Behind every little blog there is a lot of life. My niece is a part of ours and as such we're part of a story that isn't being told here. She's been in the hospital essentially since mid-August. All but roughly 2o days since first being admitted and diagnosed with leukemia have been spent in hospital. Six months.
In writing about the everyday nonsense that I record here I'm not pretending her story isn't happening. I want to be respectful of her privacy and also allow her story to be told in first person, by her. Or her parents. The thing is, that story is the backdrop to our lives right now and some days I struggle to write about the trivial. Let's face it, most of the stuff we blog about is trivial.
I have two choices. I stop writing or I write but refrain from talking about a piece of our very real family story on a daily basis. I've opted for the latter because writing has become a necessary outlet, but every now and then I feel the need to acknowledge here that a big chunk of our everyday life is not being talked about on my blog. And that's okay.
It was a quiet weekend here at the ole homestead and no, I don't live on a farm but I like that phrase. I live in the suburbs. With a lot of wildlife all around. So kinda like the woodland version of a homestead. What was I saying again? Hubs worked out his schedule so he could spend the weekend with his brother and sister in law and our niece. Sometimes when families are separated by geographical distance you need to get on an airplane and be near. I drowned myself in paperwork and attempted not to lift off the ground in the icky cold wind. It's still February in case anyone had begun to think otherwise.
How did I fill the rest of the weekend hours?
Well I got that pesky tax organizer submitted to the accountants so yay me! I also met with our attorney about updating our wills.
Wills and taxes.
Don't be jealous.
I had my second lesson with a local photographer.
I vacuumed.
I wrote.
I talked to my girls on the phone.
I listened to music.
I ran some errands.
I went to church.
I thought about the A-Z blog challenge coming up in April and tried to come up with a plan. If you'd like to join the fun go here to link up and get details. I participated last year and really enjoyed it. I used that month as an opportunity to record some of our happiest travel memories and it helped to have a theme. I sorta kinda maybe came up with one for this year's challenge.
It may or may not involve travel.
Remember how I said I have a big trip this spring?
Moving on.
The Oscars...did you watch?
I'm all about the fashion.
My favorites were Gwyneth Paltrow, Viola Davis, Jessica Chastain, and George Clooney's date-Stacy Kiebler. She had the best accessory, wink wink.
I wish I had Robin Roberts arms.
Just sayin'.
While I did a lot of writing this weekend I did not do a lot of picture taking. I made an attempt at capturing one of the February photo challenge prompts and that was Day 26-'night'.
There is something very comforting to me about seeing the moon in the night sky. No matter if its gloriously full and bright or the tiniest sliver of a fingernail it is a reminder at each day's end that Someone far bigger than me holds the universe and each one of us in it in the palm of His hand.
Nighttime pictures are tricky!! This is so pretty! Love you, love this post.
ReplyDeleteI loved Viola Davis's dress and her arms!! Some I wonder who dressed them? I will check out the A to Z challenge!
ReplyDeletehave a good week.
A prayer going out for your niece and the family. Joyce, you hit the nail on the head that sometimes you got to keep on "keepin on" and remember/write about/enjoy the little mundane things.
ReplyDeletePS: I love the moon too. That's why I'm fortunate to live in the state wit the crescent moon on it's flag, and in the beautiful Carolina sky.
I agree with Shannon, your night pic was awesome. They are very tricky!
ReplyDeleteOk, you've gotten me distracted this morning with the whole a-z thing. I've been checking out the homepage for the challenge and visiting others who have posted about it. I think I will join in! It would be a good exercise in consistency for me. I've got a few themes tumbling around in the brain. We'll see what I land on. Should be fun!
I'm looking forward to your a-z posts. Will the mystery be solved in April? :)
I think what's important for all of us to remember is that blogs are not journals. Blogs just offer a slice of life. There are some things that should remain personal. I think you've struck a good balance with your situation.
ReplyDeleteI think most bloggers do the same. Well, I know I do. I have been wondering how your niece is doing and keeping her in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteIf there's ever a good reason for the Hubs to be out of town on a weekend that was it. Sometimes a solo weekend is theraputic.
Have a great week!
Joyce,
ReplyDeleteI can relate very well to what you've shared. We have a situation in my own family that has been going on for several months that I can't share about. So, I choose to keep that issue private for personal reasons. My blog is a place for me to share much of my life, but there are some things that need to be left unsaid. Saying a prayer for you niece's complete healing.
Will remember your niece and all the family in prayer. What you consider to be trivia often may hold an idea or inspiration for others. Hoping that you have a good week.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear about your niece and I will keep her in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear about your niece, Joyce.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your lovely comment on my blog!
Just because you won't be posting about your niece doesn't mean that we won't be praying. Not everything that happens to those of us who blog is blog fodder ... and IMHO, that's exactly the way it should be ... all the more so if the story isn't ours to tell (which is why there are limited stories of and no photos of my Ts on my blog - their story is not mine to tell).
ReplyDeleteBeautiful night time photo ... I've tried taking pictures of the moon at night ... and failed miserably (of course, if I had a better [read more expensive] camera, I might have better luck).
I can't wait to see what you do with the A to Z challenge in April.
Yes, like you I am comforted by the moon. I remember reading one time a poem about the moon above being the same moon you see, my love. Or something like that.
ReplyDeleteI am continuing my prayers for your niece. My cousin's cancer was 2 long years of fight. I still hold my breath when she goes in for check ups.
Blessings!!!!
We need to update our wills too. Ours states a guardian for the kids and they are both married. I don't think they'd want to go live with their aunt and uncle if something happened to both of us. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear about the heretofore untold story. What a difficult time for everyone involved. We never know what is going on in the lives of people. So much sadness and grief in this fallen world. Sometimes it's difficult to watch as the world keeps turning, people keep going on with their lives - and no one seems to notice that we're suffering. May God give your niece comfort and confidence that He is still sovereign and good.
ReplyDeleteKathy and I will remember your niece in our prayers.
ReplyDeleteYour photo was very beautiful.
I clicked on the A-Z Challenge and signed up; wish me luck.
Thanks Joyce.
I do have your niece in my prayers. ((HUGS))
ReplyDeleteI did enjoy the Oscar's!
Oh, what a comfort that HE holds the universe. I'm so glad you mentioned your niece, I think of her often. What a journey!
ReplyDeleteYes, fashion is all I'm interested in at the Oscar's for sure.
Love the nighttime pic!
There's been a LOT of drama in my life that I refrain from blogging about. It seems weird at times, almost like I am pretending it does not exist.
ReplyDeletePraying for your niece.
Joyce,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear about your niece. I'm glad your hubs was able to get away to be with his brother and his family. I'm sure that meant the world to them.
I understand about leaving the private alone, and writing about the fun stuff. That is what most of us do here in blogland.
I didn't get to see the Oscars this year. Bummer.
Thanks for being such a great blog friend and for consistently coming over to check out what I have to write about. :) I appreciate it.
Hugs,
Carol
I just wanted to send hugs and prayers to you and your niece.
ReplyDeleteWow that pic is cool ;) tonight here we are able to see jupiter, saturn and mars
ReplyDeletei tagged you at my blog "tag your it" if you want to have some fun and get to know more about your fellow bloggers :)
Gina
Saying prayers for your niece and the whole family.
ReplyDeleteI am constantly amazed by the amount of sadness that we humans live with on a daily basis. It seems like it would be too much to endure, but with God's strength, it is possible. Hugs to all of you. You're an amazing woman and an incredible aunt. What a blessing you are to that sweet girl. Prayers being said constantly.
ReplyDelete