Prepared In Every Way

Archive for January, 2010

This week a young father of 38 died of a cancerous brain tumor.  He left a wife and two year old son.  To make it even worse, his brother died of the same thing at Thanksgiving, leaving a wife and three children.   These boys were the only children of a mother who’s now grieving for both of her sons.  She was widowed several years ago and doesn’t even have her husband to help share in the grief.

I don’t know any of these people.  I barely know the mother-in-law and just recently met the wife.  But it sure has hit me hard and I’ve thought of little else since learning about it.

Maybe it’s because my own daughter, who is 38, was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in 2009.  After several surgeries and weeks of recovery, everything looks good for her.   No cancer at this point and they will continue to watch her for at least the first year.  After that, she’s pretty much on her own.  That is enough to scare anyone.

It’s heartbreaking to see our children suffering with disease, and really makes you stop and think about what’s really important.

From time to time I think about the things I wish I had done.   As a writer, I’d love to be published.  I’d love to see my name on the best seller list.  I’d love the stress of book signings and knowing there are people waiting in line just to get my autograph.  I’d like the paycheck that goes along with it.   In reality, though, am I willing to make the personal sacrifices for it to happen?

I doubt it.

Is it because I doubt my talent?  Maybe; but mostly it’s about not wanting to give up what I already have to look for something that may not even be out there for me.

After having a particularly stressful morning, my son texted me and asked if I’d like to join him and the 2 year old twins to go have lunch with their big sister.  It didn’t take long for me to realize that was just what I needed.  It wasn’t that my work wasn’t going to be there when I got back, but I thought getting away from it for awhile might help me figure out a solution.   I agreed to go and was happy to leave the mess behind!      Big Sister didn’t know we were coming, and when she saw us sitting at the visitor table, she yelled “GRANDMA…and DADDY.”  (Notice that I got top billing here.)  That just made the problems of the day disappear and I knew that I was making the best use of my time by just being there with my family.

In the afternoon, another granddaughter came by while her mom ran some errands.  It was such a beautiful day that we decided to go for a walk outside.  We live on a golf course, and one of the kids’ favorite things is to either walk, run, or drive the golf cart around the course.  They talk non-stop when we’re out there and some of my favorite teaching (and learning) moments  have been on these little adventures.   Today, we noticed that the lake looked like a mirror.  We stopped to watch how the golfers appeared to walk on the grass and upside down in the water at the same time.  I had my camera phone with me and asked her to go to the other side and stand there so I could get her picture in the mirrored lake.    She loved seeing the image on the camera, and we continued our walk so we could talk about things that are important in a 7 year old’s life.

In thinking about all the things I’d like to do,  I realize that I already have so much more than that.    How important is the recognition of the world compared to sharing your day with someone you love?    The public is fickle.  You might be their favorite author today, but as soon as someone else comes along and captures their attention, you’re history.  If you build a relationship with those you care about, whether it’s a child, a sibling, a spouse or a friend, you’ve got something that will last forever.  These are the people you can count on in good times and bad.  And that’s what’s really important.

Copyright 2010 Joyce Moseley Pierce
www.emersonpublications.com

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Just wanted to tell you about my twin granddaughters, Addison and Alexi.  They are 2 1/2 and full of life.  They love to ask, “Are you happy?”  If you say no, they put their hands up to their little faces and say in mock astonishment, “OH NO!” and then proceed to try to make you happy.  They have a happy dance which is nothing more than joining hands and going around in circles saying “happy, happy, happy.”   The idea is that this dance will charge up enough energy for everyone in the room to be happy.

Today my son brought them by for awhile, and Alexi asked, “Grandma, are you happy?”  I said, “Yes, I am!”   She went around the room asking everyone.  Finally, she asked her sister, Addison, who rarely agrees that she’s happy.  I think Addi  just likes to be different.    Today Addi repeatedly told us no, she was not happy, but after awhile, when we quit paying attention to her, she blurted out, with a big smile, “I’m HAPPY.”

At that, everyone clapped and told her how happy they were that SHE was happy.

Wouldn’t it be nice if grownups made such an effort to make everyone else happy?

