God is bigger

God is bigger and has a bigger, better, perfect picture.

This is the hope I have.

The sun came up in the morning.

God is still God.

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online)

Stacy Duplease

Old Fashioned Writing.

Please note that I am saying this tongue in cheek and am being silly.
I had a moment of enlightenment earlier and that led to me having to... think!
If the power goes out... I will not be able to use cell phone or Amazon Kindle Fire for long. I want to have enough life in them to send updates to my blog.
So, I started to wonder how I would get writing done.
I have not written by anything for well over a year by anything other than via computer, tablet, or cell. I have gone digital. Up until a month ago or so, I printed out what I wrote. But, I am truly paperless now.
So... What about writing? How will I write if the power goes out? (I am being silky here.)
Wait. I write historical fiction. What did they do in the old days for writing? Wait. I think I heard something about that. I will write... by... hand! Gasp.
Earlier, I found two large blank journals my Granny gave me over a year and a half ago. I will use them. I even found six pens. I think I am set. Hence, I will do old fashioned writing if the electricity goes out.
Can't wait. (Seriously. It should prove inspirational and should stir things up for my writing. That will be a good thing.)

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)

Stacy Duplease
-- Sent from my Kindle Fire

The Importance of Keeping Permanent Records (Hurricane Sandy Reminds Me)

When it comes to people, we should never keep permanent record of wrong doings. But, we should keep a permanent record of all the things we love about them and the good things they have done and the good that they are. But, that's not the purpose of this blog post right now.

As Hurricane Sandy is approaching, and we have no idea as to whether she will hit our home or not, we are preparing as though she will. I am quickly making lists in my head of what to bring--learning from Hurricane Irene what this means. But, another nice thing about Hurricane Irene, and mandatory evacuation, it taught me to prepare as much the day after so that I would be prepared for another hurricane. I have taken concrete steps to be prepared. Let me tell you the stress that has alleviated in my mind. 

I have just downloaded all my 4700 photos from vacation from my cell to my computer and from there to the cloud. I'll get my husband to do the same. And, this reminded me of something and made me aware of something.

While thinking of going through another hurricane is stressful... I am grateful for having been through the first one (Irene). This third generation Colorado native never had to even think of hurricanes living near the Rockies. But, having said all of that, I feel a peace. Why? My affairs are in order. My priorities are straight. I know to prepare for the worst--and pray the best happens. But, most importantly, I have kept permanent records.

Let's be realistic. I can lose all of my possessions. I can always buy and accumulate more. But, the memories are what are priceless and need to be guarded with fierce veracity. This includes photos, journals, writings, calendars, scrapbooks, etc. Hence, to have permanent records of these things are critical. 

WHAT DO I MEAN BY PERMANENT RECORD?

I mean having everything saved on the cloud over the internet -where you could lose your computers, cell, tablets, house, etc., but you can access these records from anywhere in the world at any time, provided you have access to an internet capable device and the internet. 

What should you keep on permanent record? The answer is simple: EVERYTHING. 

Examples: Journals, digital scrapbooks, photos, writings, letters, digital scans of important paperwork, etc. 

A LESSON FOR US

You never know when a hurricane or tornado might come your way. Or what about a fire or a natural gas explosion? Or, what about being burglarized?

I know we hate to think like this. I know we would rather live in a world of denial. But, as our house is in flames, or flooded, denial will not change the fact that it is happening or has happened. It's critical to be prepared for the worst today. 

So... Think about this. Are you prepared? Do you have everything saved to a computer that you can have saved?

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.) 

Stacy Duplease
Thriller Historical Fiction Writer

The Chronicler and Roanoke: The Family Treez of the USA Series, Book #1

Email: familytreezusa@gmail.com

NaNoWriMo: http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/participants/familytreezetc

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

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Remember

Remember your present. Live it well.
Glance at the past from time to time.
Focus on the future. Plan it well.

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online)

Stacy Duplease
-- Sent from my Kindle Fire

Remember

THOUGHT: History must be remembered... Or it will be doomed to repeat itself.

I was raised that if I must never forget two particular dates in American history: 04 July 1776 and 07 December 1941. A new date was added 11 years ago... 11 September 2001.

Those three dates prove freedom is not free. Freedom costs. The payment, unfortunately, is blood. Freedom is not free. 

In order for everyone to fully live free, the blood of Jesus had to be shed.

In order for American to be free, blood has to be shed at times. The price is higher than high.

Have we forgotten 9/11?

Really.

How united are we?

Do we understand that our very national defense is rapidly being not just cut, but gutted... each day by our politicians? What about Iran and China? We are less safe today than on 9/11. 

May we remember. And not forget. 

Do you know what the country learned on 07 December 1941 at Pearl Harbor? The USA learned how the very military who protects us could not react immediately. We did not have the ships, planes, or men to protect us.

Today, we have less ships, planes, and men and women in the military.

Have we learned? Have we remembered? Have we forgotten?

Have we learned from history?

Today... Let us rededicate ourselves to being united and not divided. To standing strong as a nation. To prayer. To remembering. 

To action and not inaction. To prayer. To voting carefully to ensure those who defend us can and not be held back and gutted by government.

To making sure not one from 9/11 died in vain.

To making sure the first responders who have cancer from being hurt in their lungs now have not been in vain. 

To making sure the military men and women who have died, been injured, and/or fought have not been in vain.

May we remember and be united. Always. Every day. And not forget.

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)