A DIFFERENT TYPE OF BLOG...

I haven't written a post for a few days now. It's not because I don't have many things I "could" post about, but because I am not sure "what" I should post about. I think most of the time I want my posts to be upbeat, positive, and interesting to the mainly total strangers who are the only ones who seem to be occasionally reading it, and yet there are times when I just want to write out what is rambling around in my head. I have always found that to be particularly therapeutic. So I apologize in advance to whoever might find this particular post unusual for me, and not especially entertaining.

A very short few months ago, if you would have asked me, I would have told you I had no idea what a blog even was. I had vaguely heard the word and understood that some people were into "blogging", but I hadn't really given it much thought. Then, I stumbled upon first Kristi's cake blog and from there one day stumbled upon her personal blog and the one of her good friend Crystal's (who is my niece) as well. I LOVED the whole feel of what I was discovering a blog to be. At first I just occasionally would check out their two blogs. Truthfully, it didn't even occur to me to do one of my own. I have always loved to write, and to journal, so you might wonder what took me so long to think of doing one myself, but honestly very suddenly one day I thought, "Hey, I could do one too." But then I began to ask myself, but who would read it?? But I figured, I have a LARGE family, some good friends, and they would all love this too, right? And so it began. At first, we had soo many of us that were doing it, it became difficult at times to keep up with it all. My blogs were long, (too long I was told by a few) and no one had any idea how to work anything. Eventually, we began to figure things out and I was thoroughly enjoying myself with the whole thing. But sadly, one by one, they all began to dwindle off and finally I found myself ALONE in the blogging world. I considered throwing in the towel and forgetting the whole thing, but just couldn't quite bear to give up the enjoyment I'd found. I begged and bugged the others to continue doing it, but had very little luck. I tried harder. I sent out e-mails to all my friends, sent some of my more detailed blogs occasionally as well, and tried to shame my own kids into reading them and doing one of their own... NOTHING....With the exception of my one wonderful daughter-in-law who writes a blog a few times a week complete with pics of my darling grandkids, (I've no doubt just to please me), I just couldn't get anyone going on it. Sooo, I began to browse around. I started with the wonderful collection of people who Kristi blogged with, and went on from there. At first, I felt a little funny reading the personal blogs of people I have never met. But it wasn't long and I found myself following along with their everyday lives, sometimes laughing along, crying along, praying for others, and in a VERY LARGE world of some of the most creative, entertaining, and inspiring people I have ever met...well, sort of met anyway. I've discovered other Christian women who think and feel very much like I do from all over the United States. I've read of people who have beaten down obstacles in their life and accomplished some truly wonderful things. I've sat at my computer and laughed aloud at the funny things others say in such truthful and vulnerable ways. I've cried at the hardships some of had to endure, and prayed diligently for people who I will no doubt NEVER meet until we arrive together someday in heaven. It's like opening a very large book every day, and following the lives of so many people, I doubt I could even count them up. I've been inspired by many to do more with my life, and to challenge myself in areas I haven't tried at for years...I have been forced the last few months to spend a great deal of my time sitting, as my knees have bothered me sooo much at times I could hardly get around. I FINALLY felt like it had gone on long enough and that I needed to go the docs and figure out if maybe it had something to do with something besides the fact that I carry around a great deal of weight. Well sure enough, I heard a few days ago that I have a pretty advanced case of arthritis, and that short of knee replacement surgery eventually, there really is not much to be done. He doesn't feel like I am there yet, and so I guess I will continue on doing the things I have been doing and hoping it doesn't get much worse. I have lost 28 pounds with my Jenny Craig, yay, but there is alot more to go. I can be as active as my pain allows me to be, and my activity will not make it worse he says, so I will stay as active as I can. I am praying of course that the more weight I lose, the easier I will make it on myself, and the longer it will be before surgery is necessary. All of this to say I am feeling a little down these last couple of days, but I am not going to let this keep me there. I am a truly blessed person and I know my God is always there for me. In the meantime, it makes me very glad I did not give in and throw in the towel on blogging. What a WONDERFUL way to spend some of my time when I find myself hurting and therefore sitting. I thank God for all He has given me in this world of blogging, and look forward to others He may lead me to...May He richly bless you all....