Otherwise Entertained (7)

Morgan and Tony gathered their books, dice, drinks, chips, and character sheets together before driving over to Ramsey’s house. The date had been set at their previous session and no phone calls had come in to change the time. Ramsey’s mother generously allowed the bunch of them to set up in her rather large and very comfortable den a few times each week.

They were the last ones to arrive. Ramsey was already set up behind his Dungeon Master’s screen and Morgan had no doubt he had a harrowing array of events in mind for the evening. Kelvin, Wagner, Cade, and Max were already sitting scattered around the den. Sawyer did not play the game, but as Ramsey’s older brother, he sometimes made brief appearances, especially when the noise levels were high.

Morgan’s character died on the last adventure so everyone waited while she rolled a new character with her favorite green dice. Ramsey kept a watchful eye on the proceedings. He always made sure the scores were not enhanced to a player’s advantage. Her dexterity score was very high so she chose to be a thief, and because she had been reading Tolkien’s books, she chose to be a Halfling. This gave her some language advantages that would be an asset to the group. She named her character Celeste and joined the party at one of the inns in Devon.

Tony’s character was a human cleric named Cornelius. Kelvin’s character was a half-orc named Kaos, who being a chaotic fighter caused quite a bit of trouble in the game. Wagner played a human paladin with the name Marcellus. Cade was an elven magic user named Brandon. Max played a dwarf fighter named Silas.

Celeste managed to steal a few supplies they needed for their adventure before Kaos caused a fight that got the group run out of town. They found a curious hole in one of the hills several miles from town. When Silas went inside to explore, he soon returned saying it appeared to be a keep. They followed him into the darkness where their torches threw eerie shadows on the walls. They entered a large chamber and found several chests strewn around the room. Celeste attempted to pick one of the locks and succeeded. Inside the chest were some scrolls, which Brandon quickly claimed, a dagger, which she took for herself, and a few gold pieces, over which the others began to squabble. The noise rose and suddenly several orcs with weapons appeared. Celeste moved behind the stronger characters and took out her sling. Watching for an opportunity, she shot at their opponents in the melee. Ramsey told her each missile had a chance to hit the others in the group. He did rolls to determine if she hit her companions. Luckily, her shots hit her targets and she helped kill the orcs.

The guys had her try the lock on another chest, but she could not pick it. They moved on after she failed once more. Ramsey called for a break and they all went into the kitchen and devoured some snacks that each of them had contributed. Ramsey’s sister, Jane, made a rare appearance and quickly disappeared back into the private rooms of the house.

When they returned to the game, they went deeper into the dark halls of the keep. They decided to open a huge steel door, but Celeste’s lock picking skills were not up to the task. Brandon cast a spell he found on one of the scrolls obtained earlier and the portal opened. As they stepped inside the room, a group of skeletons attacked them. Cornelius and Marcellus had holy water and that was most effective against the monsters, but the whole group sustained serious damage before conquering the skeletons. When the weakened party explored the room, they found a very large chest. Celeste opened it with her tools and they found a sword, a mace, and a ring inside. There were also silver pieces, which they divided among themselves. An argument broke out over who would have the weapons and ring, Kaos began shouting as if he were berserk. Celeste, Cornelius, and Marcellus managed to quiet the others before something else could find them. They rode to another town and the game broke up for the night.

Morgan and Tony invited the others to come over to their apartment for drinks, but everyone had to be up early in the morning, so they went home alone. Tony went to bed soon after they got home. Morgan stayed up thinking about how Kelvin had acted during the game. Nothing about him, she decided, was simple.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Wednesday, October 30, 2013

 

This is the edited cover concept. I would love to have your opinions on which you like better.

Always,
Jo Ann

Cover Concept

I suppose I am going to participate in NaNoWriMo this year. On the website there was a place to upload a cover photo. My drawing from the other night did not work, so I created a new one. I hope you will like this:

Remember I am an amateur…

Always,
Jo Ann

I Have Been Productive Today

Of course I stayed up all night, but I took a nap between 7:00AM and noon. During the dark hours of the morning I had a burst of creativity. I hope you will enjoy the following offerings…

Deserted

Wondering where you
Might be hiding on this night
When all the stars shine
With such brilliant clarity
Above this earthly coldness.

