Tuesday, July 15, 2008

It's not you, It's me.

Ever since mid-April, I have curbed my blogging. I don't post every day. I don't even post every week on occasion. I don't read every day. I don't comment every day. It's not you, it's me.

I have been spending time outside taking care of the lawn and flowers. I have been taking the kids to the pool and to friends. I have been visiting with friends and family and it has been great. I FINALLY feel relief from the guilt I felt when I first started to curb my blogging. I felt as if I were letting people down if they came here and there wasn't new material. I felt as if I were being a bad friend to my blog buddies if I didn't read and heaven forbid, did not comment DAILY. I don't feel that way too much any more. I was neglecting a lot in my tangible real life for my blog life and it wasn't settling well with me. I have found a better balance. It's not you, it's me.

However, I don't want my blog buddies to think I have forgotten them. I am reading you. I think of you often and you make my day often with your humor and your insight. I may not comment, but I am reading. I admit I don't read daily, I don't even read every post you write, especially, you and you and you that don't let your entire post feed into my reader. I know I am lazy, I admit it, but I have reprioritized and I feel good about where and how I am spending my time. It's not you, it's me.

I have also been terrible about posting awards. Here my blog buddies have given me a shout out and I have not even taken the time to acknowledge it. For that I am sorry. It's not you, it's me.

Here are a few of awards I dug up and dusted off from a few months ago. Yes MONTHS!!!

Kim at Jogging in Circles gave me THIS AWARD because she is a real friend.



Go read her. She did this photo post about her day in the City. She lives on Long Island and occasionally goes into the REAL LIVE NEW YORK CITY for work, play, etc. I told her I would counter her post with a photo post about my day in Peoria, IL so she could have a good laugh. I still haven't done that. But, Kim, it's not you, it's me, really.

Laskigal at FROM THE CHEAP SEATS gave me this award.



Laskigal is sharp, fun, insightful and enjoyable. She recently made the decision not to go back to teaching and stay home with her little guy full time. A tough decision, but one that will reap a lifetime of rewards.


Holly at June Cleaver Nirvana just gave me this award.





I already have this award in my side bar, but she has been doing that a lot lately. So, I will take the matching set, plus I just want to mention her because she is nothing short of A-doubleyou-e-s-o-m-e! You have to go read this post about her experience with God's furry creatures wreaking havoc on her landscape. Plus she is a Texan with THREE boys- two the same age as mine. I want to meet her and get our boys to play together, although I will have to ensure I mark my boys' crocs somehow first.

Then Kristen at Loving our Simple Life, who I believe was separated from me at birth because we continue to find out more and more things we have in common like origins in the Midwest, our husband's working in the same industry, an affection for Peach Cream Pie - I didn't know many other people outside of Southeast Missouri KNEW what peach cream pie was, and oh, yeah, a husband who has dealt with a brain tumor (yes way) gave me this award.



Thanks to my blogging friends. Sorry for the delay in posting. And I'm totally ignoring the rules associated with each award because I don't want to pick and choose who to award to. Read the posts that scroll over to the right side in my recent blogroll - ALL of those people are ones I would pass these awards on to, but I don't feel like doing all those links. See, it's not you, it's me.

On the it's not you, it's me train of thought, please know for the next couple weeks, I will not be posting much real time. That is because my baby and only sister is HAVING A BABY on Wednesday - a planned C-section because she actually gives birth to newborns shaped like toddlers and her doctor didn't want to put her through that again. The boys and I are going down to see her and help her and take over her house for a few days. Well, I am anyway. In order to actually BE OF ASSISTANCE to Mindi, my mom is going to let the boys take over her house for a few days instead. And because I have kids and God loves to test my patience, I have decided to forgo my own selfish agenda of arriving on Tuesday to be present for the birth at the crack of dawn on Wednesday in order to quarantine my children for another day. Grant had a sore throat and headache and vomiting on Saturday and Sunday. I do have a conscience and I don't think I would be able to live with myself if I infested the newborn household with such disease. We like to wait until the children are eating table food to do that.

So, I have a few scheduled posts in my absence. I plan on directing you to a few new blogs and a few of my favorite past posts (mostly written by others). But remember...

It's not you, it's me.


KEEP BELIEVING

26 comments:

  1. One of the things we all love about you is that you've got your priorities straight.

    Have a great time!

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  2. We are praying that everything goes great with Mindi's delivery. Enjoy your time with your sister and new niece? or nephew? I think niece if I remember correctly from the pink post.

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  3. I was just lamenting not posting very much this weekend because I recently went full time at my job. Thank you for this post. I feel much better now.

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  4. Kiss that baby for me!

