart is missing. I am not the same person and it shows. However, I thought my dream was to write fiction. 

While I now know that was not the case, I also realize I had to live what I thought was my dream (my perceived dream), my life's purpose, before I could accept my real dream. I was not ready for this dream that I have today. 

Now that I am journaling about it, and sharing it with you, I think it's not several different dreams here I am talking about. Rather  it's a dream that's been morphed and transformed into something bigger and better than I could have ever, and will ever, imagine. It's the realization of stages of a dream. 

As it is, I have set several goals to help me to reach my dream of becoming a fiction writer. I have accomplished every one of them. It's taken me years, but I have. It's also taken a great deal more work and effort than I realized. It has not been easy. It's been quite difficult and has taken everything I have. 

While all of this might sound dramatic, it is not. What I am sharing with you is the reality of the situation. 

I have been, and am, quite proud of what I've accomplished  I did not think I would be able to do what I have done. Yet, I somehow did it. I was pushed harder than ever and did things I never thought I could do. 

It's taken a great deal of strength I never knew I had. It seems that with every dream, several obstacles find their way to you. They try to thwart not just one or two things you do, but everything you do. They try to sidetrack you, discourage you, and get you to stop your pursuit of your dream. My dream has been no different. I've been at my wits end some days, as a matter of fact. 

I've also done my fair share of spinning my wheels--getting nowhere fast.

I've been distracted.

I've even traveled the wrong path at times.

However, I've persevered. 

I've made sure to evaluate my dream, and goals to reach the dream, periodically. This is the key. This is the heart of the matter. I have checked periodically to see if I am on-track and what I should do differently. This is what I did last week, needless to say, and it has changed everything for me. 

My dream has transformed into something I never would have thought of on my own. It is far bigger than me, my capabilities, and my imagination. In order for this dream to come true, I will need God to work through me. I cannot do it on my won. I need divine assistance. That's how big my dream is now. 

It's rather funny. As I look back now, I realize I would have said the same 12 years ago when I realized my dream was to writ fiction. However, deep down inside, I knew I could do it. This time, I have no such inclination. I expect to fall flat on my face several times as I live out this dream and as I bring it to become reality and fulfilled, through the Lord's help and guidance. But, I am prepared to get up, dust myself off--and persevere. I know it will be worthwhile. 

I have no idea where I am going or what I am doing--if I am totally truthful.

Never mind how I am TERRIFIED. Yes. Scared. Shaking in my boots. Chewing my fingernails. Bouncing my leg. Shaking my head. Hair standing on end. Doing everything I can not to freeze, fight, or flight. Rather, I will stand and do whatever it takes. But, it does not change the fat that I am petrified. 

I don't have the stuff to bring this dream to pass. 

I have no idea what I am doing or how to get there. 

I am clueless.

THE SPECIFIC DREAM

I have pledged to dedicate at least the entire year of 2013 of giving everything I have and am to this dream fulfillment. I have already figured out the great sacrifices I will need to make in order to bring it to attainment. 

This blog will share my journey of my dream with you. 

My specific writing dream is:

A combination of journaling my life story, writing my memoir, and embarking on a year-long project, as I teach you to journal and bring you journaling tips. 

THE ONE-YEAR PROJECT AND MORE SPECIFIC DREAM

Let me give you the title of the blog series I am going to do for 2013 and see if you can figure out my specific dream:

"My Year with the Founding of the United States of America"

It sounds pretty heavy, doesn't it? Well, that's because it is. 

The bottom-line is this:

I want to trace the origins of the United States of America, and my family, and see how each point I learn has shaped my life and who I am today. 

I want to become a subject-matter expert in the founding of the USA and what it means for my life today.

I will share more with you in a future blog post. 

~ Stacy Duplease

What is a dream? a Journaling Exercise

A dream is untapped potential waiting for us to fulfill.

Granted, there is a lot more to a dream than this. Nonetheless, this part of the definition of a dream is what I want to focus on in this blog post today.

A dream is something that takes you out of your comfort zone. It pushes you to do something you never knew you could do and maybe is something you didn't even realize until it came to mind. 

A dream is the reason why you are alive today. It's to live this untapped potential.

The untapped potential in your life leads to the dream and as you live the goals necessary to bring the dream to fruition, you realize that you keep having more and more untapped potential. It will push you beyond your limits and will not be easy. 

A dream is far more than your bucket list. It's something that will take you years, and several rounds of goal achieving before you reach your dream and bring your dream to fruition. It takes a great deal of constant, daily focus and effort. It does not come easy and pushes you to your limits. 

JOURNALING EXERCISE

So, what is your dream? 

~ Stacy Duplease

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)

How have you been led astray in 2012? (A Journaling Exercise)

Grab your journal, your favorite beverage, and maybe a snack. But, first, make sure to get up and walk around for a couple of minutes. Stretch. Take several long, deep breaths in preparation for this Journaling Exercise. (Pardon me for a moment while I practice what I preach.) 

Okay. I am back. Are you ready?

