What has happened to the USA?

The country I live in is not one I recognize.

We are more than lost. 

We are so selfish and me oriented.

We do not pursue excellence and embrace mediocrity.

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

Elementary School students are gunned down.

Socialism is accepted.

Handouts are expected.

Abortion, the murder of babies, is fine.

Step on everyone you can to get to the top.

Division is welcomed and unity is pushed aside.

We do not keep our priorities.

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

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

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

We excuse immorality.

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

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

When are we going to realize this is our business? 

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

JOURNALING EXERCISE

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

-- Stacy Duplease
Writer
Sent from my cell.

Journaling Exercise after the Massacre

Yesterday is another day I will never forget. 

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

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

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

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

JOURNALING EXERCISE

* What happened yesterday?

* What does this do to and for your faith?

* What are you going to do in response?

* How has this touched you and your life?

* What are your thoughts?

* How are you feeling?

-- Stacy Duplease
Writer
Sent from my cell.

PREPARING FOR THE NEW YEAR

2013

It's hard to believe, but it's true. It's the time of year again, when we need to start to prepare for the New Year.

I've always loved this poem:

I AM THE NEW YEAR
AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Life, I am the new year.
I am an unspoiled page in your book of time.
I am your next chance at the art of living.

I am your opportunity to practice
what you have learned about life
during the last twelve months.

All that you sought
and didn't find is hidden in me,
waiting for you to search it out
with more determination.

All the good that you tried for
and didn't achieve
is mine to grant
when you have fewer conflicting desires.

All that you dreamed but didn't dare to do,
all that you hoped but did not will,
all the faith that you claimed but did not have -
these slumber lightly,
waiting to be awakened
by the touch of a strong purpose.

I am your opportunity
to renew your allegiance to Him who said,
'behold, I make all things new.'

I am the new year.


The original source of this poem is: http://www.inspirationpeak.com/cgi-bin/poetry.cgi?record=101

The New Year provides us with a blank canvas in which we choose how to fill and create. The choice is ours.

However, we should not even think of starting the New Year until we evaluate the past year and from there, we can then choose what we want from the new year.

Shall we start to prepare for the new year? It's that time, after all.

JOURNALING EXERCISE
* If you could live the perfect year next year, what would that look like? Describe in great detail. Take at least 1 day, preferably 2-3, in order to look at this fully.
* What would it take for you to do it?
* Make sure to write out an actual plan for the new year. Be thorough and specific. Write an 1-sentence, a 4-sentence, an 8-sentence, 3-paragraph, 1-page, and 2-page plan.
* Put your plan into action. Write out a goal for the entire year. This is your mission statement.
* Write a goal for each of the things you mentioned previously in order to live the ideal life.
* Write out a goal for each month.
* Write out a goal for each week.

* Put it all on your planner/calendar/schedule.

~ Stacy Duplease

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.) 

ITALIAN SAUSAGE, PASTA SAUCE, AND RICOTTA CHEESE LOW CARB RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

2 lbs ground Italian sausage

1 can Progresso Starter Sun Dried Tomato or 3/4 of a jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce or marinara

1.5 cups ricotta cheese

HOW TO MAKE

Cook Italian sausage and break into tiny chunks.

Once cooked, add sauce. Add your own spices and maybe 2 T of your favorite red cooking wine (or wine you have on-hand). 

Simmer for 30 minutes to 1 hour--depending on how patient you want to be. (Can even cook for another hour if desired.)

Add ricotta cheese. Simmer 5 minutes.

Serve.

Would be really good, if you don't care about calories or carbs, over your favorite pasta. Or just eat from a bowl. 

SERVES

Serves at least 4. 

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online)

Journaling Matters: Personal Journaling

Journaling matters a great deal in my life. I would not be the woman I am not if not for journaling.

As I have taken time to reflect on my life over the last year in particular, I've come to realize something. I have not journaled to the degree I wanted or to the depth I need.

Then again, if I am completely honest, I would have to admit I have not done so in 11.5 years.

Wow. What an in-your-face acknowledgment.

For the record, I have not realized this, or put it to words until now, in this moment, as I write this blog post. When I started this blog post, it was to let you know how much journaling means to me. But, I see it's metamorphosized into something bigger. I am being authentic with you--so you know how everyone has their struggles. No one is perfect. And life sure isn't fair and never has been and never will be fair.

I have journaled. Yes. I have journaled a great deal at times, and not so much at other times.

However, I allowed what I thought was a dream sidetrack me from what was truly important in my life. (Pardon me as I stop and re-read what I've typed so far. It's quite profound. This is an AHA moment. It's a time of conviction, eye-opening, and dream adjustment. It's a change in my overall point-of-view. In other words, this is a HUGE life-changing moment for me as I become aware of some truths I have not vocalized or even realized--in my journal or aloud.)

By the way, yes. As I journal, I will often times go back and re-read what I have journaled so that it penetrates deeper. So I can allow myself to chew on the new discoveries. So I can be changed because of what I have written--and been told by God.

Also, you will see I violate all sorts of grammar and writing rules as I journal. I write for impact and not to impress anyone. (As I publish, it's another thing.) Also, on this blog, I want to share the rawness with you--not be something I am not. My journaling has flaws.

I make mistakes. I am human.

But, my journaling transforms me more into the woman who lives her passions and is: A memory-maker prayerful wife, and journalkeeper.

Okay... Now that I got sidetracked... and I tend to do that when I journal--and have to bring myself back to the heart of the matter.

I think fiction has been a way to sidetrack me from living my true dream and passion--from God's purpose.

That's why I stopped taking place in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). That's also why I decided to write memoirs, and books on how to journal, rather than fiction.

I recommitted to journaling, and teaching journaling, on 14 November 2012. This is a big day in my life.

However, I must be honest--with you and with myself. I do not think I have journaled as deeply as I could--even the last 2.5 weeks. This needs to change. I think I have finally started the process as my eyes were opened as I wrote this blog post.

Here is another confession. I do not journal as much as I would prefer or as much as I need each day. and, often times, I forget to take my own advice... And, I get sidetracked and distracted too often.

The last year, as a matter of fact, I have done mostly--nothing but spin my wheels. In many ways, I think I wasted the last year. (Ouch.)

I've tried to make several things work that haven't. (Then again, that
could really be said about the last four years. Another ouch.)

So, what now?

Do I kick myself? Do I hold this over my own head? My answer: No and no. What good would that do? Can I change the past? Nope. However, I can sure change the present--and plan for the future. I will analyze things a lot more for a while and see how it could have been avoided and what to change. I will share my new wisdom with you. And, I will carry on. I will make my dreams come true: To leave a legacy and live a memorable life. Every day. And, I will teach others to do the same.

Now, I will go back and re-read this blog post/journal entry a few more times and journal some more about it.

So, how about you? Have you ever thought you were aiming to make your dream come true, only to realize it was the wrong dream? And, do you journal as much, or as deeply as you should or want?

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)