Long Time...No Blog...and a dash of real honesty.

It's been 28 days since I last blogged.  And I've missed it.  I've missed you guys too...my handful of readers.

Life has been crazy to say the very least.  And with all the busyness and stuff going on, my brain has been left void of things to write about.

Do you ever have seasons like that?  Where you just have nothing to say?

I talked with a friend today and she quoted a book she's been reading...it said, "you know that Christ has overtaken your heart when you can just keep your mouth shut."

I found that to be an interesting observation.  And one that really resonated with me in my life...right now...but also how it really summed up what's been going on with me and this blog for the last few weeks.

Though I haven't had much anything to write about, I've still been thinking about it right often.  There were mornings that I would wake up with full intentions to write about SOMETHING (no matter how trivial), but somehow during the course of that day, I would decide not to.  On those days, I ended up feeling as if I shouldn't write just ANYTHING.

So then I started to pray.

At first my prayers started out that God would give me words.  That He would spark inspiration in my heart.  That He would probe every last inch of my brain and pull from it an exquisite round of prose.

But soon, my prayers became less "my prayers" and more of His direction.

Direction in where HE would have me go (or not go) with this outlet of creative expression.

I've been convicted for sometime about how much time I spend on the computer.  It has been one of those things that has pulled me away from my family more than I care to admit.  And though Facebook and Twitter were somewhere in the mix, the bulk of my time was dedicated to this blog, its ratings, comments, followers, advertising, etc, etc, etc.  It's amazing, looking back, how many countless hours silly stuff like that took away from my days.

And as I would read other women's blog posts about their conviction in computer time/ blog time, I would feel their pain.  Yet I would end up right back where I left off...in front of the screen planning my next witty/ spiritual/ deep/ creative post.

I would see multiple, on the minute (it seemed), twitter postings from other bloggers and I would make myself feel better about "how little" time I spent on the computer in light of their constant updates.

I would sit and tell myself how this is a job for some women...which may very well be what God has called THEM to, but it was just a hobby for me so the time I spent was way less then what it would be were I expecting to bring in an actual income.

And then I would rationalize that I was speaking truth into people's lives so surely posting EVERYDAY was what I was supposed to do.

But let's face it....

None of that is true.  I spent the amount of time I did on this computer and this blog because I wanted to.

I'll even go as far to say...

This blog became MY IDOL.

And please, to those of you who have blogs out there and are reading this thinking I'm judging you...know that I am not.  I can't vouch for where your heart and calling are in your blogs.  I can only do that with and for mine.  And right now, the way I have been operating this whole deal is not what God wants for my life at this moment.  That simply, is the purpose of this post...not to condemn anyone else for the joys and/or successes they have in blogging.

So in these last 28 days God has been showing me what His purpose for me is in terms of this blog...and I've just been taking the time to honestly reflect on it and let it all soak in.

It's been sad.  But it's been empowering as well.

I feel enlightened knowing that God does give me what I'm supposed to write about, but now those words will adhere to His timetable and not mine.

A weight has been lifted in that I don't feel like I absolutely HAVE to post something so I don't lose readers.

And I take joy in the fact that as much as my husband loves reading my blog and my children one day will, my time is better spent with them right now...and they love that even more then what I have to say on this here website.

So what does all this mean?

Well, it doesn't mean I'm going to stop blogging all together.

It simply means my priorities have changed.  And I will post when I feel called.  That might look like twice a week and that might look like twice a month.  It's not up to me anymore =).

You'll also notice there isn't any extra "stuff" on my sidebars.  Nothing to track visitors.  No ads.  As much as I adore my awards and thank you for all of them, they are gone, too.  No more twitter, which honestly, I never really liked anyway.  Basically, nothing to distract me.

I'm giving this blog to Jesus.
And hopefully, I'll know he has invaded this space when I can just keep my mouth shut.

Blessings (and thanks for readings!),

The P-Dub Experience...

Yes, you read that right...

P-Dub.

PW.

THE Pioneer Woman.

Ree Drummond.

This lady...

You might recognize her...

Joseph-Beth Booksellers, in Charlotte, NC, around 6pm (on May 7th) sounded like a Justin Bieber concert. 

Seriously, all us crazy fans belted out like...well...crazy fans when she walked in!

My friend and I (Angela from Angela's Peony Patch) had planned on meeting PW in Atlanta during her winter book tour, but as fate would have it, we weren't able to make the trip and I thought all hope was lost.

But then we caught wind of her "short" Spring book tour and Charlotte was one of the lucky spots!

Boy, we jumped on this like hungry ducks on a june bug...

Seriously.

We were fortunate enough to land some GREAT tickets and were some of the first to meet Ree.

I almost wet my pants with excitement.

Here's another picture of her.  She really is this beautiful.

Though she kept talking about not taking shots from this angle. 

I didn't listen...

And obviously "this angle" isn't a bad one for her.

She also made mention of her beloved spanx.  And tugged at her britches.

Funny gal =)!

While I was snapping away, it never once occurred to me that I would have to actually talk to her when she signed my cookbook.

Yeah...

When they called our group number, we started up the steps and all of a sudden I became a basket of nerves.

I've never met a famous person before.

Nor have I ever met one as inspiring as a mom, wife, photographer, cook and homeschooler.

It got scary...

real quick like.

Here I come P-Dub.  Forgive me if I say something stupid...

