Isn't it amazing....

DISCLAIMER - I probably should warn you that today's blog is not all happy happy - So please be advised - if you are looking for happy happy you might NOT want to read the following!

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You know - I had great reservations when I started this blog.... What would I say? What could I possible share? Why would anyone even want to read what I had to write? But I did it (thanks from the huge huge push from my friend Chris).... and it has become very therapeutic in a way.

I am totally SHOCKED that I have over 200 readers a day coming to my site to see what I had to say! I LOVE the fact that so many people are so nice and caring. I think it is amazing that I have people who are willing to give me their thoughts and insights on my files. It is a huge help that when I have designers block - there are so many people that are willing to help me with idea's for future files. It is unbelievable the friends I have made from my blog, the people I have been able to help learn how to use their cutter. I love that I have even helped people purchase their first cutter! As a matter of fact - not only do I LOVE these things - I am VERY VERY VERY thankful for them!!!

Now don't get me wrong - keeping a blog has it down moments as well!!! For example it is a huge time theft. It really does take a large amount of my time each day to sit here and type up an entry - and then if it is a day where I am offering a free download - well that takes a ton more time as I have to upload each file, create the terms of each file and then post the links here so my readers can get them. And then if I don't post for whatever reason - my in box fills up with comments of "Where are you? Are you OK? Is anything wrong?" (And that isn't a bad thing, it is just what happens!!)

Then you add to the fact that some readers feel like they "KNOW" me... let me rest assured this blog does NOT reflect my whole life. I am very careful about what I post on here and what I do not. Being a military wife I am very well aware of OPSEC and I follow it daily - not only to protect my husband but to protect my own safety.

So when I get a comment in the comment sections like this (from an Anonymous poster):

"You have a beautiful home, you have a partner to share your life with - and share a sunrise, great view or even to hug you when you are down... get a life kid, some people don't even know where their next crust of bread will come from - and you complain that your birthday and christmas presents haven't turned up yet! You suck today little miss prissy - you are losing sight of your faith"

I think it is pretty sad that you judge me! It is even sadder that you feel the need to call me school yard names!! You don't know me. You don't know what I am dealing with on a minute by minute, hour by hour or day by day! Do you have to deal daily with the knowledge that one of your parents is terminally ill? Do YOU live everyday worried about the health of your family members? Or better yet - have you ever got up frantic in the middle of the night because you forgot to leave the front porch light on and heaven forbid the US ARMY needs to find your house to tell you your husband was killed in combat? Have you ever been scared to turn into your subdivision because you are scared that they may already be waiting in your driveway? Have you sat by side your best friend while they lowered the coffin of her husband in the ground because the US Army DID come knocking on HER door?

This is MY space - I share what I want to share when I want to share it.... if you are so insulted by my thoughts, feelings, or the things I share - go somewhere else! If you are soooo concerned with those who don't know where they are going to get their next meal from - maybe you should be volunteering your time helping them instead of reading someone else blog and criticizing and calling them names. No one ever said you HAD to read my blog!!

(WHEEW! Sorry - I really just needed to get that off my chest!!!)

NOW - for everyone else that does read my blog (and hopefully you are still reading) - THANK YOU!!!! Really I mean that from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for your support, thank you for your wonderful comments! I want you to know that I really do try very very very hard not to be a Debbie Downer (DD)! I have been to blogs that when I read them they just bring me down. They make me sad or they depress me. And I never want to intentionally do that to my readers. But I do want to make this blog as real as I can... I have had comments in the past about how I am always so funny, so cheerful so happy - don't I ever have a bad day? And the answer is yes! Yes I do!!! And yesterday was one of them.

I am choosing to take this comment from the ever so brave ANONYMOUS poster and say - you have the right to say what you want to say - to feel and think what you want to feel! (Make sure you thank a Service Member for that!)

As for me.... I am going to FOCUS on the good in the world - the nice comments and the wonderful friends I have made due to this blog!!!!

Until Next Time!

Cya~
Lori

P.S - In the future I am going to try to "FOCUS" on making this blog a useful, helpful, friendly, cheerful. Hence, I encourage you to please make comments (I LOVE READING YOUR COMMENTS), but if they are not nice or friendly - or if you feel a need to be negative or call me or others names - unless you leave YOUR name the comment will not be published. Thanks!