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I will be adding stories & reflections as time marches on. Take a gander today! |
Contest Entries: "The Contest Challenge" ![]() "I Write in 2018" ![]() "I Write in 2019" ![]() "I Write in 2020" ![]() 2021: Independent Writing 2122: "I Write: Enter the Second Decade" ![]() 2123: "Twenty-three in Eleven " ![]() This mixed collection contains fiction, non-fiction, prose, and poetry. Entries vary in length from very short to one that is over 3000 words. 53 entries written in 2018: ▼ 53 entries written in 2019: ▼ 43 entries written in 2020 ▼ 2 entries written in 2021 ▼ Entries written in 2022 ▼ NOTE: All Titles with ~ ~ are either non-fiction or based on a true story. |
Written for: "Three Perspectives Contest" ![]() My Story: Have I mentioned that I'm deathly afraid of heights? Well, I am telling you now—I am! As a child, I was afraid to be by the railing at the top of our staircase. My brother would torture me by sitting on the top rail, hooking his feet around the spindles , and waving his hands pretending to lose his balance. Have you heard the expression: "white knuckling it"? The photo at the top of this item gives you a good visual of the epitome of white knuckling it. I remember the experience with such clarity, I can feel the fear even now! It was my granddaughter Mikayla's eighteenth birthday and we were going sky-diving. We were suppose to jump together but things did not exactly go according to plans. All the arrangements had been made over the phone. As we approached the airport on the pre-arranged date, this is what we saw: At one time, the sign apparently said, "Haskell Airport". On October 11, 2015, it spelled DANGER! I swallowed hard and looked at my grand-daughter, "We don't have to jump here. We can find somewhere else." Of course, if we had canceled, her first jump would not have been on her eighteenth birthday. She voted for us to forge ahead. As we drove in, we saw a row of hangers with something that looked like an attached residence at the end. It was a combination residence and office. We entered and saw a skinny fella, coffee in hand, going in and out of the kitchen. There was a row of chairs along the wall and a desk at the end of the room. After signing papers, I wrote a quick will, gave it to my son-in-law and prayed for Mikayla not to die on her eighteenth birthday. Word Count per https://wordcounter.net/: 298 words. Mikayla's Story: My first thought as I open my eyes on my eighteenth birthday: "I'm going to jump out of an airplane today!" I have been so excited, I can't believe I even slept last night. Granny made arrangements about six months ago. From then til now, I have been telling all my friends, "I am gonna go sky-diving on my birthday!" She will be here soon and the adventure will begin. Oh dear, I'm so excited, I am talking non-stop as Granny drives us. I am riding with her but so many folks are coming to watch us jump! My mom and step-dad will be there. My other granny and my grandpa. Siblings. Friends. Cousins. Aunts. Uncles. So many people! I'm glad I'm riding alone with Granny. This is her birthday present to me—and she is jumping, too! Sixty-three years old and she is gonna jump out of an airplane with me! Isn't that so cool! Yikes, we're pulling in. This place looks pretty sketchy. Granny's having second thoughts. She just asked, "Do you want to go somewhere else?" Is she kidding? Sketchy or not, NOTHING will stop me from jumping today! Ewww... The "office" is actually an apartment! Yeh, This place is way more than sketchy. As we walk in, I'm getting a bit anxious. There's a skinny dude walking around smoking and drinking coffee. He's dressed in a flight suit. Is he the owner? He is the owner. His whole family is here—and his dog! He greets me and shows me the harness I'll be using. Piglet is attached to the harness. He tells me his granddaughter gave him Piglet for protection on his jumps. Will Piglet protect me? Granny's now non-stop praying in tongues. She's asking God to protect me. Probably better than Piglet, eh? Word Count per https://wordcounter.net/: 299 words. The Sky-Diving Instructor: I wish I did not have to work today. Everybody always wants to jump on the weekend. Well, at least I have managed to make it worth my time—instead of just two jumpers (the old lady and her granddaughter), I have manage to book six other folks—eight jumps at five hundred a pop, today will be a good payday for me. What the hell? How many people are coming to watch those two? I don't have enough room for all these folks! I definitely don't have enough chairs. I guess it will be standing room only. Hmm... that eighteen-year-old is cute. What a sweetheart. The old lady, not so much. She is asking a million questions and I think she just borrowed a pen and a piece of paper to write A WILL! Maybe she should have thought of that ahead of time... Word Count per https://wordcounter.net/: 145 words. ~ ~ ~ JESUS is LORD! ~ ~ ~ |
To type with Spanish punctution: https://spanish.typeit.org/ Bolded Verses Have Been Memorized: I Juan 1:9 Si confesamos nuestros pecados, él es fiel y justo para perdonar nuestros pecados, y limpiarnos de toda maldad.I Juan 1:9 Salmos 23:1 Jehová es mi pastor; nada me faltará. Salmos 23:1 Marcos 9:24b Creo; ayuda mi incredulidad.Marcos 9:24b I Crónicas 4:10 E invocó Jabes al Dios de Israel, diciendo: ¡Oh, si me dieras bendición, y ensancharas mi territorio, y si tu mano estuviera conmigo, y me libraras de mal, para que no me dañe! Y le otorgó Dios lo que pidió. Santiago 2:17 Así también la fe, si no tiene obras, es muerta en sí misma. Santiago 2:17 Santiago 1:7 No piensa, pues, quien tal haga, que recíbirá cosa alguna del Senior. Santiago 1:7 Efesios 2:10 Porque somos hechura suya, creados en Cristo Jesus para buenas obras, las cuales Dios preparo de antemano para que anduviesemos en ellas. Efesios 2:10 Below verses are from this video: Isaías 41:10-13 Nueva Versión Internacional 10 Así que no temas, porque yo estoy contigo; no te angusties, porque yo soy tu Dios. Te fortaleceré y te ayudaré; te sostendré con la diestra de mi justicia. 11 Todos los que se enfurecen contra ti sin duda serán avergonzados y humillados; los que se te oponen serán como nada, como si no existieran. 12 Aunque busques a tus enemigos, no los encontrarás. Los que te hacen la guerra serán como nada, como si no existieran. 13 Porque yo soy el Señor tu Dios, que sostiene tu mano derecha; yo soy quien te dice: “No temas, yo te ayudaré”. Isaías 40:27-31 Nueva Versión Internacional (Castilian) 27 ¿Por qué murmuras, Jacob?¿Por qué refunfuñas, Israel: «Mi camino está escondido del Señor; mi Dios ignora mi derecho»? 28 ¿Acaso no lo sabes? ¿Acaso no te has enterado? El Señor es el Dios eterno, creador de los confines de la tierra. No se cansa ni se fatiga, y su inteligencia es insondable. 29 Él fortalece al cansado y acrecienta las fuerzas del débil. 30 Aun los jóvenes se cansan, se fatigan, y los muchachos tropiezan y caen; 31 pero los que confían en el Señor renovarán sus fuerzas; volarán como las águilas: correrán y no se fatigarán, caminarán y no se cansarán. Éxodo 14:13-14 Nueva Versión Internacional 13 —No tengan miedo —les respondió Moisés—. Mantengan sus posiciones, que hoy mismo serán testigos de la salvación que el Señor realizará en favor de ustedes. A esos egipcios que hoy ven, ¡jamás volverán a verlos! 14 Ustedes quédense quietos, que el Señor presentará batalla por ustedes. Isaías 43:1-3 Nueva Versión Internacional 1 Pero ahora, así dice el Señor, el que te creó, Jacob, el que te formó, Israel: «No temas, que yo te he redimido; te he llamado por tu nombre; tú eres mío. 2 Cuando cruces las aguas, yo estaré contigo; cuando cruces los ríos, no te cubrirán sus aguas; cuando camines por el fuego, no te quemarás ni te abrasarán las llamas. 3 Yo soy el Señor tu Dios, el Santo de Israel, tu Salvador... ~ ~ ~ Jesús es jefe! ~ ~ ~ |
This is a collection of hymns I liked to listen to while getting ready for work. I would not just listen but I would also sing along. Many of these songs take me back to my childhood and help me to be mindful of the most important relationship of my life. ~ ~ ~ JESUS is LORD! ~ ~ ~ Written for: "The Soundtrack of Your Life" ![]() Word Count: 55 Words |
