Heard, understood, accepted

I am really overwhelmed by the encouragement I have received in blogging since that fateful post.

I know it sounded like I was fishing for compliments, but in reality, I simply wanted to find out why other women (presumably women; I think my only male reader is my own husband!) blog.

I was particularly inspired by a friend of mine who wrote to me on Facebook concerning this:

"I just wanted to tell you that you should keep writing. Not only do I love reading your very talented writings on life, but I think that this talent should be cultivated and shared with the world no matter how small a piece of the world it is that sees it."

Perhaps only a very small number of people read this, and perhaps even a much smaller number still comment, but what I get to do is share something of my life as I blog. Maybe what I write will make you smile, make you think, inspire you a little, or even annoy you. But maybe the point is that I wrote something. {It is all about me, of course! ;) }

In all seriousness, though, when Patrick and I were still dating, his mother invited me to a 'charisms' workshop that their parish was hosting. This workshop does a very detailed questionnaire about your skills, interests, and passions and then gives you 'points' which indicate what your charisms are. Each participant then goes to several workshops led by someone who is using that charism intentionally within the Church to serve God's people.

What were my charisms, according to this workshop?

Writing.

And,

Evangelism.

I wasn't particularly surprised about the first, as I have loved writing so much since I was very young and had even hoped to be a professional writer since elementary school sometime (and I am still living out this dream!, on a very small scale, even as a stay-at-home mom!). But I was shocked about me being an evangelist. The idea is actually rather comical when I think of it.

I am not necessarily shy. In fact, in awkward social situations, I tend to say more rather than less. That is not to my credit, however. I do a lot of damage with my loose lips, unfortunately.

Besides that, whenever I try to speak on any theological issue, even with Patrick, I struggle to use the correct language so as to not fall into material heresy! I am so concerned about saying something wrong that I often avoid speaking altogether on theology.

Couple my lack of grace under pressure with a sphere limited primarily to my own immediate family (I have no 'workplace' save my own kitchen and family room!), I seem to be the Worst. Person. To. Evangelize.

The comments I received changed my thinking on this. If I find myself tripping up when speaking out, why not write my thoughts? And even if only a handful of people will ever read what I have to say, at least I can say I did something. A little something.

All you'll probably encounter here is our family happenings: food-making, baby-rearing, liturgical calendar-celebrating, hack-crafting, and sorting out the exhausting and stretching work that is my vocation. Our vocation, as a married couple. That's okay, though. If I wanted to impress you with just how grand or elaborate or successful I was, I wouldn't have chosen the relatively hidden life of a stay-at-home mom. And I certainly wouldn't have chosen to put my misadventures public!

{Sidebar: I think I prefer blogs anyway that aren't simply a litany of slow-food, craftacular successes. Besides seeming rather self-promoting -- particularly when there's an Etsy shop involved -- it doesn't give a full picture of the joys and the crosses of the domestic life. }

It is my hope that something I say along the way can inspire you. Probably not 'evangelize' in the sense that reading this will challenge you to 'accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior' (but I would be honoured if that were the case!). But maybe make you think. Or at least, it's a way for me to reflect on what God is doing in my life. I leave Him to determine how He'll use it in your lives!

I guess this is my way of saying, I'm not done blogging yet.