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"

My Personal Journaling Story 05-29-2015

2015-05-29 09:10:40 and 2015-05-29 09:24:29

Greetings.

I hope you and your journaling are well. (I would love to hear from you about both.)

This blog post will share the direction I am moving personally and with this blog. My main objective with this blog is to help us (you and me) capture our lives on the page. It's a how-to journal blog, as well as it is my goal to provide inspiration with our journaling, through prompts or exercises, hints and tips, and stories.

I have been trying to find a place to hang my journaling hat (a focus) for a main focus for personal SOC Journaling and my journaling in general. But, I just haven't found it until now.

Nature and Observation Journaling are a must and I will do some of that. Undoubtedly.

It's me and is who I am.

But, there is another part of who I am.

So, who am I?

I need to provide some background in order for me to answer that question. This will also help explain where I will focus this blog for a while.

My husband ('B') and I moved to Virginia four years ago. About seven months or so after that, my Granny called me and shared how her niece was doing some genealogy on the family. She shared some information we had no idea about. We thought her family came to the U.S. five generations ago or so.

Wrong.

She said D (her niece) had traced our family back to 1670 or so to a Bryan Penny.

The 1670 part caught my attention.

"Do you know where Elizabeth City, Virginia is? That's where he lived."

As we talked, I did a quick search on the internet and found it was present day Hampton, Virginia, which we lived nearby. I told her that.

I wondered, then, if the family could be traced to Yorktown or Jamestown. I told her in would do some searching myself and let her know.

Little did we know where it would lead.

I have an uncanny ability to find information others cannot. Somehow I stumble upon the answers accidentally. This includes my family tree.

With my family tree, there have been gaps people have not been able to find the answers to and fill. In fact, several hired professional genealogists to find the answers. I learned within a couple of days about some of the gaps and learned how several professional genealogists looked for answers, but found none.

Well, I found them within a week. I got the answers, which opened our tree wide open.

My family has been in the United States of America since 1607. I had three go to Jamestown in 1607 and by 1635, I had over thirty or so at or near Jamestown in Virginia, and a few miles from where I lived.

Then, my tree opened up even more. About eight months ago or so, I found out I was a direct descendant of Joseph of Arimathea! And I learned earlier how I am also a direct descendant of Nero and Charlemagne Carolus Magnus Carolingian, 1st Emperor of Holy Roman Empire.

Oh, dear. I just did a search on my family tree and discovered more direct and distant emperors. I had no idea. They are:

-- Emperor Augustus
-- Emperor Claudius Caesar Rome
-- Emperor Heinrich V Dethe Salian Germany
-- Claudius I Tiberius Roman Emperor (is this the same as previous mentioned???)
-- HRE. Hugo "L'Abbé" Emperor Of The Holy Roman Empire
-- Louis "Le Pieux The Pious Le Debonnaire The Fair" Carolingian I Emperor HRE
-- Pierre Capet I Emperor Constaninople (a direct ancestor)
-- Pontiff Tiberius Claudius Nero Emperor Rome

Huh. Who knew?

I hadn't put it together until now.

I have been a research-oriented crazy woman trying to fill in all the branches and leaves, and finding so many, I thought I would come to an end one day and would then be able to research more fully each individual.

But, with over 17,000 individuals so far, three plus years later, I see how many gaps I still need to fill in. I am trying to focus first on my direct ancestors. However, that number is massive and grows by the day.

About a month ago, I was able to, by accident again, trace from one of my direct branches to Abraham of the Bible, then to Adam.

I needed a few weeks for that information to roll around in my brain and am still bewildered.
I also traced another part to King David.

So, letting that simmer... and with doing my own personal journaling..m and with reading my favorite book on journaling, "Leaving a Trace: On Keeping a Journal" by Alexandra Johnson (see this link: http://smile.amazon.com/Leaving-Trace-Keeping-Alexandra-Johnson-ebook/dp/B002OFVNIC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1432916448&sr=1-1&keywords=on+leaving+a+trace+johnson), I read about journaling a family chronicle.

