A new journaling entry series

I am going to start a new focus or theme within my journaling. It will be a series of journaling entries, which I turn into blog entries, which will one day be turned into my spiritual memoir. This is where it all starts. 

The title of this series is:

"How Going Against the World Has Brought Me Great Joy and Blessing: A spiritual memoir written through journal entries"

Our Friday Recap for Our Journaling

APOLOGIES AND MY ADJUSTMENTS

First, let me apologize for violating a sacred rule of thumb I will do my best not to violate in the future and that is to not post more than one blog post per day. I did so earlier this week, yesterday, and now today. (Drat.) I will try not to do this one a weekly basis, let alone on a monthly basis. However, if I do, please know that it isn't on a whim. Nor is it without much thought. Rather, it is when I think something is important enough to mention.

Ugh, though. I do not like adding more to your email inbox than necessary. Thus, I am trying to figure out how to avoid this in the future. {Ahh. An idea just came to me. (Phew.)}

In order to help avoid me from posting more than one blog post per day, I will set up my blog posts to post (publish/go online) at 10:00 a.m. Mountain Time Monday through Friday. After all, I get most of my journaling done by ten in the morning during the work week. That way, if I think of important information, it will most likely be during that time and I can add it to the pre-written blog post I already had scheduled. 

Thank you for your patience as I try to streamline and optimize everything regarding this blog. 

FRIDAY RECAP OF YOUR PERSONAL JOURNALING AND THE POSTS FROM THIS BLOG

TGIF, everyone. I hope you have had a good week professionally, personally, spiritually, and with your journaling or memoir writing. 

Have you started to journal or are you continuing to journal? If your answer is yes to either part of that question, please continue reading. If you haven't started to journal yet, get busy and start. You have much to lose if you don't. 

If you have done any journaling this week, it is important to stop, recap, review, analyze, and plan. 

Stop and take some time today or this weekend to do what I said in the previous sentence and after this sentence as well. 

WEEK END JOURNALING PROMPT: 

Please journal about each of the following:

Do a journal entry and recap what this blog said this week, along with what you learned this week from the blog.

Do a journal entry and recap what you journaled this week.

What did you learn?

What jumps out at you with your journaling this past week?

What was the most profound thing you journaled this week?

What helped you grow from your journaling this week?

What new perspective did you gain this week?

Find three things in your journal you want to expand and do so now. 

Highlight or star seven additional items you want to journal more about later. 

Underline the things you thought were most important in your journaling. Make sure to expand upon all of them now and/or later. 

Do the Daily Journaling Template for your week (the parts that apply to you and your week, that is). Read the explanation after this to help you to do so. Then, do this. Yes, by the way, you will repeat things you already journaled. That's the idea. But, the idea is to also expand upon what you journaled. 

Now, what do you hope to get out of your journaling over the next week? 

Journal anything else you want to in review of this last week. 

THE EXPLANATION OF MY PERSONAL DAILY JOURNALING TEMPLATE

Yesterday I shared My Personal Daily Journaling Template and I shared how this is the most important journaling tool or prompt we could ever use. I stand by accident hat remark. If you use this template and do a minimum of three items from this list, you'll get a great deal out of it. However, the more you do, if he more you'll get out of it and it will bless your socks off in unbelievable ways. You will leave a legacy and will capture your life on the page in a way that will deeply and profoundly impact your life today, tomorrow, this week, this month, this quarter, this year, this decade, and for the rest of your life--and the lives of those who you share it with. 

Can you imagine if your parents did this and shared it with you? What about your grandparents? Great-Grandparents? Great-Great Grandparents? Your ancestors from the 1800s? 1700s?1600s? Or, what about your favorite people in history? Or, what about the people from that property in ruins on the outskirts of town? 

I am sure you get the idea. However, let me add this. Can you imagine sharing all of your daily template journaling with your grandchild? Or what about after your spouse dies? Or what about when you are old and just want to remember? Or what about if you just found out you have X amount of time to live? Or what about reading them at the end of the year next year? 

What a treasure your filled out, journaled through, daily templates--even three days per week--would be. 

Think about it. 

Seriously. Stop and think about this. Journal your thoughts and whatever comes to mind at this point.

Do you see how special these can be? 

I will admit that as you fill them out, you might find them boring, rote, or unimportant. However, as you read them again in a day or two, and you add and expand upon them, you will start to see the treasure. Then, when you read them again in a week, in a month, in a quarter, etc. you will see each time how what at first seemed a yawner (made-up word) is now a delight and is quieter interesting. (Trust me when I say this.)

Now, you can do these in any order you choose. You also don't have to do all of them. Nonetheless, let me stress, the more you do, the more you put into it, the more you will get out of it--now and later both. 

Ideally, you will do this 365 days per year. But, unrealistically, I recommend at least three days per week, preferably more. I also recommend doing the numbered items listed of: 2, 3, and 6 at least. 

Personally, I try to do listed items: 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, and 10 at least. 

Now, let me give you the entirety of this list again and then I will explain things that might need further insight:

THE DAILY JOURNALING TEMPLATE

1 Daily Bible Reading

* 2 Past Memories, three at least

* 3 Blessings, three at least

4 An Extended Memory, at least one

5 My Memoir or an extended journaling entry of at least 1,000 words

* 6 Memories Made Today, three at least

7 News Journaling: at least three national and three world news articles and journaling about them

8 SOC: Stream of Consciousness Journaling, one at least

9 Journaling Exercise or Prompt, one at least

10 6-Word summary for today

11 12-Word summary for today

12 History Journaling

13 Etc. Etc. Etc. (Whatever else sounds good.) 

With each of the memories, give at least an one sentence summary of each memory and have it be a lengthy description so you will remember it in a year or in twenty. Then, later, as you feel inclined, expand it to one paragraph then to a page or more. 

With the extended memory, you are expanding the memories you have already journaled about, and ones that just come to mind. Expand it by at least one paragraph now and then periodically.

I.hope this helps.

CHALLENGE: Try doing this template at least three days per week for three months (twelve weeks) and keep reading them and expanding upon them as you go. Then, at the end of that time, look back at each of them and see what you think. Imagine how valuable they will be at the end of the year and at the end of the second, third, fifth, tenth, twentieth years. I guarantee you will want to keep doing them. 

So, go ahead. Give the Daily Journaling Template a try today. 

PROGRESS OF MY EDITING, FORMATTING, AND ADDING TO "A JOURNALING ODYSSEY HANDBOOK 2012-2014"

Two days ago, I combined everything I have ever written about journaling into a document that was from the years 2012 to 2014, so I can publish it as a journaling resource and took, and it was 1,020 pages unformatted and unedited. Yesterday I got it down to 898 pages and hope to get more done today.