I have no chance to
See your face among the others
Lingering so near
Because you are now absent,
Doing whatever you do.

I wanted to reach
Beyond these four lonely walls
So I could somehow
Share in the wonderful life
You are so richly living.

I am totally
Lost among those few ignored
By your provision,
You are moving far away
Into tomorrow's distance.

Your greatest treasure
Alludes my outstretched fingers,
No effort of mind
Can make your goodness return
At this moment to grace me.

Wondering where you
Might be hiding on this night
When all the stars shine
With such brilliant clarity
Above this earthly coldness.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan 
Monday, October 28, 2013

I found these weeds attractive. I sometimes think God’s greatest creations grow wild.

 

Otherwise Entertained (6)

She lettered in chorus during her freshman, sophomore, and junior years. Before she completed high school in the first quarter of her senior year, she took a trip to Washington, D.C. with the chorus. There was a competition held there for groups from all over the country. Tony insisted Morgan go, even though she was hesitant to leave him.

The trip was memorable because she visited some of the highlights of the city. She wished the time spent in the Smithsonian Museum had not been very limited. There was so much to see. The Washington and Lincoln monuments were inspiring. When she sang in the National Cathedral, she found its glory overwhelming. The Capitol was gorgeous, as was the White House, but she was disappointed in the great mall. The litter everywhere detracted from the beauty of the area. 

She did not call home to talk to her husband often because long distance was so expensive. There was a dance, but she sat to the side in her royal blue dress, only watching the others. She was often left alone when her roommates decided to do something interesting. She shopped for things to take home to Tony and her parents. She found a tee shirt for Tony, a necklace for her mother, and a carved pocketknife for her father. She also bought commemorative postcards. Traveling by bus was not very pleasant, reminding her of the harrowing times she had spent on school buses through the years.

When she returned home, she and Tony celebrated by going out for steaks and drinks. Morgan loved feeling her husband’s arms around her again. She had felt uneasy while so far away. She belonged back where love surrounded her.

She thought of this trip when they were planning their vacation. She hoped to go back and take time to see everything Washington contained, but Tony wanted to go to Panama City as they had on their honeymoon. Morgan could not argue. She had enjoyed the first trip tremendously, except the motorcycle accident. She had scraped herself up quite a bit and chipped a front tooth. He did not seem to realize his recklessness had caused her harm. She hoped the vacation would be more relaxing.

They checked in to the Fontainebleau in the early evening after driving most of the day. She and Tony showered together, taking their time, before getting ready for supper. They ate seafood in the restaurant and then went swimming in the indoor pool. The full moon hung huge in the sky as they walked the sugar white beach. She gathered shells, even finding a starfish and a sand dollar. They only had three days and those hurried by like the seagulls flying over the ocean. She managed to avoid sunburn on her pale skin because Tony kept her slathered in Coppertone. She did the same for him because he also had a light complexion.

On the drive home, they narrowly avoided an accident because Tony fell asleep at the wheel. Morgan’s scream probably kept Katie from sustaining significant damage and might have saved them from injury as well.

She hoped this time she would be pregnant, but it did not happen. After all their lovemaking, it seemed a baby should result. She began to think something was wrong with her, even imagining she might be cursed.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Monday, October 28, 2013

 

 

I am grateful:

1)   Alex arrived in California safely.
2)   Laying out the Sweetwater Camera Club pages for the Chapel Hill News & Views has become considerably easier.
3)   I am enjoying writing Otherwise Entertained and believe it may develop into something significant.
4)   Window 8.1 works better than I expected.
5)   I am getting some use from my Adobe Creative Cloud membership.

You are highly creative, gifted with the ability to fulfill your dreams. All it takes is consistent effort. Make sure you take the time today to share your talent with the world. You never know what blessings you may bestow on others through your work. So many people are looking for something to allow them a few moments of escape, you can provide this gift.

As a prompt, write about someone who left you alone and how it helped you grow. You might write a poem, a story, a journal entry, or even a note for future use. This should be simple because everyone has suffered abandonment.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope it entertained you. If you enjoyed your time here, you might want to enter your email address above and subscribe to Chronicles. As I indicated, the snippet from Otherwise Entertained above is the sixth part. The whole story is on the blog, so you might want to catch up by reading the earlier pieces if you are new here. The archives contain a great deal of material you might enjoy, so feel free to explore.

