Metadata: f/2.8, 1/125, ISO 5000
•••
How is it fifty TWO already? How did I manage to keep this up all year? I still don’t know the answer to either.
This year has been. by far, the most personally challenging year I have lived. It has taught me lesson after lesson and made my priorities crystal clear. It has been hard and there have been plenty of tears…and on the other end of the spectrum, it has been amazing and full of such joy. They really do exist together, these high highs and low lows. From his dreamy birth to his challenging infancy–it was year of the yin and yang. And my sweet, beautiful girl was by my side every step of the way. My constant reflection of my own emotion.
I walk a very interesting line in this crazy life–including plenty of that yin and yang. I am intensely private, yet I write this very public blog. I love to share and help, but I’ve started harboring guilt because I feel like I am not doing a good job being as helpful as I can–spread too thin to answer every question and comment. I love to see my articles on pinterest, but going viral comes with a cost: content theft & nasty comments from strangers. Kind, sweet, loyal mamas who I love learning from; and nasty people who can’t seem to give me the same respect I try so hard to maintain in my corner of the internet. So much joy AND so much of the opposite of joy. Seems like lately, this blog has brought me the opposite of joy. I am full of struggles. Just like all of us mamas. But making my personal life part of the blogosphere is taking it’s toll on me. & making me nervous about all that I put out there.
I recently decided to make my Instagram private, for my friends and family only. My only goal there is to document our life to (a) print a book to enjoy over the years and (b) to help my hubby & family far away feel like they are part of our days. I mean no offense in going through and trimming down my followers–I am admittedly freaked out by some recent things that have happened and this is just one way to help my feel a little safer.
I have been throwing around so many ideas in my head about what this blog means to me and what it will look like as we move forward. I don’t think I would be as happy without it. It does bring me joy. I know it is a resource for so many of you, and pulling is completely is not something I want to do. I just have to think deeply about what I am comfortable with it being to others. What images I share. How I share them.
I have a new format idea for 2013. Whether I move forward with that idea is TBD. I sure hope you are still here with me–as I have so much to share. SO much.
I just need to find the “happy” in the internet again.
Thank you, all of you, who participated in this year’s Project 52 below. I hope it has brought you some of the clarity that it has brought me. & I sincerely hope you make a Blurb Book out of your images & story! You can always click the link in the sidebar to catch the latest specials going on–they usually have a great deal just after the new year.
xoxo, sweet friends.
HAPPY 2013!
May your new year always be even more joyful than the last!
•••
Here’s everything you need to know about
Adventures in Mommyhood • And Now • Aubrey My Love • Blossoms & Vintage • Bugs & Boo-Boos • Candice Craves • Candidly Colette • Caynay Photography • Christina’s Project 52 • Chronicles of KT • Claire Jane • The Crain’s Nest • Dana Moran Photography • The Daulton Dabbler • Englexas • Everything Eatherton • Fairy Wings & Dinosaurs • Finding Joy • Firecracker Mama • Freckled Pink • From Stanwood to Seoul • Gin & Juice Boxes • Heather Marie Portraits • Ici & La • It’s a Graham Life • It’s a Strange & Lovely Ride • Kate L Photography • Keeping up with the Carters • Kim Percival Photography • Living for Love • Lizzi Photography • Mahina & Lucas • Mama Bethany • McLain Padilla Photography • Mist Moments • Memories by Mere • Moments & Impressions • The Mommyhood Memos • Moo with Me • Moxie Made • My Tots Travel • Navigating the Mothership • Nicole Dina Photography • Oh the Places We’ll Go • Our Baby Behr • Our Splendid Little Life • Phreckle Face Photography • Quiet Footsteps •Rachel Gray Photography • The Robersons • Shades of Bliss • Shutter Mama Blog • Side of the Table • Simply Us • Snaps of Our Life • Squamish Baby • The Todd’s • Truly Dedicated Mommy • We Aren’t Scared of Sugar • We’re Better Together • Wicked Kate • Wokabout • Z as in Zebra