So I know that maybe it seems like I’m not blogging as much lately. And I think that maybe the reason it seems that way is because, well, I’m not blogging as much lately. In fact, I have deliberately cut back on the amount of mediocrity that I crank out every week because 1) I am happily working more than I have in the last few years 2) those people sitting in the other room get annoyed when I’m on the computer too much and 3) I had an epiphany this past summer that I was living my life like I was chasing after something I couldn’t even identify.
And call me crazy (“CRAZY!â€), but that seems like a pretty silly way to live.
I have long said that only about 10% of my life makes its way to the blog, but the irony is that 10% has gotten a whole lot of attention from me over the last few years. After all, I’ve devoted a big chunk of “writerâ€-ish energy to that 10%. There have been days when that 10% has flat-out dominated my time.
So I guess the bottom line is that I’m trying to be more mindful and protective of the 90% of my life that never shows up here. That’s why I took a bloggy break a month or so ago. It’s why I felt like it was time to let somebody else take over the tour-o-homes. It’s why there’s not always something new to read here every morning. It’s why my email is sort of embarrassingly neglected right now.
And it’s also why, for the first time in about three years, the blog feels like a real-live hobby again. And I LOVE that.
Anyway, I just felt like I needed to explain. And now that we’re all clear, here’s what I actually set out to tell you about when I started this post approximately sixteen days ago.
(Wordiness. It is my friend.)
(SO.)
Martha and I are taking a little road trip to Living Proof Live in Memphis this weekend. Honestly, I don’t know whether to keep a pen and notepad handy at all times or just hang a video camera from my rear view mirror and leave it running for four days straight.
Also: this is a completely unscientific guess, but I bet that I’m going to hear the words “jacket†and “Steinmart(s)†and “three-quarter sleeve†a combined total of 274 times between Thursday and Sunday.
I also bet I’m going to hear my name pronounced as “SO-phie!†about 372 times because that’s how Martha pronounces it when she gets really excited about something. And y’all know good and well that Martha will take one look at whatever cute jacket Beth Moore is wearing Friday night and say, “SO-phie! SO-phie! Do you see? Do you see? Isn’t that jacket perfectly darlin’? JUST DARLIN’! Do you think she got it at Steinmart(s)? Is that a three-quarter sleeve? SO-phie!â€
It’s going to be fun! More fun! So much fun! Can you believe how much fun?!
!!!
MORE FUN!!!
I 100% understand this post and am proud of you for taking the right moves!!! of course I’d love to read 10 posts a day from you but finding balance is GREAT!!! Enjoy that 6 year old boy while you can!
I’m looking forward to getting a good dose of your funny this weekend and I’m delighted, absolutely delighted to have that opportunity!
You should totally wear a head cam. The embarrassment of wearing it would be worth all the footage!
Ok.
My To Do List before Memphis.
1. Get a jacket with 3/4 sleeve so I can be “perfectly darlin! Just Darlin!”
2. Pray incessantly that you choose to video over the pen and notepad. I’ll totally give you my notes. Plus, if you have it video taped, you can go back and take notes later.
3. Make time in the near future to watch said video.
Sounds like fun to me! Can’t wait to meet Martha!!!
very excited to finally meet you!
hugs,
Lora Lynn’s friend =)
Sounds like I’m missing out on a great party in Memphis this weekend!
I love what you said about this being a hobby. So true! I had an epiphany of sorts myself recently, and it went like this: If I really want to do something important for the Kingdom, the blog isn’t going to be it. It’s the other writing I do–the real work, so to speak–that will reach more people than my little old hobby ever will. I just need to enjoy my little creative outlet as just that and not worry about growing it. ‘Nuf said.
I am praying fervently that our paths cross at least twice this weekend!!
A billion blessings on your weekend, friend!
And did I read somewhere that it’s your birthday?? Maybe not?
Happy Birthday regardless!!
Man, just when I discovered your blog, you decide to take a break!
Its me, not you…. I’ve always been a later bloomer….
