JOURNALING STUFF 2015 #13

Journaling Stuff 2015 #13

*-*-*-*-*

Written January 21, 2015

*-*-*-*-* 

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. 

*-*-*-*-* 

JOURNALING STUFF 2015 #12

JOURNALING STUFF 2015 #12
*-*-*
Written January 20, 2015
*-*-*-*-*
A JOURNALING PROMPT
What haven’t you thought about, but probably should? Journal about it now.
*-*-*-*-*
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.
*-*-*-*-*
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.
*-*-*-*-*
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.
*-*-*-*-*
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.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

JOURNALING STUFF 2015 #11

JOURNALING STUFF 2015 #11
*-*-*
Written January 20, 2015
*-*-*
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.
*-*-*
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?
*-*-*
A JOURNALING PROMPT
What does your journal (or your journaling) mean to you?
*-*-*
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?
*-*-*
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.
*-*-*
A JOURNALING PROMPT
What makes you--you?
*-*-*
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.
*-*-*
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.
*-*-*-*
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.
-*-
A JOURNALING PROMPT
How do your emotions control you?
How do you control your emotions?
How can journaling help you with your emotions?
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

A NEW DAY, MONTH, YEAR, AND PLAN

A NEW DAY, MONTH, YEAR, AND PLAN

Written January 01, 2015, Thursday, 901 a.m.

--- 

{NOTE: Whew. I typed 2015 and not 2014 originally. But, as I typed this to pat myself on the back, I typed 2014 instead of 2015. Sigh. Pride always comes before a fall. Chuckling.} 

---

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015 

Once again, I pray you have a year of many blessings, lots of remembering, great meaning, purpose/intentionality, contentment, and joy. 

---

A NEW BEGINNING

I love a new page in my journal and I love a new day, a new week, a new month, a new year, and a new decade. They all represent a new beginning, a blank slate, where I choose how to fill it and live it. I do my best to grab it with both hands and hold on tight for the adventure to come. 

---

I WANT TO...

I want to remember my present and live fully, deeply, with meaning, and purpose. 

I want to choose every moment to search for the blessings, not the yuck. 

I want to slow down enough to see the wild turkeys (never mind the heron, deer, turtles, and fish) to the side of the walking, while everyone else is zooming by, loudly talking, rushing, acting me-centered, and oblivious to the beauty all around, along with that which is staring them in the face. 

Oh, how often I love that way without realizing. No. Correction. Without thinking. 

I want to slow down, search, stop, take in, enjoy and focus on the bounty of blessings in my life and all around me.

I don't want fast. Fast isn't better. Fast means stressful living, traveling so fast I miss stuff and forget to look for the blessings in every moment. Fast also means pushing past, over, around, and through those trying to slow down and appreciate life and its bounty of blessings. (I don't want to do that either.)

I want to en-joy this year. Live this year in joy. Joy given not by anything or anyone of this world, but by God. 

The only way I can live these wants, and even the don't wants, is through focus. My one word for this year. I want to focus on what is really important, what really matter, and that is a life of meaning found in the Word of God and the blessings of every moment.

---

I DONT WANT TO FORGET, NOT SEE, MISS, OR TAKE FOR GRANTED ANY BLESSING

I'm not sure what I lose to say than that. 

Missing or forgetting any blessing is a travesty. 

~*~*~

I want to focus on blessings this year. (Again. But, more so.)

Hence, Blessings Journaling will be my main focus.
~*~*~
A JOURNALING PROMPT
What do you want and don't want from 2015?

~*~*~

BLOG TO BOOK NEWS

Written January 01, 2015, Thursday, 1117 p.m. 

---

I GOT A BRIGHT IDEA YESTERDAY

Hah. Stop. Famous last words.

Those words were uttered with simplicity in mind. 

Hah! I just rolled my eyes. Now for another phrase which will let you know I got myself into a deeper hole of trouble because of a bright idea.

It all started with this question: "Why don't I publish all of my blog posts on my RYP Journaling blog from 2014?"

It got me thinking, "I could then do the old journaling material from 2012-early 2014 in an additional book. So, in 2015, I will publish at least three books on journaling."

Huh. It sounded like a good idea to me. Yay!

So, I exported my 2014 RYP Journaling material and put it into a document. It took a moment for the page numbers to populate. I twiddle my thumbs. Ho-hum. Then, my eyes almost bugged out of my head when I saw. Fuh-fi-five hu-hun-hundred four pages! Gulp. 

Me and my bright ideas.

