Finding the Balance

I said I'd never be a facebooker. Was pretty adamant about it in fact, my husband is quick to remind me. But then I got pregnant and laying in bed all day long to keep the nausea under control provided too many endless hours of boredom. Especially since no one seemed to be blogging. I thought it was due to the fabulous fall weather that I was missing out on. But now I have my sneaking suspicions that it was more of an epidemic called "Facebook". And I got hit too.

Now I spend my days checking the status of over 200 friends and family a few times a day. And updating my own if I have something new or clever to share. (Okay, sometimes it doesn't even meet that criteria =)

Anyway, now that I am doing facebook, it seems redundant for me to post some of the same news on my blog. So I am struggling to find the balance. I'm sure there are some of you out there who read my blog that have no desire to be on facebook. So you are missing out. And that's not fair. I also use my blog for a reference point when I scrapbook. I know that one of these days when I scrap the photos from the past few months, I will have a gap in my journaling because my status updates on facebook will be long gone. And anyway, those don't really share the deepest feelings of my heart...not like blogging does.

So bear with me while I struggle to find the balance. I enjoy writing too much to forsake my blog. Maybe-hopefully- it's just the stage I'm in with the pregnancy and all that keeps my brain from flourishing with an overabundance of words. And is only capable instead, of one-liners at this time.

Whatever it is, I hope to figure it out soon. If nothing else, rest assured that you will inundated with baby photos come June =)

An Entry from My Grandma's "Blog"

My paternal grandmother published a book for friends and family called Sortin' Yesterdays. She started it in 1960 and the dream became a reality around or shortly after 1982.

I was glancing through it last night, searching for some funny stories that she had written about my dad. I wanted to read them to my girls before bed. We got a kick out of those and I'll share them later. But there was a funnier story that so totally told who my grandmother was (and interestingly, gave me a little insight into her namesake - my middle name, Emeline, is hers).

"THE OLD CHURCH DOORS
Our old church doors had been on the church for many years and were so weather beaten, we put new ones on.
We didn't know what to do with the old ones, and we didn't want to throw them away.
So I said I would write an item in my news [she wrote for their little local paper] and maybe someone would want to buy them.
So I wrote a nice item and said if they could talk what stories they would have to tell!
They had seen joy and happiness, and sorrows, crying and laughter, and they had done their duty for many years, and now it was time to pass it on to some new doors. And if anyone would like to have them and made a donation to the church to get in touch with me, Loui Fritz.
When I got the paper that week that item sounded so nice when I read it, I bought the doors myself. I gave the church $3.00..."

I have laughed more times since reading it that Tony is convinced I'm nuts. But it was so Loui. Maybe you had to know her to understand.

But another thing that struck me after glancing through all these stories was that I'm doing exactly what she did almost fifty years ago...recording the little memories here and there from years past and even present days. Grandma had a blog - it just wasn't stored on a computer :)

Two New Blogs

Please help me welcome my oldest sister, Gail, to Blogville!! Though I don't remember any of this, I am told that she was one of the siblings responsible for many diaperings and bottle feedings while my 42 yr old mother recovered from carrying and birthing me :) I am also told that Gail would buy me anything and everything my little heart desired. She spoiled me rotten. Read more about her current life here.

Also, I have a new blog of photos only. You can read why on the sidebar here.

Telling on Tony

Well, I wasn't planning to post today but then it occurred to me that I should share a couple things. First off, Tony actually started a blog. I think it's more for my Dad's benefit than his, but nonetheless, he's the one that took the initiative. It contains nothing written by Tony; no news, no opinions, no interview tips, no brilliant thoughts. What it does contain are the lyrics to a hymn and an audio clip of me playing the piano. I cannot promise that there will be a new one every day. And in order to keep it simple, he is just using a little MP3 player to record...so not digitally mastered or anything. But if you care to check it out (and we will be adding another one or two tonight or tomorrow) click here.

On a completely different note, Julie's post about Jeff wanting to know how much money she brought back from her day of returns reminded me of a story I had to tell.

The weekend after we moved over this direction from New Castle, we had a garage sale with a couple other families. Tony thought I was nuts to have one because it was too much trouble for the little bit of junk we had. But, when moving to a new home, the windows always seem to be a different size than the house you had before. And buying all the blinds, curtains and curtain rods can put a good dent into the pocketbook. So, Tony went along with the plan.

The night before the garagae sale, he approached me, "How much do you think you will make off this sale?" "I don't have a clue. I'm hoping for at least $100 or $150. Why?" Then I saw the wheels turning in his head..."You don't have the money in your budget already do you?!" Sheepish grin means guilty as charged. (I don't think there is a dime laying around that isn't in the budget.)

Then comes the compromise...how about if I give him the first $100 dollars and I get to keep the rest to spend on ANYTHING I want? Now at this point I am a stay-at-home mom and know that I am blessed to not have to work outside the home. I know that moving isn't cheap, so I agree.

Saturday dawns bright and early. Thanks to the insane efforts of the other two families, who stayed up until I don't know what time in the morning making signs for every corner, we were selling stuff like crazy. Never a dull moment until around 2 in the afternoon. We close up shop and start adding up the columns and divying out the money. The Derscheid's come in with the highest sales. Grand total...drumroll please...$351!!!

Tony was kicking himself for a week.

Another Blogger

Please help me welcome to the world of blogging someone who has become a very dear friend to me in recent years...(drum roll please!)...Jody Johnson. I have been looking for a reason to use this lovely photo and now just seems like the right opportunity. Of course, the man wearing the bow tie is none other than her husband, our associate/teen pastor and FCA's principal, TeenRev!

I am looking forward to reading her innermost thoughts and ponderings. I've already learned through her ABC post that we both have a habit of popping our toes. But that's not the only thing we have in common...we are both PKs, both babies of our families, both play the piano and sing, and the list goes on. She has been a wonderful source of inspiration to me since we've lived in the area. I thank her for listening to all my sorrow, my whining and complaining and for answering the phone even when the caller ID shows that it is me and most definitely means a very LONG phone conversation! (I only hope she still answers the phone after she sees this post and the photo :)

You can view Jody's blog here.