Challenging Myself

As I have considered my blog lately, I have come to a surprising realization... I am bored with it.

Don't get me wrong, pictures of my son do not bore me, and neither do pictures of times with friends and family, or pictures of the progress on our house. But, the problem is just that- it's all pictures these days. Perhaps because pictures are easy and quick, and I know pictures (especially of Jack) will be well-received by family, I have fallen back on primarily just posting those.

When I think about what I want my blog to be, and what I want to be able to look back on later, pictures are definitely a must-have. However, what I used to love about my blog (and why I allowed it to take the place of scrapbooking) was that I had found a way to record my life in pictures and words, rather than pictures alone. But, just like with scrapbooking, I have become lazy with the writing and feel disappointed in myself.

So, I am challenging myself to write more on the blog. I am nervous for a couple of reasons, not the least of which is that my life right now consists primarily of being a mom. Writing about my mommy experiences and decisions will inevitably expose me to the judgment of others, which I have already found to be one of the most difficult parts of being a parent. Also, many of you readers out there have been parents for a while. This could mean that my parental experiences may seem like old news to you. Despite these reservations, I am going to try sharing more on the blog in the hopes that I will find more satisfaction with the record I am creating of my life.

As we finish the house, as I return to work and Nathan becomes a stay-at-home dad, as I keep trying to read, and as I maintain relationships with friends and family who are important to me, hopefully the blog will reflect all my experiences- in pictures and words.

My "Teachery" Blog

The other day, my sister informed me that my blog is "teachery". As you can imagine, I received this news with great dismay.

"Teachery!" I said. "What makes it teachery? Do I write too much about teaching? What do you mean?"

I was distraught.

"Well, you write a lot about books," she said calmly.

"Books?!" I replied. "So, because I like to read and write about what I read, my blog is teachery?"

"Yep." (This coming from the same sister who is currently reading the last book I reviewed.)

Hmmm....

Maybe she meant my blog is bookish. That, I can handle.

And, in honor of this bookish blog, check out this, um, perfect Christmas present.....here.

My Blog Book

I made the first six months of my blog (April-October, 2007) into a book this summer, which I finally ordered a week and a half ago. Take a peek...

the front cover-

the back cover-

I used the website Blurb and downloaded their free bookmaking software to create the book. I waited to order the book because I was worried that the price would be too high but, when I finally did, I was pleasantly surprised to find the total cost was less than $50 for the 112 page hardback (and that's including the shipping). I am very pleased with the results and will definitely be making some more!

I Heart My Blog

After a year and a half of writing this blog, I am officially posting my 500th entry!

Ha! Ha!

(Thanks, Judy!)

Blogging

As I mentioned in a previous post, I have mixed emotions about blogging.

Last November, a person who I considered a friend used information about me from my blog in a hurtful and mean-spirited way. The experience has destroyed relationships and left me feeling hurt and betrayed. As a result, I began to question the value of blogging.

I have very much enjoyed documenting my life and making connections with people through this blog and those are the primary reasons I have continued to write. But, when I sit down at my computer intending to share another piece of myself, I often hesitate.

Blogging is so personal- it can be like wearing your heart on your sleeve. People who read this blog know that I like to read, they know that I teach and that I have a cat and they know that I live in Colorado. But they also know a lot more than just that. They know how crazy I am about my husband, they know what I choose to wear to weddings and special events, they know what books I love to read, what I make for dinner and how I choose to spend my time, they know my political affiliation and I'm sure they have opinions about it.

I wonder what could happen to my relationship with a reader who thinks a book I loved contained too much morally questionable behavior? What happens when somebody thinks the dress I wore to a wedding is terrible or that the way I choose to spend my time is boring and wasteful? What happens when a reader misunderstands something that I write and becomes offended?

Communicating via a blog has it's limitations. Since I often have no idea the reaction people have to what I write, I have no opportunity to clear up a misunderstanding or clarify what I mean on my blog. I can't reassure a reader or re-word a message when I'm not interacting with a person. And by sharing life on a blog, I open myself up to the unknown criticism and judgement of others.

Everybody wants people to like them. They want to be appreciated and welcomed by others. I am no exception. This blog has facilitated many positive conversations and exchanges with family members and friends, old and new. But, sharing things on this blog has allowed at least one person to pass their disapproval of me and my choices on to other people. How many others have had feelings about what I have shared that were not known to me? There is nothing that has ever made me feel more vulnerable than having this blog-my avenue to connect with people- used for the exact opposite- to create division. And, sadly, it has caused a rift between many people.

So, I wonder sometimes is it worth it?

And what about those people who read the blog anonymously?

I share myself with others on the blog because I want to connect with people. I share my words and pictures in the hopes that others will relate and share themselves with me in return, and this often happens! One of the great things about the blog is that I have reconnected with some people from my past- a former co-worker, a college roommate. Interestingly enough, those people found my blog through their relatives and friends who check it. Yet, I had no idea those individuals were reading the blog. People may feel connected with me through the blog. They know my comings and goings, they know my thoughts and feelings, they get daily installments of my life so there's no need to e-mail or call to catch up. Yet, in return I know nothing about their lives. It's interesting how blogging almost makes it possible to feel connected to people without actually connecting.