He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquity. Surely He's borne our sorrows And by His stripes we are healed. This is my first time participating in "The Soundtrack of Your Life" ![]() I ran into some problems before I even got to that part of the process. I knew the song I wanted to use here. I did not know that there is a much more elaborate musical arrangement of it that does not sound at all like the song I sing. It took me forever to sift through all the YouTube videos to find this rendition. Even it is not what I learned to sing. I guess there is more to this song than I ever knew. The words we sang in church are the ones I have in italics below the video. I did not care for the more elaborate versions. This simple version that mirrors what I sing blesses me and draws me quickly into worship. Another thing I discovered online today is that I use the word iniquity whereas all the lyrics I found online use the plural form of the word (iniquities). Rev. William McCrae (above) might use the singular as I do. I could not tell for sure. Iniquity rather than iniquities is significant to me because of something I learned along the way. Transgressions were our sins. Iniquity was our sinfulness. I will continue to sing iniquity because of the reminder it gives me. There was one other video that had the song presented in the way I knew. In the end I chose Rev. McCrae. The other video did something I do. I alternate as I sing between our transgressions and my transgressions; our iniquity and my iniquity. Both pronouns are appropriate and remind me of Christ's sacrifice for me, personally and, alternately, His sacrifice for the church as a whole. We are one in Him. ~ ~ ~ JESUS is LORD! ~ ~ ~ Word Count: 360 Words |
I joined Writing.Com in January 2009. The first item I uploaded to my portfolio was "My Psalm" ![]() I was delighted when I received this message: ![]() ![]() The second item I uploaded to Writing.Com was:
I had originally written this essay for my college English Comp III class. My professor had given me either an A or an A+. So, what did the reviewers on Writing.Com think about "Make Your Dreams Come True" ![]() I was expecting accolades. I got 2.5 stars. Here is a link to one of those: Review of "Make Your Dreams Come True" ![]() ![]() That was a rude awakening but I accepted the constructive criticism and began revising, revising, revising. You can see my original essay in a dropnote. The finished product (if indeed it is finished) is much more polished thanks to the feedback I got on here. Many of the reviews are linked in another dropnote. Here is a three star review with lots of feedback: Review of "Make Your Dreams Come True" ![]() ![]() My favorite line in the original essay was: "You hold the key (or keys) untried within your bosom." It did not stand up to the scrutiny of my fellow WdC members and was cut from the current version. What do I like best about "Make Your Dreams Come True" ![]() The steps: Step One: Envision Your Dreams Step Two: Internalize Your Vision Step Three: Take Daily Steps Step Four: Push Through Obstacles Step Five: Relish Your Victories Now Do It Again! Back to Step One Sadly, I have never made a dream come true. In spite of that, I believe in the power of these steps. Do you? Word Count: 240 Words. ~ ~ ~ JESUS is LORD! ~ ~ ~ |
~ In Dark Times ~ In dark times, I am thankful God is. In dark times, I am thankful God is love. In dark times, I am thankful God is worthy of our trust. In dark times, I am thankful God is merciful. In dark times, I am thankful God is. Written for "Thankful Poetry Contest" ![]() Line Count: 15 lines Form: My own design. ~ ~ ~ JESUS is LORD! ~ ~ ~ |
~ Turning Circles ~ My life... Turning circles, Treading water, Going nowhere. Great plans, False starts, No success. Treading water, Turning circles, Endlessly. My life... Contest: "Rebel Poetry Contest" ![]() Prompt: Turning Circles Line Count: 11 lines ~ JESUS is LORD even when I feel discouraged. ~ |
Jesus came to give us life. His Disciples let us know. He gave His life that we might live. His Holy Spirit shines through. His Disciples let us know. We have the words they left behind. His Holy Spirit shines through. To let us know He loves us. We have the words they left behind. He gave His life that we might live. To let us know He loves us. Jesus came to give us life. Written for "First and Second Chance Poetry Contest" ![]() 12 Lines 76 Words Click here to read about the Pantoum poetic form ![]() This poetic attempt was inspired by "The Mystery of Malachi" ![]() ![]() The first poem I wrote using this form: "~ Passover Tells The Story ~" ![]() |
I mentioned in "Note:
I am so worn out...