HAVE A BLESSED WEEKEND

And, happy journaling!

Friday's Timeless Journaling Info, Hints, Tips, How-To, and Prompts

THE BEST PLANS CAN SOMETIMES FALL SHORT
{10/21/2015 @ 718 p.m.}
I had every intention to get a lot of journaling done today, but it just didn't work out that way. Instead, I got completely sidetracked in making sure I had all of my journaling material inserted into a document to publish as the first A Journaling Odyssey Handbook. It ended up I was missing a great deal of material. It took me a bit to find it and then cut and paste it into a document.
I, also, ran into a snag I hadn't anticipated. I combined the years 2012-2014 of everything I've written about journaling into one document on my laptop and it ended up being 1,020 pages of material. (Gulp!) However, it has major formatting issues and there is some material no longer applicable I need to delete. I imagine it will end up being somewhere around 800 pages or so.
Who knew? I had no idea I had that much written about journaling in 2012-2014.
I will work on formatting and editing so I can publish it sooner rather than later. Who knows how long that will take.
I will then combine my 2015 material and will format it, edit it, and publish it.
Believe it or not, but I actually have a great deal more material than that. It is somewhere around 500 pages or so. Nevertheless, I am trying to keep these first two books mainstream and less spiritual. Later I will certainly publish more on prayer and biblical journaling. Just not now.
Hopefully tomorrow I will get a great deal of journaling done before I even think about editing, "A Journaling Odyssey Handbook 2012-2014: Timeless Journaling Information, Hints, Tips, and Prompts."

FALL: MY THOUGHTS AND MEMORIES ON THIS AUTUMN DAY
{10/22/2015 @ 721 a.m.}
I cannot see beyond my back fence as the bright white fog has settled in the area. Earlier it was ominous. Now, it's rather beautiful. (Then again, I sit here in my jogging pants and am not leaving the house.) It reminds me the true vision I have. The fact is I cannot see fully and need glasses and a two by four across my head from time to time. The only true vision I have is my faith.
I love Fall. It's my favorite season. The beautiful colors. The sight of the leaves changing and falling from trees to the ground and streets, adding texture where they fall. The sound of walking and driving through the leaves, never mind kicking them out for fun and to see the sights and hear the sounds when you do. Pouncing on the leaves is a blast as well.
Fall also means cooler weather, which in turn means what feels like a brand new wardrobe since I haven't worn the clothes in six months or so. Moreover, the cooler weather is delightful for me because I can fully breathe. I suffer from dry sinuses, so the coolness is heaven for me. The cooler also means perfect sleeping weather. We kick our thermostat down to sixty-five degrees and add a couple of inches of covers and flannel sheets! Love it.
Speaking of which... I took the flannel sheets out of the linen closet last night and washed them. They will go on the bed tonight.
Flannel sheets are my favorite.
They stir up so many fond memories for me. My Nana introduced flannel sheets to me when I was little and I spent the night at her place. My joy of them stems to her. She was so fond of them and her fondness of them was contagious.
I remember talking about them and my Granny and Pa bought me a set I wore out. Granny had to repair them a few times with her sewing machine.
Then, as an adult every other year, I get one or two new sets of new flannel sheets when they go on sale at the store--and they always go on sale. So, I drag my husband to the store frequently so I can keep my eye on their pricing.
There is nothing better than on a cold night to slip into the soft cocoon of the flannel sheets and the fleece blankets. Oh, the delight!
Another thing I love about Autumn is... pumpkin. Yep. I am addicted to pumpkin and cannot get enough of it. I make myself pumpkin lattes at the house year round, but they taste a billion times better at this time of year. Anything pumpkin does. Do I even need to mention how the coffee houses and restaurants come out with their pumpkin specialties: pumpkin spiced fill in the blank, latte, tea, coffee, muffins, frozen custard, pie, etc. Oh, I tremble with delight at the mere thought.

A FALL JOURNALING PROMPT
What do you like about Autumn?
What memories do you have of the Fall?
What do you think of the Fall weather?
What do you think of the Autumn wardrobe?
What do you think of pumpkin?
What do you think of Autumn?
By the way, using both words of Fall and Autumn for a reason and am not trying to be annoying. They stir up different connotations and meanings in us. I hope it stirs up your journaling.

COUNTING MY BLESSINGS
{10/22/2015 @ 809 a.m.}
There is something else I really love about the Fall. It reminds me that Thanksgiving is just around the corner and so is the end of the year, plus the birth of Jesus Christ the Messiah and Savior. All of this naturally brings me to what I started in earnest two years ago and that is counting my blessings. I have been trying to count my blessings in all I do.
Ironically, I haven't been doing very well with this over the last month since Kara our feral double cancer cat went Home... I need to remedy this for her alone, if nothing else. She has made me most appreciative this last year and a month and week.
And just like that my emotions shifted.
I miss her so.
I am fighting the tears and the emotions that were just stirred up as I look outside at the bright fog and I see birds at our bird feeder. The birds make me smile. Their dark bodies against the white fog. What a beautiful contrast. Both are full of life, the bright fog and the sparrows.
Emotions are so fickle and are constantly changing. This is why it is so important to journal. It's better to get the emotions out on the page than allowing them to control us as we have to do this thing called life.
I am grateful for the opportunity to provide the birds with food and water. We live in a new housing development and there aren't trees. Which reminds me. We need to get a couple of bird houses.
I am thankful that I can get my emotions out in my journal so I can do my best to fully live and search for all of the blessings each moment brings.
And just like that, I no longer feel like crying about Kara... until I wrote that... Sigh.
When I stop and think about Kara... and the year she had with us. From her perspective it was like seven years or so. That is a good chunk of her life she loved and knew love... and it was for the first time from what we can tell. Oh, how she loved us. It showed. She adored us and she was well aware she had it good and she was blessed. That, too, showed.
And, oh, how we loved her!
Thank the Lord.
Kara's strength, resiliency, love, and spunkyness (is that a made-up word?) were her greatest qualities, along with her loyalty and steadfastness. There is so much I learned from her, and can continue to learn from her, and can apply to my life. I am so thankful for Little Bit.
Pumpkin tea! That's another blessing counted I forgot earlier.

YORKSHIRE TEA
I am also thankful for my most favorite tea in the world, which comes from Yorkshire and Harrogate, England. Yorkshire Tea is the best.
If you are curious, give it a try. It's so delightful. It's a black tea.
http://smile.amazon.com/Taylors-Harrogate-Yorkshire-Black-Count/dp/B000HRS7OM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1445526870&sr=8-3&keywords=yorkshire+tea
I just made some London Fog style, which is where you put the milk or cream in the cup first, then add the boiling water, then the tea. I add the yellow sweetener and that adds an extra smoothness to the dreamy concoction.
I get the tea every other month as a subscription at my favorite online retailer. Both the subscription and the retailer. I am also thankful for, us those who make the Yorkshire Tea.

