New Blog

I have a new blog at:


http://www.storiesbystacy1.blogspot.com/

This blog has been discontinued. Please refer to new blog on Monday, 19 October 2009. Thank you. Have a great day.

Blessings,

Stacy

Latest Information

This blog will only be added to periodically. Instead, for writing information, please refer to three different sites:


http://www.storiesbystacy.com/

http://www.storiesbystacy.blogspot.com/

http://www.sacredstoriesbystacy.blogspot.com/

Thanks!

Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy

Greetings from Stories by Stacy

Hello! It's been a while. Sorry to not be here yesterday and add a posting to this blog. However, I'm here now.

I am mostly settled in my new home in Omaha. It's been fun (not sarcastically speaking, but I'm serious) setting up a new home and combining two households in one. This is the first time my husband and I've been under the same roof. Therefore, it's quite nice. I not only love my husband, but I like him. So, it's been a while in coming but here we are.

Omaha is a great deal better than I anticipated and I had positive thoughts about the place beforehand. It's pretty, green, and hilly. I love the people, the community in which I live, and so on. It's a slower pace than Denver and I definitely love that facet. It's also nice to be near more Christians and patriots. Everyone is friendly and when you let a driver over in front of you, they actually wave and say thank you.

It took us a month to get some of our furniture (and we're still waiting on the last round to come in on Friday). But, the wait was worthwhile. The house is a sacred place and quite peaceful. It's a retreat and that matters more to me than anything else.

We got a kitten named Sinan (pronouced See-naw-n) on Sunday and have been enjoying him very much. He's a huge ham. He has no fear. He's vocal, follows us around, and comes when called. He's a lover and purrs loudly. It looks like I've got a good helper.

I really have not had time to miss Denver yet and I think that's a good thing.

My dad is coming out to visit next week, so I'll be a little out of the loop again. Sorry about that.

It looks like I have four books I'm working on at the moment, as far as writing goes:
1. A book on 1 Corinthians. It's a bible study, devotional, reference, journaling type of book. It's meant to be done individually or in a group. Non-fiction.
2. A book on journaling. I actually call it journalblogging. It's a combination of journaling and blogging where you get thoughts out on paper or in a blog. It forces us to realize that we miss most of life every day because of busyness. We need to slow down and try to process what we experience, think, feel, be intentional about living, plan and seek our goals every day or we miss life. We forget what's important. Non-fiction. It can be done individually or in a group.
3. Zeagar. Fiction. Sci-fi.
4. A book about if walls could talk. It's set in the future and is going to be an epic love story about a construction worker who helped built the arch in St. Louis. The construction worker is purely fiction, but I want to do a series about 'Building America,' and how everyone has a story and these stories build America as well as the hands that build the landmarks. Fiction.

Also, I need to edit and get ready for publication:
1. Cammi's Story
2. Demarcations

How are you? What's new with you? Let me know.

Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy and Publishing by Stacy

I'm Back

Greetings from Omaha.

I'm back and will start to blog again tomorrow afternoon. Thank you for your patience.

By the way, I have a new kitten. He's an orange tabby, named Sinan (pronounced: See-naw-n). Sinan is a good lion name. He acts like a lion and looks like one in a way. Sinan means spearhead. So, get ready for tales of the adventurous one.

How are you? What's new with you? Drop me a line and let me know.

Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy and Publishing by Stacy

See You in August

I will try to write some blog postings whenever I am able. However, plan on me taking a hiatus until August. Then, look out! I will blog daily once again.

I'm moving at the beginning of July and will take a while to set up my house. Then, I'm going to join some time off with my best friend and hubby before our lives get quite busy. Moving from Denver and going to Omaha.

I hope all is well with you. Take care.

Stacy Duplease

If by Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy

If I could be half as good as a mom as I am a dog owner, I don't think I'll be half bad.

My beagle, Zack, has a very good life. I hope to offer that to my kid.

Do you have any 'IF' thoughts to share?

Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy and Publishing by Stacy

Fathers and Parenting

With Father's Day coming up and all, I want to start to think about Dad's and parenting. Where would we moms be without our husbands in parenting? Where would we be personally without our own fathers?

