I know that alot of you read this blog because I do keep things real and honest--- and I plan to continue doing so. However, I have had to start moderating comments because I started getting ones that were so off the wall rude and crude that they were becoming the spotlight of the blog-- which is not what I wanted, you wanted, or God wanted. My purpose for this blog is to let people know that we are not perfect, we have our fair share of struggles and yet we continue on, through the grace of God and our love for each other. Through my sharing, my prayer is that you leave feeling uplifted...... at least once in a while. Whether you are married, single, mother to many, or just a mother to one......... liberal, or conservative....... young, or old...... new at this parenting thing, or an old timer.......... a Jesus follower, or an atheist........ an adoptive parent, or not a parent at all....... I welcome all of you to continue reading.
I do not claim to know it all, I will not sacrifice my values to fit in with the norm, nor will I be afraid to tell it like it is even if it opens me up to criticism. So many people feel alone in this world, so many people feel inadequate, so many people can't imagine that someone else can be going through the same exact thing as them..... and they suffer in silence.
I am hear to break that silence.
Thanks for reading.
27 inspiring thoughts:
Good post. I have never understood why people read blogs just looking for something to argue about. Get a hobby! There are too many Debby Downers in the world. Thanks for not shutting down the blog, and thus shutting us out of your life.
Just to let you know I really enjoy reading your blog. You and I are very different people although we share two similarities - we have both adopted older international girls and we happen to have the same bedspread in our bedrooms (I know this from one of your pictures). Other than that we have very different lifestyles and probably differnt beliefs on many things. I enjoy reading your blog to get a DIFFERENT point of view. I think it makes me a better person. I would never dream of criticizing you, your family or your lifestyle.
I have to credit you for my children's all time favorite meal. I saw on one of your posts that you cut sausage, on an angle like a true gourmet chef, and put it in a frying pan with potatoes and probably a few other things. I copied this using leftovers and called it "Mama's Sausage Surprise". My kids love it. I threw in some green beans and they even eat them.
I also like your recipes for Whopee pies and chocolate chip cookies.
Thanks for all you do, your heart for orphans, and being an all around great cook!
Christine, keep doing exactly what you are doing, it is special! :)
here here keep being you dont stop what you are please you make my day so much better
Keep keeping it real. We strive for the same thing...our bumps and bruises and all. We enjoy reading your blog...it makes us feel more normal. :-) Blessings to you and John.
And the beauty of living in a free country such as America is that you can keep on keepin' on. I know you don't take that freedom lightly either! God bless your continued efforts to reach out and bless others!
On a side note, in a court of law, no "anonymous" things posted on a blog can be kept anonymous. If you post it, it can be traced to you...besides of course God knows too! Praying for those who persecute you too!
It is such a shame when you can't even blog without people being rude and nasty.
I love your blog, I have been eading it since you were in Ukrain to bring sweet little Dennis home..and I will continue to read for as long as you blog.
I also have tried a few of your recipe's especially the sausage and potato (polska kiebasa) that is yummy..
anyway just wanted to say I love your blog....
I saw this and had to comment. Lately I've been reading all my favorite blogs on Google Reader in order to save time from having to go around and check if anyone has updated...but today I see the downside of that. I have not commented on your blog in a long while because I don't think there's a way to do that in Google reader. I just wanted to give you some encouragement..so many of us look forward to your updates. I'm so glad that those comments did not make you do something like making your blog private.
Christine, I rarely comment, but I love reading your blog. We are so different, but I find you and your family so inspiring. I love that you "keep it real" like another commenter said. I love that you admit that you aren't perfect and share your imperfections with your readers. Thanks for blogging!
Wait, What? Whoopie Pies? You need a tag for recipes! And I hope you just delete and forget icky comments. It makes me so sad that you've had to deal with that. I think my favorite video was the one showing your clan getting ready in the hotel near Knots Berry Farm. Fun.
AMEN! Thank you so much for keeping it real and for giving me a glimpse into your life. I admire and learn much from you! Thank you and God Bless you!