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  5. good luck to your sister...and congrats to you...for all the awards and for becoming an auntie!!
    xo

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  6. Putting real life before the virtual is always best :) So glad you're getting to savor some moments with friends and family.

    Wishing your sister all the best on Wednesday!

    Congrats on all the well deserved bling and being a soon-to-be auntie :)

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  7. I'll be thinking of your sister!! I'm sure everything will go smoothly...I look forward to seeing some pictures of that (those?) babies!!

    IS she having twins?? I'll have to go back and re-read.

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  8. AnonymousJuly 15, 2008

    See..I'm more quantity..but you are more quality..that's why we're friends :-)
    Congrat Aunt Angie..have fun!

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  9. Congrats on your awards and GOOD FOR YOU!! It is so important to be in your real life. I've been doing the same and loving every bit of it!

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  10. Enjoy that BABY! And you deserve all that bling and then some my friend.

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  11. AnonymousJuly 15, 2008

    Angie - You are such an amazing, caring person. I can't believe you worry so much about US. I feel your concerns and guilt about not keeping up with the reading/commenting but life comes before blogging. Kudos to you for having a sense of priorities.

    Congrats on the new family member too!

    DH will be outside your neck of the woods a few times this month and the girls and I may come along one time. I thought about swinging by and saying 'hi'!

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  12. ALRIGHT! SOMEONE NEEDS TO WRITE AN INSTRUCTION MANUAL ABOUT GIFTING THE SAME AWARD MORE THAN ONCE. I CAN'T HELP IT THAT YOU ARE LOVABLE AND MORE THAN ME WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN AWARD. So sorry, I am only yelling because of Pinky. And yes, I can't help that she is creative and more than one person gave her that award. I will tell you what I told her. Now you just need to hope someone else gives you another one so you can decorate in threes. Although in her case, after yelling at me and all it is a bit less likely. Really.

    OMG. I am laughing. OK, with that off my chest...

    Congrats on all the awards. I know what you are saying and I am finding myself a bit behind all the time but accepting it instead of fighting it.

    Oh and new baby...MWAH so sweet.

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  13. I've been backing off too. Our priorities are perfect! Hugs!! to you and the new little one.

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  14. AnonymousJuly 15, 2008

    Oops, sorry. I'll fix the feed reader thing ASAP. :)
    And don't worry about not being around, you're certainly not the only one. I'm trying to do it too, with limited success. LOL!
    Peoria, huh? I've certainly been there many times!

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  15. I think balance is key. I generally limit my posts to 3 X per week and try to get around to comment around once. Otherwise, it just sucks the life out of me!

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  16. Totally understand where you are coming from with the bloggie breaks. I find it so hard to get motivated to blog in the summer.

    Praying for a stress-free delivery for your sister.

    P.S. Congrats to all the award winners!

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  17. Don't EVER apologize. Life comes first, if you don't live it, what will you blog about :)

    And I'm with Jenn--it is all about priorities and things that breath and love us are #1.

    Prayers out to your sister and her family!

    Take care--YOU!!!

    *BTW, so deserving of all those awards.

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  18. So deserving on all of your awards.

    And I just love that you are so honest about real life first. Seriously, the only way I survive too!

    I hope you have a wonderful time with the new baby/toddler, and maybe even get in a slice of that peach cream pie! :)

    Seems like a reward for helping with a newborn don't you think?

    Safe travels!

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  19. No worries, Angie. I will always be here.

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  20. Not to worry Angie - I think a lot of people are taking the summer off. There is just a lot going on lately. Congrats on becoming an AUNT though!!

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  21. I LOVE reading your posts... doesn't matter how often or not often they are. You SHOULD be living life, no apologies necessary :-)

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  22. AnonymousJuly 16, 2008

    No worries. OK, yes, when I happen to check and there are no posts, I feel a tiny twinge of dissapointment. BUT - I always come back and check again another day, so don't let that bother you - I'm thrilled you're living life and enjoying your husband and boys and friends and family instead!!

    Enjoy helping Mindi with the new babies! I know you will!
    Love,
    Marcie

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  23. One of these days, I'm going to do that blog update thingie...then I'll know when someone has posted...maybe...
    You are right square where you need to be.God Bless you all...and hugs and kisses to the new baby!

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  24. AnonymousJuly 19, 2008

    Angie, you're so funny.
    I took my award back for a new bra. Mine was all wrong. I down-sized. That was no fun. But those awards are more expensive than you would imagine!
    Holly's a doll.

    Glad you're cutting back. I am, too. My camera is out of comission, so I'm boring without it.

    and if you ever come to TX....you better see me, too. I live less than an hour from Holly!

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  25. AnonymousJuly 22, 2008

    Angie, I adore you. You don't ever have to comment again, just know that when I come here I always leave smiling!!

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