There are two things people ask me sometimes.
When do you find time to write?
The answer is, I don’t find time. I make time. I write when sensible women go to bed. Because Gabe’s work has him doing frequent night shifts, I stay up after I have the children tucked in and then I have adult conversation with you, my kind reader. 🙂 When there are daily posts, that is what is going on- nightly staying up late. When there are long gaps, those are probably the days my man is home, and I am lapping up the time with him. I am trying to adapt graciously to the sporadic, strange, unpredictable nursing job schedule. The Boss is this person I never met: UPMC. He gives my man 40 hours a week, very consistently, and for that I am truly grateful. He is faceless to me, and Gabe’s job is sort of strange and curious to me as well, for I have yet to shadow him to work. 🙂 It’s not quite like standing by to watch my man build a deck or teach a class. Anyway, the weird schedule gives me evenings to write, which was the point of all that.
To be honest, I also write when I should be washing my kitchen floor sometimes. Pretty often I should be checking the day’s school papers when I am at the computer. And occasionally I check for your comments while little girls pull at my skirts and whine that they are hungry.
Doesn’t it make you nervous to write about your private life in such a public way?
Yup, it sure does. I have made lists of the pros and cons of blogging. Number one on the list of cons is the fear of being misunderstood. With that is the fear of hurting someone’s feelings, all unwittingly. Number 2 is the fear of taking myself too seriously, of losing the joy of just writing. Then there is the whole arena of being so public with things that normal people just quietly keep to themselves. 😛 Believe it or not, I have a wide streak of play-it-safe in my psyche. Sometimes I write vulnerable posts just to counteract that tendency.
The pros list includes the fact that I just like this creative outlet. I really enjoy word-crafting, and I have concluded that it is an outlet that is good. Number 2 on the list is my husband’s encouragement. Just to clarify a point here, I don’t post personal stuff about him without his permission/blessing. Also on this list is the fact that being real can bless others, even when real is messy. If I can share about the amazing Redeemer who rescues me daily from myself, I want to do that. Oddly, that is the one where I get stuck with taking this too seriously… like every post should be meaningful, or I have wasted your time.
Summary: I write because I like it, and I am honored that you read it.
wocket in my pocket 
I read it because I like it. I blog in the evening after the kids are in bed too. Sometimes in the morning if they are all occupied and I have not had coffee yet. There are just so many particulars. Its hard to nail it down. Your blog has quite often made me feel much less alone in both the funny things that happen and also the struggles of motherhood. Just last night at the dinner table Alvin prayed that I would be able to get a goods night sleep. I admit I thought HAH inside, but to my shame, I did get to sleep all night long for the first time in weeks. (teething baby) Its times like that, that I too take myself too seriously. I am always happy when a update email from the wocket comes in.
Thank you, dear. Can’t tell you how often your comments make my day. 🙂
I like this. I do appreciate your vulnerability in blogging. I know it can be an inner struggle. 🙂 You have a lot of good writing to offer the world of readers. Happy Sunday!
Thanks, Bren. You know about the writing itch too. 🙂
Your vulnerability is EXACTLY why I LOVE your blog! Reading blogs is a luxury I do allow myself, because I have learned so much, and I’m not the wordiest person as you know, but i absolutely love when someone can articulate life in an interesting, witty way… and yes sometimes, it just feels REALLY good to realize, that maybe I’m normal, with a normal husband and normal kids:) not crazy or unspiritual bcause I’m normal… hmmmmm… not sure if that made sense, but anyway.. I like you and I like your blog!:) Good day to you and yours… we’d drop by for popcorn 2nite if we could!!
It made sense to me. Our popcorn was exceptionally good last night!
When there are things churning inside that beg to be written, it is not about finding time to write… we write because we have to. That is my experience anyway. 🙂 You do a great job with being real and yet preserving your dignity (I mean, there is a degree of “realness” that becomes distasteful- just read some people’s FB posts!)
Yes.
And thank you for reassuring me that I have not lost all dignity.
I love your blog! Thanks for writing. This world could use more “real” people to encourage the rest of us “real” people who read blogs but don’t write them ourselves. 🙂 You have a beautiful family and I’d love to see you guys again someday!
Hi Heather! Thanks for the comment. It surely has been a long time. It would be so much fun to reconnect with your family! I didn’t know that you are also a King now. 🙂
“Also on this list is the fact that being real can bless others, even when real is messy.”
That’s why I started reading your blog! I especially enjoyed the stuff you write about your children. You don’t pretend that you have made them into some perfect little angels. (like a lot of people I know) You admit that they’re normal children no matter how diligent and consistent you’ve been in your parenting/training. You inspire me to keep at it even when it seems I’m getting no where.
~You don’t really know me but I’ve seen you around. 🙂 Keep writing and keeping it real! God bless you and yours!
Hi! Nice to hear from you! Thanks for the encouragement.