I say, "Angela...you go first.  Show me how it's done."

(note: while I'm saying this I'm scarfing down a million Altoids)

This doesn't look so bad.

I mean, she's human like anyone else.

As my momma said, "she puts on underwear in the morning like the rest of us."

Here goes nothing....

Of course I brought her a gift...

Maybe an apron?

then...

I froze.

And giggled.

I did manage to get out a "It's so nice to meet you" in my best I'm terrified, you're famous, I love you voice.

Oh boy...

Nice face huh?

Real nice.

Just the one you want captured on film while talking to your favorite blogger.

If only I could've stuck with the frozen and giggling.

Nope...

All those nerves and I just started yapping.

That's where she asked if I lived near by.

I proceeded to tell her I lived waaaaaay out in the country, but close enough.

Stupid comment #1.

I think she knows something about living "waaaaaaay" out in the country.

Oh, Lord.

She's signing my mom's cookbook here.

I'm telling her that my mom is at a Lee Greenwood concert.

She said, "Well, I can't compete with Lee Greenwood!"

Then the picture lady asked for big smiles and I was wisked away.

But wait...

I had no time to explain that mom was in VA at a Lee Greenwood concert.

Ugh...

Of all the things I could have said.

You rock.

You inspire me in everything you do.

I want to be a Pioneer Woman when I grow up.

I love your chicken salad.

Giggle, giggle....

"Yeah, that's my mom's...she's at a Lee Greenwood concert."

giggle.

Stupid comment #2.

Oy vey.

But she was very gracious.

Ree~ if you're reading...

You rock.

You inspire me in everything you do.

I want to be a Pioneer Woman when I grow up.

I love your chicken salad.

And Lee Greenwood~ if you're reading...

I've seen you three times since I was five years old.

Me and my mom love you.

I'm proud to be  an American, where at least I know I'm free.

But no offense...

You're no match for PW.

Sharing this on Works for Me Wednesdays over at We Are That Family

&

Things I Love Thursdays at The Diaper Diaries!

Peace out,

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Boy, do I have a lot to write about!

My brain has just been twirling with ideas these last couple of weeks, but I've been so busy with Christmas gatherings, baking and preparations for traveling, I just haven't been able to sit down and share like I've wanted!  I'm so sorry, but trust me...it hurts me a lot more than it hurts you!!=)

I will admit to you though that we never got decorations (including our Christmas tree) up this year.  I sort of feel like a bad parent in some respects.  I would have loved for Emma to have had the halls of our home decked in Christmas fun.  There was just no time.  And fortunately, she's still young enough that none of that really matters anyway!

Which got me thinking....

This is the first year that I haven't had a tree up.  That tree has symbolized so much for me at Christmastime all my life, yet this year...the year we didn't have one...I've truly "gotten" what Christmas is really all about.

Now don't get me wrong, I know and love that Christmas isn't about trees and Santa and presents and carols and cheesy claymation movies...it's about the birth of Christ.  This I have known all my life.  But this year, because we didn't decorate and because we've attended Christ-centered events (concerts, small-group parties, and Bible studies) and were placed amongst certain people our focus, instead of on the worldly side of Christmas, was on the whole story of Jesus.  Not just His birth, which is an amazing event to celebrate, but His entire story from the Old Testament to the New.  And let me tell you...it is magnificant!

He is all over the very first verse of Scripture in Genesis all the way to the very last in Revelation.  Jesus...Beginning and End...Alpha and Omega.  And He is what we truly celebrated this year!

It's like the age old debate of the Day of Sabbath...seventh day of rest...Saturday or Sunday?  If you look in Scripture at the seventh day of creation, there was no statement of ending like with the previous six ("there was evening and there was morning, the first day...").  Genesis 2:2 says, "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done."  No mention of an evening and a day. 

I've said it once and I'll say it again, I'm not claiming to know the mind of God, but I do know He's chucked the Bible full of little idiosyncrasies that require pretty in depth examining....just like this.. Having said that, I'm of the thought that though there is probably a literal day of rest we are to take (I don't know which one) the point I think we all too often miss is that we are to rest and delight in the Lord EVERYDAY.  The seventh (never-ending) day encompasses that idea for me. 

So too, Christ's birth, life and death aren't meant to just be celebrated on Christmas or any other man made Holiday.  We are meant to rest, delight, worship, praise and celebrate our Savior's life story (in it's entirety) every day of the year and of our existence.  It's why we were made.

That's not to say we won't ever have a Christmas tree again.  I assure you we will.  And we'll even be curling up to watch Frosty the Snowman for years to come, but being reminded of the simple truth of Christ and what we should be celebrating each and everyday was nice.  I think it's a good note to end 2009 on.

With that in mind, I'm taking the next couple of weeks off from blogging.  We'll be traveling for Christmas and then it's the New Year.  In that time I'd like to focus on what I've mentioned above, but also my family and prayer about where God wants me to go with my blog in 2010.  He has given me many great insights already about things to share, but I know there is more so I need to spend some time just listening to His direction.  In the mean time, I will miss you all, I'll miss writing and I can't wait to gear right back up starting Janunary 1st.

So....

From our family to yours, we wish you a beautiful Christmas.

We pray that you have many blessings this Holiday Season.  May the love and joy that is Christ Jesus be with you now and always.

Love,

Jon, Kelli and Miss Emma   

 (photo by Amber Davis @ ClassiclyAmber Photography)