We're Following the Leader, the Leader, the Leader...

So I was just wondering...what determines who you choose to "follow"
' on here? Is it based more on whether or not you like the person's blog and the person themselves, or do you end up following more from things like "Follow Me Friday", etc. If someone follows you, do you automatically follow them back? Will you make a habit of reading and commenting on someone's blog posts that you don't follow? 

I will randomly comment on people's blog posts that I just stumble across, but usually if I enjoy that post enough that I want to say something on it, I over-all enjoy that blog so I'll end up being a follower. :-)

I also try to make it a point to comment on a post if I read it in the first place. Not always but usually. I think everyone deserves comments on what they take the time to write. And if I respond or have a reaction in my head, I might as well share it with them! And since I like getting comments, I should certainly make a point of leaving them!

Speaking of which, I try to always respond to the comments left on my post, but I sure do wish it somehow notified you when the OP (original poster) also commented, then you'd know to go back and see what they said...or if someone else responded to what you said. I try to go back and check but it can be a pain! I mean, if someone asks a question in a comment and then that person answers it, you'd never know unless you went back and checked (and it's hard to keep up with what you said when and where and on what posts)! And this is coming from me who still has a fairly small-ish list that I follow and even fewer followers!

So I started asking about "following" and ended up writing a lot on commenting. Haha

Anyway, I'd appreciate it if you took the time to let me know...I really am curious! 

Okay, I am starving so I'm gonna go get my grub on! I plan on pigging out on some salad! Yes, I can pig out on salad. A good salad is amazing and it sounds great right now! Not to mention Madelyn has been asking if it's lunch time for like an hour. Haha So, I guess I can finally justify fixing lunch since we made it to 11:45 (I just can't any earlier than 11:30). Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to lunch I go! Later, friends!

Marriage Monday

Let me start by introducing you to my hubby. This is Michael, my guy:

Now, I'm not gonna sugar coat things. I'm a pretty up front and honest kinda gal. Me and this guy...well, we have quite a story. (I'm gonna try to give you the short version.) We only dated a few months and were about to break up when we found out I was pregnant with our first blessing (that beauty up there in the pic with him). He proposed, I said yes, and boom...a few weeks later we had a lovely courthouse ceremony and were tied to each other for life. This July made 6 years that we've managed (only by the power of God) to stick with it. Our story is unique. It is a testament of our faith and the power of prayer and of sheer determination on my part to live out my life in the way I believe God intended it. Everything "worldly" would have had us divorced long ago. I won't lie...it's has been the hardest thing imaginable. We've almost called it quits so many times. To this day we have more downs than ups. We're together, not because of a deep love, or a time that we're hanging on to that we remember "why we fell in love". We're together because this is how God intended marriage. We believe that our children should grow up with their daddy and mommy in the same house. I believe that God can give us a love for each other that's deeper than even we can even imagine. And I will pray for that love until we have it! There are things in our relationship that we do have that are vital to a good one...and many others don't have. We communicate very openly with each other. We have a like faith and both enjoy and love our church and church family. We're mostly on the same page when it comes to raising our kids. 

I plan on sharing stories of our journey, my unique determination (I've come to realize how easily people, even Christians, give up on marriage these days), my personal growth, where we're come from and where we are and where we're headed! There is so much to say and I feel I've given you a very blurry picture of my marriage! I may have left you trying to figure out what it really looks like. Maybe that means you'll come back to find out more? It's far from boring...especially if you're like me and enjoy seeing the hand of God truly at work in this crazy, messed up world we live in! I'm amazed at what He's done. At where I'm at. I know, full well, that I would not be here if it weren't for Him!

Gosh, just thinking about it...I could write a book on my life thus far. My dad is a preacher. I grew up on the mission field. I was home schooled most of my life. I went to college. I partied and indulged in "the world". I still struggle. Now I'm a wife, and a mommy...and finding my way back to Him. I'm somewhat of a "bad girl" at heart. And yet my faith comes naturally to me. I am a perfect example of that thing that was so popular in the 90's...the yin yang (remember all the little friendship necklaces and stuff? Lol). I'm the white side with a little bit of black. But at times I've lived as the black side with a little bit of white. But seriously...how did I go from my marriage to a yin yang?! Yikes!

I want to tell you more about me and my marriage and my life. I've stumbled upon a few blogs recently that I know I will draw strength from regarding marriage. I look forward to it! I know that I have words of advice and encouragement that will benefit others. 

I hope that I can build up my little world here in blog land! Make new friends....learn along the way. I'm still very confused with a lot of things on here! This is not a very easy place to get started or to get your foot in the door. Sometimes I feel like my writing is just another way of talking to myself! Haha But, I like to journal...I talk to God, and yes, I talk to myself so it isn't a loss any way I look at it, I suppose! So today, whether this makes it out there onto the screens of others or not I feel blessed to just let my jumbled words flow from my fingers...and hopefully onto your screen!

It's just sooo not my thing...