I hope you have a totally awesome day and return here often in the future.

Always,
Jo Ann

Otherwise Entertained (3)

Tony was not one to pamper her most of the time. He liked to introduce her to new things. Things Morgan would never do on her own. He took her to horror movies, like Magic, Halloween, and Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but he would not hold her when she awoke with nightmares. He thought she was being silly and childish.

He took her to concerts and introduced her to music she had never listened to before. The first concert was Boston, and one of the most memorable was Pink Floyd. Black Sabbath and Nazareth were haunting. Morgan became a real fan of Rock-N-Roll, which her parents had limited when she was growing up. There had been the 45’s left over from her older brothers, but those were not like the music Tony liked.

After they began playing Dungeon & Dragons, there were frequent trips to Lennox Square to pick up accessories for the game. Tony bought figurines for her to paint and hex pads so she could map out her own world. Morgan found the dice he bought interesting because one six-sided seemed to always roll good scores for her characters.

On one trip to Lennox Square, Tony bought the first pair of Nike tennis shoes she ever owned. They were the first brand name sneakers she had. Morgan loved them; not realizing the brand would become a staple in her life for years to come.

When they moved into the tiny one bedroom apartment they had very little furniture, but it was okay because there was not much space to fill. One day they bought a poster of an owl and a frame to hang in the bedroom. It was the single most artistic thing in the place. There was a small Buddha figurine in the bathroom, but it made Morgan queasy because of the admonition against idols in the Bible.

They did not eat at home a lot because Morgan was not a very good cook. She had never learned many culinary skills because sharing the kitchen with her mother was not easy. Tony knew more recipes than she did.

She spent many hours obsessively tidying the apartment or writing poetry while Tony was at work. The bright red Cadillac Coupe De Ville took her where she needed to go. She was thankful her brother had found it for her and her parents had given it to her. It was the best first car she could imagine, even though it was years old and had required a lot of hard work to bring its luster back. Morgan had done all the labor by herself. She loved Katie Scarlett for her bright chrome, shiny red finish, and supple white leather interior.

No one warned her that everything could change in a heartbeat. Time passed with the briskness of a setting sun…

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Saturday, October 26, 2013

Doodling

You can easily imagine what has captured my mind, if you have read recent posts… I hope I can continue the story. Not the best cover concept, but I have not been practicing the artwork much. Photography is easier.

Always,
Jo Ann

The Beginnings Of A Story

I do not know what this will lead to, since I am not really a story writer, but even a poet can dream of writing books…

Otherwise Entertained

She was married, and happily, but being married at seventeen sometimes presented a problem. There were other guys who seemed just so tempting and after all, she had never had many boyfriends. How could she? She was only seventeen.

Sometimes the situations in the game brought her character in close proximity to the other guys. As the only female there, sometimes the characters naturally flirted. Dungeons & Dragons was only a game... She kept reminding herself it was not really real. What happened in Ambazzar could not bleed over into the world she lived in every day.

She had always been the bullied one, the outcast, the last picked for the game. When suddenly one guy began to pay attention to her, she had lost her head. She fell deeply and madly in love with him immediately. She did not know what he said behind her back, like "I put a flag over her head, and did it for my country." When he asked her to marry him she accepted, no questions asked.

Now she wondered if she did the right thing. When someone else spoke to her softly and caught her eye, she thought perhaps she had made the choice too quickly. Little did she know what the future held, none of them did, or someone would have changed it.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Thursday, October 24, 2013

Otherwise Entertained (2)

She knew what some of them were thinking... She did not blame them. She would have probably had the same thought about someone else, but she was not pregnant. She was simply in love. She begged her parents to sign for her to get married even though she was only sixteen. In fact, she threatened to kill herself if they did not allow it. She was a child, acting as a child, but she believed herself an adult.

The wedding was beautiful, not well attended, but beautiful. Only later when she looked back on the photographs would she notice one contained a wasp on her veil. She would then think of Shakespeare, but that was later.

Her husband doted on her at times, and other times he was not so kind. The unkindness could be overlooked because after all, they had wonderful times. The concerts, the name brand shoes, the books he bought, all made her feel special. No one outside her family had ever done such things.

