Truth and realizations

I have been trying to blog for a few days now yet everytime I come to this space, I feel deflated.  There is so much going on around here and yet there are no pictures to share.  Many projects being worked on but none being shared.  After much inner search I should share this…  I lied.  I told all of you that I was completely unphased by the comments left to me by an anonymous person.  Comments which were meant to discourage me and let myself think that my life is not as rosy as I paint it.  Well, guess what…I did get a little upset (not by the accusations mind you but by the feeling of intrusion by someones judgment) and that feeling planted a little seed which grew into the realization that if I keep my little life open to the world via this blog, there will always be someone who will criticize me, us for the way we live, where we live, how many children we have, what we eat or don’t eat, where that food comes from and that thought has haunted me everytime I have tried in vain to write.

What are my intentions for this blog?  Where do I see it going and what expectations do I have for the future here?  I had intended on writing much more this year and I am off to a terrible start.  I don’t have the answer to any of my questions.  That bothers me!  I know only this, that I started this blog to share because I love community and realized some time ago that there is a great chance for community in the blog world.  One person sharing her life, one mom sharing what works for her, one family sharing the beauty in their world.  Is it perfect, well no.  No ones world is perfect.  Do I share enough of the not so pretty side, well, no.  But there is enough of that in the world already.  So for now, I will continue to share my little life in the hopes that it will help to remind me of all the times I have had with friends and family in the future and a place to record our ups and downs.

I will begin to post my Stash Bash again next Thursdsay if you would like to join me and I hope to share with you all this year my efforts at being more frugal as well as moving our homesteading efforts forward.

Thank you so very much for coming here and checking in on me.  You are the reason that I dig deep and write it all out here.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or follow me by email at the top right hand of the screen to have future posts sent to you. Tricia (Crunchy Catholic Momma)

23 Responses to Truth and realizations

  1. Jawed Ali January 22, 2013 at 10:28 am #

    Funny Epic Girls, Troll Images of Girls, Girls Funny and Loll, Funny Hot Pictures of Girlshotentertainnews.blogspot.com

  2. Amy Caroline January 16, 2013 at 3:17 pm #

    It is amazing how one little snide comment can send us reeling. I have had it happen to me more than once and I always reacted badly. I am better about it now, because I realize that some people, sadly enough, only feel good about themselves when they are hurting others. It is nothing personal. I LOVE your blog and hope you keep writing. I love having you in my blogging community!

  3. Juliana January 15, 2013 at 10:41 pm #

    Dear 'Crunchy Momma' – you are awesome and I love your blog.With love and appreciation,Juliana (in Australia)

  4. Anonymous January 15, 2013 at 3:30 pm #

    This line says it all!"Do I share enough of the not so pretty side, well, no. But there is enough of that in the world already."

  5. Olivia Lane January 15, 2013 at 2:52 am #

    I've been blogging for a long time with various blogs and I know it hurts to be judged and people on the internet can be really mean. Always remember that most people who visit your blog are grateful for what you are doing and that you are choosing to write because it makes your soul shine. Spread the light, girl! 🙂 I just found your blog and am happy it is here. Thank you.

  6. Uglemor January 14, 2013 at 9:44 pm #

    By the way – the only thing I don't like about your blog is the Live Traffic Feed-thingy in your side bar. I feel spied upon a little bit. Do you get anything good out of having it there?

  7. Uglemor January 14, 2013 at 9:39 pm #

    Agree with all the above, miss your Stash-bashing, am curious about your ear-operation, and envious of your many children (I have "only" 6). Do please continue writing, I only just recently found your blog, but am already longing for more.