I also read in the book about how there are some family members we wished kept a journal, but didn't. And later, why not write one for them, whether a journaling entry or a journal.

The lightbulb went off two days ago and I decided that was what I would do for my family.

I have several famous, notorious, and fascinating family members, and the everyday variety I cannot wait to explore and learn more about myself, my family, history, and the world. Kings, Emperors, biblical people, and those who are what some would call ordinary fill the leaves and branches of my family tree. I cannot wait to learn about all of my direct leaves and branches first.

Today, I just realized that the journaling I want to do is for the world, about nature, and history, and is not about me at all, other than what I can learn about them and enjoy from learning about them. Not me. Them.

I want to write the journals of all of them. I will write it first as nonfiction, then as historical or contemporary fiction.

And I will journal about what unlearn and how I am.changed from them.

The truth is from this family tree, we can gain an unique perspective of the history of the world,for my family comes from all over.

I am starting with one individual, which I will tell you more about in a moment.

I am starting a journaling series:

"From Adam to Me Family Tree" Journaling Series

I have a family tree of over 17,526 people and I still have a lot of missing branches and leaves. Once I am in our house, and we are settled from our move, and I play a week or two of catch-up... Then, I will spend a month working all day and night (but with 8 hours sleep) to fill in more, and to get more information on the people I have. But, until then, I have what I have.

So, yep. Gulp.

I would not have so many if it wasn't for the fact I have some well documented people in my family tree. So, that sure helps.

I look forward to this journey.

I hope to inspire you with your journaling as well. I will still include journaling how-to pieces and prompts and exercises.

My first relative I will study and journal for is:

ANCESTOR #14 THOMAS CORNELL.

I am generation #1. He is the 14th. Adam is the 154th.

It is with this branch and leaves I begin.

A JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT

Who do you wish kept a journal, but didn't?

List all of them.

Then, pick one. Who would you want to write a journal for?

Blessings,
--Stacy Duplease
Email:
agodlyvision@gmail.com
rememberingyourpresent@gmail.com
Blogs:
http://rypjournaling.blogspot.com
http://rypstories.blogspot.com
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire HDX Tablet

Personal Journaling 05-09-2015b

I NEED TO REALIZE, REMEMBER, AND LIVE THIS TRUTH

741 a.m.

I think a great deal of frustration and heartache we feel in this life is when we try to be someone we are not or do something we shouldn't do.

Well, I have lived this with my writing life. I keep trying to bang the door in, doing that which I am not. I even get ideas of a lifetime that should be it, the real story I am meant to write, and can see doing it the rest of my life. The idea would undoubtedly be a best seller. Seriously. That big.

Then, there is one word that gets in the way.

But.

But, that once in a lifetime idea isn't really me. It could easily be. But, it just isn't. Not if I search down deep and get to the heart of the matter.

I've tried to be a full-time writer since 2001. And, it simply hasn't worked. I stick with an idea for five minutes and then run to the next great idea. And, there is a reason I am so uncommitted, so flighty, so... all over the place.

The reason is I am not meant to be the kind of writer I keep trying to be.

I am not meant to write anything, but my true heart's desire.

Journaling.

I am through and through a journal keeper. Nothing more. Nothing less. And, truthfully, this is everything. It is enough.

In fact, it is more than enough.

Cut open my veins and insides, and you will see journaling there. Look into my heart and brain and feelings. Journaling is there in each. Journaling is my lifeblood. It is who I am. Moreover, it is time for me to really, truly, totally embrace it.

Journal my life.

Teach/coach journaling.

This is my life and my life's practice--and is truly what I want to do with each day for the rest of my life. So, I will.

MY NEW PLAN

752 a.m.

On my RYP Stories blog, I will keep my personal journal, which I will turn into my memoir.

And I will teach and coach journaling at my Journaling Stuff blog.

THERE

There. I said it and admitted it. Now, I will act on it.

Stay tuned.