I am exhausted all the time..." about feeling exhausted. I did not mention in that note that I have fibromyalgia. I have had fibromyalgia for years and years and years. I had it before it was even called fibromyalgia. Back then it was called fibrocystitis and was not recognized by the A.M.A. as a disorder. I have successfully dealt with the pain part of fibromyalgia for the last 23 years by regularly using Zostrix. Zostrix is a cream primarily marketed for arthritis pain. It contains capsaicin. Capsaicin applied to the skin depletes stores of something called Substance P in the body. People with fibromyalgia have been shown to have more Substance P in their system that the average person. A high level of Substance P in the body causes non-noxious events to be sensed as pain. Reducing Substance P reduces pain. It has worked for me for twenty-three years. However, I have never found a way to relieve the fatigue part of fibromyalgia and right now it is kicking my butt. Years ago, as I was reading Call of the Wild, there was a paragraph that resonated with me about the fatigue of fibromyalgia: No spring or rebound was left in them...There was nothing the matter with them except that they were dead tired. It was not the dead-tiredness that comes through brief and excessive effort, from which recovery is a matter of hours; but it was the dead-tiredness that comes through the slow and prolonged strength drainage of months of toil. There was no power of recuperation left, no reserve strength to call upon. It had been all used, the last least bit of it. Every muscle, every fibre, every cell, was tired, dead tired. And there was reason for it. For the dogs, it was too long on the trail. For me, the reason is fibromyalgia. I have no spring or rebound left... Energy, energy, energy—my kingdom for some miraculous way to beat this unbearable fatigue. Taking on the responsibility of providing 24/7 care for a patient certainly has not helped—but, look at me, I just wrote an almost 2100 character note. Is there a contest somewhere I can use this as an entry? That would be a good thing for me and my participation in "Twenty-three in Eleven " ![]() It you read all of this note, comment below and I will enter you in a drawing for a Merit Badge... ~ ~ ~ JESUS is LORD! ~ ~ ~ |
Recently, my eldest daughter talked to me about a quote in the fourth chapter of Revelations: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, He who was, who is and who is to come. We then said those words together. The part of the quote that blessed me the most was "who is to come". Jesus said, "In this world, you will have tribulations but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." There is my hope. Jesus overcame the world. He was, He is and He is to come. In the worst of times on this earth, in this life, I remind myself and others that there is more to come. Life everlasting with a new heavens and a new earth. Jesus is on the throne and the day will come when His Kingdom will be completely manifested. As an old song says, "The things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. The song Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. My hope, our hope, is found in those words. As we turn my eyes upon Jesus, our problems or struggles fade into the background and we have the opportunity to experience His peace and His Presence and become enveloped in His Spirit. The sense of His Spirit today gives us a foretaste of what is to come when Jesus returns and gathers us to Him in glory. As my daughter and I continued our discussion the other day, we both acknowledged that there is no better experience on this earth than being filled and immersed in the Presence of God. This life has nothing better to offer us and yet, this is but a foretaste of what is to come as we join those before His throne who ceaselessly declare: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, He who was, who is and who is to come. In that we can find hope: Hope in the forgiveness of our sins. Hope in being empowered by His Spirit to follow Him. Hope in the eternal life we share with Him, because He died for us. Because He died for us, we have hope. Written for "Share Your Faith" ![]() Prompt: What gives you hope? How do you give hope to others? Word Count: 370 Words. ~ ~ ~ JESUS is LORD! ~ ~ ~ |