So I wonder sometimes if it's worth it?

Make no mistake about it, I do think it is so great that people read my blog! I love having an audience and am forever asking my mom and my husband, "Did you check my blog? Did you read what I wrote?" I understand that people will have opinions and I accept that some readers will want to remain forever anonymous. That's okay. As long as the blog is facilitating relationships and developing connections with people more than it is creating hard feelings and dissent, I will continue to document this season of my life, always with the goal of maintaining relationships with my busy friends and family or building new friendships with readers.

If you blog, I'd be curious to hear your feelings about it? What are your struggles with blogging? What do you love about it? And if you don't blog, but enjoy reading them, I encourage you to find ways to support your favorite blogger and share your life with him/her.

Poll Results

How do you know me?

I don't (i.e. we've never met) 1 (4%)

I'm in your family 4 (18%)

I'm in Nathan's family 3 (13%)

I'm a friend of yours 12 (54%)

I'm a friend of Nathan's 2 (9%)

I'm a friend of a friend 2 (9%)

I go to church with you 2 (9%)

Thanks for reading!

Poll Results

What do you most hope to find when you check this blog?

(you can choose more than one answer)

pictures 90%

quotes of the day 27%

book reviews 22%

personal stories 95%

recipes 18%

literacy information 13%

other 0%

I'm very interested in knowing why people check my blog. I know why I check my friends' blogs- I love to feel connected to their lives and know what they are doing/thinking about. But most of my blogging friends are people I also talk to regularly (either in person, on the phone, or over e-mail). So we communicate in other ways as well. There are some blogs I check that belong to people that I don't know. I'm not as regular about checking those as I am about checking my friends' blogs, but I still check them frequently. I usually like those blogs because the person writes about books, the person is a teacher or literacy coach, the person who writes the blog is HILARIOUS, or the person is a friend of a friend (although I don't check many of these).

It's interesting to read that people like the personal stories on my blog the most. For me, these are the most difficult to write. Blogging, especially about personal things, can make me feel extremely vulnerable. I plan to write more about this and my mixed emotions about blogging in a later post...

I'm glad so many people like my pictures! I am having more and more fun taking and posting pictures and since I use this blog as a record of my life, it has taken the place of scrapbooking for me and so it becomes essential to me that I include the pictures I take on the blog.

The most interesting thing about this particular poll was that so few people voted for the quotes of the day. I also don't get many comments about the quotes of the day on the actual blog, yet those are the posts that are mentioned the most to me in personal conversations. At my family reunion, my uncle mentioned the quotes "from my kids" as being the single reason he checked my blog. Interesting.

I am intrigued by my readers and plan to ask more poll questions to get to know YOU. So, please vote and, as always, write a comment!!

Blogging Awards

On June 19, I was presented an award from Sarah at Life of a Domestic Goddess. She's a childhood friend who lives in Indiana and she was my inspiration for joining the blogging world! She writes about her life as a stay-at-home mom of two small boys. Thanks for thinking of me, Sarah!

Winning this award comes with rules that I must complete!

1. Choose 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogging community.

2. Each award has to have the name of the author and a link to his/her blog.

3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name of and link to the blog that presented her/him with the award.

4. The award winner and one who has given the prize has to show the link of Arte Y Pico blog so everyone will know the origin of this award.

5. Show these rules.

So, I am happy to pass on the award to some of my favorite blogs!

1) Shera: Baby Drew Bug. Shera and I were roommates before she got married. Once Shera started blogging, she didn't stop! She has been a faithful blogger and I look forward to reading about her son, Drew, and I just love her sense of humor!

2) Lauren: The Animals Know Things. I love my sister-in-law's blog! She writes about life as a farmer's wife in Kansas. Her love of animals is contagious.

3) Erin: Twilight. Erin, like me, loves to read and often will write about the books she has just finished. I love to read her opinion on books and look at the adorable pictures of her daughter!

4) Danica: Balancing Acts. Danica has recently joined the blogging world and I am so excited about it. She is a close friend who moved all the way across the country to North Carolina. Her blog is a wonderful way for me to stay connected to her as she raises her two boys far, far away.

5) Tammy: The Houge's Blog. Tammy is a dear, dear friend in Denver who writes snippets about the fun and excitement in her life. She is currently pregnant with her first child after 5 years of trying to conceive. Tammy is perhaps the kindest, purest, most patient person I know and her blog is a true reflection of the life she lives.

I would also have nominated my father's blog if I thought for one minute that he would pass these awards along. Since I don't think he will bother, I am going to give him an honorary mention. My dad's blog is a way for him to feature his photographic skills and his political opinions. I admire his conviction of belief and his strength for living a life without keeping silent about injustice.

Thank you, Sarah, for thinking of me and I'm so glad that my blogging inspiration likes my blog enough to read it.