In our family...

In our family....we do second chances...we do grace...we do real...we do mistakes...we do I'm sorry (and I forgive you)...we do loud really well...we do hugs...we do family...we do love.















Thursday, June 11, 2009

Blogmanity is a Beautiful Thing

I can hardly believe that I am sitting here typing at my computer. I have missed writing down my thoughts and reading your comments. I have missed this place, this blogging community, more than most people could know. I have missed visiting you…reading your words…that encourage me, challenge me and teach me…and make me smile and laugh. I know I have said this before, but I will say it again. You people mean a lot to me and I consider you my friends. You, in your own corners of the world, have amazing voices, that touch me. You make me want to be a better person and challenge me to be authentic. Thank you!


Thank you, to all of you that wrote me personally or commented here, to check up on me. Thank you to all of you who have remained silent yet I know you are there. Yes, I am alive. I have not gone away for good…I am working on coming back…on getting my voice back. I never intended on being absent for the past month but somehow as things hit me and knocked me on my ass…as life unfolded…as life got a little ugly and messy…as my time was taken up unpacking, sorting through and throwing away my excess baggage that I had been carrying around for far too many years, it is something that got left behind. I have had so much to say but my voice has been lost for too many reasons to explain.


I have missed having a voice. I have missed hearing yours. I didn’t realize how much I liked having a voice and being heard, until this part of my life was taken away from me. I didn’t realize how much I liked listening to yours until it all came to a stop. I didn’t realize anyone else could see how much writing here and connecting with all of you was of such benefit to me, until my husband spoke up about it, this past week. He noticed. It is because of him, that I am here today.


After reading over my post entries that I had written since I wrote the post about addiction, on April 13th, I am both shocked and amazed that I have made it to where I am today. Not just because of what I wrote but because there were so many things that went unsaid at the time. As I read, it became clear to me that there is so much I did not write…so much that got left out. Not intentionally, but because there was no way to put into words some of the things I was going through…maybe because there was so much happening in the moment that there was no way I could have kept up…maybe because I hate sounding negative…maybe because I really didn’t know what to say…maybe because it seems like I keep running out of time…and all of that led to my being absent over this past month.


All I know is that this blogging community…this “blogmanity” like my friend Jason from The Jason Show called it some time ago, is a beautiful place. This sharing of our voices…of our lives, our dreams, our hopes, our struggles, our sins, our wisdom, our laughter, our joys, our families, our thoughts, our daily journeys…whatever it may be, is a beautiful amazing opportunity to connect with people we would other wise never know.


It is my hope to stay connected with all of you. It is my hope to gain back my voice and share with you, all that I have been learning on this journey. There is too much to share in one post and these are things that are significant to my life’s journey… and some how I know it’s important for me to record them. I want to be able to look back here a year from now and see just how far I have come. I also love getting your honest feed back.


It is also my hope to visit you and listen to your voice in the very near future. I love reading about your journey’s…love that your sharing them with me. As I continue to figure things out, it may take me some time to stop by your place, but please know I will be by soon!


Last but not least…I am still smoke free!!!! I have not had a single cigarette since April 5th!!! Now isn't that amazing?!!!

24 comments:

LPC said...

We have missed you. I checked your blog just the other day to see if there was any word that didn't come through to my reader. But didn't want to add any pressure by encouraging you to post again. Glad you are back. And a million congratulations on being smoke free still.

Anonymous said...

Taking a month away is sometimes a very good thing as I found in April. I have missed you but knew you were living it in Minnesota as well as anyone could. Sometimes Lori, okay more than sometimes, I really just wonder why God wouldn't put us in closer proximity to begin with. When Jason introduced me to you last year it gave me companionship where I was finding none. The rhythm of your blog is your own. Please do not feel pressured by any of us to write when you don't have the time, energy or thought to word ability to give. I think about you as one of my dearest friends although we have never met in person. Your struggles are felt in my heart too. Love to my Lori.

Anonymous said...

I think a part of any successful "relationship" is giving when you are able and receiving when you are in need. You story, more than your current journey, has been an inspiring one already. Sit back and do some "taking" from us for a while longer if you need to...

