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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: DAYDREAM (12/08/16)
What is on your Bucket List?

I sat on the floor with hundreds of Nation Geographic Magazines all around me. I would spend hours reading wonderful stories of natives and animals in many lands. All about China before it became a communist nation. Gorgeous pictures of the wonders under our oceans and seas. I did this every time we moved and we moved a lot. I even stained and finished 3 book cases to hold them all. My husbands Aunt Lizzie gave us about 40 years worth of these treasures, she had collected them from the 1920’s. One story that stirred my imagination was about a young man who traveled from New England to Florida on a bicycle. Taking his time staying with people, helping when he could and getting to know those he met along the way. That sounded like a great adventure to me.

At the time I was married with 2 little kids and never thought I could have an adventure like that even if I were single, a girl couldn’t do that back then. Years later after our divorce and on my own I shared an idea with my Mom, how I would like to take a camper and travel around the country. She said it was not a good idea too dangerous. From my experiences but I felt like what I wanted never came to be. So I adopted the philosophy that if I didn’t want anything I could never be disappointed. Now that does not make sense but lot of the things we believe or accept are not true and don’t make sense.

Most of us have seen that movie “The Bucket list.” Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, two totally different terminally ill men want to achieve their dreams before they kicked the bucket. After all those adventures, as wonderful as they were, Morgan’s character wanted to go home and be with his family most of all.

Many years ago I got involved with Amway. I was introduced to The Magic of Thinking Big, Think and Grow Rich, and other success books and tapes. This was a new way of seeing things for me. I learned a lot and started making my dream lists. Making vision boards of what I wanted. One of my dreams was to be financially successful so I could have my kids live with me. I was a weekend mom. As the years went by I would make different wish lists I wanted to ride in a hot air balloon, travel, have adventures and pay off my daughters student loans.

About 25 years ago the Lord saved my soul and delivered me from an abusive relationship. I began writing inspired poems and articles. In those early days I attended Florence Litthauer‘s CLASS Seminar for several years. What I learned about personalities helped me understand myself better. I went as Hugs the Clown for her birthday one year. She encouraged me to write a book called “Masks.” She said we sometimes mask who we really are. My tag line is “You are not what you put on everyday.” There will be a picture of Hugs on the front with me peaking from behind with a tear on my cheek. I now dream of finishing this book so I can entertain, encourage and inspire others to know the Lord that heals and brings comfort to others as He has for me.

Over the years I have changed my desires and dreams. I was thinking of all the things I have wanted a Godly husband, riding that hot air balloon, travel to Israel and other things. But if I never achieve any of these things, God has something so much grander than I could even imagine for me when I get to heaven, I will never miss them. And even though I have been through many disappointments, being depressed, divorced, and in an abusive relationship, I have never suffered as much as Jesus suffered to take my sins on Himself so I might be saved. I try to keep this in mind when I want to complain about not having my dreams come true yet.
So what is on your bucket list? I hope you achieve your dreams, but if not remember God has a wonderful plan for you here and in the age to come. He says He will give you the desires of your heart.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Bonnie Bowden 
12/15/16
National Geographic magazine has some amazing photographs to stimulate dreams about world travel. I am glad you became a Christian and have many new adventures to embark on.

I've read a couple of Florence
Litthauer's books but didn't realize she taught a seminar class.

Please make sure to write in complete sentences unless it is a work of fiction. For example: All about China ... is missing a subject.

My husbands [should be husband's] Aunt Lizzy [It is possessive not plural]

Keep writing. I think you have a lot to share!
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
12/17/16
Bonnie Bowden 
12/22/16
Congratulations, Judy, on winning 1st place in the Beginner category and moving up to the Intermediate category.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Loni Bowden-Horn 
12/29/16
Judy, Never give up on the dreams that God has placed in your heart.

You have risen above so many challenges in your life. Keep going.

Congratulations on 1st place in the beginner level.
Bea Edwards 
02/19/17
I hope you become inspired to finish your book.
We all wear our 'everyday' into the world masks -I think to protect each other from our broken sharp edges.
Congratulations on your level win -write on.