MORE BLESSINGS COUNTED
I am thankful for...
The sound of the water filters in the turtle tanks.
The sound of the tick-tock from our cuckoo clock my husband bought us when he was in Germany.
The flock of birds that just came to our bird feeder.
The sweet breathing of our beagle as he sleeps.
This moment.
The next moment.
The previous moment.

BLESSINGS COUNTED LIST
{10/22/2015 @ 932 a.m.}
The colors of the season. I love all shades of orange, turquoise, purple, brown, green, and gold.
The sound of a train.
The sound of an airplane.
Heat.
My home.
That I am not working outside like the constitution workers nearby are.
Our back patio.
Our back view.
A washer and dryer.
Clean flannel sheets.

A JOURNALING PROMPT: COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
Make a long list of what and who you are thankful for. Make it at least 25 items, preferably 100 or more.
Then, journal more specifically about a few of them. Go into depth about why you are thankful for... and the memories attached.
Keep doing this exercise between now and the end of the year.
Make it your goal to count at least 10 per day... and write into depth about three of those each day.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE MISSING CLOTHES
My husband 'B' and I moved into our new home over the summer.
We have a storage room and four closets.
Since it's been cooler, we decided we needed to move some winter shirts to our main closet. We thought they hung in one of the three other closets. Hah! They do not. So, we either put them in totes in our storage room or they were lost by the movers. We think it was the former and will go on a search and rescue operation this weekend.
How curious.

MORE THINGS I COUNT AS BLESSINGS
The couple of new winter tops we bought last night so we don't freeze to death before we find our winter wardrobes.
How as of yesterday I lost two pounds (decades more to go).
The fog is lifting and I can see further.

A LIST OF FUTURE JOURNALING I WANT TO DO:
THE FIRST OFFICIAL THANKSGIVING IN THE NEW WORLD (THE USA)
http://www.berkeleyplantation.com/four-centuries.html
WHEN TIME SNEAKS UP ON ME
NANOWRIMO
TO DO
Save pics down from faith journaling.

My Personal Journaling Template: The Most Useful Tool You'll Ever Use

This just might be the most important blog post on journaling I have ever done and will ever do. I just found it in some of my previous writings I haven't gone through in a while. 

I think you'll find this the most useful and important journaling tool, resource, and prompt you can ever use. In fact, it's so useful, you can use it every day. 

My Personal Daily Journaling Template

365 days per year:

1 Daily Bible Reading

2 Past Memories, three at least

3 Blessings, three at least

4 An Extended Memory, at least one

5 My Memoir or an extended journaling entry of at least 1,000 words

6 Memories Made Today, three at least

7 News Journaling: at least three national and three world news articles and journaling about them

8 SOC: Stream of Consciousness Journaling, one at least

9 Journaling Exercise or Prompt, one at least

10 6-Word summary for today

11 12-Word summary for today

12 History Journaling

13 Etc. Etc. Etc. (Whatever else sounds good.)

Tomorrow, I will explain what each of these prompts are. Stay tuned.

My Personal Journaling and a Journaling How-To (#1)

Welcome.
This blog is a combination of my personal journaling {where I am trying to get my life and family tree captured on the page}, a journaling how-to, and journaling tips and prompts. It is my goal with this blog to capture my life and family tree on the page.
I am a 33+ year journal keeper, animal lover, Jesus follower, prayer warrior,  patriot, and blessings counter.
Every day during the work week, I will post a combination of personal journaling and a journaling how-to, tips, and prompts. Some of each of the last three mentioned might be found in my personal journaling.
And I will probably write a weekend journal entry as well. We shall see.
I'm sure if you read this blog in sequential order, you will get the most out of it. But, if not, it's okay to pick up where you are. I just recommend reading from the beginning when you are able.
I hope you read this blog if you want to keep a journal or if you already are. After all, I think it might inspire you with your own personal journaling. Journaling is one of the most rewarding activities you can do with your life.
Let's capture our lives on the page. Shall we get started?

JOURNALING STUFF 2015 #13

Journaling Stuff 2015 #13

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Written January 21, 2015

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RANDOM THOUGHT: PERSONAL MUSINGS (MY RYP JOURNALING STORIES 2015) 

I wonder if the reason why some people do not believe in God, and why some Christians do not act very Christianly, is because of this: 

We are to live a life of prayer.

Meaning we listen to and talk with the Lord all day and all night.

We are to keep our minds and hearts open to Him at all times. 

We never need to say "Amen" because our lives are a continual prayer.

Is this where the church and Christians have failed?

Is this why Christians are not set apart from this world and are perceived as hypocrites?

If all of us were to see how God is interwoven into our lives, at all times, and the difference that makes, then our lives would be drastically different and would be set apart. Life would have so much more meaning. We would no longer live the life of this world, which can be pretty stressful, busy, unfocused, and ungrateful. 

Knowing that God is always there and keeping open to Him changes everything. So, does forgetting or not believing this. 

A life of constant prayer and connection with God makes life as sweet, enjoyable, and blessed as possible.

Just a few random thoughts. 