There was alcohol, fast flowing and wild, that made her reckless and subdued her conscience. There were things they did she had never imagined.

Magic users, fighters, thieves, paladins, halflings, and orcs became a big part of their lives. After she finished graduation requirements they moved out of her parents’ house. The apartment was a little place, but she made it a home the best she could.

Time passed enchanted and the future beguiled her...

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Thursday, October 24, 2013

Now I am wondering if this is worth pursuing. I would love to hear your thoughts and any suggestions you may have.

Always,
Jo Ann

Creativity Continues To Visit

Today seems to be one of those days I am given a multitude of words. I hope you will read this blog entry and the one before it. They might have a positive effect on you and that would be exactly what I wanted…

First, I want to ask you to do me a huge favor, click on the following link and like Hope’s picture on Facebook: Douglas Oaks Animal Hospital  Costume Contest Hope. We are trying to win an annual exam worth $115 from Hope’s vet. This would help me a great deal because it is always a struggle to afford this expense. You do not have to be my friend on Facebook to help, just like Hope’s photo by following the link. I would be so grateful for your help.

This is a copy of the picture you should like on Facebook. Hope really wants to win…

Live Life Fully Alive

Things come at you
So very fast,
Do not overlook
The ones meaning
The most to you.

Discard the weeds
Which would tangle up
Your purposes and
Weigh you heavy down,
You have no need of them.

Devote your moments
To those things you love,
The ones that feed
The creativity of your mind
Giving you sustaining strength.

Make plenty of time
For the people who
Support your dreams
And encourage your heart,
They are precious treasure.

There is no time to waste
On meaningless negativity
Or most hurtful hate,
Make yourself positive,
Live life fully alive.

Forgive others, for peace
Within your heart will
Only then reside,
Be kind, helpful, generous
And reap bountiful returns.

Things come at you
So very fast,
Do not overlook
The ones meaning
The most to you.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Tuesday, October 22, 2013

The littlest things can make a big difference. You never know when the smile you share will lighten someone's heavy heart. The kind word you say could heal a wound. Everything you do matters, so make sure you spread love abroad in this world. The soul you touch could later touch your own.

Let all you do be done prayerfully, ever mindful of God's presence with you and in the world. You are never forgotten by the Creator of the Universe. He has His eyes upon you continually and He lavishes you in His unconditional love. Not a moment passes without His notice of you needs, your desires, your dreams. Christ holds you in His hands always. Let His great peace surround you and be kind wherever you may travel.

Walk a mile in someone else's shoes and you are apt to get blisters... Walk a mile beside someone and you are apt to understand what troubles them and how to help them... Be a friend, not just a spectator to another's life... God will amply bless you for your generosity... No good deed goes without reward!

Embrace Your Gifts

You may not think so,
But you are a being
Blessed with creativity.
You were meant to
Live fully well and
Achieve your fondest dreams.
You are gifted with
So much talent,
You must firmly believe.
No one can make you
Do what you need to
Accomplish besides yourself.
You are a wonder
Filled with great passion
Able to do creative magic.
Just apply yourself,
Make a conscious effort,
You bring beauty to life.
Do not hide the fire
Burning within your soul,
Set it free, it will make you whole.
Give your heart a chance
To reach out to the world
Creating things of lasting value.
You may not think so,
But you are a being
Blessed with creativity.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Tuesday, October 22, 2013

I hope you will create something to share with the world today. You have unique gifts to contribute to other people’s lives. Anyone can engage their creativity if they only make an effort. You have the talent and ability.

This post is a little different than some, because I have already blogged today. Please visit the previous post.

Always,
Jo Ann

Ramblings Of A Sleepless Mind

You are not required to stay up all night to reap the benefits of my activity. Please just follow along…

I want to start up my business again, but I don't have any capital to begin... I guess dreaming is the best I can do. I wish I could win the lottery, but somehow I think that is unlikely since I do not buy tickets... If wishes were horses, beggars would ride...

My dog, Hope, has expensive tastes, she likes pistachios. I can hardly afford them for myself, what am I supposed to do now that the dog begs for them whenever I get the bag out?

