It was Bliss

We laughed so hard our stomachs hurt.

(Ruthanne and her envious head of curls)

We met those whose hearts we felt we already knew.

(Queen Marsha)

(Emily)

We got to talk to those we had long admired.

(Meredith)

(Toni)

(Edie and The Nester)

And now we want to move them all right next door.

(Scribbit and me)

(Boybarian Dad and Darcy)

Especially those who live where it’s too cold to go outside except for three months out of the year. That makes me so sad. (Darcy’s kids had to go to the zoo in 30 degree weather!)

If you have ever wanted to go to a blog conference, Blissdom is the one to do. Alli and Company do a great job!

You can link up your Bliss right here.

Passion

(The Nester at Blissdom)

Are you passionate about blogging? I know the majority of my readers may not even have a blog, but if you do, do you love it?

I’m passionate about writing. Always have been, and writing a blog has only fueled that passion. It’s because of the community, the response and the discussion that surrounds this type of writing.

Megan Jordan said she quit blogging a while back and tried to write in a paper journal for a while, but no one commented. We all knew exactly what she meant. Instant feedback is one of the best parts of blogging.

At a blog conference you’re surrounded by other women who do what you do, understand what you do and are passionate about it, just like you.

Lately I’ve been trying to pay attention to what energizes me. Those things are writing, blogging (which may or may not be two different things), reading and photography. I’m passionate about those things. And I’ve enjoyed being able to talk about those passions this weekend with others who feel the same way.

What about you? What energizes you? What are you passionate about?

(And if you’re sad about not being at Blissdom, join Blessed Moon’s I’m not at Blissdom’s blog hop.)

Sweet

If you ever get a chance to meet those wonderful people in your computer, you should really do it.

More sweet pictures of bloggy friends on my Flickr photostream.

Winners of the camera strap covers

Disqus comments are not numbered! Did you know that? And because my feet are so very tired (you have to do a lot of walking when you're counting comments), I made it easy on myself. I picked the first and last commenter. The first one is at Blissdom and the last one is not so it worked.

Winners are:

Amy from She Wears Many Hats: find me tomorrow and I'll let you choose a strap. (I'll have on a purple shirt and a scarf and hair that may be too blonde).

and

Laura with no link. So, Laura, if I don't hear from you in a few days I'll have to choose another non Blissdom winner.

Thank you all for entering. I was blown away by the interest in my crooked little camera straps. I'll have to do another contest soon since I love making them. I have a business card giveaway on my reviews blog if you didn't win and want to another chance to win something.

A post on Blissdom coming up sometimes. I had to get up at 5:30 this morning and I'm a zombie right now. But I'm meeting so many awesome people and rooming with two of the sweetest.

Instead of preparing for a big trip

I’m obsessively sewing camera straps. It seems I suddenly have to perfect the strap before Blissdom. I keep trying new materials.

And there are a few other distractions. Like, who’s this with Daisy?

A new partner in crime?

Why it’s Mister Darcy of course. He’s a sensitive sort of fellow, a black tri Australian Shepherd.

Soft and huggable and very distracting.

Don’t worry. I’ll pack sometime before midnight. No worries. I only have to get up at 6 am.

My mess

I’m exhausted and have about a million things to do. The list, the one in my mind, never bothered to write anything down, goes on indefinitely. And my teeth hurt, more specifically, my gums. I don’t believe those Wint O Green Lifesavors are doing my teeth any favors. The hygienist scraped and flossed and picked until I was cursing dentistry and its tools of torture.

Last night, as I lay down in bed, I thought of a post I wanted to write and instead started to pray. Because the post was about fear, and when I’m afraid (if I’m smart), I pray.

You want to know a secret? I have an irrational fear of leaving my kids. Maybe most mothers do. But I think mine is worse than most mothers. Here’s why, I don’t like to leave them with anyone, even my own mother, even my own husband. And those are the two people I trust with them the most.

Most of the time I’m able to squash down those fears with reason, with prayer even. But being gone from them four days and three nights, brings out the big time fear.

Last night I talked to myself about what this really was. This fear. It’s lack of faith. Isn’t it? Doesn’t it have to be? Am I really saying that I don’t even think God can take care of my children?

Sometimes I feel like I’m holding this whole world, this whole small world of my children and family together alone. Without me it would fall apart, crash and burn, go hungry and wear dirty clothes. Isn’t that arrogant of me?

I feel like I should sum this up neatly with some scripture and how I’ve worked it all out, tied it up with a pretty bow and resolved this big fear of mine. But I can’t. I haven’t. So here it is. This is my mess.