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 |  My journal and blog |
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My name is Billie Gail Stanley-Lackey-Turknett. I am a Christian fiction writer and I write poetry. I am currently working on two books. One called My Brother's Keeper about three brothers back in the western days that struggle to make it through their own personal journey and helping their mother through her own struggles as well. Their dad is lost in the war and another man is plotting to steal their ranch and their mother. The other about a lady that has been put through hell during her childhood and through her first marriage. She accepts Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior but has to learn to forgive her abusers fully and completely.I hope the book's title will remain "Forgiven" but, you know how some places are. They like to change the titles. I am a member of The East Texas Writers Guild and I have been able to meet writers and read their work. I can't wait to be in that minority one day. The song below is one of my all time favorites because of all the changes I have gone through with my sons. I love them heart and soul. Some changes were good and some weren't. I don't regret a second of it all though. {link:<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/A6i1ywioIm0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>} I am a Sinner saved by His mercy and grace. I am married to Bobby Turknett. I live in the tiny town of Slocum, TX. I have three sons. Marshall Lackey, Otis (Odie) Lackey III who is married to Courtney Bohannon-Lackey and they have one son, Kason, and one son on the way, Tucker. Then there is Cheyenne Lackey who is married to Danielle Willeford-Lackey and they have one daughter, Abbigail. I have two brothers (one passed away) Bobby and George Stanley II who is married to Rebekah Stanley and they have four kids together George Stanley III, Madison Stanley, Matthew Pendley, and Nate Stanley. My sister, Kimberley Stanley-Bailey lives in Michigan with her husband, Kevin Bailey. They have three daughters together. Jessica Stanley-Robbins, Robin Bailey, and Casey Bailey. I have a wonderful Mom, Susan Gail Lamb-Stanley-Lawhon and a great stepfather, Briggs (Skip) Lawhon. I attend Evangelistic Temple in Palestine, TX and I have a ministry called Assisted Living and Nursing Home Readers program where I go into Assisted living centers and nursing homes and read to patients. I believe in paying it forward. These unique people did so much for us in this country and we owe them something for that. I am a poet but, I have a lot to learn and a lot of growing to do. I am studying several books and watching a lot of youtube videos to get a grasp on what it takes to write right. I also joined this site to learn all I could about writing and it has been a struggle learning how to get through this site but, I am sure I'll get it all down soon. Everyone here has been so helpful and I am grateful. I hope that I can manage to become half the writer some of the people here are. I will feel accomplished if I am able to do just that with my writing. Thank you for reading and I hope you will read more in the future. Billie Turknett ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| Blog City Prompt: What do you think “compassion” is? Can one show compassion even for one’s worst enemy? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ BCOF “Just as a snake sheds its skin, we must shed our past over and over again.” - Gautama Buddha What do you think? Is this true? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 30-Day Bloggers Besides communication or media devices (computers, televisions, phones, etc.) and advancements in transportation, what invention or inventions of the 20th century are you most grateful for, and why? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **  Billie Gail Turknett ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **
https://www.billieturknett.com 'If sinners be damned, at least let the leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish without arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unsprayed for.' ~Charles Spurgeon~ |
| BCOF There are a ton of blogger book clubs and book review blogs out there in the blogosphere, so it makes sense that there should be a social media site just for book lovers. How many of you use Goodreads to find different books to read by reading the reviews posted there. If you don't how do you pick what books you want to read? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Blog City Do you plan to use blogging as part of your career reinvention strategy? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 30-Day Bloggers Has something funny happened to you this week? Awkward? Potentially shameful, until you looked back later and realized it wasn't so bad? Tell us about it. And if this has been a boring week for you, write about an experience that maybe wasn't so funny when it happened, but makes people laugh now when you retell the story about it. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Billie Gail Turknett ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **
https://www.billieturknett.com 'If sinners be damned, at least let the leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish without arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unsprayed for.' ~Charles Spurgeon~ |
