Thursday, April 8, 2010

do you blog?

As I was about to pump gas yesterday, I heard a little girl's voice say, "Mommy...that's the lady that you read her blog!!" I looked, but I could not see "mommy". I turned back around to take care of my car and heard her again, even more excited this time. "Mommy...that's the lady that you say puts bows that are too humongous for her baby's head on her!!" Then, as the little girl started to proclaim, "Mommy..." one more time, the mom put her hands over the girls mouth as fast as she could.

It pretty much made my day.

I laughed the whole way home.

But it got me thinking.

Lately we have met several people around town that stop us and say, "I read about Madelyn". We were so blessed by friends and family when Madelyn was sick to have their prayer support. Many heard Madelyn's story because of their desire to gather people to pray for her. It is such an awesome feeling when you meet someone that says, "You don't know me, but I pray for your daughter."

The first time this happened we were still in the hospital. The sweetest lady (toting an infant carrier of her own) stopped us as we were waiting for the elevator and encouraged us. I will never forget that moment. The moment a stranger walked up to us to let us know her MOPS group was praying for us.

I have wondered many times lately if I should make the blog "private". I have friends that have done this. You can only read their blog if you have been "invited" to do so. Then I think about all the people that have prayed for her. The power of the prayers of so many strangers that I would not know to "invite" to read.

I have gone back and forth. Back and forth. It's been a bit of a struggle.

I mean, at times it is a little funny to think about how much people know about our daily life...people that we don't know that are reading...or don't know period.

Like the time the lady behind me at Wal-Mart asked, "So how did the doctor's appointment go yesterday?" At first I thought, "Holy cow! Psychics are real!!" Then I was quickly brought back to reality when she said, "My daughter is friends with your sister and we read your blog every morning...except the mornings when we get up and you have not blogged...then we check back all day until you do."

It's kind of strange thinking that someone "starts their day" with pictures of Madelyn.

In all honesty, I started this because I knew I would not be good at keeping a baby book or baby journal but desperately wanted a record for Madelyn of daily life. To keep track of all the milestones and firsts. To share with family that cannot drop by and see her as much as they like because of the miles that separate us. I never started it thinking that anyone would really read it besides the grandparents.

Yet nearly every week a stranger that we see in public tells us that they do read.

So...for now at least...I don't really think making the blog "private" is necessary.

But, I have a question. Two actually. Do you read? Do you blog?

If you do, leave me a comment and let me know.

I would love to know who is reading. I would love to read your blog. So leave a comment. Let me know who you are and if you blog, leave a link!! Please :)

Enough of that and on to what the grandparents want to see...
This little princess and her panda footed pajamas are heading to the doctor at 11am.
I doubt there will be "answers" but hopefully some good discussion will be had about how to move forward.

30 comments:

  1. I, of course, read your blog! I love hearing all about Maddie and her mommy and daddy too! I wish I would have started one for Kelsey. I haven't filled out one word in her baby book yet and she is starting to do all the "firsts" you speak of. Now I feel like it would be too late to start one and I really don't have the time either. I'm a bad mommy! So I say all that to say this, good job Kathryn! Keep up the blogging! Maddie is going to treasure it greatly when she gets older!

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  2. I have been reading your blog since my old roommate, Tammy Hensley, asked for prayers for you, your husband and your sweet Madelyn. I have an 18M old and love to relate to your tales of stay at home motherhood. I also am encouraged by you as a fellow Christian and what it is like to witness to others as well as doing the right thing for your family. I have been strongly debating starting a blog myself, but haven't done it yet. So for now, I say thanks to your blog and want you to know that we haven't stop praying.

    Sherri Bankston

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  3. I do read. I started reading here when someone posted a link to your spaghetti recipe (back whne you were still preggo)! I kept reading and praying when Madelyn was born. Of course you may remember I met your sister at the Makeover in Mineola...wierd and freaky and cool! And I do try to blog, but truth is you are the only person who has ever read mine much less left a comment. I haven't let anyone in my family know that I do it and only have a few friends I actually leave comments for on their blogs.