  8. Sarah January 14, 2013 at 12:36 pm #

    I'm really glad to see all these posts of encouragement and it makes me think of something that we all do that is unfair to ourselves and to those who care about us….who DO appreciate what we do (whether it's your blog, family life, or anything else)….I think it's human nature to let one nasty naysayer's cruel comments (and yeah, embolded by the fact that they could remain anonymous and tell you what they fume about everytime they see a large family at a store, etc) to overwhelm all the love we've been shown by others. Okay, reading my own comment here I'm trying to think if it's coming off the way I want it to. Maybe let me put it this way….I catch myself doing that all the time – for instance, I'm pregnant with baby number 3. When I told my "Mr. Downtown, I'll-never-have-kids because I relish my independence and selfishness proudly" brother that I was expecting, all he could say was that he was speechless. Like I'm insane or something to WANT another child. He said he didn't even know what to say (I felt he was disgusted with me) and I told him "how about 'congratulations???'" He couldn't say it. To this day I'm still angry with his reaction – to the point where I have little to do with him anymore. Somewhere along the way in the last few months of feeling hurt by that reaction, I suddenly felt that I had unjustly allowed ONE person's negative reaction to bear more weight than all the friends and loved ones who showered us with congratulations and joy. I felt something akin to guilt at the realization that doing so was like a put-down to all those who were so positive on our behalf. Does that make sense? Like an examination of conscience thing. The anyonymous person who hurt you so badly should not be allowed to outweigh the rest of us who love your blog and admire your life decisions, etc. I'm still struggling with my brother's nastiness, but when I catch myself in that mode, I remind myself of those who DO support me and try not to belittle their support by allowing his stupidity to snuff out their loving support. Wow, I'm rambling – just trying to get a point across that feels very hard to explain at the moment. Last point? I would bet that this person is all about "choice"….and they have ZERO respect for yours…ironic, isn't it? …and typical.

  9. creativityblueprint January 14, 2013 at 2:08 am #

    It can seriously be so hard to deal with uncharitable comments online. You are wonderful, though! The thing that you understand that those others don't is that you have hope in our God and are open to his Will in your life! That is huge. Keep doing your thing if that's what you feel called to do. You help others and you've definitely helped me. Big families are still somewhat of a foreign/scary concept to me, but your blogging helps me to see the abundant blessings of being open to life. You "normalize" something that, for most of my life, has not seemed "normal." I'm finding out how backwards our culture can be about family. So, thank you!

  10. Josée January 13, 2013 at 11:22 pm #

    These is something about the anonymity of the internet that makes some people feel like they can be very unkind. It can be difficult not to take such negative comments to heart. I just want to say that I really enjoy reading what you have to share and I believe that bless many through your blog. I hope that you continue blogging.

  11. Debbie Jones January 13, 2013 at 7:53 pm #

    So sorry to hear that you are getting negative comments. I feel like we, in the blogging community, should inspire and encourage each other with our posts or comments, or just say nothing at all. You seem to have a lovely family and many good ideas. God bless you for your efforts to live according to His will.

  12. Tina January 13, 2013 at 2:07 pm #

    I, for one, would LOVE to have a family as large as yours! While I'm a quiet reader and just hang in the background, I have learned so much from your blog. Are your children taken care of? Are they loved? From your posts, I know the answer to both questions is YES!We will be keeping you in our prayers, as this seems to be resting heavy on your heart.Psalm 55:22 "Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved."

  13. Brigitte January 13, 2013 at 5:04 am #

    I find your blog inspiring and encouraging. My four daughters are grown, so I enjoy watching little ones again through your family life. Sometimes I am just wistful that we do not live as faithfully, for example I am planning a wedding too, but my daughter is living with her fiancé. But I really enjoy your blog.

  14. crayonapron January 13, 2013 at 4:50 am #

    Hello, I am a long time follower, short time stash basher, minimal commenter. I, personally, think your blog is wonderful. It has been very inspiring to me on many levels and whenever I feel like giving up on blogging myself (I tend to be my worst commenter), I know I can always look to you for motivation. Not only motivation on blogging but on Catholicism too. I am a married into Catholic and I have a lot to learn, sometimes I learn more from this blog then I do other places! Thank you and I hope all of us super supportive followers can help you feel a little more light and a little more courageous on your blogging journey! I will see you for this weeks stash bash and I will keep coming back for it.