What's on your mind? Funny you should ask, because I have been thinking about trying to start my magazine up online. It would be a literary and art magazine showcasing a wide variety of talent as it was when I published it in print form. I do not know if I have a wide enough network to gather submissions, and I am not sure I have the discretionary time to afford all the effort required, but I am considering it. I have the prerequisite software for it and I think I might be able to secure web hosting... Am I ready to take the reins as editor and publisher again? It is not an easy job, for writers are sometimes troublesome, but I like a challenge... I wonder if I am too old to begin doing it again. It is a huge task and requires diligence... So that is what is on my mind...

Have you ever noticed that as a usual thing every other version Microsoft releases is great? Take Windows 98, great; Windows Millennium, not so good; Windows XP, great; Windows Vista, not so good; Windows 7, great; Windows 8, not so good; Windows 8.1, decent... Why do we beta test for them on every other release? Seems like their software engineers would get it together every time. Maybe they need to quit rushing out versions and wait until they have a solid release...

I just realized it was after 2:00AM... I am wide awake and feeling creative. Why is it that nighttime seems to be the time of ideas for me? I want to be a morning person, but it just does not work for me. I am a hopeless night owl. The daytime world just does not have the appeal of after dark... Is something wrong with me? I wake up when the sun goes down... not the greatest attribute.

I should have known coffee in the afternoon was a mistake, but did that stop me? Not in the least did it dissuade me... Sometimes I disregard the better part of my judgment. So I am up and feeling full of energy halfway through the night...

Why am I still in this place when I really want to move forward? Maybe fear is stopping me, but what is that about? I fear failure, because it is very hard for creatives to succeed. I fear success, because it would overturn all sorts of things in my life. I want to perfect things before I bring them out before others, and that keeps me in a stalled state, because really I can do nothing perfectly.
I am determined to get past these barriers to achieving the life I want, but it is hard... One step I can take is being positive, another step is to gather the material for what I want to accomplish. These are easy things and I should be able to do them, one small step at a time.
I am capable and I believe that my dreams can become a reality, so as I advise others, I must make the effort and continue going forward...

Going With The Flow

Rolling, that is what happens
When you allow time to wash
Over you without resistance,
You roll forward creeping into
Places you never realized you
Were really meant to go.
Time overtakes you and takes
You over the rough spaces
Where intention would not
Allow you to succeed without
A great deal of extra effort
You might unwillingly expend.
Your perfectionism cannot
Hinder you because the momentum
Comes from beyond yourself,
You drift on currents that lift
Your fragile spirits up higher
Than you ever imagined going.
You roll, a creative force,
Unstoppable, moving through
Both time and space with only
One idea to carry you onward,
A positive declaration that you
Will finally accomplish your dreams.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Adjusted the settings on my mouse... Now this clunky mouse works like the best I have ever had. Who knew tweaking the software could make such improvements? Now I think I love the Logitech M705. It is like having a whole new mouse.

Just fixed a cup of coffee because I have decided I want to stay up all day... Should be no problem, the night is nearly over and daylight will soon arrive. Now if only the coffee cup cools down enough that I can drink from it...

Mom gave me some pens she has not used. Ink pens! Gel pens! I love free pens... My Mom is the greatest! Happy, happy, happy!

If you wish to achieve, you must first believe! You can exceed any goal you have decreed! Just continue forward and your effort will manifest what you are working toward!

Coffee! In a seasonal cup, coffee, what more can you ask for?

Fulfilling A Need

What do we want?
Poems!
Where do we get them?
We make them!
How do we do that?
We engage our creativity!
Who benefits?
The people of the world!
Why does it matter?
It wakes people to happiness!
When can we do it?
Now, because time is slipping by!
What do we want?
Poems!

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Invitation Only

Come! Whispered on the air,
Inviting you to join
Others already there...
Come! Such gentle care
Exhibited for all,
Do you want to share?
Come! Do you dare
Accept the invitation,
So very fair?
Come! Do not delay
Make your choice right away
While you have the chance today!
Come! Christ beckons,
The Spirit encourages,
Come as your heart reckons!
Come! While time makes way
Because the moments flee quickly
Hearken now for seconds slip away.
Come! Your choice cannot wait,
Be fast to answer the quiet call
For it urgently decides your fate.
Come! Whispered on the air,
Inviting you to join
Others already there...

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Tuesday, October 22, 2013

These are the nighttime, early morning, ramblings of a restless mind. You should join me at Jo Ann J. A. Jordan on Facebook if you would like to follow my adventures there… Lots of things make it there that never see the blog. I only put it all here today because I thought you might like to experience the process.