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JOURNALING STUFF 2015 #12

JOURNALING STUFF 2015 #12
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Written January 20, 2015
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A JOURNALING PROMPT
What haven’t you thought about, but probably should? Journal about it now.
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IF EVERYONE JOURNALED, THEN...
Written January 20, 2015, 431 p.m.
If everyone journaled, then the world would be a drastically different place.
If everyone journaled, then there would be world peace.
If everyone journaled, then there would be no war.
If everyone journaled, then everyone would live a deeper, fuller, more meaningful life.
If everyone journaled, then there would be no need for psychotherapists, counselors, or psychologists.
If everyone journaled, then everyone would have a better perspective.
If everyone journaled, then the world would be a far more creative place.
If everyone journaled, then they would learn to see all of the blessings they had in their lives in every moment.
If everyone journaled, then they would be forced to stop and think and this would dramatically change their lives for the better, for when we think, we can choose to make great things happen.
A JOURNALING PROMPT: Journal your thoughts after reading this.
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TELLING YOUR STORY THROUGH JOURNALING AND THROUGH READING THIS BLOG OR BLOG BOOK (MY RYP JOURNALING STORIES 2015)
Journaling is about telling your story. It's putting your life on the page.
Do you want to leave a legacy? You do that through journaling.
Do you want to leave a reflected upon legacy? Then, that is when you put your life down on the page, through journaling first, then adding information to the journaling entries and editing them, so you can put your life story into book format.
Journaling is the rough draft.
If you want to put your life story into a book format in order to share you legacy with others, then this is called one of the several synonyms: memoir, autobiography, life story, personal history, etc. To make things simple, I will just call the book format a "memoir," but call it your preference.
This blog will help you to journal your story and capture your life on the page, then if you want, you can go further with it and format it into a book. From there, you can publish it or  just share it with a couple of select people. The choice is yours. So, welcome to a blog that will help you with your endeavor, whatever it may be.
Stay tuned and I will share information on how to capture your life on the page through  journaling and will also share with you how to turn it into a memoir, for yourself if not for anyone else, or for those you chose to share it with in time.
I will write my memoir and will share the process with you. I am in the process of journaling it and call it: MY RYP JOURNALING STORIES 2015. I hope it will teach you and inspire you.
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WHY TELL YOUR STORY TO OTHERS?
Written January 21, 2015, Wednesday, 157 p.m.
Why should you tell your story to others?
You have lived.
You have lived for a reason and a purpose.
You contribute to this world in a way no one else can and have learned lessons from your own experiences. No one else has had the experiences you have had. They may have had similar experiences, but everyone has different life dynamics, so the lessons you learn are not the same others would learn Learning vicariously is a very useful tool. Hence, they should be shared. Your wisdom learned is valuable and makes your story matter. Things have happened to you for a reason and your life has been for a purpose. Needless to say, your stories are sacred.
I will write me memoir on this blog with the hopes you are inspired to write your own, or at least get the information down in your journal.
Stay tuned.
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AHA MOMENT: I REFLECT WHO I AM AND HOW I AM WITH HOW AND WHAT I JOURNAL
In the times in my life when I have journaled a little to none at all, I have lived a shallow, self-focused life.
In the times I have journaled the most, and gone the deepest, I have been able to appreciate the people, circumstances, and things I have in my life.
Talk about a major AHA light bulb moment.
Journaling forces me to look at myself, honestly and deeply, as I analyze and review who I am, what I stand for and believe, what I've done, what I am doing, and what I want to do and should do. Journaling also forces me to look outside of myself and see the beauty of the world--and this helps me to love more. Journaling forces perspective as I realize how small I am in the great, big world, but also how blessed I am--how there is far more to my life than just me.
Hence, when I do not journal, I get holed up in just my shell and focus on me and on events, in a shallow perspective, that does not allow me to see all of the blessings in my life because I see so little in perspective.
Journaling forces me to wake up and count my blessings--which is more than just me, myself, and I.
Journaling opens my eyes. When I journal, my eyes open more and more and in direct proportion with how much I journal. If I don't journal, my eyes close so I see more of my small world and less of the bigger world and the bigger picture.
The same is true with you. I guarantee it. So, journal. Journal will help you to do the same.
JOURNALING PROMPT: Journal your thoughts.
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JOURNALING STUFF 2015 #11

JOURNALING STUFF 2015 #11
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Written January 20, 2015
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A JOURNALING PROMPT
What do you think of your journaling today?
This week?
This month?
The last quarter (three months)?
The last 6 months?
The last year?
The last two years?
Etc.
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A JOURNALING PROMPT
How has journaling helped you live a fuller, more meaningful, deeper, and more purposeful life?
How can it help you to live a fuller, more meaningful, deeper, and more purposeful life?
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A JOURNALING PROMPT
What does your journal (or your journaling) mean to you?
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A JOURNALING PROMPT
How can you get more out of your journaling?
Just in general?
Today?
This week?
This month?
Over the next three months?
Six months?
Year?
Five years?
Decades?
Your life?
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ALL OVER THE PLACE (MY RYP JOURNALING STORIES 2015)
Written January 20, 2015, Tuesday, 317 p.m.
Today has been the all over the place kind of day. Then again, that can be said of January for me as well. There is a reason why my one word for the year's FOCUS.
I am having difficulty figuring out which memoir angle I want to take, but I just realized, once again, what it all boils down to: I am a journal keeper. Period. This is my life's theme. End of story. Want to know me? I am a journal keeper. Who am I? I am a journal keeper? What do I do for a living? I am a journal keeper? What do I find the most rewarding thing I can do? Journaling. What is my biggest dream? To journal and to coach others to journal.
So, you see... My memoir can be summarized in one made-up word: Journalkeeper.
My whole life and all that I am and want to do is summarized in these two words: Journal Keeping.
How would I summarize my life? I'm a journal keeper--or journal keeping.
Journaling is what makes me--me.
If I don't journal as I should, I start to unravel. I get edgy. I feel irritated, off, not whole if I do not journal as I should or want--or need for that matter. My mind, emotions, and soul depend on journaling and need it.
A need is defined as something we cannot live without. Journaling is a need for me. I am not kidding. I start to unravel if I fail to journal as my soul, mind, and heart crave. I am not the same if I do not journal as I want.
Journaling is how I live. It's a way of life.
I am a far better person inside and out because I journal.
A life of journaling is the most blessed life I can live.
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A JOURNALING PROMPT
What makes you--you?
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A JOURNALING PROMPT
How can your journaling bring out the best in you?
How can journaling make you the best person you can be?
How can journaling help you live a deeper life?
How can journaling help you live a more meaningful life?
How can journaling help you to see how blessed you are?
List 25 or so blessings in your life today.
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JOURNALING IS HOW I PRAY AND COMMUNICATE BEST WITH GOD
Journaling is how I pray best to God. It's how I communicate best with Him. After all, true prayer is listening as well as speaking. Journaling forces me to do both. Journaling makes me slow down in my crazy, busy life and makes me take a moment to breathe and think. Hence, I can then offer more to God.
I journal as though God was the One reading my journaling entry (and He is). He is my audience. He is the One I seek to curl up with when I journal.
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JOURNALING HELPS ME TO FOCUS ON CHOICE, NOT ON EMOTION
I think that in today's world, we are all about action and feelings. We are go-go-go and we assign value to feelings. For example, people will actually not buy a house, even if it is their dream home and is the perfect price if they "are not feeling it."
We think feelings are really important. We base life decisions off of feelings.
Feelings change quicker than the weather and are fickle. They never last. So, putting value on feelings is ludicrous.
Let me make another point. People marry because they feel as though they are in love. Then, those same couples are the ones who divorce later.
Feelings are actually a choice. We can and should choose how we feel.
Case and point:
I choose to love my husband every hour of every single day. My feelings do not matter. I choose to love him because I chose to say "I do" to him--no matter what--til death do us part. No matter what. No matter how I feel. I can choose how I feel. I can choose to love him or not. Hence, I make sure to choose to love him every moment, no matter what, and make my/our love far deeper, richer, and more meaningful than feelings could ever be.
Hence, my emotions are a choice and are something I choose to control.
It has not always been this way. Ask those closest to me and they will tell you I used to be quite emotional and wore every single emotion on my sleeve. In fact, I used to drive people nuts because I was so emotional. However, life experience, maturity, and wisdom have taught me how I actually lived a lesser life because of it. I was not able to thoroughly enjoy life and all of its blessings because I was so focused on emotions.
I did not realize how much emotions cloud our judgement and thinking. I also didn't realize how emotions prevented me from fully living.
I am not saying not to feel. No. Not that. Rather, I am saying to control your emotions, rather than to allow them, to control you. Chose how you feel. Do not let people, things, or circumstances to ever control your emotions. You are the one with intelligence and can control how you feel. So, do so. Feel, but only if you thoroughly think something through--and do not feel something through. Feeling something through will lead to problems and will prevent you from fully living.
My journaling helps me to control my emotions and not allow my emotions to control me. This is one of the reasons I journal. Journaling helps me to control my emotions so I can see all of the blessings in that moment no matter how I feel. My emotions could otherwise cloud my vision and prevent me from seeing the blessing in every moment--even the challenging moments. It's in the times of challenge and storm that often bring the most blessings in our lives, but if we are feeling and emoting, we might miss them.
Journaling helps me to work through my emotion so I can choose to look for the blessings of each and every moment.
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A JOURNALING PROMPT
How do your emotions control you?
How do you control your emotions?
How can journaling help you with your emotions?
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JOURNALING STUFF 2015 #9