| BCOF Prompt: How do you know when the censor is present? Is it a voice in your head " You can't write that!" Or if you cross out dangerous words and replace them with safer words? Choosing not to read your work out loud to anyone? Or do you feel guilty or ashamed, as if you have done something wrong? If I would not do it or say it in real life then I would not have my character say it or say it in a book for the most part when it comes to language. There are just too many other words in the dictionary to use other than curse words and horrible words that cut people down. I made a vow before God that I would write to His glory only and that is what I intend to do. I did write one story before that and I need to delete it, but it just goes to show how far I have come, which isn't far since I am not a curser or anything like that and considering I was already a Christian. You just have to tell yourself that you will cross this line and no farther and mean it. Let no one push you past that line or you wil be selling your self short. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Blog City Prompt: What does authenticity mean to you? How can a person be authentic as a writer or in any other role? By being true to one's self. Authentic just means that you are real or genuine : not copied or false. The minute you begin being something other than what God intended for you to be you cease to be authentic. When you copy a paragraph, a quote as your own, or anything like that you cease to be yourself. Write authentically and you will be rewarded. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 30DB 1 person who makes your life better. You guys may be tired of hearing it, but I'll never tire of telling of Him. His name is Jesus. He is my rock and my strength. He loves me without cause or condition. He hears my prayers, wails, and supplications. His mercy and grace knows no bound and He is timeless. He is there for you even when you can't be there for yourself. It is so hard for some to see because we suffer so much, but He just wants to ease that suffering and ease our burdens. He is my Adoni, My God, My Jesus Christ. I love Him. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Billie Gail Turknett ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **
https://www.billieturknett.com 'If sinners be damned, at least let the leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish without arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unsprayed for.' ~Charles Spurgeon~ |
| BCOF When I was growing up the preparation for Thanksgiving begin three or four days before the Thanksgiving Feast. Prompt: What does Thanksgiving week mean to you? Does preparation for the Thanks giving begin on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday? What do those preparations include? Alternate Prompt: If you don't celebrate Thanksgiving is there a holiday that you do celebrate when you begin preparations for it three or more days in advance? How do you begin preparing for this holiday? Thanksgiving means the world to me. I get to be with my family and spend the day with them, pray with them (even when some would not allow it at other times), play with my grandchildren, and I believe we are to give thanks for what God has blessed us with through out the year this year. Thanksgiving means to me the union between God's people, the Indians and the pilgrims. We shared what we had and shared our faith. The Indians worshipped the one true God in their own way no matter what the whites say, they did it in a different way. We come together now to share it today, friends and family to share in it today. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Blog City Prompt: What do you think is the best way to have a necessary but extremely uncomfortable conversation with someone? How could a character in a story handle this? I don't have enough experience in writing to write that scene, but I would image I'd write that scene just like I had to say the words to my own son when I discovered he was taking drugs. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 30DB 5 Items you would buy with a million dollars. A ranch with a ranch house on it and all the animals it needed. Cars for my husband and me. Fix my house up to rent out. A new boat. A new camper ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Billie Gail Turknett ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **
https://www.billieturknett.com 'If sinners be damned, at least let the leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish without arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unsprayed for.' ~Charles Spurgeon~ |
| BCOF Prompt: If you could go back in time ten years from today, what advice would you give yourself? Take better care of your health and don't let the doctors put you on so much medication that you have a small pharmacy in your home. Exercise everyday even if it kills you. Never forget your prayer list and add to it everyday and who cares how long it takes to get through it every night, those people need prayer and you need to pray. Be more assertive and say "NO" when you need to say "NO" because you are killing yourself right now and not being honest with those around you about how you feel about doing things or how you feel. Finish that degree in English or Writing at all cost! Organize that family reunion every year no matter what. Your family needs it. