60 posts tagged “nablopomo”
My final post for National Blog Posting Month 2008. I found that this year went by a little easier than last year. This year I started a folder on my computer where I would save text files with blog ideas. Whenever I had an idea for something to write about I would open a text file jot down some thoughts (even if they weren't fully formed) and save it to come back to later. On days where I wasn't sure what to write about I would skim the folder (note: it's important to have good file names–can't name everything "blog idea"). However, if I was really under the wire to write something quick, I would just jot down what's in my head and move on.
Even though this has been a busy month I really enjoyed making a conscience effort to keep up with my blog. I think this year I will try to continue blogging regularly, maybe not daily, on into December and beyond (as opposed to last year where I fell off the face of the blogging world the day after NaBloPoMo ended). Overall, good year for NaBloPoMo.
I had Thanksgiving at my family's house today (my mother's father). They have opted to have their Thanksgiving get together on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to avoid the tug-of-war on Thanksgiving day of everyone trying to visit all the relatives. I really like this system.
Again, it was a really good day. I even got a compliment from one of my relatives about how peaceful the day was in spite of there being five kids five years old and under (my kids and my brother's kids). It was a peaceful day.
This has been a hard week for me keeping up with NaBloPoMo. My husband has been home all week (he's a school teacher on Thanksgiving break), and that has been awesome, but it has made it hard to steal a moment or two away write a daily entry. A good problem to have I think.
This year's Thanksgiving day was really nice. Unlike last year where I felt completely drained and inadequate by the end of the day, this year I feel calm and content at the end of the day. I'm really trying to take the holiday season on my own terms this year and not get sucked into (perceived or real) outside expectation of how I should feel and celebrate. This seems to be a much better approach for me. I realize this holiday angst is probably not an issue for lots of other people, but it is for me, and so I'm working on it.
My kids were really good today, which was such as a contrast to last year. I was good too. I didn't get frustrated, or speak in a frustrated, exasperated tone. I didn't have to repeat myself a bunch of times to get my kids to follow instructions. You know how you just have those days where everything falls into place (and those other days where nothing falls into place)? Well, this was an in place day. Emma was the only one who was even a little cranky and clingy, but she's still battling a cold. Even so, she was still pretty good. Good day.
I'm not a big Boston Legal watcher, but I read a recommendation to watch the episode that aired November 10, 2008 titled "Roe." Here's the synopsis:
Jerry Espenson insists on defending himself in court when he's accused of aggravated assault after a run-in with a bully. Meanwhile, Alan Shore and Shirley Schmidt try to help an underaged pregnant girl obtain a judicial by-pass for an abortion.
I've seen mainstream shows from time to time that in one way or another deal with the issue of abortion. Rarely, in fact never to my recollection, has the pro-life viewpoint been so evenly dealt with by a mainstream show. I have to say I was really impressed with how balanced they attempted to be. Especially in acknowledging the long-term consequences of choosing to have an abortion. Candice Bergen's character, Shirley Schmidt, even advises her 15-year-old client seeking the judicial bypass that regardless of her decision (to have the abortion or not), it is a decision that will stay with her forever. You can watch the full episode on ABC's website.
We went to the Coker Tree Farm today and cut down our tree. It was a little more pricey than a big box store, but it was a really cool experience.
Yesterday I handed my two-year-old son a one dollar bill to put in the offering plate at church. As he took the bill from me, he opened it up, pointed at the center picture and pronounced "Mama." Yup, that's just the look I've been going for all these years: our founding father and first president, George Washington.
Do teachers ever get the comment "you have your hands full"? Just something I was thinking about, but I find it curious that the traditional school classroom may have anywhere from twelve to upwards of 30 students in one class, all managed by one teacher, and practically no one bats an eye. Yet, turn that situation around to a mother with her children and you start to hear things like "she can't possibly give each child enough attention" or "how can she handle all of them?". I'm just saying, it seems a little backwards.
My husband put up Christmas decorations today and I got a bunch of Christmas shopping done. I managed to find a gift for everyone whom I have a idea list from. Yay! I've got three main gifts and then a few more smaller things to find. I know there are people who are already done at this point, but for me, I'm way ahead of my usual game.
My husband is hoping to get a Christmas tree sometime this week. Everyone is home this coming week for Thanksgiving break. He found a local tree farm where you can go pick out your own tree and cut it down. We normally just get one already cut from a big box store. So this will be a change for us. I have to admit I am kind of excited about this one.
Every once in a while I find a blog that I just can't read enough of. Lately I've been reading the archives of Amy's Humble Musings. Her blog has been in my RSS reader for a few months now and it has become the one feed I'm most excited about receiving an update on. She's a pretty regular poster, not daily, but nearly. However, I think her lack of daily posts is what sparked me to go back and read some of her archives. I had to get AHM fix! And I wasn't disappointed. Her archives are so rich. Amy is a mother of six kids 10 and under. She covers topics from the mundane to the sublime, usually tying the two together. I'm not far in my reading, but I've already come across some real treasures, such as this:
Believing God makes all this Mommy Madness meaningful. There is hope (not the world’s hope, but a living hope); there is purpose; there is joy in the journey. While society propagates the myth that mothers are dispensable, God declares that you are valuable, blessed, and worthy of reward. Why don’t we treasure His Word on this?! We have hope in the midst of diaper changes, endless laundry, and sleepless nights that God is raising up another arrow in His army....
The world calls mothering mundane, but God says it matters. God did not make a mistake when he created babies to need nurturing, cleaning, feeding, soothing, and rocking. The Designer designed it this way. Who are we to declare that He made a mistake? Oh, we will not say aloud that He erred, but our lives contradict us as we render unto Caesar the precious ones that are His alone on the altar of personal freedom....
I can specifically point to a time where I quit dreaming of life after “this”, and instead, began embracing my calling from God. It did not happen when I read the latest parenting book or someone pulled me aside and told me THE SECRET. No, freedom mothering began when my starving soul quit feasting on the garbage fed to me by well-intentioned, but well-in-error advice givers: fellow mothers caught in Mommy Madness, society-at-large, Oprah, and in some cases, the church. Courage to face the task at hand and embrace the call to motherhood begins with humbly telling the Lord, “You are right. Your Word is true.” It is singing with the Psalmist, “Oh how I love Thy law…” As we discussed yesterday, God declares children to be a blessing and a great reward. The sooner we embrace this truth, the sooner we can deal with the nitty-gritty.
Again, I'm nowhere near finished. She has archives that date back to 2005, and from the looks of it she's been a regular blogger since she started. Lots of great stuff. Well worth the read.
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