Story Spinner Contest

Hey!

   I've decided to hold a little contest.  I've seen these around, and they are always so fun, so I thought I'd see if you'd be interested.  This will be a one time thing for now, but if I get a lot of feedback I may do it more regularly.

   I took this picture, and I thought it was "interesting" enough to use as a story starter.

It is your job to write off of this picture.  

Your entry could be a short story, a couple words, a poem, etc.  

I'm not going to put a word limit on the entries, 

but try to keep it down to only a couple paragraphs or less.  

Send your entry to my email: livingjoyfullyblog@yahoo.com

The contest will close on January 6th, and I will try and pick a winner within the couple days after that.  The winning entry will be posted on my blog, and the winner can choose if they would like to do a guest post, or if there is some other prize like that which they would like.

Here is your picture, and happy writing!

Jess

I Hope You Had A Merry Little Christmas

  Long time no see!  I accidentally forgot to write, and then I felt like I shouldn't start writing again until I have "inspiration" and all that.  I still don't feel ready to start blogging again, yet.  But I figured you needed to hear from me anyway.

   (I post on Instagram almost everyday: my tag is @livingjoyfullyblog)

 I'm still here.  I had a quiet Christmas, and I can't believe that 2016 is this week.  It blows my mind just thinking about it.  But January is good because January is fresh starts, new beginnings, and a whole 'nother chance to make things right.  Plus, my birthday.

   I hope to go ice skating, for the first time, tomorrow.  My grandparents are here and we are working on replacing our floor, so there is a hole in our kitchen through which you can see dirt.  I said a part for our church's Christmas Eve service and only messed up once.  I got sick and have ate way too much sugar.

   I really don't have anything to say, and I can't promise that this is the start of blogging consistantly.  So if I'm not back before New Years:

Live your life.  

Every second, every minute, every hour, day, year is a chance to start over.

The things that seem so big now will, good or bad, be so far away by the time we are old.

Say what you need to say, apologize to those you hurt, 

and sometimes just drop everything and go on an adventure.

Goodbye, 2015.  

You were wonderful, you were exciting, you were rough, you were downright terrible, and you went by in the time of a month. I loved you, but I am so glad I don't have to struggle to write "5" without it looking goofy every time I write the date. 

 See you memory,

Jessica

Have a wonderful rest of 2015, everyone.

Jess

The House That Friendship Built

// The House That Friendship Built \\

it all started long ago

we knew

with a look and a smile

we would be friends

we laid out plans

and collected supplies

giggling over little details

our hearts were tied

a foundation of trust

a wall of similarity

a ceiling of love

and furnished with memories

memories of play dates,

tears and hugs

countless laughs

promises

we lived in that house

for so many years

we forgot it needed care

one day at a time,

the cobwebs snuck in

the corners went unswept

and our old couch grew dusty

we were still together

though not as much

we forgot to greet in the halls

and hug a lot

until one day you just moved out

my friend

i looked around

and opened my eyes to the empty rooms

i saw the peeling paint

and the burnt out light bulbs

i saw the dirty rugs

and the empty envelopes

i cried

for i missed you

but i admitted you weren't coming back

locked up and walked away

i still saw you

but it wasn't the same

i wondered why i didn't see it coming

you've built many new houses

with lots of new friends

and i will too

but i will never, ever forget you