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5 Ways blogging has affected my life

Posted in Random, thinking things through on September 22, 2008| 5 Comments »

A new world opened up to me when I began blogging back in 2004.  I suddenly had a simple to use forum to share my thoughts, beliefs, struggles, and victories with friends and family that lived all over the world.  It was like writing an open letter and people who were interested could stop by and read it whenever it was convenient for them and their schedule.  It opened communication lines with friends who were hard to connect with by phone because of different time zones, children’s bedtimes, and busy family calendars.  Blogging has literally changed my life.  So when my friend Bill emailed to challenge me to share 5 ways blogging has affected my life, I was glad to process that journey.  Here’s what I’ve come up with.

1.       I love to write.  I have always felt that I had a lot to say along with a deep desire to be heard.  By entering into the blogging world, I have achieved both.  Blogging has given me an outlet for processing my thoughts and sharing what God is doing in my life.  I don’t have enough time to call or write to everyone I love so we can think through things together AND keep up with my responsibilities and activities in life.  By having the freedom to drop by my favorite blogs when it’s convenient for me and by writing regular posts of my own, I’ve been able to be a part of the bigger conversation of faith and life around me.  Blogging is a great communication tool.

2.       Blogging has challenged me to be real.  It is so easy to become whoever you want to be on the web.  One can choose to hide behind anonymity or create a persona that is only a faint image of who you really are.  I chose to be me.  That created a frenzy of emails from concerned friends and family who told me I shouldn’t use my last name, or use my family member’s real names, or tell people what city I live in, or…you name it.  There was a concern that I shared too much information.  I understand the safety concerns of the web and I didn’t go into this blindly, still I am deliberate in what I share.  I want to be found and easily traceable.  Though I have been careful to protect identities of others when I needed to be, I made blogging into an exercise of being real in my own life, sharing hard struggles my family has been through, and describing the ways God was changing me and challenging my long held beliefs in many areas.  I am determined to be bold and share freely the good and the bad.  The good in the hopes of blessing someone else, and the bad hoping someone would bless me.  As a result of these choices, blogging has given me courage and made me a stronger, more confident person.  I have become more accepting and loving of the real me, which in turn helps me better accept and love others.

3.       Through blogging, I have made some wonderful friends.  It’s an amazing experience to meet someone I’ve connected with online and realize that friendships don’t have to be bound by internet access.  There are people in my blog roll that I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting face to face yet, but we love each other and encourage each other as we can.  My blogging friends have been there for me in times of crisis, praying for me and sending me notes to remind me that I am loved.  They’ve also been able to ask me for prayers when they need it.  It is a great community.  Blogging has connected me with other moms, artists, preachers, teens that have been in our youth groups – and their parents, old high school and college friends, people I go to church with, people on other continents, and more.  Blogging has shown me what a small world we live in and that we are all connected.

4.       Blogging has been an exercise in forgiveness.  I have met some not-so-nice people in the blogosphere.  People who aren’t interested in dialog and good conversation, but instead want to fight, divide, and condemn.  It’s easier to avoid those people while blogging by just deleting their comments, but I have found that opposition can be a good thing if channeled into something productive like making me take a second look at why I think or believe a certain way.  Depending on my state of mind, opposition has both upset me and spurred me on to deeper study and development of my beliefs.  I have learned how to forgive both myself and others more easily because of the blogging experience. Blogging has helped me grow as a person.

5.       There are million reasons that people blog, and my friends are spread across that spectrum.  There is a blog for any need I have.  I have gained so much knowledge and understanding by visiting some of the “meatier” blogs of my friends.  There are blogs I visit if I need a good laugh, or inspiration, or a new recipe to try.  There are blogs where deep theological discussions take place and blogs where the author just wants to encourage and uplift others.  This can also pose a problem and it’s one that I have learned from the hard way.  Blogs can take the place of real life interaction with people if I let them.  On the web, it’s easier to leave when someone offends me or makes me mad.  In real life, I have to stay and work things out.  I guess this ties into #2 on my list.  Blogging challenges me to be me wherever I am, whoever I am with, and to value relationships whether they are face to face or not.  There are some needs that aren’t supposed to be met long distance.  Blogging has given me an appreciation for relationships whether face to face or online, and it has made me a better person as I’ve traversed this path that is MY Journey.