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  4. Yes. I read. All the way in New York City. I found your link through kiwicottage/ All is Well (I went to HS with Kristina.) It's nice to read other believers blogs. To hear their concerns/ frustrations/ prayers/ joys. AND-- I love reading about folks back home in Texas.
    spillageoftheheart.blogspot.com

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  5. Yes I do read your blog! I was linked through facebook through Katie Skinner. My husband is her husband's Sargent. In the beginning my heart was still healing from my twin boys being sick and in NICU and my heart ached for you, because I too knew what you were going through. Now my boys are healthy wild and a full of energy. I love reading and looking at the cute girl stuff, as any mother of three boys would! I do blog too...check it out www.thejohnsonboysandjulie.blogspot.com

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  6. Hey Kat I read it everyday....love it! You are so talented with the bows and with writing. Keep it up girl and I will continue to lift up you, Luke and the little bundle of JOY!!!

    April Burke

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  7. I read your blog everyday! Audrey *my almost 4 yr old* loves to see pictures of Madelyn. You're a precious family!! Keep up the blog, you're really good at it!

    -Jenny

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  8. I read your blog all the time, in fact I follow your blog! Kristina Ingram is one of my friends from Athens and I also went to Green Acres were in Sunday School/Nearly newlyweds with Lindsay and Brian Pond, and I also went to nursing school at UT. I have seen both you and your husband before, and I used to work at TMF and have seen your mom several times. I am a NICU nurse at Children's in Dallas and when Kristina told me about your story it touched my heart and I have been reading and praying for your precious daughter! I am a new blogger myself, inspired by you and Lindsay!

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  9. Of course I read!(: Hope all goes well at the Dr. today!

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  10. I love hearing updates on how healthy and thriving miss Madelyn is from her first days in our sick baby nursery. She has done amazing and is quickly becoming a beautiful little girl! I love keeping up with you and Luke as well. Your marriage is an inspiration.
    http://notethis1.blogspot.com/
    Cassie

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  11. Yes ma'am I read your blog!:) I do have a blog as well.

    www.theskinner-family.blogspot.com

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  12. I started reading your blog when a friend (Katie S.) posted about praying for Madelyn on facebook. I've read it off and on ever since. I too have a family blog and my extended family loves it because they can keep up with what's going on with us since we all live in different states and don't see each other much anymore.

    You are inspiring and I love your stories of Madelyn. My husband and I were also in youth ministry at one time. He was the youth minister at FBC Quitman a few years ago, now we're church planters in Rapid City, South Dakota. I loved your recent post on your Disciple Now! Those were always my favorite weekends during youth ministry! We also had Ryan one year at our D-Now so it was cool to hear that he and his wife had a baby!! Anyway, I enjoy reading your blog and I think those girls in your youth group are blessed to have you in their lives!

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  13. I read =) You don't know me. . .I live in Ohio, have been married for 16 months and found out yesterday that I'm pregnant with our first. You're the first person to know other than hubs!

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  14. From 2005 to 2010, my blog was anonymous. Noone knew my real name, and none of my family or friends knew my blog address, except for one very trusted soul. Funny enough, my site raked in way bigger numbers then than I ever see now. Ha.

    For a variety of reasons, I "came out." There are hundreds of posts that have been un-published because they were never meant for public consumption. Some days I wish for the anonymity of the old site. But what's done is done.

    You, on the other hand, started in an entirely different way. I think it's natural to think about going private, especially when people are recognizing you at the grocery store!. However, it's just one of those things that goes with publishing one's life on this here internetwebosphere. :)

    At some point, we all have to make a decision about how much we are willing to put out there, and how much of our family's privacy we want to protect.

    So yeah. I blog. And yeah. I read. :)

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  15. I love reading your blog and seeing all of the adorable little pictures of Madelyn.

