Why do I blog?

I'm not sure about you, but sometimes, it makes me feel normal when I walk by a kid crying its head off for a piece of candy the parent said 'no' to. That's what this blog is. It's a place for people to look at the series of accidents and crazy mishaps that form my life and to feel normal. To feel like, 'If Widney Woman can do it, I sure as heck can!'

I love helping people. My personal motto since grade 6 has been to 'give more to my community than I receive'. To me, that means volunteering. But it also means sharing of my life. If reading my blog helps a mother feel normal, I'm happy. If reading my blog helps someone on their infertility or adoption journey feel less lonely or give them hope, I'm thrilled. I honestly believe that we go through rough spots in life to learn and grow but to help others as they experience what we did.

There are those in my life that don't understand why I put myself out there. They think I tell too much. But that's okay. Because I'm not writing this blog for them. I'm writing it for me. I'm writing it for my kids to have a memory of their lives. I'm writing it to help the people that meet me in person or send me a private message and thank me for sharing my struggles. I'm writing for the 85,000 people who looked at my "Husband Hat" crochet pattern post, for the 10,000 people who looked at my "Motor Mouth Hedgehog Birthday Party" post, for the 1,000 people that have read "Our Adoption Story." That's who I write for. I write for you.

One of These Days

One of these days, I'm going to have enough time to blog. Right now, my days are consumed with work, taking our kids to swim practice, family dinners, hours spent helping my kids with their home work, musical instrument practice, therapy, and reading before they get ready for bed. This year, we have had to extend bed time by an hour to get it all fit in each evening. By the time I'm done that, I am exhausted. Blogging is not high on my priority list. But I really enjoy it so I should make more time for it. And make more time for reading, yoga, and time with my dearly beloved.

1000th Post

I hit my 1,000th post two posts ago. The one about the Road Trip. Had I been posting regularly, I would have hit the 1,000th post a loooooong time ago. But this is good. I'm glad it was that road trip post because that trip represents an important turning point in the relationship with my BFF. I'm still referring to Usher as my BFF, but he is more like a brother to me after our trip together. I guess almost 20 hours in a car together can either bring you closer or drive a wedge. Fortunately, it brought us closer.

My 1001st post was about someone I cared about many years ago but who has since passed away. It was an important post for me. Ever since I lost a dear friend, Grant Kent, many years ago, I have been slow to mourn the loss of people dear to me. It was nice to say goodbye to Michael Burdi in that post. One day I really should tell you about Grant Kent. He was pretty great.

I started blogging to post photos of our son. And because I felt like I could help make the world a little better place. Do more for your country than your country does for you. That sort of thing. Then I really got into it. When I was a stay@home mom, I blogged all the time. Who knew that four new blogs would out of it and one of those blogs would have more than double my traffic here at Widney Woman. It's because of the Husband Hat pattern I made. I had to create Widney Woman Creative to manage all the extra traffic. It is insane traffic. Insane, I tell you! It makes me chuckle.

If you are a faithful follower, you know that I have not exactly been faithful to post of late. Part of that is because I am so much busier at work and our kids are so involved in swimming. Honestly, though, for two years, I have not been able to post what I would like to because of the day-to-day life ramifications it would hold - not necessarily on me but on the lives of those around me. The last year has been a struggle and while I tend to share my struggles openly, my emotions were far too raw. But I'm coming out of that dark place and hope to be able to share some of the cool and not so cool stuff with you soon.

Join me in raising a glass to the next 1,000!!!

I Won An Oscar!!

Not really, but I did get a blog writing award from a fabulous writer, KatMom over at Mercy Me, who has been a real life inspiration to me as a writer and a mom for more than a decade.

This is the award.

Technically, I won this award last August. So why the delay in posting about it? I typed it up and didn't realized I hadn't posted it until I found this in my Drafts today.

Getting this award from KatMom is like getting an Oscar in my books. So here is my Oscar acceptance speech:

"I would like to thank my homeboy, Jesus. Thanks Mom and Dad for your sacrifices, without which, I would not be the me I am. My favorite person ever, my grandfather, for choosing me as his favorite grandchild and not being afraid to admit it. To my oldest brother and sister - thank you for always being there for me. I don't want to thank my other brother because he didn't acknowledge me in the first printing of his book but I will, seeing as he was my biggest influence growing up.

"Oh, the music is playing... Wait! This may never happen to me again. I want to thank my husband, J for making all my dreams come true, including the ones I never knew I had. And to my children for giving me so much to blog about. Last, but not least, to Kathy for bestowing me with the honor of this award. Kathy has been an inspiration to me as a wife, mother, friend, fellow writer for over 13 years. Thank you. Thank you. Alright! I'm done. Play the music. What do you expect from a writer - a simple thanks?"

Now it is my turn to pass this honor on to 5 deserving bloggers:

Out-Numbered

For writing a bold, honest real man's point-of-view that puts a smile on my face

Jason Widney

For being a creative influence on the church world

Lit and Laundry

For being my inspiration as a mom, blogger, crafty person and over committed volunteer

Mary Anne Mohanraj

For being a pioneer in journaling and one of the nicest, best people I've ever met

The Fairy Blogmother

For coming up with original blog memes that people love and for stepping out of her comfort box to meet me

The award does come with some rules.

Here they are:

1. Pass the award on to 5 most-deserving blogging friends.

2. Link to the author and blog name from whom he/she received the award.

3. Display the award and link to its explanation.

4. The receiver must visit the explanation post and add their name to the list of winners.

5. Winners must repost the rules.

I Won An Award!!

Looky, looky here!

I won an award!!

It's my very 1st blogger award.

The Rules:
1) Put the Lemonade Award logo on your blog or post
2) Nominate at least 10 blogs that show great attitude or gratitude
3) Link to your nominees within your post
4) Let the nominees know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog
5) Share the love and link to the person from who you received your award

And, in no particular order...

1. LouandAce

2. TRUE Musings - The Real Kevin Pauls

3. Whittaker Woman

4. Lit and Laundry

5. Amanda Donaho Photography

6. The Road Not Chosen

7. The Mommy Project

8. Serenity Now

9. Tales From the Fairy Blogmother

10. Rare Rocks