  15. Stacy January 13, 2013 at 4:35 am #

    I truly hope you continue sharing your life with us. I am (so far) blessed with two children and dream of having a much larger family. It is a hard dream and there seems no shortage of people wanting to squash it. Reading your blog encourages me to follow my heart and what the Lord has laid upon it, regardless of the opinions of others. Don't be tempted to put your lamp under a bowl, many others are inspired by it! xo

  16. Peggy January 13, 2013 at 1:17 am #

    I have wondered what was happening in your part of the world.don't let a stranger steal your happiness.Sending you much love and blessings from above.

  17. Jessica January 13, 2013 at 1:13 am #

    Tricia, just want to offer some encouragement and tell you how much I really love your blog! I started reading maybe a year ago, and to be honest with you I was very new to the crunchy/earthy/DIY/self-sufficiency thing. I started reading your blog and I was hooked! I've been doing a weeky rhythm thanks to you, and I've read up on gardening and knitting and am slowly taking up (and LOVING) both. You are an inspiration and I'm sorry that I rarely comment to tell you so! I'm so sorry that someone hurt your feelings. You're raising good people and the world will never have enough of those. Thank you for your example and your blog! 🙂

  18. Peg January 13, 2013 at 12:48 am #

    Wonderful seeing you today and now just seeing this post later! As I told you today, I LOVE reading your blog and like hearing the beauty and positiveness you write. Good news and sometimes even just touching sad news, but deep from your heart and it touches mine.I have to tell you though, I marvel over your energy and organization that you are able to actually DO what many people dream of, even if they have a small family! And not only do you DO it, you are actually able to spend time writing about it, taking pictures and sharing them! It really, really amazes me and gives me hope that I might do something similar.If you think it would feel good to write and share more often and can do so, fine but certainly don't feel that you are not doing enough already! I have a few blogs I read regularly, allowing them to be deposited into my inbox and if there are too many (more than once a week, maybe?) then I will start to feel that I can't get them all read and I don't want to miss any!

  19. Lily Anne January 13, 2013 at 12:35 am #

    So sorry you had to read such an post. I enjoy your writings and am glad you still plan on writing for yourself as well as sharing with us. Please your friends here that look forward to your posts in our inboxes! You really brighten my day. xoxo

  20. Anonymous January 12, 2013 at 8:21 pm #

    I went back to refresh my memory of that post and my comment wasn't there so perhaps I didn't press the right button (seem to be doing that a lot lately 🙁 ) Anyway, what I think I said then, and now, is that person wrote a load of tosh. Large families in the UK are usually among the greenest because we recycle, pass things down and are generally pretty frugal anyway because we have to be LOL. I only have 6 and well remember the comments passed after no 3 onwards. These were intended for my ears or said directly to me, much the same as has been said to you. Very hurtful, yes, but in the end it is only an opinion and usually an erroneous opinion through ignorance, at that. Try not to dwell on it if you can; that sort of thing does dent ones confidence but you can rise above it and push it aside. Those of us with large families are truly blessed, even when some of them are a pain in the neck LOL. Caroline in Hampshire

  21. meagan January 12, 2013 at 6:01 pm #

    That was so tactfully written and I say " go you!". I live your blog, if people don't, they shouldn't read it. I look for to the next one, keep your chin up 🙂

  22. Lori ann January 12, 2013 at 5:29 am #

    it's okay dear, you did not lie, of course your feelings were affected. i wish it were as easy to delete such comments from the blog page as from your mind. i would write what makes you happy, there is no harm in that. sending peace and love to you.

  23. Anonymous January 12, 2013 at 3:25 am #

    Please keep writing. I have learned a lot over the years from your posts. I have also felt less isolated and validated in staying home to be with my boys. Thanks. I hope you are feeling better. -12 years of Catholic school and YOU taught me about the 12 days of Christmas.

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