Melissa @ http://www.fordsbigbluehouse.blogspot.com
Dude, I don’t care if you carry and notepad and pen or burn up 100 different Flip Minos (Minoes?). I want a detailed account of this occurrence.
I can. not. wait.
:) (Hey, and welcome back to the hobby world! It’s a great place to be!)
I totally vote for the rearview mirror 4 day straight video camera idea. :)
And congrats on finding a better balance – way to go, girl.
Would love to see you in Memphis! I’ll be there, too, and can hardly wait.
Completely understand how the whole bloggy-thing could begin to feel overwhelming. I even began to feel that way at one point, and mine truly is just a hobby. (One which includes approximately three readers.) I can only imagine the responsibility you have felt. Enjoy your little guy before he becomes a teenager right before your very eyes!!
I’m so proud of you for sharing your epiphany. You’re a great example to all of your readers that our priority should be placed first in the blessing of family (or whatever other people) that God has given to us. Time moves by way too fast to stare at a computer screen all day long while our kids are growing up all around us.
In other words, blogging is the bomb dot com, fo sho, but it’s all about balance, yo.
Have a great time this weekend! A simply great time! An amazing time SO-phie!! :D
Okay, I had to follow every link on Martha until I could see her and know who she was. She is “daaahlin.” I enjoyed every post I read and loved that I even got to see photos of D’s brother and grandmother. What a treat! You are going to have such a wonderful fun weekend. And I’m with Martha on 3/4 sleeves and Steinmart jackets!
Proud of you my friend!! Those people in the other room are important…love em!
Love you!
Carol (And have fun with Martha, Beth and some serious Steinmart time!)
You are a trendsetter! I’m so happy that you are enjoying your hobby again. You and “Martie” have a wonderful weekend.
I vote for the video camera running for four days straight.
Love you SO-phie!
You have my admiration and respect for choosing to blog as a hobby. I know you’ll share your best with us and live your best with those you love and those who love you…
Sophie-
Thank you so much for writing the beginning of this post. Lately when I’ve heard my kids say things like “Mom is always on the computer” and such it’s given me a little pang in my heart. Part of me wanted to say … “but it’s for you, about you…” but another part felt differently. And you put it into words…it was becoming “more than a hobby”. I hadn’t had that epiphany but I’m glad you did because I couldn’t quite put my finger on what was a bit out of kilter and I’m glad you called it out.
You’re the real deal Boo Mama. Thanks.
I’ll be there, too!!! Would love to meet up with you~maybe we could arrange that!!! Email me if you’re interested!!
I’m gonna be in Memphis this weekend too! Yay Beth Moore! And I never realized you had a real name. I thought it was BooMama…that’s how I refer to you! :)
Sandra
Sophie: Your New Improved Bloggy Guidelines are a plumb line for us all to stay balanced in the blogosphere. I hope you and Martha have the TIME of your lives this weekend! You’ve blessed me with so much laughter over the last year; I hope it comes back to you ten-fold.
This return to blogging as a hobby seems to be a trend. Sue at navelgazingatitsfinest and Veronica at toddledredge and now you.
Wise women all.
I am so proud of you, Sophie. Blogging is a wonderful hobby when we can control it. (Or should I say, we let the Holy Spirit control it as we stand by and gape.)
But God will not be asking what great posts we wrote in heaven, nor will anyone ever bring up our reader count. It will all be about the people we loved, and the God who gave us the breath to glorify Him.
Totally hang the camera from your rear view mirror! So we can have some of that fun, more fun, so much fun with you!
And SOOOO-phie, I feel joyous that you are freed from the need to blog every single day!
It reminds me that I want my blog to “reflect” my life NOT “BE” my life.
Go and be blessed! I pray blessings exceeding, abundantly above all that you ask or think or imagine or hope! Or can even buy with Martha at Steinmart(s)
First of all, good for you! Second, you should know that Beth LOVES Steinmarts and there’s a good chance that whatever she wears will have come from there. Enjoy your weekend in Memphis!