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Call me crazy, but when I’m all caught up in recording my thoughts in my journal, I feel a sense of peace that whispers, “Go ahead.  You’ve recorded everything up to now.  Go out and find something else to write about.”

This week I realized I was about four days behind in journaling.  I looked through my date book for things to refresh my memory and started to write.  Some of it just outlined what I’d accomplished on those particular days.  Some of it included news of the day.  Some of it recorded my Evidences of God.  There were also recordings of things my kids or grandkids had to say.  It didn’t take long.  I type my journal because my handwriting can’t keep up with my thoughts.  When I finished, I  felt like I had completed something very important.  It wasn’t that the content was all that important, but there was a sense of importance in the fact that I had made a record of my days.

Isn’t THAT important?

How else will anyone know we existed if we don’t keep a record?

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Are you making the most of your camera phone?

I recently upgraded my Blackberry 8800 to an iPhone 3GS, and I can’t believe all of the opportunities it’s opened up to me!   I rarely carry my camera with me anymore unless I’m vacationing or plan on taking pictures that require a flash. The nice feature about the camera phone is that you don’t have to plan ahead by carrying a camera.  (Did I say you didn’t have to plan ahead?  Oh, my!)

Here are 10 ideas for making the most of your camera phone:

1.   Parking Garages.  When accompanying my daughter to the hospital for frequent treatments recently, I’d take a picture of the elevator markings so I’d remember where I parked my car each time.   When you’re going to the same place day after day, sometimes it’s easy to forget where you parked.    Sure was nice to just check the phone and see!

2.  Airport.    A few years ago I “lost” my car at the airport on more than one occasion.  I think they were playing tricks on the passengers, because my husband also lost his car a couple of times that year.  I learned from another traveler when I was practically in tears with frustration,  that if you go to the information desk in the baggage area and tell them your license plate number, they can tell you where you parked.  Apparently there’s someone who drives around and records the plate numbers.   Now, I take a picture of the elevator or entrance, and I also keep a picture of my license plate and car on my phone.

3.  Grocery Store.  I had told a friend about some restaurant-quality tablecloths I’d seen at one of the warehouse stores, but couldn’t remember if it was Costco or Sam’s.  Last time I was at Sam’s, I found the tablecloths and took a picture of the tag on the shelf.  This gave her a picture of the item number, the price, the size, and quantity.  All I had to do was use the email function on my phone to send it to her.  She was so appreciative of my thoughtfulness.

4.  Grocery Book.  This is also a great way to record prices for items you buy frequently.  I know there are a lot of grocery store books out there where you visit the stores and record the prices so you know where you’re getting the best deal.  I’ve never focused long enough to do that, but while at Sam’s, I took pictures of those products.  Now I have the information on diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, Rotel, and green beans.   While I like buying these products by the case, I don’t want to pay more money for the same thing I can find on sale at my local grocery store.

5.  Shopping.  I rarely shop, but when I’m out and I see something that I think my married daughter might like, I can take a picture of the item and email it to her on the spot.  That way, I don’t go through the process of purchasing something that I may have to return.

6.  Inventory.  Great way to inventory small, or even big items.    If you are selling on ebay or Craigslist, or just want to send a picture to a friend of something you’re selling, it’s an easy way to not only forward the picture, but to keep it on your phone to show anyone else who may be interested.

7.  Proof.  It’s a great way to capture something you’ve done, or someplace you’ve visited when you want to show yourself being there.    Did you sit next to a celebrity on the plane?  See Johnny Depp walking down the street in Paris?

8.  Contact Information.  My grandson tells me that when he meets a girl at a church dance, he takes her picture so he can remember who she is when he calls to ask her out.  (So many girls can crash your memory, apparently!)  For adults who aren’t dating,  I’m sure there are other practical applications for that.  Take a picture of their business card so you can store the information until you enter it in your contact list.  At least you have it with you.

9.  Social Networking.  It’s a great way to upload pictures to Facebook or Twitter to keep a current profile picture, or just to let your peeps know what you’re doing at that moment.

10.  Grandkids!  I love it that my kids have camera phones.   I get pictures more frequently of the grandkids and can easily save them to my own phone.  If I want to keep them on my computer, I can just email the picture to myself and save it that way.  I never print pictures anymore, but frequently do go through the “camera roll” on my phone and look at them.  What a great way to help the environment!  I save on paper, ink, and storage space.