For those who are single moms, or whose dads and no longer in the picture, we do have a husband and a father--in heaven. He can be our all and the all for our children.

So, I ask the question again. Where would we be without the fathers and father figures in our lives personally and where would our children be without them?

What are your thoughts? Let me know.

How can we encourage the fathers in our lives? How can we show them we know how blessed we are because of them?

What can we teach our children about fathers?

Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy

Clouds and Motherhood by Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy

Clouds are Hard Times, Difficulties, Challenges, Anything that Tarnishes:
As a mother-to-be, I cannot imagine how difficult it must be to go through the clouds of life and try to be the best mom you can be. How is it even possible? Then, when you fail to be the best mom you can be because of the hard times, how do you move forward and try not to beat yourself up too much with guilt?

How do YOU do it? Let me know.

My plans of handling the clouds while being a mother:
Granted, plans often go astray. But, I hope to not cover up the clouds of life, but show my child how to live through the hard times and carry on with life through them--no matter how difficult.

I don't want to shelter my child too much. They need to know life is tricky and can hurt. However, there is a fine line in not wanting to give them paranoia or stress.

I'm starting to get nervous just thinking about the responsibility of motherhood. I guess prayer and God's guidance are a huge factor here.

Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy and Publishing by Stacy

Followers, Comments, and Emails

If you read this blog, please:
* Sign yourself up as a follower (in the margin of this page, it gives you the opportunity. Use a fake name and a fake picture if you desire privacy.).
* Add comments at the end of each blog posting. I want all of my blogs to be interactive rather than just have me flapping my trap.
* Send me email comments if you desire to: storiesbystacy@gmail.com

Thank you! My bloggings are not supposed to be about me, but about life in general and about you.

Stacy Duplease

Marking, Remembering, and Making Memories by Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy

How do you mark or make memories in your own life? And what do you do as a mom and for your child?

For me, it's going to be journaling, blogging, letters, and writing novels.

As a mother, it's critical to give your child a lasting legacy. Not only does it help them feel connected to you, but it helps them to see where they fit in this thing called life. It lets them know how important they are and it sets them up to be dreamers.

As a mom-to-be-someday, I hope to teach my child the importance of making memories, marking them, and remembering them from time to time.

What do you do to remember your important life events?

We're on this planet for such a short time. It's important to leave a mark and try to leave the world a little bit better in the lives of those we meet. It's another lesson I hope to instill in my child.

What are some of your favorite memories? What dark memories do you have that made you the woman you are today?

Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy and Publishing by Stacy

How Did You Know You Were Pregnant?

Care to share your stories?

Sharing Stories & Prayer Requests

Anyone have any good stories they want to share about your children or being a mom or about your children? Tips? Advice? Words of wisdom?

Let me know. Send me a comment or an email. Comment at bottom of this blog or email me at: storiesbystacy@gmail.com. Also, let me know if I can share them on this blog.

Prayer Requests:
Do you have any? Let me know. Again, let me know if you want to share it or keep it private.

Blog Queen (Or Blog Nut, depending on how you look at it.)

I am now finished adding blogs. I hope not to add any more because this is more than a full-time job keeping up with each of these. I want to touch on the topics most important to me, though, and help people to see life from a fresh perspective--and let people know they aren't the only one who... (You fill in the blank.)

Please check out whatever blog tickles your fancy.

My main blog is and will always be:

www.storiesbystacy.blogspot.com/

My daily blogs are:
www.storiesbystacy.blogspot.com/
www.speclitstoriesbystacy.blogspot.com/

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Friday Blogs:
www.sacredstoriesbystacy.blogspot.com/
www.writingstoriesbystacy.blogspot.com/

Mondays and Wednesdays Blog:
www.momstoriesbystacy.blogspot.com/

Tuesdays and Thursdays Blogs:
www.journalstoriesbystacy.blogspot.com/
www.marriagestoriesbystacy.blogspot.com/
www.usastoriesbystacy.blogspot.com/

From the Crazy Writer and Blogger,
Stacy Duplease

Welcome Mom!