Just SO MUCH FUN Y’ALL! Had to add it.
You know, I have been on a blog break. And slowly the streams of light are breaking through my window again. I think I wasn’t living my life, as God wanted me to. But I just posted a short update. And I am hopeful to follow in your wise footsteps to find balance in writing on ye olde blog.
Love you. Really. Go enjoy yourselves this weekend–soar and grow in Jesus, my friend. I hope your happy-faced muscles are aching by the times it’s all through.
Good for you!
Hope we get to meet this weekend!!
Every bit of this post makes me happy. Just so much MORE HAPPY! MORE HAPPY!!
My daughter has a darling friend whose favorite expression is “SMF!!!” (which, of course, in the language of the texting generation, is SO MUCH FUN!!!)
I understand the bloggy break – the thing is, you are at least creating something. I spend more and more of my time reading so many blogs that I’m thinking I need to pull back. Someone asked the other day if every conversation I had was the result of ‘something I read on a blog’ and it kind of made me, uh, pause. I justify it by saying I’m reading clean, funny, inspirational Christian blogs, but still. I love you and I’ll still be following, but I totally respect your choices!
You go BooMama. Rock on with yourself! Priorities and hobbies are sometimes intertwined and confusing. You’re doing wonderfully in both cases.
I vote for video recorder but also think it might be nice to have some kind of mini dictation/voice recorder device in your pocket. I’m jus sayin!!!
Have a great weekend SO-phie!
You and Big Mama both are in love with !!! this morning! Hope you have a good day!
I. Love. JACKETS.
Wait, how do you pronounce your name if it isn’t SO-phie?
I too am headed to Memphis on Friday post- 2nd grade Space play. My daughter has asked 1,000 times are you coming to my play before you go to meet Beth Moore. I assure her that my priorities are in order. 1. Play 2. Beth 3. is not apparently at Stein Mart. I would have settled for Target. I hope to meet all of you this weekend!
I am a new reader, and absolutely love reading your posts. BUT, thank you for reminding us all that life outside of the blog world can not be overshadowed by the blog world we all love so much. Thanks!
I received an award, and I’d like to pass one onto you for being a new blog I read!
Soph- I hope you had a great birthday!
“chasing after something I couldn’t even identify” I so understand this, I feel like this a lot in many areas of my life.
Have fun in Memphis! Eat some ribs and tell Elvis Hi.
The Park Wife
Enjoy your weekend and your new found extra time to enjoy the other 90% of your life. I don’t have near the readership you have, but I cut back to only posting about 3 times a week (or 4 if something REALLY interesting is going on, which is never, so I mostly only post 3 times a week) and that seems to fit my life just fine. I find the older my girls get the less time I have to do anything but invest my life in my girls. It hit me that I only have about 10 years left with kids at home!! I only have 10 years left to impart everything they need to know to survive this crazy life!! It’s gonna be a busy 10 years! So, enjoy your time!
I TOTALLY respect you for your choice to blog less and live more.
GOOD JOB! I want to be just like you when I grow up.
Kelly in Michigan
If you only wrote once a month, I’d still click over just to see what you had to say. Because clearly, we all need a little dose of Boomama every now and then.
It’s hard being pulled in so many directions as a woman/mother…glad you are making choices to better life for YOU and YOUR family….that’s where the real importance lies, in family.
Have a great weekend!
ooo… please write about seeing Beth Moore. I’ve enjoyed several of her studies. My husband, on the other hand, can’t stand her. It’s her voice, actually, that he can’t stand. He calls her “Screechy” ;)
I could have written this post, Sophie. I SHOULD have written this post because it expresses exactly how I’ve felt about blogging for the past three months now.
I could have written this. Except for the Martha parts. :-)
It was great to be able to see you for a quick moment and hug your neck and say, “Bless your heart!” The conference was wonderful and we went home “full to the overflow” from the messages and music.
Thanks for your kind words of encouargement. You have been a great source of blessings and inspiration. Blessings.
Jean Stockdale