Hello, My name is Deborah Jean

Life’s Journey -- Who ever really knows what Life’s Journey will bring your way?  Only God knows for sure

Life is a journey.  Life really is wonderful most of the time, but not always.  Life is all about changes; nothing ever stays the same.  Life is all about making choices.  And, sometimes Life isn’t always fair.  And, sometimes things happen to us because of choices that other people make.  I do believe that everything happens for a reason and everything has a purpose.  Our past shapes who we are today and molds the decisions and choices that we make.  We have to come to terms with whatever our past was, and put it into perspective in order to move forward into our future.  So, it is important to take a journey back into your past sometimes, to heal what was broken so you can continue in life’s journey.  I had to take that journey back into my past and God promised to hold me as I looked back through those memories!  I had to unlock what had been secrets kept between sisters, members of the burnt corner club, and the four musketeers. That loss and emptiness in my heart really inspired me to become the person I wanted to be, I just hadn’t realized it. That awareness of how Life can change in an instant, shapes the way I handle each and every day I have now.  We are all so full of many hopes and dreams for our future.  But, somewhere along the way, we forget to enjoy what we have in the present. It isn’t anybody’s fault, it’s just that sometimes people let the “challenges” of life get in their way and take control of their life.  You have to take control of your own life and forgive the past for what it was—the past.  You cannot change it, but you can use it to make a better future for yourself!

The Divorce that Divided the Family and Broke all our Dreams

Our parents must have been in love at some point, they had five children together and were married for about twelve years.  But, the divorce was one of the worst ever and they were both very bitter about having to give up their dreams.  Being a parent was never really one of the priorities in life at that time.  The tragedy is that their bitterness left everyone a loser!  Most of all those little girls who had not done anything wrong to anyone.  They were the ones who suffered the feelings of abandonment from their parents and from each other and all the other adults in their lives!  There was so much bitterness between our parents that they even destroyed almost all of the pictures of our life together as a family, just to keep each other from having something to remember.  They destroyed any sense of family that we might have felt as children.  Although I have forgiven both of them, I find it hardest to forgive my mother.  She told me every day what a bad person my daddy was and how he left just because I was born.  It wouldn't be until many years later that I would discover the truth.  I'd love to tell you that story, but that is one I am saving for my book.

Winnie The Pooh, Eeorye, and Tiger too!!

I always found school and studying to be very easy and I love to learn! School was my refuge and my best friend.  I took the "hard classes" in preparation for college. Then, in the end, couldn't afford to go when I graduated high school even though I earned a full academic scholarship.  In those days there wasn't the financial aid available to help with normal living expenses And, somehow, having someplace to live and food to eat seemed important.  My Senior year I landed a part as "Eeyore" in our winter play: Winnie the Pooh!  My teacher set me up to succeed!!  She picked me, because I was so "introverted" and I think she saw inside my heart needed to find someplace to belong.  I was shy and afraid of my own shadow most of my childhood. I was a loner, because I was alone. (People who know me now say there is no way I was ever an introvert)  She decided that I had to step "outside the box" to be successful…………She was so right!! I can even “think outside the box” today, because of some great teachers who set me up for success!!

My Search for a Forever Family

I adopted my own set of parents when I was a senior in high school.  It was one of the best choices I ever made in my life.  And, it is a choice that shaped my family. They taught me that family is so important.  They taught me that “Family” doesn’t come from blood.  Family comes from sharing love together and being there for each other in so many different ways, but always being there for each other!  They taught me that love is unconditional!  They actually helped me to forgive my parents and to understand that they just might have been doing the best they could at the time given their situation.  They included me in every aspect of their family life and I finally found that I belonged to a family.  They gave me more love than I had ever known from any blood related family member and helped me through trials and troubles like parents do for their children.  They accepted me for me and loved me unconditionally just for me!

Now I am 52 years old and as a new chapter in my Life begins, I have realized that Life is a journey and spending quality time with your Family is the most important part of the journey!  Life can be a little bumpy along the way; but as long as you have family, to comfort you along the way—you will make it.  Life isn’t always fair, and sometimes we suffer from other people’s choices, even though we made good choices ourselves.  I do believe that people do the best they can at the time with the knowledge they have.  So, I try not to blame people for their mistakes because we all make them.  I do feel that I've accomplished so much But, there is so much more I hope I have the opportunity to accomplish before I am called away.  I have three wonderful daughters and nine fabulous grand-children.  I try real hard to be a good grandma, so different than the “Wicked Witch” I had when I was little.  I spend time having weekend dress-up parties with my granddaughters and camping/fishing with my grandsons, taking all of them on spring break for some memory making times.  I taught my oldest granddaughters how to dive off the diving board, and helped a couple of the little ones learn to swim a bit better.  I hope they will remember those memories we made together.  They have brought more joy into my life than I could ever imagine! I think I put far more energy into being a good Mom than I did to being a good wife, because I was trying to make up for my lack of having good parents when I was little and I felt I had to break that cycle.  Family is my top priority and I have been blessed with a wonderful family I am committed to my family, as I hope that you are to yours Family values are very important.  Make sure that your family knows how important they are to you before it is too late!!   My greatest accomplishment has been that I am a good Mom.  I’ve made a lot of memories with my family.  Long after I am gone, I pray they will remember me with kind thoughts because I do think I made a difference in their lives.

Become what you might have been

I work as a Safety Specialist/Environmental Scientist.   So, I've been able to become what I might have been after all!  I treat my clients with kindness, understanding, and respect.  So, I am very successful at what I do.  I enjoy learning new things and exploring new interests. I am interested in history and learning about other cultures.  I love math and science, so naturally love computer technology.  I love to learn, so I am constantly on the look out to learn something I didn't know before.  I want to taste foods that I never tasted, go to places I've never been.  Just because I want to be all that I can possibly be! Life is too short and we must use it as if it won't be here tomorrow!! I love kids and always wanted to open my home to a child that felt as alone as I did as a child. I always wanted to be the one to make all the difference if only to just one child.  I always wanted to give that one child the opportunities he/she wouldn't have otherwise.  But, most of all, to give just one child that love they didn’t feel.  I really truly enjoy helping people and am always ready for a challenging project.  It keeps me busy and keeps my mind young. 

Random Act of Kindness

Now, as ponder what my purpose in life, I think that perhaps just practicing kindness is really my purpose in life.  To just be the best that I can be and share my kindness with as many people that pass my way!

Have you ever considered performing a Random Act of Kindness?

Pay It Forward and you’ll receive so much in return!

Ask, What can I do for you?

Happiness comes from Giving not getting Those who give freely, receive so much more in return

If we try hard to bring happiness to others then it will come to us also

Count your blessings today, because tomorrow they could be all gone

Remember, there is always someone who has it much rougher than you do

The best day is today so Live it to the fullest!!

And, Don’t forget to count your blessings, because you probably have it much better than you even realize!