I just wanted to welcome my Mom to this blog. I cannot wait to share this with you, Mom! Welcome and I love you.

I'm Back, Schedule, FYI, and Mom-to-Be Thoughts

Hello. I've returned from the writer's conference and vacation and am refreshed. I'm dragging today as I try to get back to the daily grind, but am refreshed internally and spiritually, if that makes sense.

My New Schedule for This Blog:
I just wanted to let you know my new schedule for this blog. I will update this blog every Monday and Wednesday.

FYI: Moving and Business
I'm moving from Denver to Omaha at the beginning of July so am a busy lady. Also, I'm starting two new companies in the process: Stories by Stacy, LLC and Publishing by Stacy, LLC.

Mom-to-Be Thoughts
Every since I was little, I've wanted to be a mom. It's a higher calling to me, just like my writing. It's more than being a who--a mom. It's raising a child to stand firm in faith in spite of the world we live in. It's making sure the world has at least one good person in it, if you know what I mean. (If you don't, watch the news for about five minutes and you'll see what I mean.)

I think what matters in this life are--in order:
* My relationship with God and living the faith actively.
* My relationship with my husband.
* Kid will be added in this slot when they arrive. (Still not pregnant, but am planning to be and hopefully soon.)
* My writing.
* My relationship with family and friends.

It's not about money or things. They are not what matter.

As long as I keep things in their proper order, life is easier and more fulfilling. However, it's hard sometimes to keep this in mind.

I've always wanted to be a mom. I hope not to ruin my child and want to help prepare my child to handle the world and how to overcome it. I want them to know what really matters and what doesn't.

How about you? Have you always wanted to be a mom? What priorities do you want to teach your child?

Also, tell me... How did you know if/when you were pregnant?

Stacy Duplease

Rejuvenate

Reminder of Vacations:
I'm going to be out of touch from Wednesday, May 13 to Tuesday, June 2nd and will start to check email and get back into the swing of things on June 3rd. I'm going to the Colorado Christian Writing Conference (CCWC) in Estes Park and then going on a road trip with my husband.

Rejuvenate:
I remember times when I couldn't afford to go on vacation or take the time. However, I would lock myself up at home and be intentional about taking some time to rejuvenate and re-center myself. I call these my mini-vacations. Every week, I try to do this one day at least. I discovered long ago if I don't, there's too much of a cost to be paid. I get frazzled, emotional, stressed, and start to make mistakes with writing, editing, relationships, job, etc.

I even take mini-vacations by having a stack of postcards by my desk of different places around the world. When I need a break from my work, I flip through the postcards and find a place to explore in my imagination for a few minutes. It also helps me to relax and get focused.

I also have learned when you do go on a real vacation, make it a real one. Don't turn it into work. If you go on vacation, go on vacation. Play. Have fun. Laugh. Relax. Don't have it so full of stuff to do that you forget to rejuvenate.

That's what I plan to do. I want to get the maximum rejuvenation I can. I want to play.

So, why don't you give it a try and go on a full-fledged vacation or a mini-vacation--even if it's for a minute or two?

When I Return:
I look forward to starting some blogs on letters to my unborn child. I also will start to write my book, January's Lasting Legacy about motherhood and expecting. I also cannot wait to share the stories I have of moving to another state after living in Colorado all my life. I'm sure I'll have some tales to share.

Take care.

Stacy Duplease

Cherished, Set Apart, and Sacred

Moms, I hope you feel cherished, set apart, and tapped into the sacred after your Mom's Day yesterday. I hope many memories were made.

I'm not a mom yet, will hopefully change that soon, but cannot help but think about the blessing and sacred nature of motherhood. In fact, I can't think of anything more sacred in a woman's life than motherhood. Biblically speaking, we can come up with several things that show this is simply not the case. However, go with me for a moment and see what I mean.

A mother is entrusted to make the baby, form the baby, carry the baby, deliver the baby, feed the baby, and care for the baby. That's before the baby ever talks. Nobody else can do these things but the mom. Hence, it's sacred. It's a blessing. It's a wonder.