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Blog City Write what whispers your name in the night... Demons claw at my mind and tear at my soul while I sleep. They loose all their fury on me and try to tear me apart because I am a child of God. It is not enough that they try to destroy me during my waking hours, but they must invade my sleeping hours as well. I, often, fight and claw my way to the surface from one of these dreams thinking I am still trapped there. My husband trying to calm me down the whole time will tell me that it is just a dream, but I still see the entrapments that surround me and I don't believe him. I know some of you will think I am crazy for my views on this, but I believe this is none other than...Satan and his minions trying to get at me in my sleep because he can't get to me in my waking hours. He gets at me sometimes in my waking hours, we are all only human, but for the most part he fails, but dreams... He can craft anything he wants there. It is like magic. He can show me demons, dragons with seven heads, and all sorts of other demonic things. He traps me in nets and ensnares me in boxes that are sinking in lava. It gets pretty detailed. I believe it is Satan and most Christians would believe me, but others may not and I might sound crazy, but I thought I'd share anyway. Why not. I really have nothing too personal to hide from everyone. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 30DB Creation Saturday: A creative writing prompt from the War Chest will be used. Challengers are encouraged to write a poem or story. Swoosh of demonic wings and the ting of sharp claws tapping over my head and out the door. Hard, steady beating of my heart in my chest flowing through my veins for the demons to smell and hear. Fear punctuation the air as I sweat buckets of perspiration I fear I shall die before I wake Not very good, but it is what I feel like saying right now and that is about it. Maybe I can work on one right after a nightmare one night when the fear is at its most high. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Billie Gail Turknett ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **
https://www.billieturknett.com 'If sinners be damned, at least let the leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish without arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unsprayed for.' ~Charles Spurgeon~ |
| BCOF Tell me about the town you were born. Do you still live there? If not have you thought about going back there to live? My parents lived in Frankston Texas and I was born in Jacksonville because Frankston was too small to even have a doctor's office. I prefer to say that Frankston is my birth town, but I will tell you about Jacksonville. I don't have a connection to it at all, but I do business there every now and again. It is a mid-sized town that is growing in leaps and bounds. It has a horrible school system that has to have guards because the kids are so bad. It use to be a horse town then a small town and now it is a mid-sized town with a Walmart and a Lowes. It is not as big as my county seat that I live in (Palestine, TX), but is getting there. It takes pride in it's old town and it's old town buildings. It has several green house companies, which, of course, I love, but other than that I don't like Jacksonville. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Blog City Raymond Carver says," many writers miss what is right in front of them."Judy Reeves disagrees, she says, "Writers live life on two levels, one we participate in relationships, go about our daily business, interact, respond and perform: the other we observe and take notes." I know it sounds simple but is it. Do you only take notes about what needs to be remembered or are you like Carver indicates oblivious to all that is available. Tell me what you think about their opinions. I believe they are both right. There are writers like both of them describe and that is what makes the difference between a good writer and a great writer. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 30DB Funny Friday I'm an excellent housekeeper. Every time I get a divorce, I keep the house. - Zsa Zsa Gabor Marriages are made in heaven. But so again, are thunder and lightning. - Anonymous I'm not offended by all the dumb-blonde jokes because I know that I'm not dumb. I also know I'm not blonde. - Dolly Parton Thank God I'm an atheist. - Anonymous Avoid hangovers: stay drunk. - Anonymous Men don't care what's on TV. They only care what else is on TV. - Jerry Seinfeld An egotist is someone who is usually me - deep in conversation. - Anonymous Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else. - Anonymous I'm trying to read a book on how to relax, but I keep falling asleep. - Jim Loy Laughing stock: cattle with a sense of humor. - Anonymous I am free of all prejudice. I hate everyone equally. - W. C. Fields A good lawyer knows the law; a clever one takes the judge to lunch. - Anonymous Behind every successful man is a surprised woman. - Maryon Pearson The four most important words in any marriage...I'll do the dishes. - Anonymous If at first you don't succeed, order pizza. - Anonymous Many people lose their tempers merely from seeing you keep yours. - Anonymous A closed mouth gathers no foot. - Anonymous Anyone who goes to a psychiatrist ought to have his head examined. - Samuel Goldwyn Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe. - Albert Einstein No man is truly married until he understands every word his wife is NOT saying. - Anonymous The biggest critics of my books are the people who never read them. - Jackie Collins To err is human, but to really foul things up you need a computer. - Paul Ehrlich Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted. - Anonymous Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine. - Author Unknown The trouble with being punctual is that nobody's there to appreciate it. - Franklin P. Jones. Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain. - Lily Tomlin Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. - Robert A. Heinlein Constipated People Don't Give a crap. - Anonymous If your parents never had children, chances are you won't, either. - Dick Cavett We are all either fools or undiscovered geniuses. - Bonnie Lin Behind every successful man is a woman, behind her is his wife. - Anonymous Constant change is here to stay. - Anonymous I used to think I was indecisive, but now I'm not too sure. - Anonymous Never stand between a dog and the hydrant. - John Peers. If you can't answer a man's argument, all is not lost; you can still call him vile names. - Elbert Hubbard If you want your children to listen, try talking softly - to someone else. - Ann Landers A committee is a group that keeps the minutes and loses hours. - Milton Berle Laughter is the best medicine; as it is scientifically proven to have beneficial effects on our health. You can also use these quotes to give your loved ones a dose of this funny medicine. Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/short-funny-quotes.html ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Billie Gail Turknett ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **
https://www.billieturknett.com 'If sinners be damned, at least let the leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish without arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unsprayed for.' ~Charles Spurgeon~ |
| BCOF Prompt: Which season is your favorite in terms of clothing? Do you prefer sleeveless shirts and shorts or coats and jeans? Fall. I like layers mostly. I like to have a small jacket on most of the time with leggings on underneath. I live in East Texas, so there is little use for a large jacket here unlike where my sister lives in Michigan. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Blog City Prompt: What would life be like if unicorns and dragons really existed? It would be horrible. Not because the animals are horrible, but because they would hunted down to extinction like elephants for their ivory in trade and bears for their hearts and livers. It is crazy what they believe these animals are good for. Even us westerners will by a "lucky elephant" meaning if its truck is in the up position and not the down. It is foolish to even think about, but people clearly live these superstitions out everyday. It is disastrous for the animal and our history. What are they going to do when they are all gone? ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 30DB Share your 9 favorite books of all time. Outlander Dragonfly in Amber Voyager Drums of Autumn The Fiery Cross Breath of Snow and Ashes An Echo in the Bone Fingersmith ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Billie Gail Turknett ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **
https://www.billieturknett.com 'If sinners be damned, at least let the leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish without arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unsprayed for.' ~Charles Spurgeon~ |
| bBCOF Vape is word of the year for 2014 http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/vape-is-word-of-the-year-for-2014-201... "To vape is to inhale and exhale the vapour produced by an electronic cigarette. As a noun it describes the actual device." - Julian Drape Prompt: Write a story, poem, or opinion about this new word. Let's see, I vape and I find nothing wrong with it at all. It is like a shower mist being inhaled into your lungs. A lot better than cigarette smoke and it is only there for you until you get off of the cigarettes. It is a step down process of sorts. They have several nicotine levels to choose from and I am nearing the end of mine. I will be off of mine completely soon and by all rights should have been off of it already. It can become habit forming even though they say it can't. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Blog City Prompt: "There is nothing like staying home for real comfort."Jane Austen Do you agree with Jane? Yes, I do. Everyone makes their home comfortable for their own selves and no other place will ever take the place of that. Home is where the heart is. I wrote a poem about this once, but I never shared it on here. I will have to dig it out now and post it. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 30-db What’s your favorite rainy day movie? The Notebook. It has everything you can image in a love story and it is perfectly done. It makes me cry every time. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Billie Gail Turknett ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **
https://www.billieturknett.com 'If sinners be damned, at least let the leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish without arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unsprayed for.' ~Charles Spurgeon~ |