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“It’s only a flesh wound”

Posted in Family, Random on August 29, 2008| 7 Comments »

My heart began to pound as I pulled my hand away from his head.  I had assumed I was wiping sweat from his hot little head while I tried to calm his sobbing down.  But when I looked at my hand, it was covered with his blood.  In about .2 seconds I went from comforting mom to drill sergeant, barking orders at Max to run ahead and get me a clean washcloth and Zoe to get out of my way as I hurried Pete home to get a better look at the wound.  It was already dark out and the neighbor we were talking to over the chain link fence doesn’t have electricity.

I was in mid-sentence when I heard Pete scream and the little neighbor girl say, “I’m sorry Petey” in a trembling voice.  She had been swinging a dog chain around and caught the side of his head with the collar latch.  I thought he’d have a bruise and maybe a big bump, so I was unprepared for the blood that was gushing down the side of his head all over his shirt, my hand barely slowing the bleeding.  As we rushed home, Zoe kept getting in front of me begging, “I want to see it!  Let me see it!” until I finally yelled at her to shut up and stay out of the way.  (Harsh, I know, but I tripped over her twice and she was so loud that she wasn’t hearing me tell her we needed to move quickly.)  There was so much blood that I couldn’t tell where he was cut, so I stripped his clothes off as fast as I could and put him in the bathtub to run water over him and clean the area.  He screamed because it was too cold, then screamed louder when he saw the water turn red.  He cried and tried to get away from me and got that panicky look in his eyes when I forced him to sit still so I could see his head better.  He cried, “I don’t want to die!”  My heart caught in my throat as I told him he was fine but he needed to sit still for a minute.  Zoe watched our struggle and heard what Pete had yelled and ran crying to her room, worried her brother was going to die.  Then my cell phone began to ring in my pocket and it was Benny’s ringtone.  Max said, “Answer it Mommy!  It’s Popa!”  I yelled, “I can’t Max, I have blood all over my hands.  Answer it and tell him I’ll call him right back!”  Meanwhile Pete was still wailing in the tub while Zoe was freaking out in her room.  AAAAAGGGHHH  Calgon, Take me away!

When I finally got Pete to calm down and the bleeding to stop, I pulled the wash cloth away to see a VERY small cut.  I’m talking 1/2 centimeter at the most.  Wow.  4 year olds bleed a lot! I cleaned him up and we cuddled, so don’t worry…all is well now.  I called Benny back (he laughed at what Pete had said), the kids have had a snack, we read a chapter out of the library book we got today, everyone is tucked in, and we’re all breathing normally again.

Several years ago, Benny bought me a plaque that reads, “Motherhood..it’s not a just a job…it’s an adventure.”  NO KIDDING!!!  Now someone please run a bubble bath for me, and pass me a little blue drink – something coco-nutty – with a mini umbrella in it. 🙂

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My thoughts on politics

Posted in Random, Rants, thinking things through on August 27, 2008| 10 Comments »

IMHO, If you’ve never read Relevant Magazine, you’re missing out. From beginning to end, I find it informative, encouraging, challenging, and funny. This particular issue did something amazing. It reflected my political beliefs almost exactly. Seriously. I don’t have permission to reprint the whole article here, but I can print parts of it as long as I site my source. RELEVANT Magazine, Sept./Oct. edition 2008, page 6, /First Word-Leading The Charge written by Cameron Strang. Consider it sited. 🙂

“I’m someone who tries to think independently and objectively, rather than simply follow what the pundits tell me to think. Because of that, I’ve realized I cannot fully embrace either political party. Both sides of the aisle have some great ideas and goals. But both also have areas where they simply get it wrong.”

“… historically, real, lasting change has started first at the grassroots level long before it was ever legislated. Cultural mindshifts influence Washington, not the other way around.”

