Jubilee's Jottings

  photo copyright Jubilee Young 2022  New is hard no matter what it is. New is a change, perhaps a shift in what we were expecting, and at the very least, it is a shift in what normal is. I quit my job at Paxton. I do better in different environments, and I am glad I realized this. It is not easy, but in finding what I should say “no” to, I have found what matters. They say, and it’s true, that for everything you say “yes” to, there is something you are saying “no” to. The best productivity advice says, instead of first choosing what you are going to do for the day, you should choose something to say “no” to. Prioritizing life comes from choosing what to say “no” to. Well, that might be easy for other people. I just did it. I decided, among other factors, that I prioritize writing in my life, and the way the job was working made it so I could not prioritize it how I should. Writing is part of my passion in life, and it is important that I pursue it. I have made writin...

Kneeling in the dew-laid grass alone Gloomy, moonless heavens show not grace  To the man in anguish dripping sweat,  “God, how can you ask this from your own?” “This is what I will,” the Voice replies Trusting heart, yet fearing mind intones,  “I will do exactly as you say.”  Sleepless in the prison bars of night Waiting, hoping for the morning light Rising at the breaking of the day “Hurry now. We must be on our way.” Blow by blow the sticks fall in their place Wrenching at the heart strings of his love Staggering beneath the load of dread Tear-filled eyes behold the road ahead Downcast eyes lift up to see the place There it is, the place where He has said.  Weary footsteps plod the upward track Footfalls echo as they trek alone Climbing silence breaks with spoken fear “Father, we have all, but not the lamb.” “Fear not, God has provided a lamb.”  Heavy, dusty stones built in a mound Twisted wood atop the gnarly stones Atop the off’ring submits to death....

     A co-worker walked into the kitchen and said, "So, we're going to get to know you today." (We were having a get-to-know the new workers, and I was one of them.)  "I'm just going to ad-lib it, because I don't know what to say."    "Well," he said, "I'm sure you won't have anything to say because you are such an introverted and shy person."     "What?! You're teasing me aren't you?"      The coworker winked and walked away. (I am anything but a shy and introverted person)      I had a lot of tabs open on my laptop.  My mom said, "You have a lot of windows open. It must be breezy." 

       This is a blog post. It talks about how I am going back to my job in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania after spending six days with my family. It mentions how I feel a little sad to leave, but I also look forward to my job. The blog post shares how I got a good amount of writing done on those days off, currently working on an article on fountain pens. It shows how I am having a hard time deciding how to finish my article, because I don’t know what else to write or research. The post mentions how I am planning on getting a fountain pen in the near future, but it does not mention the price category I am thinking of spending on the pen. Knowing the author of the blog post, the amount will not be too much. The blog post also mentions what I ate for lunch: a bowl of stir-fried jalapeno peppers, onions, and eggplant. The blog post raves about how good it tasted and how the jalapeno peppers were more spicy to the nose than the throat. This is a blog post, but this is me: ...

I got declutter fever. If things are messy, it means two things: the amount of stuff is too much and the organizational system is incorrect. I found all of this is true every time.  My room was a bit messy. I had gotten sick, but the stuff just kind of got out of hand. I think I only got rid of ten items, but it cleared up the space I needed in my functional organizing system. I had a couple food items taking up a lot of space in my tiny pantry area. I had not eaten them in three months, which is a sure sign I am not going to eat it in the next three months. I put the non-perishables out for other staff if they wanted it and threw out other perishable food I wouldn’t eat. This gave me the space I needed for the food I currently want to eat.  I took out my trash and recycling. I got rid of a few clothing items I don’t like wearing. And, like the little thing it was, I recycled a couple containers, like yogurt containers, which freed up space. It really was only a handful ...

Not this kind of yeast... photo copyright 2022 Jubilee Young      Bread dough is satisfying, but sourdough turns bread making into a hobby. It takes a little TLC,  but those who stick to it find it rewarding. A couple weeks ago I started a sourdough starter. I have done sourdough before, but it was mostly when I was strictly gluten free, and the bread I made was good, but sour. Later, after I wasn’t gluten free I made it again, and I only liked it with spicy pepper jack cheese. Now, a couple years later, I am trying again.  It all began again after I listened to an audio book where sourdough was turned into a whole story plot. The fiction story was created around this strange sourdough starter that made unusually good bread. The author had obviously read a lot about sourdough and probably even started a starter before writing the book. I learned a couple things about sourdough I didn’t know before.  First, the mixture is equal parts of flour and water w...

“Oh God, I do not understand Your plan;  Why You created me the way I am This fleshly clay becomes a heavy yoke; I groan and stagger – almost to despair. I search and seek for paths to follow, but There is no trodden way for me to find. Life’s normal way is treacherous and strange; The winding road is long and steep and dark.” “I know the plans that I have made for you; My plans are for My glory and your good. Remember, child – I have fashioned you Just wait, this struggle will not be in vain. Be still and listen. Wait to hear My voice For I am guiding, ask Me for more faith. I go before you: follow in My steps. This road, My way, is narrow, straight and rough But it is not too much for you to bear.” “Lord I believe, but help my unbelief; Help me to trust, forgive my fainting heart. Oh hold my weary, trem'bling hands in Yours I do not want to falter or to fall. Withhold me from my self-destructive plans Keep me from my own presumptuousness. Forgive me when I fail and doubt Your gra...