Blessings,
--Stacy Duplease

Email:
agodlyvision@gmail.com
rememberingyourpresent@gmail.com
Blogs:
http://journalingstuff.blogspot.com
http://rypstories.blogspot.com
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire HDX Tablet

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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​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 (12.30.2014.)

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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JOURNALING HINTS, TIPS, AND PROMPTS (12.30.2014.)

JOURNALING HINTS, TIPS, AND PROMPTS (12.30.2014.)
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PLEASE FORGIVE THE FORMATTING ERRORS 
*** I haven't been able to figure out how to fix the formatting errors in this blog post. Please excuse this. ***
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YOUR JOURNALING SHOULD... ( JOURNALING HINTS AND TIPS 12.28.2014.)

Written December 28, 2014, Sunday, 1058 a.m.

Journaling should help you compensate and deal best with your weaknesses.

Journaling should magnify your strengths.

Journaling should help you learn from the past and remember, live fully in the present, and prepare for the future.

Journaling should make you more you. 

Journaling should help you search for and count your blessings in each moment

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JOURNALING PROMPT

Does your journaling do each of those five things?

How can your journaling bring out more of each of those five things? Be thorough in your reply. 

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BRINGING THE POINT HOME

Over the last few days, I've realized how those five facets of journaling are benefits of journaling, but also are absolute requirements. If our journaling doesn't bring these facets and shoulds out, then we have missed the mark. And, we are probably bored with our journaling and out journal is probably bored with us. After all, we will be spinning our wheels, wasting energy and time, and getting nowhere. 

Our journaling should help us vent out the yuck in our lives and bring out and focus on the good. If it isn't, we need to adjust what we're journaling and/or how we are journaling. 

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JOURNALING PROMPT

How can you get the most out of your journaling?

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MY RYP JOURNALING STORIES, BOOK 1

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WRITING MY STORY

Written December 29, 2014, Monday, 340 p.m.

This year, I will write my story. 

I've meant to do it for decades now, but simply haven't done it. Oh, I've tried, but it just hasn't felt right or sounded right. Or, I start with a theme, but then life happens. I go through a storm and that theme no longer seems as important, so the latest life story or memoir I worked on would then die a quick death. 

So, here I go again. I want to try to write my story and leave my legacy. 

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AN UNIVERSAL, TIMELESS THEME

I realize it will take several books, but that's okay. I have enough life material to write a library full of life stories. Are they interesting enough to write and share with others? You bet. I will make sure to share them in such a way, they will be interesting and will make people want to read them. 

Now, how do I go about that?

The whole theme idea, which is how most memoir writers write nowadays, works really well. There are several best sellers out there because of a theme. The catch is to find a theme that is timeless for my stories now and those that will happen as I write. Timeless so that whenever someone reads it, no matter where they are or when they read it, it applies to them. 

What is my timeless theme this go-round?

Hmm. I'm not sure. 

And, do I share any of this journaling entry in my story?

Wait. There is a theme that is absolutely timeless. It's timeless in my life and in others. It's a theme everyone can relate to, no matter what era.

The theme is that of JOURNALING.

Yep. Journaling. This is the common thread in all of my stories.  I can continue writing my stories if I keep this theme, no matter what happens and what curve ball life throws my way. No matter the storm, and no matter how much sunshine, journaling is my main life theme. It always has been, is now, and will always be. 

Journaling is my universal and timeless theme for my stories. 

My company's name is: Remembering Your Present, LLC.

My blog is called: RYP Journaling. 

Hence, this book's title only makes sense: MY RYP JOURNALING STORIES. 

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MY RYP JOURNALING STORIES (12.30.2014.)

Written December 30, 2014, Tuesday, 851 a.m.

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MORNING JOURNALING AND BLESSINGS COUNTED JOURNALING

{NOTE: I'm going to start counting my blessings within my journaling and in my blessings list; needless to say, you will see numbers within my journaling. I bet I will count all the more. }

What a blessed morning it is (1400). God is so good (1401)--all the time (1402).

It's been a precious morning (1403). The critters all know B is returning to work after Christmas and having the crud, so they are extra alert and clingy (1404). 