“Many Christians traditionally have voted Republican because of their justifiable conviction to protect the lives of the unborn. Now many younger Christians are voting Democrat because of their justifiable desire to see our nation, the most prosperous in the world, address issues of poverty, global aid, and the environment. The problem is, many Christians vote these convictions, but that’s largely where their personal involvement in the issues stops. Are the government leaders we vote for meant to do our job for us? If God has given you a heart for the poor, or to see a reduction in the number of abortions, or to promote peace…then your personal focus needs to be on that-whether or not the President shares your same values.”

“…what if one day every value Christians stand for, even religious freedom itself, was legislatively removed? Christians in China and many other parts of the world face this reality every day. Would it change us? Dare I say, it might actually spur the Body of Christ here into greater action. Could it be that the loss of religious freedoms would ultimately be the best thing for American Christians because it would cause us to stand on our own two feet rather than relying on the government to legislate our faith and values for us?”

“Christians should be focused on personal action regardless of legislation, not just waiting for the right number of Supreme Court justices to come along. I’m not saying don’t vote. Do. Vote your convictions and let your voice be heard-that’s one of the perks of living in a democracy. But don’t let politics breed division, or make you see people in a different light. If you have a passion for an issue, rather than judging someone who doesn’t share that passion or viewpoint, just go do something about it. Give your life to it. Be the change you want to see.”

“We need to pray for our leaders and our country, but always remember that our leaders and country do not define us. We are the generation that will shape the direction culture, government, and social action will take in the next 50 years. It’s not up to Washington, it’s up to us – and I say it’s time we step up and lead the charge. But that means with our lives, our finances and our actions every day. Not just Nov. 4.”

I have a friend who can’t stand Obama and another who can’t stand McCain. They’re both Christians and both want to talk to everyone they know about the election, bad jokes and all. Thankfully they live in different states and will never butt heads in front of me. I have another friend who doesn’t believe in voting because they believe the outcome of the election is a product of God’s will. I’ve made my point about God working through His people and that there may be a difference in what God allows and what He wants – to no avail. Notice I used the word “friend”. I don’t have to share their convictions to be their friends. I don’t draw lines and divide myself from others because they will vote differently than I do. I don’t care who you vote for. I will love you anyway.

I am not a Democrat or a Republican. I don’t align myself with any particular political party. Will I vote? Absolutely. I believe my vote counts. But my vote doesn’t change who I am on a daily basis. What I do is not based on legislature, it’s based on love. You will not hear me complain about the President – no matter who wins or loses. Their job is hard enough and they need my prayers. I have too many other things happening in life to spend all my time complaining about the current administration . There are people on the streets, in my neighborhood, and in my home that need my attention and devotion. There is no government that can dictate how I choose to leave my mark on the world – Loving God and loving others – extravagantly.

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I’m Back…

Posted in Random on June 28, 2008| 11 Comments »

I am so ready for some more deep posts here.  Not that I don’t want to hold contests and promote books, and fun stuff like that.  I’m just craving some good discussion.  Instead I find myself updating you once again on my busy, boring life.  OK, maybe not so boring, but very busy.

We spent a week in Oklahoma at Zenith, which I’m not going to blog too much about since it would read a lot like my posts about it the past two years.  I love the camp.  I love seeing my Y.M. friends.  It was spiritually uplifting.  I missed Adam and Doug being there this year. 😦  I came home physically exhausted and emotionally filled up.  There you go.  That was camp.  We’ve been home almost a week and I’ve spent very little time online.  I spent 3 days just recuperating and spending time with my family.