I am grateful:

1)   I have equipment that helps me reach my creative potential.
2)   I am old enough to choose my bedtime, most of the time anyway.
3)   People still visit my blog, even though I am no longer doing the Creativity Project.
4)   Life is a gift we can enjoy in the moment.
5)   People are a precious blessing when they touch my life.

As a prompt, write a how, what, when, where, who, why poem. If you need an example, reread the one I did above. If you are a visual artist, instead of poet, picture something that explore at least one of the aspects. I know you can do this, and I bet you will enjoy it. Your creativity is at least as bountiful as mine.

Thank you so much for visiting Chronicles and reading this post. You might find it enjoyable to browse the archives. There is much material contained there. If you like what you found here you can subscribe for email updates by entering your address in the space provided.

I hope your day meets your expectations. Generally you get out of the hours in direct proportion to what you invest, so make each moment special.

Always,
Jo Ann

I Am Still Here, Are You?

Things have been interesting, but I am sure you know that within your own life. Tonight I wrote a journal entry and thought I would share it with you all.

As I said I have been writing poetry…

Another Blessed Day

The sun has risen...
It is just another day...
Another day that
I am alive and able
To give my own smile away.

There is happiness
To share with those encountered
Along life's bright way...
There is goodness in moments
That make up another day.

God travels with me
As I walk the paths given
Through another day...
I must share His love freely
With each one who comes my way.

Friends, family, and
Even strangers cross my path
All without knowing...
How much they really mean to
Me on this another day.

The sun has risen...
It is just another day...
Another day that
I am alive and able
To give my own smile away.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Friday, August 16, 2013

Today has been a reasonably good day. I hope yours was enjoyable. Now take a few moments to engage your mind in creative tasks. You are definitely able to achieve anything you desire if you put your heart into the task. No one can keep you from making things happen unless you allow them.

I am grateful:

1)   I was able to go out for a pleasant time last evening.
2)   When people want information they often rely on me.
3)   Writing is something that comes naturally to me.
4)   God gifted me with an abundance of creativity.
5)   Even though I am growing older, I still enjoy the simple pleasure of reading.

As a prompt, write about something that made this day a gift to you. Recognize the blessing granted you and write a poem, story, journal entry, or simple note that celebrates the uniqueness of this day. I have no doubt you can create something wonderful.

I am very grateful you took the time to read this blog entry. You might find you enjoy browsing the archives and might also want to subscribe to the blog by entering your email address in the space provided above.

Always,
Jo Ann

Some Things I Created Today

A poem in comment on current affairs:

Expression Of Exasperation

They fight endlessly,
They refuse to compromise,
They hold our nation
In a state where progress is
Held in complete abeyance.

Politicians do
No work for electorate,
They simply will not;
Every day the country falls
Further into great distress.

Can we the people
Continue so quietly
While disaster falls
Upon those who sacrifice
Life and limb for our freedom?

Is freedom truly
Manifest in lofty halls
Where reasonable
Voices are not allowed to
Debate or even discuss.

I fear we have let
The very few work toward
Destruction of all
Created by patriots
Who wanted better for us.

When rulers cease to
Serve the interests of those
Who raised them up to
Prominence the time comes to
Cast them out of their places.

Come now citizens,
Rise, throw off the iron shackles
Of a government
Gone willfully against us,
Vote wisdom into power.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Saturday, October 12, 2013

An older photograph and a poem created today:

A photograph taken at dusk today and a thought:

I hope you are well. I encourage you to engage your creativity and make something wonderful to share with the world. I am convinced you have greater ability than you may even realize and that you can reach further than you estimate.

As a prompt, take a picture of your own, past or present, add some relevant text. Share it with others, or post it where it will encourage you.

I am grateful:

1)   No matter what happens, God will never desert me.
2)   I am blessed beyond what I deserve.
3)   My son, Alex, is on his way home.
4)   We still have a home, food to eat, and drink to quench our thirst.
5)   I am strong enough to accomplish my dreams with Christ’s help.

Be a blessing wherever you travel. Even if your belief system is different, you can brighten someone’s life with your kindness, compassion and smile.

Always,
Jo Ann