Batey - Suddenly Single Journal: Processing Your First Year after Divorce

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SUDDENLY SINGLE JOURNAL

Published by David C Cook

4050 Lee Vance Drive

Colorado Springs, CO 80918 U.S.A.

David C Cook U.K., Kingsway Communications

Eastbourne, East Sussex BN23 6NT, England

The graphic circle C logo is a registered trademark of David C Cook.

All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes, no part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV. Copyright 1973, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION and NIV are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica, Inc. Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified Bible, copyright 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org); CEV are taken from the Contemporary English Version 1991, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by permission; ESV are taken from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved; KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org); NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved; TLB are taken from The Living Bible, copyright 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois, 60188. All rights reserved.

ISBN 978-1-4347-1173-1

eISBN 978-0-8307-7276-6

2018 Kathey Batey

The Team: Alice Crider, Amy Konyndyk, Diane Gardner, Rachael Stevenson, Susan Murdock

Cover Design: Nick Lee

Cover Photo: Getty Images

First Edition 2018

I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.

Psalm 32:8 NLT

The first year after divorce can be precarious. It can be complex and, for some, the most difficult part of the divorce journey. The good news is, you only have to go through your firsts once. Sometimes, however, even the anticipation of certain dates brings up strong emotions or concerns. You may have to tolerate these sensations, distract yourself, plug your nose, walk through it in faith, or reassure yourself that this will pass. It will pass, and you will look back and be gratteful, knowing God brought you through it heartily and faithfully because you allowed Him to. Youll look back and see His faithful fingerprints all over your life.

If the first year is often painful and difficult, why would you journal it when you want to forget it forever? Because journaling is a powerful tool that allows you to process what you are going through and better understand it. You can look back and see how far youve come. You will also recognize how God brought you through this year, even when you werent able to see that in the moment. Journaling also gives you a sense of control when circumstances feel beyond your control. It provides a place to vent, process, and grieve so you dont keep emotional pain locked inside. And this journal in particular will prompt you to start shifting your perspective about your life.

This journal is set up to be user friendly and pressure free. It is intended to be a supportive tool for you not an expectation you have to meet. However, the more you fill out, the more you will see what is happening in your life that you might otherwise overlook. Embrace your feelings, embrace your life, and embrace this powerful time.

You will not go through this first year alone. God will be with you all the way, and He will lead you. This is an important time in your life and growth, and it is worth recording.

This journal provides a place to have a voice, share joys and concerns, and express your vexation with your life. It is not the place to bring shame upon yourself, evaluate, judge, or hold yourself up to anyone elses expectations. Suddenly Single: Rebuilding Your Life after Divorce and Suddenly Single Workbook: Building Your Future after Divorce will help you evaluate and change your life, but this journal provides a free space to vent the unvoiceable. Pour out your thoughts, frustrations, anguish, joy, jokes, twisted thoughts, and tormented commentary. Let it all flow from the deepest part of you. Begin your healing journey on these pages.

Keep this journal in a secure place so you know it is safe to share and be vulnerable when you write in it. You will notice the journal is divided into twelve months and various sections. You may need to start in the middle of the book if that is when you initially begin your first-year journey. You may need to jump around at times, depending on what life events youre encountering along the way. There are several journal pages per month, plus key holidays. You may choose to journal once a week or write as you feel the need throughout the month. Begin wherever you need to, and write on whatever page is appropriate for the day youre living.

Winter, spring, summer, or fall in themselves may bring on melancholy. If you know a certain season will hit you hardest, prepare and plan so the waves of emotion wont overtake you. Maybe you and your former spouse felt close and romantic during the winter months. Or was it springtime when you both ran in races or walked through certain life passages together? Maybe summer is now the time to change your routines and stroll through gardens or ride your bike through the woods. Volunteer at community races, plant a garden, teach children about growing vegetables, or redecorate your house to make it more your own. Plan the time in advance so it doesnt take you by surprise. Reinvent each season to stand for something new.

These times have unique traditions. What do you want to make out of them? For most of us, these holidays arent as significant as Christmas or Thanksgiving. But still, traditions can stir up emotions. Its up to you to choose how much emphasis you wish to attach to them. Take a moment and decideis it the traditional barbeque, or would you like to rewrite the routine?

Take advantage of the freedom you now have to design these holidays any way your heart desires. If you have children, create a new, exciting getaway to the beach or a campsite. Begin to look at these dates as opportunities to recreate and redesign your priorities and your life!