Yesterday was Benny’s birthday and it was kind of a crappy day – the poor guy.  We took the kids to see Kung Fu Panda and in the middle of the movie, the film shut off and the emergency lights and siren came on with a voice over the intercom telling us to exit the theater.  It was a false alarm and we did get five free movie passes out of the deal.  We got to finish watching the movie though we missed a small part while we were re-entering the theater.  Taking Petey to the movies stinks. Period.  Even for a movie as kid-focused as Kung Fu Panda, he was ready to go home by the time we had the mini fire drill.  Ugh.  Then we stopped home to get Benny’s car and found our air conditioner had frozen up. Double Ugh.  It’s hot here.  My apologies to all of you who live in humid climates.  Better you than me, the whiny weather baby. 🙂

Today was…strange.  I took the kids swimming and met two very sad 12 year old girls who shared their life stories with me after 5 minutes of conversation.  I got to hear how their moms put them on birth control, and what they want to name all the babies they’re going to have – but not until their at least 17 or their moms will disown them.  One of them told me about a boy who is a senior and wants to have 4 babies with her.  Did I mention she’s 12???  One of them wants a tattoo and her tongue pierced before she goes back to school in the Fall.  Why?  Because she gets made fun of and she’s hoping it will help her fit in and be less of a target.  This poor girl weighs in the 200 pound range and has enough facial hair, she could shave.  She talks ghetto, and can’t wait to be a mommy…and plans to be at 17.  I’m thinking that a tattoo and a piercing aren’t going to be enough to make her less of a target at her middle school.  And it breaks my heart.  These same two girls who can’t wait to be moms were afraid to go in the deep end of the pool, and when I taught them how to tread water, both told me what a genius I am and that I should be a biology teacher. What??? ~sigh~  I’ll be blogging more about the sex part of the conversation on the SLAM blog over the weekend.

My day is ending well.  I just spent the last 6 hours with two of my Captivating friends.  Wendy and I went to see Kristi in the play “Wit”.  She was the star of the show.  Theater is in her blood and wow is she gifted!  She was incredibly amazing!  I had never heard of this play before Kristi told us about it.  It was the Pulitzer Prize winner in 1999.  It’s about a Professor of Literature who is going through aggressive chemotherapy for Ovarian cancer.  Sounds charming huh?  Trust me, it was soooo good.  We went out for awhile after the play to enjoy each others company.  It’s amazing what closes by 10 p.m. even in a city the size of Denver.

And speaking of cancer…today was my friend Shay’s 1 year anniversary of being in remission!  YEAH!  We are going to a party in her honor tomorrow night.  I’m so glad to see her doing well.

Consider yourself updated. 🙂  I leave you with a question…

Have you read The Shack?  And if so, what did you think of it?

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Touching base

Posted in Random on May 5, 2008| Leave a Comment »

It occurred to me – while being teased about my lack of blogging last week – that I failed to give an update on the prayer request for my friend.  I met them at the courthouse on Wednesday morning – and I missed the whole thing due to backed up traffic on I-70.  I arrived as they were finishing up. 😦  Everything went very well and my friend will be able to remain in his home with his family.  They still have a long road ahead of them, but we believe the worst is behind them.  I am so thankful for answered prayers on their behalf!  You are all blessings to me, my family, and my friends!  Thank You!

Friday was our last day of school at FACE until Fall, though we still have graduation and the promotional ceremony, the talent show, the awards banquet, etc. throughout the month of May and early June.  I have mixed feelings about it being the end of the school year for FACE.  I have built friendships with some of the other parents that I only see on Fridays and I’m not sure if they are the kinds of friendship that will endure through the summer…or will they just pick up where we left off when we all come back for classes in the Fall?  I’m terrible at making and keeping play dates with people.  It seems that more often than not something comes up that prevents me from following through.  Just ask my co-coordinator for Moms and Kids at church.  I help plan the activities then only make it to a third of them myself.  Maybe that’s o.k.  I’m not expected to be at everything, but maintaining relationships does require some time sacrifices.  I guess I need to determine where my priorities are, right?

If you have a few minutes, go visit my Sex, Love, and Marriage blog.  I’m interviewing Drenda Thomas, a woman who runs a ministry dedicated to reaching out to the people who work (and visit) strip clubs in the Houston, TX area.  Drenda and her team are amazing individuals doing a great thing for the men and women they meet in the adult entertainment industry!

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