JOURNALING STUFF 2015 #9
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Written Monday, January 19, 2015
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IT'S BEEN A WHILE
It's been a while since I journaled on this blog. As you know, this is a time of transition for me and I've been trying to keep myself busy with writing. I had to get some other writing out of my system, as I wait for the news of what is going to happen and when--as far as moving and putting in an offer on a house.
Now, I am ready to edit Journaling Stuff 2014 and do writing on this blog--as I can. Again, for the next several months, I will only write (blog or journal) here as I am able. I will be able to do quite a bit over the next few weeks. Then, I will get quiet for a while as we do the moving across country thing, take some vacation time, have some time with family, and then move into our house and get it set up and get to know the new town we're moving to in Wyoming.
I will try to keep you updated as I am able--and blog journaling hints, tips, and prompts. I imagine come April, things should be calmer and I cannot wait to share the journey with you.
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CHANGE
Change is something that people find stressful and intimidating. We make it far worse on ourselves because of our thoughts and attitude toward change. (Journaling prompt: Have you noticed this in your life? In the lives of others?) This does not help us one iota. Why make things harder on ourselves than they need to be? Why not find a way to turn change into something useful in our lives instead?
Change is a fact of life.
There are few guarantees in this life, but change is one of them. Change will happen. It's just a matter of time.
So, shouldn't our goal be to learn how to appreciate change and find the blessing in change? (Go ahead and journal your answer to that question, along with your thoughts. A Journaling Prompt.)
How is it possible to make change a benefit and opportunity in our lives--versus something to dread and feel anxious over or about? (Go ahead and journal your thoughts and answer regarding that question. A Journaling Prompt.)
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UPCOMING BLOG POST SERIES
In the next few weeks, I will do a few different blog posts series which go together, but can also be separate journaling topics (subjects or thoughts).
1 These are just a few of the thoughts I want to explore over the next few weeks. So, welcome to a new blog post series called: "CHANGE BRINGS BLESSING."
2 I will also talk about how to move in such a way to bring blessing ("THE BLESSING OF MOVING").
3 How to create a home of blessing in upcoming blog posts ("A HOME OF BLESSING").
4 "A SET APART LIFE: LIVING A LIFE OF FAITH IN TODAY'S WORLD"
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MY RYP JOURNALING STORIES 2015: MY PERSONAL JOURNALING
Written Monday, January 19, 2015, 202 p.m.
I will be doing a lot of personal journaling in 2015 on this blog in an effort for it to be a journaling prompt for you. Furthermore, I hope it will inspire you with your journaling and help inspire you to find the blessing in your life.
Therefore, I will call my personal journaling "MY RYP JOURNALING STORIES 2015."
I hope to write my journaling memoir in 2015 and that's why it has the title of MY RYP JOURNALING STORIES 2015.
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WHAT TIME, EXPERIENCE, AND MATURITY HAS TAUGHT ME
I turned four decades old in September 2014 and it's made me quite reflective. It's made me think and do a great deal of soul searching. Never mind how 2014 was a tough year for me.
One of the things 2014 has taught me is one that 2015 has taught me so far as well. It's what time, experience, and maturity have also taught me:
A life without journaling is shallower, does not have full meaning or purpose or perspective, and is more self-centered (regardless of what we tell ourselves when we don't journal).
In other words, a life without journaling is one that is lacking.
Now hold on. I'm talking about myself here. So, please do not think I am pointing a finger at you or someone else you know. Rather, I'm looking in the mirror and am being absolutely honest with myself.
When I do not journal, I live an aimless life.
This is why I have to admit that journaling is a way of life for me and is the way I fully live.
Journaling helps keep my life simple and less complicated.
Journaling helps me to order my steps and find the blessing in my life.
A life of journaling is the most blessed life I can live.
Journaling makes me stop, look around around, and take note of the beauty and helps me to focus on what matters instead of on that which doesn't. It helps me to see how much blessing there is in every moment, if only I would stop and look for it and count it.
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A JOURNALING QUOTE
A life of journaling is the most blessed life I can live.
{A Journaling Prompt: Journal your thoughts.}
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JOURNALING STUFF 2015 #9d
MY RYP JOURNALING STORIES 2015
Written Monday, January 19, 2015, 325 p.m.
MY THOUGHTS AND EXPERIENCES SO FAR IN 2015
My life is in a constant state of hurry up and wait.
I could not help but get a mischievous grin as I typed and journaled that last sentence. After all, I think change and waiting are two perpetual themes of life. Never mind the theme of the unknown--of not having answers and wondering who, what, where, when, why, and how. These are all constants in life.
My husband, B, and I have been in the hurry up and wait stance for a few months now and this is no different. We are still waiting on the same ol' same ol' and know that things will happen, just when they are supposed to, and in the way they are supposed to. We know that everything will come together. It always does. I cannot think of one time in my life when anything has come together the way I wanted or how I wanted, so it does not help to think, or wish, this time will be any different. That being said, my reaction to this is something I can control. I have a choice with how I react to this time of waiting and this time of transition and change.
It looks like there will be some time between moving from Virginia to Wyoming that we will be able to hang out with family in Denver. Hence, we will have some down time and a time of vacation. Words cannot even begin to tell you how thrilled we are for this opportunity. When we are able to move into our house, things will be crazy busy for a while as we unpack, get settled, lay roots, find the ol' comfortable rut, and get to know our new hometown.
Yes. We are taking a time of change and transition, a time of stress and anxiety usually, and are turning it into a time of opportunity and blessing. I cannot wait.
B and I learned this lesson when in the first three weeks we moved from Nebraska to Virginia, we had a major earthquake and were forced to evacuate for a hurricane. We packed out stuff, and all of our critters, into the car and headed for the Blue Ridge Mountains and turned a time of stress into a time of blessing, for we turned it into a vacation. We knew we could lose everything in the hurricane. The possibility was there. It was not likely, however, things happen and we tried to prepare ourselves for either scenario. But, what good would it do to be stressed? That's what we asked ourselves. So, we enjoyed our time away and made some special memories. We figured if we did lose everything in the hurricane, we would be able to handle it better if we were refreshed. Or, if we didn't lose anything, we gained by relaxing and getting refreshed.
So, this is no different. We are taking a time of stress and are refusing for it to be stressful. (Sure, we may have our moments, but we refuse to linger there. What good does it do to remain stressed? Does it make anything any easier? Uh--no.) Instead, we are turning this into opportunity and blessing. And, in doing so, we will make some incredible memories, build our marriage, and grow in faith. This makes everything worthwhile and it makes me count my blessing that this is happening so we can experience this blessing. This is life at its sweetest.
Life will always have stress. And, it will always have change. We chose to make it an opportunity of and for blessing.
Thank God. What a blessing.
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MY BLOG POST SERIES
1 JOURNALING STUFF 2014
2 JOURNALING STUFF 2015
3 CHANGE BRINGS BLESSING
4 THE BLESSING OF MOVING
5 A HOME OF BLESSING
6 A SET APART LIFE: LIVING A LIFE OF FAITH IN TODAY'S WORLD
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Topics: #BlogPostSeries #Journaling #Journal #RYPJournaling #PersonalJournaling #JournalingMemoir #Memoir #Diary #Autobiography #LifeStory #LifeStories #Blessing #Blessings #StoriesOfBlessing #Change #Transition #Moving #NewBeginning #StartingOver #StartingAgain #BlankPage #CountingOfBlessings #JournalingPrompt #JournalingHintsTipsPrompts #JournalingQuote #TheJournalingLife #ALifeOfJournaling #JournalKeeper #JournalKeeping #JournalingStuff #JournalingStuff2014 #JournalingStuff2015 #RYP #RememberingYourPresent
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​HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015! (AND A JOURNALING PROMPT)

​HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015! (AND A JOURNALING PROMPT)

Happy New Year 2015, everyone.

I pray your next year will be bountiful with blessing, surrounded with those you love, memorable, and purposeful. 

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A JOURNALING PROMPT

What do you expect from 2015?

What do you expect from your journaling in 2015?

What are you carrying over from 2014?

What do you look forward to in 2015?

What are ten blessings in your life right now?

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(Image credit: Microsoft images online.)

JOURNALING HINTS, TIPS, AND PROMPTS (12.31.2014)

JOURNALING HINTS, TIPS, AND PROMPTS (12.31.2014)
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JOURNALING STUFF, BOOK 1 NEWS
Written December 30, 2014, Tuesday, 154 p.m.
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THE WRITING PROGRESS OF BOOK 1
This first book has two parts. One was written from 2012 to early 2014 (265 pages). The other part I've written this month and it's on this blog. What I want to update you with is on the latter.
So far, there are 114 pages and 36,180 words of the newest part of this book. (Yay!)
It's been my goal to create a resource so you can either begin your journaling practice or help you continue with a fresh perspective.
It's quite exciting to know our journaling journey together has just begun. I look forward to seeing where this takes us.
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JOURNALING PROMPT
Have you done your daily journaling template?
What about your weekly template?
What about your weekly summary?
What about your weekly review?
What about your monthly template?
What about your monthly summary?
What about your monthly review?
Quarterly of each?
Yearly of each? Now is definitely the time to do each.
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THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR 2014
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MY RYP JOURNALING STORIES AND JOURNALING STUFF
Written December 31, 2014, Wednesday, 834 a.m.
THE TIME PARADOX: MY RYP JOURNALING STORIES
Goodness. Is it Wednesday already?
Imagine with how much that astounds me what I think about it being the close of 2014. I stop. I blink. I look up and to the left as I think. The calendar says this is the last day of the year, and so do all of my blog entries since July, but it does not seem like the end of the year.
Sure. In some ways, it feels as though 2014 lasted a decade, if not more. However, in other ways, it feels like I blinked a year ago and when my eyes opened, it was/is a year later. It's rather mind-boggling.
Time is a paradox. It crawls and flies at the same time.
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BREAK
Written December 31, 2014, 1015 a.m.
Today was a slow start of a day. I sure haven't been in any kind of a hurry. (Blessing #1490).
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STOP RUSHING: JOURNALING STUFF
I don't know about you, but this year, I've learned from a very wise man how rushing has never helped me in any way. It only makes me stressed, angry, and anxious. Rushing, then, sets the course of the rest of the day. And it isn't a very good one.
Rushing me we gets me anywhere quicker. Whereas slow and steady always, and without fail, wins the race.
If I am pressed for you time, that wise man has taught me to actually slow down, which seems counterintuitive. In my rush, I only add more stress and anxiety to the stress of being pressed for time. Needless to say, if I slow down, I stop additional stress and anxiousness and am able to think clearer and I won't forget anything, overlook anything, or do something silly (like get in an accident--whether it's run into a doorframe with my elbow or into a curb with my car). Plus, rushing always impacts whoever is with me. Slowing down clams the situation and I am actually able to get things done quicker and actually make up time.
Hence, I took my time getting with it today.
I wanted to actually slow down and enjoy life, rather than rush through it.
(Thanks, hubby for this quite valuable lesson, which I am finally grasping after almost fourteen years. 1491.)
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A JOURNALING PROMPT: JOURNALING STUFF
How have you tried to rush this year? And, how has it helped you?
How can you slow down and enjoy every moment in the next year? (Hint: Journal is one answer you should list! Wink.)
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MY THOUGHTS AT THE CLOSE OF 2014: MY RYP JOURNALING STORIES, BOOK 1
Written December 31, 2014, Wednesday, 1035 a.m.
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BLESSINGS OF 2014: CHRISTIAN STYLE
{NOTE AND WARNING: CHRISTIAN TALK COMING UP.}
I am quite grateful, Lord, for 2014 (1492) and all of the lessons learned (1493). Now, I hope to apply them accordingly and purposefully.
I cannot believe how blessed I have been this year (1494). Talk about humbling. I KNOW how I do not deserve ONE blessing. Not one. I mess up constantly. I am the polar opposite of perfect.
This is not me coming down on myself. It's reality. It's fact. Truth always matters. To try to pretend I'm something I'm not is to live a lie and is deceiving myself and others. There is no profit in that.
However, with that being said, I am redeemed (1495). I am forgiven, thanks to the blood of the Lamb (1496).
Let me clarify something. The forgiveness extended to me only by the grace of God does not give me license to do anything wrong. It does mean, though, that when I stumble by accident, there is provision. I am forgiven. If I willfully do something wrong, then I must be corrected and correct myself--and the Lord is quite good at that (1497). Hence, I am quite blessed (1498).
{NOTE AND END OF WARNING: MORE SUBTLE TALK FROM A CHRISTIAN AFTER THIS SENTENCE.}
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BLESSINGS OF 2014
I cannot believe how much has happened this year--sunshine and storm. But, I would not trade any of it for the world. It's been a blessed year (1499). I have learned so much (1500).
I have been tried and tested (1501).
Yes. I could that as a blessing. After all, through the storms of life, we are pressed to search for blessing. And, when we do, we see how there are far more blessings than possible or imaginable--even in the storm (1502)... Which then teaches us how blessings are that which exists outside of situations, people, things, memories, (1503) etc. Blessings are transcendant (1504).