The whole pregnancy thing alone boggles my mind. How do our bodies know to do that? Everything you eat, drink, breathe, do, and say are all experienced directly by the baby. What a remarkable responsibility.

What a blessing motherhood is. It is something meant to be cherished, set apart, held sacred, and remembered.

Fun

As women in today's society, I think we almost think it's a sin to have fun. If we have fun, then we're probably neglecting something. Or, if we aren't busy, we think that it's a sin because we don't think we should stop for a few minutes. How silly can we be? Neither one of these facets are true.

So, I ask you. When was the last time you had fun? Fun in the way you like and not fun in the way someone else likes? I hope you're doing some of that today. If not, plan on it sometime in the next week. After the writing conference, I plan on having two weeks of fun. (Don't worry. I won't ask when the last time you took a vacation was.)

Have fun. Enjoy life.

Happy Mother's Day

I just wanted to wish all of you a Happy Mom's Day. Blessings to you.

Happy Mom's Day Weekend!

I pray that your Mother's Day is wonderful, blessed, and full of making memories.

Mothers are special people and deserve to be spoiled rotten. Know that you're in my thoughts and prayers. All of you.

Check List for Conference

Wow. Four days and counting for the Colo. Christian Writers Conference (CCWC). Yikes! My heart begins to race in excitement and nervousness. Presenting five novels to publishers is a little--overwhelming. Will I be able to keep them straight in my mind? I've decided to bring a one-page proposal to help me with this endeavor.

I need to:
A. Finish editing Tanpres (and come up with a new name for it).
B. Re-read Cammi's Story
C. Print out my proposals
D. Print out the first 50 pages of each times three copies.
E. Work on my pitches.
F. Do some housecleaning.
G. Bathe the beagle. (Lord, help him. Anything with grooming, he despises. Claws, bath, and brushing. He prefers to be an old smelly dog.)
H. Pack for conference.
I. Get some writing and blogging done, too.
J. I'll take lots of pictures while I'm at the conference and will share them with you.
K. Call my mom and grandmother on Mom's day.
L. Drink more coffee.
M. Pray a lot about the CCWC. Not just for myself, but for fellow writers and everyone involved in the conference.

Huh. Better get to the list and Tanpres.

Shackled in Dungeon

I've shackled myself in my dungeon and won't see the light of day until next Wednesday. I kept getting too sidetracked upstairs with the sunshine, blue skies, trees, birds, flowers, and grass. Beagle is still snuggled at my feet, but the lack of windows only add to my focus. There are times you have to admit to your limitations and Spring appears to be mine. I'm having to wear a jacket since it's 20 degrees cooler, but the sacrifices we have to make for writing...

I will try to hurry and get some editing done and do a real blog. But, for now, know that I'm freezing and shackled to my chair at my computer and desk. It's self-preservation really as I try to ready myself for the Colorado Christian Writers Conference. At least Beagle is sacrificing with me, so I'm not too lonely (still a little sidetracked, but not as much).

Have a great day!

Sunshine

Here's something to make you smile:

Think of your child's feet.

I love baby, toddler, and chilren's feet. They cannot help me wonder the places that they will go in their lives.

January's Lasting Legacy

I hope to share with you soon my new novel I'm writing called, "January's Lasting Legacy." It's about three generations of a family and how the third generation is expecting a baby. Grandmother and mother of the expecting mom share their journals from when they were expecting with the soon-to-be mom.

I've been drinking a lot of tea this morning. I'm not sure if that made sense or not.

But, it brings me to ask you... Did you keep a journal when you were expecting?

Also, what words would you have written if you did?

Question on Blogs

I am still debating on doing another blog... On journaling. But, I'm also debating one on patriotism.

Would any of you read either one of them? Let me know. Drop me an email or leave a comment, please.

Thanks!

Taking Care of Self and Rest

What have you done lately to take care of yourself?

What makes you extraordinarily happy?

When was the last time you took a break to do your passion (whatever that is)?

Stop whatever you're doing and ask yourself the above three questions over and over until they stick.