    I also have a blog www.burrellsplusone.blogspot.com

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  16. I think the blog is more important than the news or weather...and the pics are more important than the blog....but thats just how we grandmas are!! LOVE YOU THREE....grt Granny

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  17. I love your blog! I'm probably one the reasons you wrote this post.....you see, I'm that weird lady from Papacita's that walked past your table and and said' "Are you Kathryn?" I found you blog through a Facebook post requesting prayer for Madelyn. I was immediately hooked and my heart ached for you....my twin boys spent two weeks in the TMF NICU (probably the hardest two weeks of my life, but our God and those awesome nurses took great care of our babies, huh?)
    I love to see your faith and trust in God even when it's not easy. Thanks for being an inspiration to the rest of us!

    Rachel McEuen

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  18. I read :)
    Good to hear about yall's life and all that happens. Plus i love the pictures :)

    ashleyelizabethtarrant.blogspot.com

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  19. Yep, I read every post! And I blog, too. Mine is Liz-ourblessedfamily.blogspot.com

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  20. I read! And I blog! lexirice.blogspot.com

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  21. Of course I read about my adorable niece :) I am a blog slacker though, but I try ;)
    http://thebitterfam.blogspot.com

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  22. Oh, and I wanted to add: I am a recent inductee into the "bows too big for your baby's head" club! The bigger the better!

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  23. I LOVE your blog Kathryn! I read everyday! I couldn't stop laughing hearing about all the random run-ins you had with 'stranger readers.' I love the honesty of your blog and the openness you share with the struggles and joys of life, being a mommy, etc. It helps me remember nothing is perfect in this world but we make the most of it while we are here. I love thinking about what a special moment it will be for your little family when Madelyn gets to read all of your posts. I love little Madelyn and I love your blog! You are an amazing writer. I hope you don't change your mind anytime soon. ;)

    And, I do have a blog! You are already connected but it's:
    www.carlahutchins.com

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  24. I read your blog every day! I love it! I know you read my blog because you are a follower :) I am so glad that you do too! I am very encouraged by your words and your strong faith in Christ and plus, I love to see how Madelyn grows! I found your blog through the prayer list at Kelly'sKorner when Madelyn was first born and so sick. Since then, I have read every day!

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  25. I read your blog every day. I love hearing about Maddie and how she is doing. It starts my day knowing that she is doing good.

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  26. I read your blog as often as I can, almost every day! I think you are a very talented/interesting writer and I so enjoy the pics of your little angel. I heard about you through Katie Skinner asking for prayers when Madelyn Kate was born, and have kept up ever since (we've even played a game or two of Words with Friends {karistylynn})
    Because of you, I have decided to start my own blog for my daughter. Even though she is already almost 2, I can still share our life with her through the blog from here on out. I will share my blogsite when I get it going. Thank you for sharing your blog with us!
    Kristy Warren
    Canton

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  27. I also enjoy reading your blog and seeing the pictures of Madelyn! I can’t remember how I cam across it but have it saved to my favorites! I have been reading since I think she was about 2 and a half months old. I have made some of the bows that you have shown just for the fun of it. I think we are close in age and I too want to be a mommy some day very soon. My hubby and I have been married for almost three years and now I just need to convince him he wants to be a dad!
    Keep up the great blog and cute pictures!

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  28. I read - and am always touched and inspired by the words/thoughts/feelings that you share!! I wait in anticipation while reading - hoping and praying (and holding my breath) that Madelyn hasn't had an episode. I pray - that she outgrows this reflux SOON!! It just hurts my heart everytime I read that she's had one!! I blog - if you can call it that!! Thanks for being one of my (5 - LOL) followers!! I miss seeing you guys at Church!! Madelyn is beautiful!! Your family is beautiful - inside and out! Thanks for being such a wonderful inspiration to all of us!! See you soon!! Kathy http://katecks.blogspot.com/

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  29. Although I'm a little late to respond...I also read your blog everyday that I am around a computer! I'm not sure when I started, but it was for sure around the time Madelyn was born. I have laughed with you, cried with you and been reminded of how precious (and fleeting) these moments with our sweet babies are! You are a fabulous mom and Luke is a very sweet and tender dad. I look forward to your next post!
    Alisa

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  30. I do, you know that already. My blog is: heasefam.blogspot.com

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Thank you for the comment love! :)

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