I want to build the largest resource library of journaling stuff on the planet. Yes. You bet. But, that's a lot to edit. Sigh. Never mind all of the formatting I need to do and all of the additional writing I want to include to help clarify and add to the material. 

So, the good news is the book should be around 430-625 pages. 

I smile a huge toothy smile, trying to be cute and irresistible, begging you now to read it. 

When I got my bright idea, I hoped to publish it quicker. That ain't happening. Maybe a week or two, but June 30, 2015 is still the official release date. 

I will work on editing the JOURNALING STUFF 2012-2013 material at this time, and in latter 2014. My publishing

I will then start editing 2015, Part A on July 01 and publish it around October.

2015, Part B will be published around April.  

Then, in 2016 and on, I will do the blog to book publishing around April and October of every year. 

This is the new plan. 

My goal is to make available every type of journaling resource imaginable and this is how I will make this happen. 

Again, I feel quite blessed for having more of a vision for what I want to do with my personal journaling, professional journaling, and blogging. I don't think you will get even more out of these resources with this new plan. 

So, stay tuned.

Now, it's time for me to do some editing. (Gulp. 504 pages worth.)

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

​HOLIDAY JOURNALING AND END OF YEAR JOURNALING

HOLIDAYS: DEALING WITH PAIN AND BEING AWAY FROM HOME​

Written December 22, 2014, Monday, 1254 p.m. 

---

A PAINFUL TIME OF YEAR (DEALING WITH PAIN)

The holidays can be a painful time of year. It reminds of what was, what should be, who is missing, what we're missing, and how life just isn't fair. It reminds us where we should be, but aren't, where we wish we could be, and where we've come. 

So, how do we deal with painful holidays?

We journal through them. We get the emotion down on the page. We vent. We throw-up on the page, so we can get it out and then--then we can find some logic. Then, we can see that there is a lot more to life than this single moment in time. And, in this single moment in time, there is so much more going on than our pain. 

In our pain, there is still blessing. Lots of blessings. Abundant blessings. 

The question is, have we worked through our emotion, and gotten it out, so we are no longer blinded through those emotions? Have we gotten our emotions down on the page, so we can then see clearly, with proper perspective, how our lives are bursting forth with blessing, even in the pain? Journaling makes it so we can see that this is true. But, we have to first work through the emotion and get it out, so we can then see. 

---

A JOURNALING PROMPT

How are you feeling this week of Christmas?

Are you feeling any strong emotions? 

Are you experiencing any pain? If so, what? Why?

Count 25 blessings. Quick. Count more if you so desire. 

---

BEING AWAY FROM HOME OVER THE HOLIDAYS (OR MISSING A LOVED ONE DURING THE HOLIDAY) 

Spending a holiday away from home can be tough. It stirs up all sorts of emotions and can make us sad, angry, or numb. Being away from home tends to magnify this pain. The same goes with having the empty chair (literal or figurative) of someone who isn't there. 

If you are away from home, or have an empty chair this year, read the previous section {"A PAINFUL TIME OF YEAR (DEALING WITH PAIN)​"}  and do the journaling prompt. 

Now, do this journaling prompt:

---

A JOURNALING PROMPT

What are you missing?

Who are you missing?

Do you think your loved one(s) would want you to be upset this holiday? 

How can you turn this holiday into something memorable in spite of all of this?

Count another 25 blessings. Fast. 

-------------

​A END OF YEAR JOURNALING PROMPT​

Written December 22, 2014, Monday, 120 p.m.

NOTE/INSTRUCTIONS: Again, look at the last twelve months in your life, no matter what time of year it is for you. 

List 25 memories from the last 12 months. 

List 25 blessings from the last year. 

Take 25 snapshots/photos from the last year in your memory. Then, list them and explain them in your journal. 

-------------

JOURNALING NEWS AND A COMMITMENT (12.17.2014.)

JOURNALING NEWS AND A COMMITMENT (12.17.2014.)

Welcome to a new era for this old blog.

I am going to focus on journaling, writing my life story, counting my blessings, and sharing journaling how-to information and inspiration (aka Journaling Stuff).

Stay tuned.

DAILY BLOG POSTS

I need to be real and authentic with you. Nothing more, nothing less.

I have a lot to say. I am a babbling brook when it comes to journaling. After all, I am passionate about journaling. Therefore, to help you, I will share one blog post day. But, it will be a long one. I will write several mini posts with a dashed line separation between them. I will put a Table of Contents at the top of the post to help you see what is included.