Today has the potential of being an awkward, and possibly painful, blog post and journaling exercise. However  now that you know to prepare for this, don't let it happen. Rather, remove yourself from the emotion of what you learn. Rather, count your blessings for what you learn  After all, you can choose to do and live differently from today because of it. 

I recently read something about a 67-year old man, whom I will call bill. Bill was told he needed to have a life-saving heart surgery. The fact that his life was in jeopardy caught his attention and he started journaling. The operation was successful and he kept journaling. Years later, he said it was not the experiences in his life that he counted the most blessing. Rather, it was what he learned from his experiences that he found the most meaningful and were his biggest blessings.

You see, experience is not the greatest teacher. Instead, it's evaluated experience that is the best teacher. Bill knew this lesson well.

Do not regret the past. Rather, learn from it. 

JOURNALING EXERCISE

Now that we are in a more proper frame of mind, let's look at the year 2012 in our lives and ask ourselves this question:

How have I been led astray in 2012?

* Let us spend as much time as we possible can answering this question in our journals. Ideally, we will spend the next week on this question alone. Minimally, let's look at it over the next 48-hours. 

* Take some time to write down anything that comes to mind after you read that question. 

* Then, re-read it again and jot more things down. 

* Keep adding to the lsit over the next 48 hours to week.

* If you get stuck, ask yourself the question again.

* If you cannot think of anything more to write about things that led you astray, start to analyze why you were led astray by each item you listed.

* Look at each item and figure out how you can avoid it in the future.

* What was learned from each item that led you astray?

* Can you see why, and how, with each item you might have needed to be led astray, because it prepared you to learn from it, and something greater will come from this evaluated experience? In other words, it will be useful to you. But, ask yourself how. Learn from it. 

MY PERSONAL STORY

This is a lesson that is very near and dear to me at the moment. I shared what I learned in a blog post on 30 November 2012, in which, I stated how I realized that for 11 years now, almost 12, I have been spinning my wheels and have missed the true calling the Lord has for me and my life. I took the what I perceived as the "more interesting  route, which actually meant was less intimidating. I took the easy route. I chose my way, and not God's. I did what I wanted to do and not what I was born to do. I lived a life of untapped potential. 

The realization dumbfounded me and, frankly, totally astounded me. I was horrified. It was something that hit me pretty hard. 

I did something I spent years trying to avoid: Wasting my life. 

I kept trying to make a living as a fiction writer. That sounds more fun than writing about journaling--and surely more interesting than memoir writing. My life was too boring to tell and share with anyone else, after all. Or, that was what I told myself. And, anyway, who wanted to journal? (Excuses, excuses, excuses!)

I also realize I was a woman ahead of time. Journaling was NOT common 11-12 years ago. You could not find blank journals everywhere--not like today. 

I also realize I had to mature and live a little more before I could live my true potential. 

What is even more interesting is what I am really meant to do. I will share this with you in the upcoming blog posts on this blog. 

Just trust me. I had to be led astray all this time--so I could live my untapped potential. I do not regret a moment of my past. I now know what I was really meant to do. I was not ready to do that until today--and even now I have a long way to go. But, I am willing to start now. If I would have started to do what I was really meant to do 11 years ago, I would have not been ready. In fact, I would have refused to do it because it seemed boring to me and was not something I would have liked. But, my, how times change. I am grateful for spinning my wheels this year. I needed to in order to do what I am going to do in 2013. 

So, now, it is your turn. Please do today's journaling exercise. 

~ Stacy Duplease

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)

Checking In: A journaling Prompt and Exercise

Good morning to you.

You might want to grab your journal and answer these questions. I also recommend you to send me an email or attach a blog post comment and let me know how you are.

I just wanted to check in with you and see how you are today. So, how are you? Have you stopped long enough to ask yourself this question?

How was your weekend?

How are you living a memorable life today and this week?

How are you preparing for Christmas this week? 

Have you taken some time to reflect on 2012?

Have you taken some time to prepare and set goals for 2013?

How is your journaling? 

What do you want from your journaling in 2013?

What did you think of your journaling in 2012?

What was the most important thing you experienced in 2012?

What was the most important thing you learned in 2012?

What do you hope from 2013? What are your expectations?

What do you hope from 2013? What are your expectations regarding your journaling?

How are your home and family? Marriage? Children? 

How's your job? 

How's your faith?

What answered prayer have you received in 2012? 

Count your blessings from 2012. 

What are your prayers for 2013?

What do you hope from this week? 

What do you hope from the remainder of the year of 2012?

Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

The Remembering Your Present Journal Keeping Series

Email: storykeeper2121@gmail.com

Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Storykeeper 2121

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.) 

Stacy Duplease has sent you a discount for Penzu Pro

Get 20% off Penzu Pro, the best way to keep a journal or diary in the cloud, when you use this link:
http://penzu.com/r/34f16257

This is what I use for my journaling. I have searched high and low for the perfect journaling program or app for several years now. Penzu is it. Check it out.

Enjoy,

-Stacy Duplease