Blogging In Morse Code

As the new school year started, I had been contemplating how (if at all) to make use of the blog throughout the year.
I had already dealt with the creepiness of total cyber-strangers leering at the photos of my children on here and (as you may have noticed) removed most of the arklings' photos.
I knew that I still wanted to have a place to document our days and memories that would be easy for me to maintain. But, and most importantly, I wanted to make sure that my time here did not detract from my primary vocation as wife and mother (including teaching!)

My solution?

A style of blogging I'm calling "morse code".

When I have time to sit and write something well thought-out, carefully edited, particularly poignant--I will. These longer posts are important to documenting our journey, but the reality is that I can't do that often if I'm living intentionally offline--where eager learners beckon me to teach and God's call to ministry is firmly on my heart. Where providing for my family's needs are a light yoke when I don't overburden myself elsewhere--including online. Where I can delight in the trials and tales of my children without the concern or need to share every single anecdote with the world wide web. Some of those moments, while possibly perfect for a journal, will be kept not on a keyboard but in my heart instead.

When I don't have the time to write it all down, but have a few minutes to share an interesting link to a place we've been, an article I've read or a recipe we're eating (and, oh my, there are a few out there right now!)--I will. These shorter posts fill in some of the details of our life and never required a lengthy diatribe anyway.

Short--short--long. Short--long--short--short.

Morse code blogging.

I think I like it.

A Little Something on the Side

In my spare time, (insert maniacal laughter here) I've been helping our local Catholic family network hop on the information superhighway. Stop by and check out our new site. If you live in the Fox Valley area-- check back often. There's quite a bit going on!

3 Years Old and then some...

Happy Birthday!

To my little blog.

I can't believe how old you've gotten. Where has the time gone? I can't remember a time when you weren't a part of life here on the Ark. Thank you for three great years!

And to my dad.

(I'd repeat, "I can't believe how old you've gotten" but I'm confident it would be met with a reminder of just how old that makes me...)

Happy Birthday! We love you!

And dear Mary.

(The same Mary who when I announced her birthday yesterday, two of my older children scrunched up their brows and said, "Mary who?")

Today we're hosting a birthday party for you with a few of our friends. We will celebrate your perfect example of motherhood and discipleship.

(I also told The Boy that Jesus kept Mary's birthday in his Outlook so He wouldn't forget to buy her a gift. The same-scholarship-having-Boy again looked at me and asked, "Are you being serious?" Remind me to sign him up for a computer class.)

Today is a great day for a celebration! Be sure to join the fun!

Getting Closer

...to a blog resolution. It looks like the status quo will be victorious. Until an official re-launch happens, this blog remains "public" and comments (although moderated) are back on.

600 Down

And nearly 600 more to go...renovations continue here on the Ark. Who knew blog ownership could be so time consuming?

Sigh.

Change of Plans

Lots of behind the scenes blog work going on here on the Ark. If you've emailed me about the launch of the "private" Ark blog, I apologize for not yet responding...but consider yourself on "the list".

In the meanwhile, there are a few changes going on here on the "public" Ark, which will allow me to keep it open while protecting my family's online security.

Comments, however, remain closed at this time. But feel free to e-me. ;-)

In Which I Make A Decision

Thanks for the emails wondering what prompted me to abruptly shut down comments. I admit it was a bit of a rash decision, but where my family is involved, I can be like that.

I've been waffling back and forth since with the bigger question. If some internet cretin can come on my blog and randomly make comments that leave me uneasy about sharing my family here, can I truly share them here without concern?

I felt like I had two options:

1---Keep the blog.

2---Dump the blog.

I love writing here and having this keepsake of our family's story. I'd love to pass a copy of it along to each of my children someday (Heaven knows, they won't have any hand-crafted scrapbooks left by me). But I won't put them at risk (or my mental health worrying about their safety) to do so.

The thought of completely erasing our memories with a single keystroke just kills me.

Which left me with one final option: take this blog private.

This is not my ideal solution. I've appreciated new visitors (and most) new commentors and old friends who catch up with me via this funny little medium.

So, I'm leaving this post up for a few days. If you'd like to keep reading here as a member, please feel free to email me at patjrsmom AT yahoo DOT com and let me know. Probably by the weekend I'll have made the switch.

If our paths diverge here, let me thank you for visiting and for riding along with us for a while.

God Bless,
Jane

Done

Comments are closed here indefinitely. If you have something nice to say, you know how to reach me. And if you don't, then you probably shouldn't be saying anything at all anyway.

The Dependable Blogger

At first glance, that title seems quite misplaced around this neglected part of the blogosphere. But bear with me a little longer and you'll see just how it fits.

When I first started this blog, it was out of sheer convenience for keeping a multitude of friends and family informed as we navigated the adoption process for the first time. A second short while later, we were adopting again and so the purpose of this blog was once again streamlining communications regarding our adoption.

But if you've been reading here for a while, our most recent adoption has been fraught with ups and downs: We've become first-name-only customers at our local pharmacy. I have the Pediatric Sub specialty Hospital on speed dial...in my cell phone. It has taken every ounce of energy of every person on board the ark to get through the longest days and weeks we've faced over the past eight months.

And it's left me with much to think about.

Little things like: Will my laundry room ever be clean again? (answer: probably not)

And big things like: What things can be scaled back (I mean waaaayyyy back)? What things are really important?

