I've taken a long break from blogging for many reasons, most importantly because of time and just adding one more thing to life. And I wonder if any of you ever compare others blogs and think they are smarter, funnier, have cooler backgrounds, are better at writing, or more talented at pictures with fancier cameras. I have totally felt that way before.  But randomly tonight I got online and started reading some blogs. I realized how great having a blog really is. I miss it. I miss having little details and memories recorded so that we could laugh about them later. Blogging is a form of raw journaling and it doesn't have to be perfect. Or daily. Or even weekly. And no fancy camera needed. It is just about putting down the details that help others know we are real and then maybe recording it all so that we can remember the spectacular little small, simple, momentarily mundane miracles that are truly the tapestry of life in all of its colors.
 

I have been lifted by reading how others have taken their lives and made the best of it for better or worse. We can write about making stronger families and homes and turning lemons into lemonade. That is the type of blog I want to have. I love lemonade and our supply of lemons is beautifully plentiful around here as trials continue to test and try the very core of what we are made of.
 
   

So here we go again and please forgive me if 99% of what I write is for my children to read someday with a laugh and remember how silly their mom was...

This is Draperland, almost 2 years later.