REST

As of this moment, make a plan on how to take care of yourself. Make a REST Plan and to refresh (rest, stop, take it easy, take a nap, get 8 hours of sleep a night, bath, hot shower, take a retreat even if it's at home), enlighten (read a novel, read the Word, do needlepoint, crochet, knit, quilt, do ceramics, or paint), sharpen (read a non-fiction book that inspires you or teaches you something, take a class, follow your dream and make it come true), and tear down (get rid of the negative and clutter in your life--emotional and physical). Make a plan to do these things DAILY, Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, Bi-Yearly, and Yearly.

R-Refresh
E-Enlighten
S-Sharpen
T-Tear Down

Be good to yourself. You have far more to offer your family and your dreams if you REST and rest often. It's not being lazy. It's refreshing, enlightening, sharpening, and tearing down.

Dreams

I got this saying from a Hallmark card years ago and wanted to share it with you:

Each dream within your heart,
lies within reach
if you just believe in yourself.

What a thought to share with our families and to implement personally.

So, dream. Dream big. See it through. Believe not only in yourself, but have faith. Lean on God and pray a lot.

What a wonderful thing to teach children.

Prayer and Support

I hope that this blog can also be a way to help people connect and pray for one another and to support one another. Do you have any prayer requests? Let me know.

Moms, Adopted Mothers, and Wisdom

Besides your mom, what mother-like figures do you have in your life and how have they shaped your life?

Also, what's the best bit of wisdom you ever learned from your own mom and your adopted moms?

I have two mother-figures in my life: my Granny and my friend, Elizabeth. Both actually are my friends as well. I don't know where I would ever be without either one of them.

My Granny gave me my faith and that's the best gift anyone can give another. Granny is a prayer warrior and never turns her eyes from the Lord. She's loving, kind, and has has the biggest heart. She always prays for me and encourages me. Everything I am as a strong, Christian, dreaming woman is from her.

Elizabeth and I have a bond that started off with writing, but has become friendship and more like family through the years. She's taught me how to stand strong in a crisis and how to grip the hand of grace through the unknowns.

My Mom's greatest thing she's ever taught me is not to be too hard on myself. That's a very valuable for me. She has helped me give my dreams wings and is my biggest fan. What more can a daughter ask?

The world is full of the love of mothers and that bring a rare beauty. Thank God for them.

Writers

Does anyone want to form an online writing group? Let me know. I would love to start one of our own where it's all led by one another. What do you think?

Editing, Editing, Editing

My blog will be updated later today. I'm in the middle of trying to get editing done in preparation for the CCWC next Wednesday. Thanks for your patience. I hope you had a great weekend!

Thought for the day for Christians: Phil. 4:8

For others: Think on positive things.

Blessings,

Stacy Duplease

Where Would Any of Us Be Without Mom?

I don't care what type of relationship any of us had with our mothers, good or bad. We have to admit, we would not be here without our mothers. I cannot help but be swept away how blessed we are because of them. Moms offer softer and more colorful touches to the world. They bring beauty and laughter.

With Mother's Day coming up, what mothers do you have in your life and around you? Bless them. Let them know you're thinking about. It does not matter if the mom is 20 or 90, a mother is still a mother and deserves to be acknowledged on this day.

Are you a mother? Have you told your family what you want, and want to do, on your special day this year?

As I prepare to be a mom, I cannot help but take this day as something even more sacred than I ever have. Moms bring life to the world. How blessed, sacred, and holy. Moms provide for their children, teach them, and love them. What awesome responsibilities. But, what amazing gifts of blessings. Moms bring beauty and life to our world. Where would any of us be without them?

A Healthy Obsession of Preparation

Is anyone else out there like me? I've been trying to do all the right things to prepare for pregnancy. I've gone on the dreaded diet, counted calories, and Lord help me, started to exercise. But, not just exercise. I'm running. Or, trying to at any rate. That's saying a lot since my idea of running used to be to run across the street in order to avoid a collision with a car. Or, I would run to the phone before the answering machine picked it up.

My husband and I have done the diet and exercise thing together, so that makes it easier. I've dropped over twenty pounds and plan on making it a life-change. This is a major victory. Lost all that weight only to put it all back on again in a short amount of time. Oh, well. At least it's baby weight and not fat.