Sinan (Turkish name for "spearhead," for he is the spearhead of trouble--pronounced ' See-name-n') Orange Maine Coon cat hung out with B as B got ready for work (1405). Then, Sinan wanted to cuddle with B as B sat on the sofa with Zack and me and B had a cup of coffee (1406). Once the coffee was gone, Sinan assumed it was game-on and wanted B to play before he left for work (1407). I got some really good pics of cuddle and play time (1408).

Then, it was Kara's turn. She is only an indoor cat now (1409), but, oh, how she loves to have the front door open so she can look out the storm door (1410). She bellows until we open the door. Too cute (1411). Thank God, her lungs are doing well enough she can bellow (1412). 

Also, she doesn't try to run outside (1413). She knows she has it good (1414), but sure likes to look out, thank you very much. She gets bossy about that. Love it. Too precious (1415).

B left and neither cat is in sight. Poor! Vanished. But, Zack sure is a snuggle bug (1416). Yay!

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BLESSINGS COUNTED JOURNALING WITHIN MY JOURNALING

I am really enjoying counting my blessings as I journal (1417). It's bringing depth (1418) and more meaning to my journaling (1419) and I am counting more blessings because of this new way of journaling (1420). Consequently, I'm really enjoying this change (1421). 

I'm being lazy and taking my time getting up, around, and ready this morning (1422). There's no reason to rush (1423), but all the reason to slow down, enjoy, and truly live (1424-1426). 

Plus, Zack normally has bad dementia when B returns to work after the weekend. He does better if we snuggle on the sofa. So, here I sit and journal (1427) and we are both thoroughly enjoying the snuggling and special time with one another (1428).

I cannot help but giggle with joy (1429), Lord, as I count all of these blessings, gifts from you (1430). 

How many blessings have I missed because I just tried to keep a Blessings Counted List? I realize I can copy and paste this journaling entry into my blessings counted journal (1431).

Sinan is now looking out front storm door (1432). 

I swear both cats are the nosey neighbors who would gossip. (Chuckling.) 

I can tell how much I have journaled by how much battery life I have left (1433). This morning, so far, I have the lowest  have seen and I started with 100% (1434).

I have had several AHA Moments this morning (1435). The first was when I realized for the JOURNALING STUFF FOR CHRISTIANS devotionals, I want to focus on heaven/eternity (1436) and Revelation 21-22 (1437-1438). 

Lord, You gave me that insight (1439).

We tend to forget to live for eternity--today. It's for eternity we live today.

The other AHA Moment of insight was when I thought to count my blessings as I journal (1440). 

Moreover, another AHA Moment of insight was when I realized that JOURNALING STUFF, the main and big resource book and library, will act as the "all-inclusive" resource of journaling and will be all of my blog posts (1441). From there, I will divide the posts into other books (1442).

I want most of the material to be on the RYP Journaling blog for free, but to give you the option to purchase the edited material, plus some additional material, in one convenient place (1443).

So, this blog to book is the JOURNALING STUFF: A RYP JOURNALING RESOURCE is all-inclusive. It will help inspire us to journal.

I cannot believe tomorrow is the last day of writing JOURNALING STUFF: A RYP JOURNALING RESOURCE, BOOK 1 (1444). (Then, it's editing time 1445 and publishing time 1446.)

The new material I post on the blog, starting January 01, 2015, will be part of Book 2 (1447). Book 2 will consist of material from January 01 to June 30, 2015 (1448). 

I will then offer Books 1 and 2 individually (1449) or as a bundle (1450). 

I cannot wait to see what happens because of these blog posts (1451) and each subsequent book (1452).

And, I cannot wait to hear the stories, journal entries, journaling goals, journaling questions, and journaling hints and tips from fellow journal keepers on this journaling journey (1453). 

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JOURNALING PROMPT

Journal your thoughts.

What jumped out at you and why?

What do you can think of counting your blessings as you journal?

Count some blessings.

Share your journaling stories, thoughts, and questions as a comment at the end of any blog post send an email, or tweet to #RYPJournaling. 

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