This is the new plan and is my new commitment--journaling and this blog.

Have a blessed journaling day. Remember your present, capture your life on the page, and count your blessings.

-- Stacy Duplease

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering Your Present, LLC 2008-2014)

Blessings Counted Journaling (Aug.27.2014c.)

Blessings Counted Journaling (Aug.27.2014c.)

Journaled 2014-08-27 13:26:54, Wednesday

565 I thank You, Lord, for 564 Blessings so far. 

566 For 273 journaling entries since August 04, 2014. 

Psalm 118:17 New Living Translation (NLT)

17 I will not die; instead, I will live
    to tell what the Lord has done.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. (567)

 

This is why I'm counting my blessings. My goal is to count a minimum of 3,650 blessings over the next year. 

 

It is not about the number, but it is. The number isn't the primary reason. The number is to help me keep track so I don't forget the sweet blessings You have given me Lord. For, if I do not count them, and write them in my prayer and blessings journaling, then I will forget them. I do not want to short-change the things You do in my life. I do not want to forget. Counting my blessings helps in this endeavor. 

 

The other point of counting my blessings is it makes me cognizant of searching and seeking for You, God. I want to live a life of conscious faith, where I am intentional about living my faith. If I didn't count my blessings, and do blessings and prayer journaling, then I would not live the intentional life and walk in and with You, Lord. 

 

When I count my blessings, I am showing You my reverence. I know I don't deserve one of the blessing You've given me in my life, let alone 567 since August 16th when I started to put together my Blessings Counted List. I am recognizing You alone are God. You alone can do these things. This Blessings Counted Journaling and list is my way of recognizing this is the case. Whenever I count a blessing, it's because I've had to look and around and search to find it and see it (or experience it).

568 How I've been counting my blessings and doing this intentionally since August 16, 2014 in an effort to look for Your work and glory Lord and acknowledge You. Every blessing, Lord, is You showing Your glory and how You alone are god. It's a reminder of how You are Creator, Sustainer, Judge, King, Redeemer, and Lord of all.

It's been nearly two weeks since I started this blessing journaling journey. I am jsut barely getting started. 

569 The smile and welcome of acquaintances. 

570 The taste of a grilled chicken tender dipped in mashed potatoes mixed with brown gravy.

571 Counting my blessings has made me stop and enjoy a slower, more mindful life where I try to notice every minute detail and see Your handiwork there. 

572 Counting my blessings has helped me through the stress of trying to figure out the proverbial: "What's next?" Or, "Where is God leading?"

573 Counting my blessings makes me stop and look around. It forces me to cut the busyness and stress. It gives me perspective to see what really matters and what is really important. 

574 Watching a turtle swim is so relaxing and rejuvenating. They are so smooth and carefree. 

575 How turtles have a natural smile on their faces--and so do cats 576 for that matter. It makes me feel merry. 

576 Counting my blessings is walking on sacred ground. 

577 Counting my blessings, offering thanksgiving to God, shows my acknowledgment of how He alone matters and how He is above all. 

578 I am very grateful to learn how much ingratitude I've offered the Lord over the years and decades. For, it makes me determined all the more in the present to count my blessings now and not take anything for granted, if I can help it. 

579 Counting my blessings has given me some clarity and some perspective 580.

581 The sight of the light after a nighttime of dark--each morning when I rise. 

582 The excitement my dog, cat 583, and turtles 584 and 585 get when they see me stir in the morning. Their greeting means so much.

586 The refreshing feel of cold water in my mouth, on my tongue, and down my throat whenever I feel warm or parched. 

587 The taste of cold and fresh cream after you have a sip of coffee before you realize the cream has almost soured.

588 Knowing that Fall is just around the corner. It's my favorite season of the year and has been all of my life. 

589 The sound of typing on the keyboard of my pc.

590 This morning and everything it entailed.2014-08-27 16:26:55

591 The acknowledgment, Lord, of how You are in control and You've got my future. You have a plan--I just need to wait, follow, and cooperate where and when You lead. 

592 Counting my blessings makes me wait. I wait in between the spotting of, and/or realization, of a blessing--of You at work and Your glory. 

593 Everything blessing is your bestowing grace on me and in my life. Wow. Wonder of Wonders. 

2014-08-27 14:02:19

Lord, I cannot feel right now that I want more. A lot more. Of what, I have no idea. I just want more. I just cannot get enough.