But, then, there were the dentist and doctor appointments, adding a prenatal vitamin, trying to save money, and trying to prepare myself mentally to be a mom.

Never mind all the articles I've read about how to increase success for reproduction.

Then, there's the articles I've read that talk about all the negative stuff that comes with having a baby when you're 35 and older. Ugh.

There's so much that comes with preconception that it's almost nerve-wracking at times. No wonder why Mom's are so stressed. There's a lot that comes with being a mom. However, what blessings come with it, too. I'm healthier than I've been in a long time and feel great because of it. I want to do anything I can to make it easier to carry the kid and deliver.

What did you do to prepare? Or, did you have time for preparation?

What wild secrets have you been told about the secret to conceiving?

Words of Wisdom

What words of wisdom do you want to share about pregnancy and motherhood?

Please share your thoughts with me.

MSBS Vol. 4

Books

What are the best books out there that talk about motherhood, parenting, and pregnancy? What resources would you recommend?

Email me or post a comment about this, please.

MSBS Vol. 3

Are There Any Good Blogs on Motherhood? And Does Motherhood Have to be Stressful?

I just spent some time trying to find some good motherhood blogs to attach to my blog and I haven't been able to find any. I'll keep searching, but I find it rather sad. Has motherhood become like everything else in life? We're so stressed that we forget to stop and enjoy its blessings in spite of the stress? Has our busyness taken away the joy?


Motherhood is a blessing. Granted, it's a great responsibility, but it's also a blessing. Why do we overlook this aspect?


Note to self, a future mom: Don't forget about the beauty, blessings, and special memories of motherhood.


I read blogs that talk about how challenging their children are. I read about mothers who want it all--including children. I read about mothers who want to have drinking parties. I read about mom's who are so stressed they can barely stand, let alone handle one more appointment on their schedule. I also read about moms with temper issues, no support from husband, etc. All of which are awful and I cannot even begin to imagine on these blogs. However, there is another side to stress.


Are there any blogs that focus on the beauty and blessings of motherhood? Let me know so I can hook up with them. Please. And, hook you up with them. I find the more I focus on stress, the more stressed out I tend to become.


Let me know. Do you know of any that are uplifting and not depressing? I want this blog to also be real and share some of that. This must be real, after all. But for every dark moment, I want to talk about how we can look through the darkness and still see the bright blessings. That's my aim. I don't want to stress myself out, or my future child out, because stress is something that never goes away. But, I can choose to overcome it.


Now, don't roll your eyes at me and think to yourself, she's not a mom yet. She'll find out. I've waited to have a baby because I knew I would be a stressed-out mom. I've spent years moving my life around, and changing it, so that I can try to minimize the stress involved. I've gotten rid of the clutter in my life and have reduced it to what really matters to me. I've made that a priority for myself and made the time to do so.

I'm older and have taken a great deal of time to ponder motherhood and what I want and don't want. You may think I'm crazy, but I can absolutely confirm I am. I want to go against the flow and try to make life less stressful for the entire household. Life has enough stress without me adding to it. That's my point.

To confirm my craziness, my child will never have a t.v. in their room, will never own a video game, and will be taught a love of reading. I'm an old-fashioned type of mom who wants my child to learn some of the old ways that worked for generations.


What crazy things do you do as a mother?


Motherhood is a beautiful thing. That's what I want to write about. The beauty and blessings of motherhood. What blessings, joy, and beauty have you found in motherhood?

Are you a stressed out mother? Let me know. I want to hear your story.

I want to hear all of your stories.

Stacy Duplease

MSBS Vol. 2

Future Blog

This is an upcoming blog of a woman planning on getting pregnant and my thoughts about it. I hope this will be an interactive sight where mothers, moms-to-be, any age, come to ponder the blessings of being a mom. Mom's leave a lasting legacy. There's great responsibility to be found there and huge blessings.

Have you hugged your mom today? Or another mom?

Look forward to this blog--coming soon.

Stacy Duplease

Blog Vo1. 1 MSBS