Maybe you have other ideas for making the most of your camera phone.  I hope you’ll share them with us.  If you don’t have a camera phone, maybe you have a digital camera.  It’s one more thing to carry, but you can still view the information on the camera without printing.  That’s great for some of these suggestions where you need the information at your fingertips.

Copyright Joyce Moseley Pierce 2009.  http://www.emersonpublications.com

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I recently taught a class on writing your personal history.   This article by Elaine Cannon is the most practical and the most simple way to get started.

1.  All you need is a spiral notebook and a pen.  (Or, as Elaine suggests below,  use a journal with high quality paper so it will last.  You can find loose leaf, lined, 3-hole punched journal paper for this project.  This would allow you to put the paper in a 3-hole binder and add to your subjects if you find you have more to write than you can fit on one page. This would also allow you to add photos and documents for that topic.)

2.  To start, just write the name of each topic at the top of the page.   You’ll see topic suggestions below.  Feel free to add others as you go along.

3.  Next, go back and write one sentence about each topic.

4.  Next, add to each page as the memories start to flow.

You’ll be surprised how many things come to mind once you start writing.  This is a project that may never be complete, but because you have your notebook divided by subject, you can always add to it.

Joyce Moseley Pierce

Putting life in your life story

And if there were no word about this living, no wonder at the beginning and no understanding at the end, what’s it all about?  Yet if there is a record…The woman was seventy-two when she died.  At her funeral someone read the details of her birth recorded in joy by her mother.  At the end of her life here was proof and perspective about the beginning, about the reaching and helping and brightening of her seasons.  At this dying a kind of resurrection, for the whole family loved their sister and each other anew.  A written line or two became their lifeline – the dry farm, the small store mother kept, the loved ones at Christmas or at daily prayer, the father’s Sunday ritual, the hard times, the faithful times, the laughing times and the struggle to add a new room as yet another baby came.  It was a wonderful, rooted remembering, that funeral.  There was no shriveling sadness, but only a hearty gathering of reasons for our being and then moving on.  It seems a testimony in itself for keeping a record of the proceedings of our days.

Elaine Cannon

Why am I doing this?

• Others will value our records
• Personal records are sacred
• Our records are helpful to other record keepers
• It may help to set the record straight
• We are commanded to keep a record
• Even imperfect records are worthwhile

How do I start?

• Do it in your own handwriting
• Use good quality paper
• Use black ink

Writing My Personal History Format

• Statement
• Description
• Reminiscence

Examples:

Statement on “Parents” -  Tell your parents’ names, and when and where they were born.

Description – Tell about each of your parents’ physical characteristics and personalities.

Reminiscence:

• How were your parents alike and how were they different?
• What were their talents, hobbies, interests or skills?
• How did they adjust to each other’s peculiarities?
• Was their marriage a happy one?
• Tell about their involvement in religion, civic, social or trade activities.
• What personality problems, disabilities, or health problems did they have while you were growing up?
• Was there a constant family unit of the same two parents?  If not, what effect did loss of a parent have on the family?  On you?
• If divorced, how was it handled?
• What change did remarriage bring?
• What was each parent’s role regarding discipline?  Religious training?
• What was each parent’s role managing money?  Decision making?
• What special memories do you have of your relationship with each of them?
• What did your father do to earn a living?  How did that affect you?
• Who was the real boss in the family?

Suggested Chapter Headings

Heritage	Spiritual experiences
Parents	Mischief
Relatives	Toys
Homes	Conversion
Neighborhoods	Hobbies
Birth	Careers
Childhood	Military
Youth	Beliefs as a Teen
Marriage	Teen activities
Education	Boy/girl relationships
Health	Dating
Finances	Courtship
Talents	Child rearing
Employment	Divorce
Children	Death
Brothers
Sisters
Holidays
Vacations
Callings

Finishing Touches

• Pictures
• Maps
• Letters
• Timeline
• Title page
• Table of contents
• Introduction
• Appendix material

Genealogy sheets

Certificates

Speeches

Poems

Articles

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