Ahh. I just realized what it is. Of You. I want more of You and Your word--for I just cannot, and have never, gotten enough of You. I always want more. Hwo could I ever feel satisfied, particularly since the Fall. I do not live the life You ahve intended because of the Fall. But, one day I will have the life You intended. The fullness of life as I walk with You again, like Adam and Eve once did in the Garden of Eden. 

594 Counting my blessings, through Blessings Counted Journaling and Blessings Journaling, is actually prayer. 

595 For how social turtles are.

596 My coffee pot.

597 This journal.

598 Penzu.com

Took a little break. (2014-08-27 14:29:43)

God, teach me to live a life of gratitude in You. 

599 Mom called. 

2014-08-27 16:27:00

600 Just got off the phone with Mom.

God, teach me how to practice thanksgiving and gratitude no matter how I am or what I'm doing (or not doing). Teach me to always give overflowing thanks. (I thank You, now, in advance, knowing You will 601.)

Ephesians 5:20 Expanded Bible (EXB)

20 ·Always give [L …always giving] thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Expanded Bible (EXB)

The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved. (602)

Ephesians 5:20 New Living Translation (NLT)

20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. (603)

Philippians 4:6 New Living Translation (NLT)

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. (604)

When should I give thanks? All the time--without fail--without stopping--and for everything. 

About ten months ago I struggled with this concept. I still do to a point, but not like I did then. It was when the second round of IVF didn't work and we were told we would never be able to have a child naturally.

(Note: That being said, adoption wasn't a fall-back. No. Anything but that. I always dreamed of having a baby in my womb and what it would be like for God to grow the baby in me, without my help, as I went along for the ride--and experienced that bonding... So, that's what we wanted to try first. Plus, we're both only children and the end of the family bloodline was on our minds. But, we believe there is far more to family than blood. The family line will hopefully continue. We just wanted to try that first. That's all.) 

So, after the blows of finding out I was infertile, then B was, then IVF round one didn't work, then round two didn't work... How do you give thanks in all of that? 

That was why I stopped reading the book "ONE THOUSAND GIFTS" by Ann Voskamp at the end of last year. I couldn't figure out how to thank God through that--so I stopped. I realize now that was foolish. But, I cannot unscramble that omelet. It is what it is. The question is: How will I respond today? How can I learn to truly, really, always give thanks--even in the midst of something so painful. 

I still need to learn how to give thanks even on Mother's Day and Father's Day--those days are even more painful for us. How do you always give thanks--even through that--through this? 

How do you give thanks when a friend of yours fought the cancer battle, and won, only to develop another form of cancer and is fighting that battle? How do you give thanks when someone you see on a regular basis has a child, and wants another, but has no clue whatsoever in how to love or raise the child they have--and they admit to it? And, how do you give thanks when you would give anything to have one and have a clue (at least a small one)? 

There was another instance that I think pushed me a year ago to stop reading "ONE THOUSAND GIFTS." It was two weeks after receiving the bad news the latest round of IVF didn't work... I went to a coffee shop to count my blessings and journal and write. Two women sat in the table in front of mine and I faced them and heard everything they said. Listen to what I heard:

"Yeah... So, I'm knocked up again--as if I don't have enough of those already."

Knocked up. One of THOSE. (Pardon?)

And, she added to her girlfriend, "I really hate being a mom, and don't really enjoy it at all, but I keep popping them out." 

Keep popping them out. (Pardon?)

Ouch. 

It was my favorite coffee shop. The truth is, I haven't been back. This conversation I overheard damaged me. 

Why can people like THAT keep getting pregnant, multiple times, and the one who's wanted kids every day all of my life, and planned on how to raise them in a godly manner, cannot? 

How do you give thanks in this? 

And, how do you give thanks when there are people who don't even recognize a fetus as a life--and they have an abortion--when someone like me wishes for one? They are murderers. How do you give thanks for this?

How do you give thanks when you are a bodybuilder and have a surgery that had complications, which leaves you wheelchair bound? 

Or, how does a former Olympic swimmer, gold-medal winner, give thanks after an accident that left her paralyzed? 

How do you give thanks when God is silent?

The answer in all of these scenarios is this: Give thanks at all times and in all circumstances means that. It doesn't mean to give thanks only when it's fair or right. This is why I am counting my blessings now. Because through it all, we are to give thanks. And, now that I realize this, it got me through a very rough time last week. I am better off for it--since I thanked God right through it all. 

Giving thanks shouldn't be just when you feel like it. Giving thanks is something we do at all times--no qualifiers. Period.