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THE BLESSINGS OF THE LAYERS AND DIMENSIONS OF EACH AND EVERY SACRED MOMENT
I have also learned how every moment has layers or dimensions (1505). This is true even in times of sunshine or storm (1506). There is far more going on that what we see or experience at the time (1507). There are emotions, the six senses, thoughts, behaviors, connections, chain reactions/snowball effects, choices, dreams/goals, the spiritual dimension, the historical dimension, the family tree/lineage dimesnion, interpersonal and relational dimensions (and each individual involved has all of these layers going on in their own lives in this moment as well), the national dimenion, the world dimension, the politics dimension, etc. There are far more layers, dimensions, and things going onw e don't know or see at the time. And, in each of those are blessings, if we look for them and seek them (1508). This is what makes every moment so special, set apart, and sacred (1509).
Every moment has an infinite of things going on, past, present, and future in orientation (1510). And, this is why we should journal. It helps us to see things from different points-of-view and perspectives (1511)--and helps us find all of the blessings in each (1512).
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A JOURNALING PROMPT
Chew on all of that for a few minutes. Journal your thoughts as you do. Try to grasp what was just shared.
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THE BLESSING OF TIME AND WHAT IT BRINGS
Written December 31, 2014, Wednesday, 1100 a.m.
I cannot believe how it has taken me thirty-two years to learn one of the most valuable lessons of my life (1513). Furthermore, I cannot believe how I have learrned two of them this week (1514). (Better late than never.)
LESSON 1: I learned how I should make journaling my main journaling and writing theme. I should make it the main theme of my life story. (This lesson was learned two days ago.)
LESSON 2: How to journal in such a way that I go the deepest I can, and how I can write every word with depth and meaning. (This lesson was learned yesterday.) (1515)
Let me phrase Lesson 2 another way: I learned how to do deeper in my journaling and writing and how to intertwine great meaning into every word. (1516)
LESSON 2 PUT INTO PRACTICE: I shared what I learned and now, I am putting it into practice through counting my blessings as I journal (1517).
LESSON 1 PUT INTO PRACTICE: Through writing MY RYP JOURNALING STORIES (1518).
Time was what I needed in order to get to this point.
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LESSONS LEARNED AND AHA MOMENTS
Those lessons learned are a big deal. Both were major AHA moments (1519).
I cannot believe how I received both lessons, and learned them, back to back like that--and learned them the last three days of the year.
Oh, how silly of me to take this long to find my true writing voice. But, I know it's been a process (1520). I had to experiment and try several things, learn from them, and they led to this moment (1521). This sacred moment (1522).
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YOUR STORY
I would love to hear your story and interact with you about journaling. Please attach a comment at the end of any blog post and share who you are, when you started journaling, and share your journaling story. Or, send an email or do a tweet with #RYPJournaling.
Let's form a journaling community.
Let's learn from one another and encourage one another.
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CONGRATULATIONS ABOUT YOUR JOURNALING
Congratulations regarding your new journaling journey.
I hope and pray the next year will be the most blessed and meaningful year yet for your life. Your journaling, if you continue, will help this come to pass.
Well done.
Happy New Year!
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SEE YOU NEXT YEAR
I'll see you next year (for Blog to Book 2).
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*** THIS MARKS THE END OF WRITING:
"JOURNALING STUFF: A RYP JOURNALING RESOURCE, BOOK 1." ***
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HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE!: AN END OF YEAR JOURNALING PROMPT

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE!: AN END OF YEAR JOURNALING PROMPT

Written 811 a.m.
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Happy New Year's Eve!

We're bringing 2014 to a close today.
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AN END OF YEAR JOURNALING PROMPT

What do you want to remember from 2014?

What were your biggest lessons learned?

What are your strongest memories?

What were your biggest blessings?

In ten, twenty-five, and fifty years (even one year from now), how do you want to remember 2014?
(Image credit: Microsoft images online.)

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​

JOURNALING HINTS, TIPS, AND PROMPTS (12.30.2014.)

JOURNALING HINTS, TIPS, AND PROMPTS (12.30.2014.)

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JOURNALING PROMPT: END OF YEAR JOURNALING

What has been the biggest surprise from this year?

What has been the biggest, most important, lesson learned this year?

What was your greatest weakness in 2014?

What was your greatest strength in 2014?

What were your ten greatest blessings in 2014?

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MY PERSONAL MORNING JOURNALING

Written December 29, 2014, Monday, 714 p.m.

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Need to get a few things out and down on the page so I can get to the substance and the heart of the matter. Once I get the extraneous stuff out that's weighing me and my mind down, it frees up heart and mind space so I can go deep and focus on the stuff of real meaning in my life.

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JOURNALING HINT AND TIP

What do you need to get on the page so you can get to the stuff of substance?

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MY TO DO LIST

Let me get this out of the way. MUST get haircut this week. My hair is driving me CrAzY.

Get Kara's medicine from vet.

DAV.

Moving checklist, create one.

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B and I have been fighting and suffering from the crud off and on for a week and a half. Ugh. I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Sorry. Had to complain.

