Thursday, October 9, 2008

Truckload of Thanks

Esmé’s Mommy again.

We are celebrating the end of 2007 tax season in our house! Yes, tax season always ends around the 15th of October for us – extensions are a fact of our life, sadly. We are actually early this year! Though I just discovered that we can’t e-file the Oregon return, so that one may be late.

Before moving too far past our blogging break, I thought I’d summarize the reasons I blog, the blog missions, so to speak, in order of priority.
  • To give God glory. Ultimately everything comes back to this.
  • To capture the magical moments of my baby’s life.
  • To keep in touch with family and friends who live far away.
  • To make new friends in the blogging world.
  • To provide accountability, not only in documenting my baby’s life, but also in making choices that will provide my baby with the best childhood possible. (To get off my butt and do something that results in blog fodder, in other words.)
  • To keep things in perspective. (Blogging keeps me from taking my life and myself too seriously.)
That’s it. And if blogging starts to interfere with these missions, then I need to take another look at what I’m doing and change my ways . . .

Also before I go any further, we owe a thank you to a few bloggers. So Esmé is helping me write a few thank you notes with her handy marker here.

First is AfricanKelli, who deserves a really BIG thanks! What else can you say when you get a package loaded with all those goodies you miss over here, like M&Ms, dried cherries, nuts, craisins, all kinds of kiddy craft stuff like stickers and glitter glue, magazines, and a beautiful journal, in addition to the book What is the What, which I can’t wait to read. We are going to have a blast!

Some really overdue thanks goes to Scribbit for the coupon for a free drink at Starbucks. I love her writing contests!

And thanks is also due to BooMama for a Third Day CD and tshirt. Awesome band!

Last but not least is a thanks to Sarah at Genesis Moments for a Precious Girls Club book and web access. I know just who I want to give this to as soon as I've finished reading the book myself!
So to all of you, here is a truckload of
goatsthanks being sent your way from Mozambique.

Before I sign off, I’d like to introduce you to my nephew’s blog. He is taking a year off from college to work at a hospital in Tanzania, and I think he’s in for quite the adventure. Take a look for yourself and see!

18 comments:

Joy Junktion said...

Hi there!
So nice to meet you and thank you for stopping by my blog today.
I am so excited to meet somebody who lives so far around the world.
I look forward to getting to know you.
Cindy

Mandy said...

I love how you checked to make sure your were meeting your priorities. I need to do the same.

Thanks for visiting my blog. I agree with you, the colors of fresh produce is gorgeous. I love it and can't hold back from taking pics!

Melissa B. said...

All good reasons to blog, especially for keeping a record for your little girl. A worthy mission, I'd say!

Anonymous said...

I like the idea of having missions for your blog. Thank you for always leaving me a very encouraging and thought provoking comments. I love it when I see you have commented.

Growin' With It said...

hey there! nice to meet you. thanks for stopping by my spot. and that topic of one month left...was sure a sobering post to write! so i was thankful for your feedback.

hmm and look at this, i grew up in roseburg oregon!!! no way. but never been to mozambique. i look forward to reading about your adventures.
~Linda

Damselfly said...

I never thought of the accountability angle to blogging. Very cool.

Anonymous said...

What a great thank you note!

Ruby Red Slippers said...

Thank you for visiting my blog-I like how you outlined your priorities-I too try to balance what is necessary, fun, and giving glory to God. (I love the relationships between women from blogging! I have friends around the world to give me a better perspective on life!)God Bless-

SarahHub said...

I'm glad you're back!

I like your blogging priority list. Mine is pretty much the same, but I need to check it once in awhile. Thanks for the reminder!

Scribbit said...

Glad you're back too--and I love your entries, they're always so colorful and vivid.

ShEiLa said...

Oh darn...
the goats would have been so much fun when they arrived at everybodies doorstep.

I am glad to see that Thank You's are still being said in the world.

ToOdLeS.ShEiLA

One Mom said...

Love your idea of of a "why" list. I'm always making "to do" lists which sometimes results in a lot of activity but not much satisfaction. It's good to slow down and figure out why or even if something we're investing time and ourselves in truly has value.

dani said...

j,
i'm just happy you do blog!!! i know you are such an inspiration to young mothers and a great sharer of self and daughter to those of us who don't get to do "little girl things" with our daughters anymore:)
thank you!!!
love,
dani

Debra Kaye said...

I am happy for our times we get to visit. May the Lord bless you in all you do and be your guide when you need to be still.

Blessings to you, sweet sister.

Genny said...

I have What is the What as well, but haven't read it yet. (Always so many books to read!) And a Third Day shirt and CD? You are so lucky!

I love your list and your reasons for blogging, and I love your desire to keep things balanced and in perspective. I've been doing a whole lot of that lately! It's good!

Christie O. said...

so nice to see you!! funny goat picture! and yes, blogging helps me keep things in perspective too and not take life too seriously...and well, i think for me that goes the same for blogging, life helps me not take blogging too seriously too. it is, after all, supposed to stay fun!

Unknown said...

Great bloggy mission statement! I think that is a fabulous idea. I might have to do that too!

African Kelli said...

So glad everything arrived. Hope you are doing well! I think of you guys often!