So, I thought I was all computer savy and all and well, I guess I was wrong. I mean, I never thought I was a computer genius or anything, but I can usually get done what I need to get done. This blogging thing has me all kinds of messed up in the head, though! It literally wore me out yesterday. I worked forEVER on my page and do you see the result? I mean, in a way it's totally me...I'm not all about the frills and prettiness and and all that jazz, more like simple and suave (haha), but really?! I want my page to look like everyone else's, with all the little tabs and shiz. I just can't figure it out! Grrr!!! I tried to play around with all this a few months back and just got so frustrated that I forgot about it for, oh...3 or 4 months. BUT, I have ALWAYS loved writing. It's a passion in my heart (on of the few passions I have). I don't have a cute or catchy way with words like so many bloggers these days do. But I do know that I have an incredibly deep and beautiful soul. My thoughts are deep and there have been many times in the past couple of years that as I lay in bed late at night, unable to sleep...I wrote a whole blog post in my head. And yes, I've done this more than once. I've often wished that I had some sort of recording device up there because much of my best comes while laying in the quiet dark of night. Ah well. This is my start. I probably won't make a point to write every day, because I don't always have something to say and I don't want to write just to write. There are certainly things that I won't be sharing because I don't like stepping on toes, and I have so many lovely toes on both sides of many of my thoughts and ideas. Sometimes, though...I might gently nudge some toes. We shall see. Today, I wanted to write, but didn't think I had anything to write about. And like I said...my posts aren't necessarily going to be filled with wit and humor and funny little pictures to go along with my stories (though they sometimes will). Sometimes, like today...I might actually write nothing, just because I feel like writing something. Now, I'm gonna go pretend that I can figure out how to make my page better, while I really just waste time on the computer. Ciao!!!

Back to blogging...

So...it has been such a very long time since I wrote on here! I've thought about it a lot, though. I wish I'd been better about it these past couple of years. I have a lot in my head that I would like to write about. I've toyed with the idea of making an anonymous blog because I have things that I would LOVE to share my opinion on, but have people on both sides of things that could be hurt or offended so I can't do that on here. Lol I don't think I'll ever actually do it...but it's fun to think about!

So...big things in my life. Hm...the absolute biggest right now is that my little Emily girl started Kindergarten yesterday! Anyone who knows me well knows what a struggle this is for me. For one thing, Emily and I are so close and not having her with me all day is killing me. And even though I know they have to grow up...I'm not ready! I'm also completely conflicted about things with public school vs homeschooling, my role in raising her in Christ and my desire to be the biggest influence in her life up until adulthood. I'm scared of the world these days. I am passionate about bullying and the fight against that in schools (if my kids stay in school it may be something that I actively work towards eliminating or at least making better in their schools). Also, I'm so saddened by how many parents these days I hear talking about how anxious they are for their kids to get back in school, for summer to be over with, etc. Really?! I have had so many people tell me "I know it's hard on you now but there will come a time when you can't wait for your kids to go back to school after summer break" or whatever along those lines. I know that I can't predict the future, but I can tell you that no, I actually won't feel that way. My most important God gives roles are to be a wife and mommy. I will take my kids as much as I can get them. I WANT them in my presence as often as I can have them. Staying home with Emily these first 5 years of her life and now being home with Madelyn is SUCH a huge blessing that I have never taken for granted! Maybe part of this is because I was home schooled for much of my life. I always loved and liked my parents (except for a brief time at the beginning of our return to Nigeria, but that's a whole other story)...I know what is was like to grow up and enjoy family time. My sister was and still is my very best friend. Anyway, I want my kiddos to feel this way, too, and I know that contrary to popular belief...it is possible ;-) Now, please know that I AM NOT bashing anyone for how THEY feel. Yes, I think it's sad that parents don't treasure every moment they have with their kids, because they DO grow up so fast! BUT I know that life is busy in this day and age. I get it. I just think (some) people have lost sight of our role as parents and what all that entails. I want to be the main person raising my kids...not the school system, or the church Bible school teachers, etc. I want to be the greatest influence in my kid's lives...not their friends, or teachers, or TV, or their Bible school teachers. And when they're in school 7 hours a day, 5 days a week, for about 8 months a year, and then you add all the other activities and busyness of life...it just doesn't feel like there's enough left for ME. And that breaks my heart. So all of this has been weighing heavily on my heart lately. And since I've wanted to start writing again, this was a pretty darn good way to start! I may make posts sometimes that some of my dear friends find offensive. For that I'll go ahead and apologize. Haha I will try to stay away from anything too controversial, though. But I will also, as I always have with my writing, spill my heart and you will all get to see inside of me. You can enjoy it or not. Your choice! Oh, and I do have to add that my Emily has a wonderful teacher that I feel is going to be a blessing to her in her first year of school! Despite all of my mixed feelings about it all, I believe that Emily is where she's supposed to be right now. God will guide her through the year and I pray that she is able to be a good influence and blessing to her teachers and classmates. :-)

Madelyn and I plan on enjoying our time together, too. :-) And we will get our Emily with big 'ol smiles at the end of every day!

It's good to be back. Even if no one reads this...it was good to write it. I am back to doing something that I LOVE! Yay! ♥♥♥

I'll end with a picture of my big girl on her first day of school yesterday :-)