The Abraham Family’s Journey to Russia to Bring Home Their Daughter

March 24, 2009

Blogging Vacation

I took a little blogging vacation and now I'm struggling with how to get started again. I have decided that blogging is like exercising. The more you do it, the easier it is. It becomes addictive. You feel great when you're done and get to reap the benefits of reading of all the comments from your awesome cyber friends. But, when you stop blogging even for just a week or so, it is so hard to get back into the swing of things. Why is that? I have so many posts swirling around in my head. Inspiring thoughts always come to mind while I'm driving or taking a shower, but as soon as I sit down to type, my mind goes blank. Does this ever happen to anyone else?

Part of the problem is that I didn't just take a blogging break, but I took a break away from all things computer - except for work of course, which has been WAY busier than usual. I haven't been editing photos, checking FRUA, reading blogs (egad!) or even Facebook. I am soooo overwhelmed!

I have 306 blog posts from my closest bloggy friends that I haven't had time to read yet (just in case anyone is wondering why they haven't received any wonderful and enlightening comments from me lately :0)

I have at least 25 friend requests on Facebook and no idea how many unread FB messages are lurking out there. Sorry friends!

I just deleted 200+ emails from two Russian adoption Yahoo Groups without even reading them. I think it is time to simplify. Our adoption is complete, I don't need to keep my hand on the pulse of what is happening in Russia, I don't need packing lists, and I don't need info about the change from I600 to the I800, etc. But on the other hand, I feel the need to give back and help others still in the throws of uncertain adoption times.

Plus, I haven't been to the Wal-mart in 2 weeks. That's nearly catastrophic for four always hungry boys!

So then what have I been doing during my blogging vacation?

~ celebrated my oldest son's 11th birthday;

~ played a few rounds of laser tag;

~ sat through a Boy choir's Bach Cantata (without falling asleep);

~ watched Nolan and Liam's first baseball practice;

~ played in our beautiful buttercup field;

~ had a professional photographer do a Celebrating Adoption photoshoot with Lexi;

~ purchased a new kitchen table with enough chairs for our family to finally eat together;

~ took a last minute family Spring Break ski trip to Utah;

~ got all five kids out of bed and on the road to the airport by 4:30 am!

~ watched my kids go sledding;

~ played with my kids in 2 1/2 foot deep snow;

~ watched my baby girl try to eat snow;

~ went snow tubing for hours on end;

~ rode a snow cat machine to the top of a mountain;

~ played a lot of UNO;

~ set the smoke alarm off in the condo (twice);

~ realized that my 3 oldest boys ski better than me now;

~ cheered for Liam as he mastered the chair lift;

~ laughed as Ski Patrol brought Garrett to me on a stretcher sled. (He was not hurt, just too tired to make it down the last 100 yards down the slope. LOL!)

~ survived a very long flight home with 2 stops and connections and a baby girl who didn't sleep the entire day (we had free plane tickets so we had to take what we could get);

~ testified as a key witness in a trial I've been waiting for since 2006;

~ was disappointed to find out that said trial will be continued until August (and you thought adoptions were slow);

~ sat through clogging and voice lessons;

~ helped Preston with his 4-H demonstration;

~ sat through 2 soccer practices for Preston and Garrett;

~ read the "Twilight" series; and finally

~ I've manage to take 951 photos (and to think that Martin thought digital would result in fewer pictures).

How do I get started with the blog again? Well, it's like the old saying: "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time." I'll be doing a series of short posts with photos just to catch up on all the fun we are having with our sweet Russian princess and document it for our families' sake.

To be completely honest, one of the reasons why I took a blogging break is because of an unwelcome comment regarding a Not Me! Monday post. Nothing major, but it made me take a step a back and re-think about just how public the World Wide Web can be. You may just have to take my word for it that our family is VERY REAL for a little while. As fun and therapeutic as it is, I can't do the Not Me! Mondays without taking my blog private and that's not something I want to do -- for now anyway.


I think I'll start back with my favorite new photo of Lexi:


6 comments:

Melissa said...

I love the photo of Lexi. I was wondering where you had "gone". It sounds like you and your family had a wonderful vacation. What a gift to just "be" with our kids.

I am sorry to hear that someone left an unkind comment on your blog. I often wonder what others might think about what I write. I all to often find mysef editing my thoughts first. Very unfortunate. Please know that I love reading about your family and find comfort in knowing there are other families going through similar circumstances as we are. What a help these blogs are.
Melissa

Anonymous said...

What a great photo in the daffodils. Daffs are my favorite flower. When I had major surgery several years ago, I awoke to daffodils at my beside. Michael had picked them from the road side and brought them to me. Can I have a copy of that photo? Memories ...

Love, Auntie Bunner

Becky and Keith said...

I cannot tell you HOW many times I drive down the road, take a shower, am at the grocery store when I think "Ooooo... I need to blog about XYZ" and then, BAM - it's gone. As a matter of fact, I've been meaning to blog about Andrew's Christmas ornaments and our trip to Disney (last Nov) for, um.... a long time now. :-) I've missed you and your humor and I'm sorry someone was not very nice. I'm glad you're still here and are going to continue blogging - you crack me up and I love watching your babies grow! P.S. I'm 320 blog posts behind. Make that 319 now. :-)

Anonymous said...

What a great photo in the daffodils. Daffs are my favorite flower. When I had major surgery several years ago, I awoke to daffodils at my beside. Michael had picked them from the road side and brought them to me. Can I have a copy of that photo? Memories ... We are really anxious to see all of y'all ...

XOXOXO Auntie Bunner

And, please remember to pray for the orphans ...

Love, Auntie Bunner

Anonymous said...

I think your blog is GREAT! So much so that I am delurking to say so! I know that sometimes the World Wide Web may seems a little TOO public but I just wanted to let you know that some of us out hear are cheering you on and enjoying your thoughts ans lovely family!
Espe

Kim Abraham - Mom to the Fabulous Five! said...

Thanks Melissa and Espe,
I appreciate your kind words! We're not going anywhere!