| BCOF As we write, we stumble in hidden recesses of ourselves... what if we gave our shadow a chance to speak? Make a list of things YOU WOULD NEVER DO,...Go ahead, dance with your shadow. Be Creative! Assuming this is about writing, I will write about writing. If it were about normal life my list would be forever long. I would never just write free without stopping to edit. I wish I could and I have tried, but it is not apart of my makeup. I would never intentionally copy someone else's work. I would never write anything that would cause anyone to falter in their step in their walk with the Lord. I would never write anything other than Christian material because of a promise I made to my heavenly Father. Other than that, I can't think of anything else I wouldn't do. I may once I see what everyone else has to say. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Blog City Prompt: “Lying is done with words, and also with silence,” says Adrienne Rich. What does this quote say to you? If you so wish, you may offer your experiences on the subject. You can lie with a half truth as well as a lie and it hurt as much if not more because you have built up that person's hopes or dreams and crushed them. I admit that I fib to my husband about the little things sometimes. About how much money I spent on an item, but he isn't stupid and he goes over the bank statement and catches me, so I come clean. I just don't want to be yelled at and he don't even yell at me. He just says "Billie Gail, you know we are saving money. we have a large truck payment to make now." and then I feel guilty and offer to take it back, but he allows me to keep it and I promise to not do it again. I feel terrible. It wasn't right for me to lie to him. He works hard for our money and I work hard at spending it and it is not fair to him. I pay all the bills and what is left over I put some in savings and then buy something personal for him and I. He thinks we can go without it, but I am an impulse shopper and I can't go without it, so I cover up my shopping with little white lies that are truly terrible huge lies to be truthful. If I were to never say anything to him about the purchases though that would be a lie as well by omission. I'd rather introduce the item and get it over with. He will ask me to pull up the account online and I am caught unless I think to pay cash, but I always end up telling him the truth because I can't bear to have that between us. Lies will just destroy us. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 30-day bloggers What’s the worst part of self-publishing? The fact that I didn't get picked is the worst part of self-publishing. I wanted to self publish my children's book, but my husband is dead set against it. He said if it was good enough it would get picked up by a publisher, but he doesn't understand how the system works. New writers just don't get the breaks like they use to. It is just not the same anymore and now we have to compete with actors and actresses that suddenly become authors over night regardless if they are any good or not. It is all so frustrating. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Billie Gail Turknett ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **
https://www.billieturknett.com 'If sinners be damned, at least let the leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish without arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unsprayed for.' ~Charles Spurgeon~ |
| BCOF Prompt: What does getting old mean to you? Write a story, write a poem, write a rant; whichever you want.. I'm scared of getting old and dying. I look forward to seeing my grandchildren grown up and seeing my great grandchildren born, but to die and leave it all behind is something I am not looking forward to. Not to mention living in a nursing home my last few years. I have all sons and my daughter n laws would not take care of me. I know that for a fact. I'd take care of them, but not visa versa. I do look forward to all of the wisdom I will have, but you know for a fact that not too many people will give two cents about our wisdom when we are that age. We are all but forgotten when we are that age. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Blog City Prompt: Is there a relationship between perfectionism and feelings of shame when what we plan to accomplish does not come out quite right? Explore. I agree completely. I believe that perfectionism has shame attached to it because if you don't get it just right then you are flooded with a sense of shame and unworthiness. You try to be perfect for yourself as much as you try for others, but it is a feat that is impossible to accomplish and deep down the person knows it, but they push themselves anyway. I think they want to punish themselves for whatever reason. Maybe it is because they don't feel like they are good enough, powerful enough, or whatever, but at any rate they push and push until they can't push anymore and it usually ends badly. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 30-day bloggers 16.Who is your favorite villain? Cruella Deville is one of my favorite villains. She wants puppy coats for Christ's sakes. How can that be a child's show anyway? I never understood how they could make that show and they children now ask "How will she make the coats Mommy?" and then the mommy would have to answer "Well, by knocking the puppy over the head and cutting the fur from the body of the puppy son/daughter." How messed up is that? I think Cruella is evil and she has one of the most evil laughs and voices of most all characters and it is from smoking which is in a children's show as well. Don't you love the old shows? They had all the good stuff the new shows are not allowed to show and they were bigger hits than the ones now a days. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Billie Gail Turknett ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **
https://www.billieturknett.com 'If sinners be damned, at least let the leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish without arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unsprayed for.' ~Charles Spurgeon~ |
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