Karen
We are very different I'm liberal (heck...I lean so far left sometimes I fall off the grid into the no-man's land of socialism!LOL), an Agnostic (w/ strong Athiestic leanings), mother of just one (although fostering 3 more and expecting another who will have Special Needs so I may instantaneously become a large family), etc, but when I feel the need to contradict or discuss I imagine I'm in your living room facing you and behave accordingly...I wish more people thought of commenting this way.
If you can walk into someone's living room and say what you need to say without purposely insulting or berating your guest then by all means...comment and disagree, but you shouldn't have to put up with cruel, crude, and malicious comments here just like you shouldn't have to in your own living room. I think you did the right thing not letting those type of comments come through...I know you don't ban those who simply disagree or you would have chased me out long ago!LOL
Christine,
It would be very sad and wrong to shut your blog down just because of bunch of intolerant people simply because so many of us who care would loose a lot.I am very different from you,an atheist for the beginning as much as you are believer in God, no kids yet, but what I love is your honesty and most of all how you really choose to live your life in a "right" way. I choose that too and while you explain it through God, I explain it in completely different ways but in the end the core values mostly come down to same things.I might not agree with you in everything but mostly I learn a lot from you and check what you wrote every morning and yes,I do feel very uplifted. :)
Keep up the good work.
Nina
Hi Christine,
I have been dropping in on your family for a weeks weeks now and read with pleasure. I am not Christian, I am Jewish and quite secular at that. I often find difficulty reading posts/blogs by people who are strongly religious as there is at times an overtone of intolerance. To me, you represent what is good and positive about people of strong faith. I do not agree with all your opinions but that is not a surprise; few of us agree with everything another believes. That said, I have always felt you live your faith as something of value to you, you hope others will find the same peace and joy you have found through faith and yet there is no judgment for those who do not find the same way. I appreciate learning about your life and your family, the good, the bad and the in between. You kids sound wonderful.
Ellen
I appreciate you and how you have taught me to keep it real. Love you and keep up the good work! :-)
I love your blog for all the reasons you mentioned. Please never stop blogging!
thanks for writing! :-)
Thank you for WRITING!
Well, yes - I did find the detractors very interesting. I think that those little responses were cries for help, honestly. It was so intriguing to try to figure out what, why, when? I enjoyed responding to them, whereas I feel so often like responding (as #583 responder) to YOU is pointless.
However, that said. I see your point. And really, if someone wrote mean things on my blog even though my children don't read it, my feelings would be so hurt I'd close it down and never write again. Truly.
YOU MEAN YOU ARE MODERATING IT SO WE DON'T SEE THE RESPONSES RIGHT AWAY!!!!!
I HATE THAT!!!!!
Why can't you just delete the bad ones when you see them? This is like having a conversation with someone and shushing them when they open their mouth to respond to you. (Or, that's the way it feels.)
Rock on Christine!!!
I'm so sorry you've had to do this, but fully support you in your decision to do so. Thoughtless - or worse - comments really detract from what you're saying, and what could be intelligent healthy debate becomes vicious nasty name calling. And somewhere within that the message of the post gets lost.
Tia
I think its awlful that others leave horrid comments. Keep up the good work and keep your blog as real as you do. xxx
I have been following your blog since Dennis first started his eye surgery. I want to tell you I so admire you ,thankyou for keeping it real!!!!!. When I first came into my husbands family 32 yrs ago, I was told that they sent my husbands brother away, I was horrified that a mother could give her son away. Christine you have made me understand how that can happen, and I thankyou for that.
You all brighten my day as well! Thanks for the encouragement.
Good post Christine. I am a frequent visitor to your blog because I enjoy reading about the trails and tribulations of a big family. Your family is very special. I am amazed at how you do it..keep it real and all. I don't always agree with everything you say or do..however I would never leave a rude comment.
Everyone is different, everyone parents differently not everyone has the same beliefs but we should respect one another and learn from one another rather than be judgemental and ignorant.
I read your blog often & I don't know how you do all you do. You are a special person. I have 2 adopted children (and 2 bio children) from Russia & have gotten so many good family tips from you. Also, since we've only been home 6 months & thought many times that I can't do this, knowing you are out there & helping families with respite & rehoming gives me some comfort. I thought many times of respite or rehoming in those 1st very hard 3 months. But, we are in a better place now. So, thanks for keeping up with your wonderful blog.
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