wonderful to see you out here again Lisa!!! I love your blog - I too stepped away, but I'm not much of a blogger ... more of a follower ;-) there were a ton of blogs that I used to read daily, but I found it took too much time away from me being a mom - stepping back is good and healthy - we need to regroup now and then - I hope this new year brings you motivation in ways that are nothing but good for you!!!

LOVING my amazing and crazy life with boys and school and sports ... despite the fact that I'm also AVOIDING the self care I so desperately need ;-)

so wonderful to see your post out here today!!! glad you're back in the blogging world - I still follow you :-) it made me smile to read your honesty today - THAT is why I read your blog - I want to know about you and your thoughts - I love your creativity as well, but your personality is what keeps me coming back :-)

wow ... this is spot on for so many areas of ones life ... it's the child we're feeding ... not the adult ... WOW! this is a great wake up for me this morning ;-) not sure where this came from (or if I have it totally right), but I try to remind myself of this: there is a mean, vicious tiger inside of each of us - there is also a loving, nice tiger in there - and they are both hungry - which one is going to win? the one you feed! (figuratively I'm sure) this is all a process - a process through life in finding balance and what works on any given day or period thanks so much for sharing everything you're going through - your experience has been a positive thing for me!!!

this is a GREAT topic!!! (I might be related to the militia you're speaking of BTW ...) while i was raised to write a thank you note every single time i should, today is different (and sometimes unfortunately ...) receiving a hand-written "thank you" in the mail always puts a smile on my face! but giving a gift is just that - GIVing a GIFT if you give because you expect something, you have missed the point of giving - even if it's just a "thank you" you would like because so many things are sent through the mail, I do believe it's nice to at least inform the sender that you received their package ... so they are aware ... all in all, what matters is that you do what makes you feel good and teach your children the best you can - that's all I can do myself and I'm trying to do my best - even though I don't measure up to other people's standards - thank goodness I've stopped trying to do that ;-)

great questions to ask!!! I wonder myself how I can be more consistent blogging (even though I only have family reading mine) I enjoy all of the things you put out here - not just your craftiness, but also your day to day experiences makes me feel that I'm kinda normal ;-) lots of times I hear about other sites through you, so I enjoy that you share info about other sites out here!! when you write about something that matters to you, or is important in your life, rest assured that others feel the same and it's nice to know that we're not alone - keep writing!!! p.s. I am sick of winter too ;-)

love the facelift!!! I usually read your blog through Google Reader so don't always see your page, but this is wonderful!!! good job :-)

this post is wonderful - thank you I found it through a comment posted on another blog a couple years ago - wild! I became "that" person this year when my husband passed and it made me smile to read your list of 10 ... because I have these people in my life, and now I know how to be one myself ;-)

thanks for sharing about The 3/50 Project!!! I hadn't heard about it before, but I'm so glad to be able to share it ;-) congrats on your recent move!! hope the unpacking went well - looking forward to reading about some of your craftiness ;-)

(not sure how I navigated to this post today, but there must be a reason ...) I remember reading this post some time last year and it made me cry then. A year ago a friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer, but now is doing well. We lost a dear friend suddenly last December, then two months later my husband passed away in an avalanche. This post takes on new meaning to me today. Thank you so much for sharing this. I love the way you express yourself through writing. You put into words on paper (screen) what I can't seem to get out of my head. I'm in a scrapping slump. A creative slump. Simply a slump. Can't seem to get back to enjoying the simple things in life. Reading this reminded me why I have no choice. Life does go on. And regardless of how I "deal", life is worth living. Thanks Cathy.

just checked out your blog site - first time in a while and I love the new layout!!! (sorry if I'm a bit behind - I usually keep up with your postings through Google Reader) thanks for sharing your creativity - mine has been severly lacking, and I'm SO ready to kick it back in gear - thanks for the inspiration!!! :-)

still reading - and can totally relate - thanks for being honest! AND for continuing to share your creativity :-) enjoy CHA!!! it's on "my list" ... one of these days ...

this was a great entry Angie - thank you! I'm finding it very hard to remember the "real" reasons why these days ... why I'm happy to be an American ... why I am fortunate and blessed ... why I am who I am! it's so important to keep these things in mind - thank you!!!!!

what a terrific idea!!! thanks so much for sharing - I'm going to have to copy this one ;-)

Beth, you rock!!! thank you SO much for participating in the blog hop - it's Thursday now and I'm just getting the chance to get out and catch up on my 'blog viewing' - you grrrls are SO wonderful!!! my eyes are dripping wet with tears of happiness - thank you so much - sure miss you!!!!!!!! :-)

LOVE your ideas ... they are the BEST! ;-) thanks for sharing them in the short video clips ... you've got my wheels spinning!!

thanks for sharing ... that's part of releasing ... just getting it out ... and it IS a good thing!!! although I can't relate to the ringing, I can certainly relate to the non-stop, go-go-go that just wears you out completely through and through ... a real good rest sounds just like what the doc might order ... I hope you are able to find some silence!!! :-)

this salad sounds FANTASTIC!!!! I love fresh stuff - and ways to change it up because it's easy to get in a rut ;-) thanks for sharing - can't wait to try it!

Lain, this is great - thanks so much for the little reminders - I know many of us forget these things often (at least I do!) and it's so nice to remember the reasons ...

great job Cathy! thanks so much for sharing your progress - and your great page layouts :-) can't say that I'm doing good in the "care for me" side of life, but there is hope (as you so graciously reminded me) ;-) and right now I'm in the prayer stage still ... how the heck do you keep up with all these comments?! (reading your first clean & simple book right now - page by page - LUV it!!!!)

yippee!!! so looking forward to seeing you on TV again :-) I love your techniques, but also your explanations - you're a terrific teacher! saw your layout over on Pencil Lines today as well - fantastic!! love your take on the sketch ;-)

hey Beth - I just stumbled upon your blog this evening and I love it!! SO nice to see you out here! we sure miss you ;-) glad to see things are well with you - sounds like you're still crazy busy in the scrappin world - it's great to see you out here still :-) (BTW - I did go back to read your first post - and I loved it!!)

congrats for being over at Pencil Lines!! love that blog and really love your layouts!! ;-)

great to see you out here Lisa!! love your layout :-)