Smiles for this corner of the world.

Beth said...

Way to go on being smoke-free! And we all did miss you. You don't have any obligations to us. Just come back when you find that wonderful voice of yours.

We'll be here waiting for you.

Jason, as himself said...

That really is amazing, considering the tough time you've been having. Good for you!!!

I'm glad you remember that we're here for you, and we're not going away.

Hugs!

Fragrant Liar said...

I'll ditto what Beth said. Come back when you feel like you really want to and it will do you well. We'll still be here.

Best to you!

SciFi Dad said...

Welcome back. I didn't know why you left, so I didn't want to pester you with queries if you were trying to leave blogging behind for some reason.

Also? Good for you on the quitting. I'm very proud of you.

Unknown said...

So nice to see you back!!!! Hope things keep going in the right direction. I've missed reading you and look forward to hear more from you.

And wow! Still smoke free! That is GREAT!

Unknown said...

So nice to see you back!!!! Hope things keep going in the right direction. I've missed reading you and look forward to hear more from you.

And wow! Still smoke free! That is GREAT!

Busy Bee Suz said...

YOU are amazing...I am so proud and happy for you. You are making a huge stride in a better life for yourself. you have been so missed, but we all know you are busy busy busy...and doing so good too.
Take care, suz

♥ Braja said...

Very happy for you my friend...and waiting for you. Don't worry :)
x

Kathryn Magendie said...

Congratulations on being smoke free! it's so hard to do and I'm proud of you...!

(as for finding TG in bookstores in your area, that's probably not going to happen unless people request it - it's hard to get books in bookstores when you are an unknown author! but thank you for looking.)

Anonymous said...

Welcome back! No worries - we'll be here when you need/want us. I look forward to "seeing" more of you in the coming months.

Congratulations on being smoke-free!

Sandi said...

Welcome back friend! It was so nice to see you on my blog yesterday. I love hearing from you. You are wise beyond your years and you have SO much to teach all of us. I love your blog and hope you keep writing. I know I need to hear it!

Cajoh said...

You are welcome. You are always welcome. Welcome to share— welcome to be who you are— and welcome to visit us at any time. Take as long as you need. Even if you come back slowly, that's OK with us.

bernthis said...

welcome back. We're always here for you. Mazel Tov fifty times over on your success at not smoking that is one big fing deal there.

Brittany said...

EEE! Mom I am so exctited that you are back blogging! :) I look for your posts each time I sign in! Hope you keep them coming! Miss youa and love you to the moon and back!

-me :)

Bogey said...

Lori, sometimes it is difficult to write about the journey when you are busy paddling against the current. Your journey of courage will remain in your heart and in your head forever. Write, if you care to, at your leisure, not ours. There are a lot of loving and caring people here who only want what is best for Lori. Accept the Love my friend, and fly with it.

And a special thank you for your very kind thoughts and words and for letting me know you were back.

gram said...

missed you, so glad that you are back. i am so proud that you are still smoke free. i think you were totally ready to do this. i have been smoke free since 2001. i will never smoke again. so congradulations my friend. you have did an awsome job, keep it up. will be in touch. have a great weekend...good to have you back

Tricia said...

These are beautiful sentiments and I'm thrilled for you that you've found a voice and a community in the land of blog. It's really quite wonderful and I love to read about the journey of self discover that you're on.

Congratulations on being smoke free. What a huge accomplishment!

Jan said...

CONGRATULATIONS!! I knew you could do it. I KNEW it.

I have missed you terribly, but I knew you were busy and that you'd come back when you could. I'm so glad you posted and we'll all be here for you when you find that wonderful, compassionate voice of yours once again.

Debbie said...

What a lovely surprise to see you back again. You have been missed. I always enjoy your thoughtful and honest posts as well as the comments you leave for me.
And congrats on the not smoking.

Pseudo said...

I am so so happy for you Lori. I sincerely wish that more bursts of time like this come up fo ryou and your husband. You both are so deserving.

Have missed you and congrats on still being smoke free; -)

Smart Mouth Broad said...

Congrats on no smoking! I've missed you and glad to hear you're voice. Big hugs!