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I just got an idea for a writing prompt for blog. Wrote that. Now I'm back.

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Words?

I'm finding it difficult to find the words and focus my thoughts on something really important to me. I tried to find them yesterday at no avail. Sigh.

It's raining cats and dogs, by the way. 729 a.m.
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A JOURNALING HINT AND TIP: Yep. I am definitely all over the place. But, there's a lesson I learned long ago. Go with it. Write what you think is extraneous nonsense down on the page. Later, you will see a pattern or will have an AHA moment. It's when we get frustrated or don't capture the nonsensical we lose great opportunities for self-reflection, creativity, and insight. So, get it all down, no matter how odd or out of place. These moments are when our minds are trying to file something away or bring forth new thought.

Okay. Words. What about words? Sigh. Ahh, yes. I remember.

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Two days ago, my husband and I went to Historic Jamestowne.

Thank God it wasn't as painful as the last time we went.

I have never felt more at home than I felt there.

I felt this the first time we went there. Peace. Belonging. A homecoming.

The first few times it just didn't make sense.

Then, when I started to work on our family tree, and do some genealogy, then it made sense. A whole lot of sense. It was then I discovered I had family members come to Jamestowne in 1607.

MORE

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JOURNALING HINT AND TIP

Write MORE in a place you want to explore and write more about later. Then, focus on what comes to mind now.

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2014 brought the decision for B and I not to have children. We can't and we're older.

So, exploring my family tree is particularly painful. My rich family legacy (and tree) ends with me. The same goes for my husband. Ouch times two.

It is so rich with meaning I don't want it to be lost. But, who would care, besides me/us?

Hah! I figuratively slap my forehead and remember this: Stories matter.

Any questions? I ask myself and shake my head.

Stories matter.

Every story should be captured on the page.

My story is my family's story. This story is of the birth of the United States of America and is a Christian story. This story is your story, too.

My story is the true history of the United States.

My story is also how we made our way West.

Every story is sacred and that means this story is sacred, matters, has meaning, and has shaped who I am.

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Why was it painful to go to Jamestowne the last time we went? I knew we were moving and I had to start saying goodbye. To my home. To my origin story. To the origin story of the United States.

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Family Tree Journaling is also memoir.

This is what calls me and beckons.

Learn these stories.

Tell these stories.

Family and nation matters.

How all of these shape who I am and my life are important to explore.

Every story matters.

My Family Journaling will help me come alive and will help us learn the truth about history.

Every story is sacred.

My family story is a very unique one and should be told.

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MY JOURNALING FOCUSES FOR 2015

Written December 29, 2014, Monday, 817 a.m.

1 My RYP Journaling Stories

2 Journaling Stuff

3 Journaling Stuff for Christians and Blessings Journaling

4 Jamestowne 1607 Family Tree Journaling

5 Home DIY Journaling

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MY JOURNALING SCHEDULE 2015

Written December 29, 2014, Monday, 824 a.m.

1 My RYP Journaling Stories: Daily.

2 Journaling Stuff Daily.

3 Journaling Stuff for Christians and Blessings Journaling: Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

4 Jamestowne 1607 Family Tree Journaling: Tuesday, Thursday.

5 Home DIY Journaling: Tuesday, Thursday.

Unless I write more... These are at the very least.

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MY BOOK COVERS

I just wanted to explain.

My book covers are plain and are temporary. They are not the final product by any means. They are simply to help distinguish between books until I publish the books and have a real book cover. 

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OH, DEAR

Written December 29, 2014, Monday 832 a.m.

I just realized I forgot to include Critter Journaling in my journaling schedule. But, then I realized I will naturally include it anyway in My RYP Journaling Stories.

Phew.

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MY BLESSINGS JOURNALING AND BLESSINGS COUNTED LIST (12.29.2014.)

1337 The pitter-patter of rain as it kisses the Windows.

1338 The sounds of beagle sleeping peacefully.

1339 The warmth of Zack Beagle as he snuggles against my left side as it sit, journal, and count my blessings on our sofa.

1340 My Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9-inch, 1st version. It's what I use to do most of my journaling and writing. What a major blessing. It's just large enough it's a pleasure to use, but small enough to carry everywhere--and I do.

1341 Kara, our elderly, once feral, deaf, declawed, cancer cat hasn't really played many children, if at all, since we got her. Well, hubby and I sat on sofa two nights ago and we heard her playing with a ball in the hall! Then, when we went to bed, we still heard her. Yay! 1342. And, she played with the ball yesterday 1343 and this morning 1344. Talk about a way to make me smile.

1345 Also, Lady Kara is now roaming our first floor freely. She feels comfortable enough to do so. Hadn't until last week. 1346. She still won't go upstairs, but there is progress. She could, though, if she wanted. Yay! 1347. Also, we never lock her up in the study now. 1348. We used to so she and Sinan wouldn't fight. They may argue now, but she puts him in his place and he runs off. So, all is well. Yay! 1349.

1350 Clean sheets.

1351 Sleeping on clean sheets.

1352 Revelation 20.

1353 Psalm 145:5 TLB

1354 Snowmen

1355 Snowman coffee cup

1356 Warm shirt

1357 Favorite style, favorite color, warm shirt on a colder day

1358 Preparing for what is to come.

1359 Planning on home DIY stuff. Fixing up a home. Making it ours.

1360 Looking forward to owning my first house in fourteen years.

1361 Hubby and I owning our first house together and it will be our only house 1362.

1363 Looking forward to no longer paying rent.

1364 Going to Historic Jamestowne on Saturday.

1365 Kara is getting pudgy. The once malnourished cat is healthy. She is not fat. She is at a healthy weight. Finally. Took three and a half months, along with two types of medicine (thyroid and anti-nausea). (The medicines are a blessing. 1366 and 1367.) Too easy. She looks really good. 1368. Acts healthy. 1369. Would never guess she was elderly or had two types of cancer. 1370. Thank God.

1371 Today is a quiet day.

1372 Ran some errands.

1373 Starting to get a vision for the RYP Journaling blog and journaling hints and tips writing, the journaling resource.

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A JOURNALING PROMPT: IT'S YOUR TURN

Count your blessings for today.

Count your blessings for December.

Count your blessings for 2014.

Count your blessings for different things in the past.

Count your blessings for 2015.

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NEW YEAR JOURNALING PROMPTS

Written December 29, 2014, Monday, 142 p.m.

What do you hope happens in 2015?

What do you expect or want from your journaling in 2015?

What journaling do you want to do in 2015?

How many blessings per day do you want to count in 2015?

How much journaling do you want to do each day or each week in 2015?

What is your one word for 2015?

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