Given the squeaky-wheel-nature of a family of seven grade-school and younger children and a frequent-flier husband, I didn't need to wait long for an answer. Hence, the lack of blogging happening around here in this season on the Ark. It was quite clear to me that as soon as my children and family were competing with blogging, it was time for a re-organization of priorities.

The summer will be different, I think. Lazier days and fewer obligations will allow for more time to upload photos and write out thoughts---but maybe not.

I know that breaks every law in the blogging universe. If I want a high-traffic site, I have to maintain it more than once a month. A good blogger is dependable. Reliable. Someone you can count on.

There's truth to that logic, but it stretches far beyond blogging. If I can't be dependable, reliable and someone to count on first and foremost in my home than I was never a very good blogger after all.

What God Will Ask (Blog Version)
by yours truly(with apologies to the original author)

God will not ask you what your Google page rank is, but He will ask where He ranked in your daily life.

God will not ask you if you're powered by Typepad, Wordpress or Blogger, but He will ask if your work was powered by His love for you and for others.

God will not ask you how many followers you had, but He will ask if you followed Him when it mattered most.

God will not ask the size of your Technorati score is, but He will ask the size of your heart for others--especially those whom He has entrusted to you.

God will not ask what the traffic visiting your blog looked like, but He will ask if you took the time to welcome the people who visited your home.

God will not ask if your template was original and creative, but He will ask if you marveled at His perfect, original creation when you looked in the eyes of your child.

God will not ask about the number of blogs you read, but He will ask how much time you spent reading His word.

God will not ask about the number of comments each post received, but He will ask if you made time for conversation when your child or spouse called your name.

God will not ask how important your blog was, but He will ask if through it you just might have found what was truly important.

We're Back!

We spent the past few days on a lovely family mini-vacation in Wisconsin. I have a few pictures to upload of our trip, but I found a few emails from people when I returned saying that they were having trouble seeing/reading recent posts on my blog. Particularly when using the blog's main address (www.buildingtheark.blogspot.com).

Anyone else out there having trouble? (This is really a rather insane question, isn't it? If you aren't able to read my blog posts how will you be able to answer this question?)

I guess a better question is...Can anyone read this new post?

Wasting My Precious Spare Time

Like I had nothing better to do this morning than clean up my inbox and related comments section from the attack of a spam-bot.

Word verification is back on. Sorry to my non-spamming friends.

Last Minute Valentine Fun!

I smiled to myself as I read Barbara's recent post (chock full of great Valentine ideas, by the way) that this year, she was posting a little closer to the holiday than last year. I could certainly relate. Last year, I shared this post of Valentine's Day activities in late January--a full 3 weeks before St. Valentine's Day!

But, with my early posting I never found the time to actually do any of them!

This year, however, there will be no new Valentine activity post.

There will be a last-minute link to last year's ideas and then there will be pictures.

A few random shots of the supplies used for the Heart Hunt, Love Match and a new addition Roll-A-Heart!
(Just a simple game where a die is cast and players collect the corresponding number of hearts for each number rolled...up to a predetermined number. Could even be mathematically modified for older learners)

Because this year, we're spending more time celebrating Valentine's Day and less time blogging about it.

Happy Valentine's Day!

**Oh, and I'll let you know our high school decision over the weekend!***

And Now For Something Completely Unimportant

I've been trying to streamline my blog habit. Initially, Google Reader was my hero. I could put all of the blogs I like to follow in one place and read new posts all together.

Super efficient, right?

Then, Blogger introduced the "Followers" widget. Genius, I could simply click and add blogs I read instantly from said site without the *inconvenience* of needing to be in Google Reader.

And, through the beautiful marriage of Google and Blogger, I had the added bonus of being able to import all of these blogs into my Google Reader.

But, I'm wanting more.

One of the best things about blogging, in my opinion, is the opportunity to connect with other bloggers. So, if you are visiting here on the Ark, and you have a blog of your own (even if you just started it yesterday), let me know you're here by "following" this blog and then I can click on over and "follow" yours.

Now that would make me smile.

Success! Well, Almost...

I have managed to make my post titles appear in Google Reader and on Blogger. All by myself! Big success for a 8th grade Algebra drop-out. I now know more about atoms and rssesses (seriously, what is the plural of that? rssi?) than I ever intended or wanted to know. I believe I even fixed the feed problem in Bloglines (who decided to dis the Ark earlier today for some unknown feed-related issue).

Now, if I could just figure out why my alphabetized Google Reader list shows my blog after the Wall Street Journal.

No A for this Q

While I appreciate your vast knowledge of the infomercial market, I am still stuck with a title-less feed.

Help! How do I fix this?

I mean what good is a blog with no titles?

Something's Gotta Give

And, after some time alone with God, I clearly heard His voice saying that this blog (at least for now) did not make the short list.

For some strange reason, God has chosen the Ark to entrust His precious daughter, aka our Baby Girl. This new arrangement is full of new and uncharted territory that we are learning again to lean heavily on God to chart our course.

So, until He says otherwise, I'll be working deep within the bowels of the ship, forging ahead through stormy seas, and waiting for our first port of call.

If you haven't had a chance to sign our virtual baby book, please don't forget to do so. I've read and been so grateful for each and every note, prayer and blessing bestowed upon our darling daughter.

Back To School With A Purpose--Final Edition

And the winners are...





Michelle, of Dei Gratia, whose name was pulled first for the Catholic Classics Volume VII African-American Sacred Songs and Anne Marie, whose name came up second for the book, Audrey. (Email me and I'll arrange to get your goodies to you both!)



Thank you to everyone! My heart (and my duffel bag) couldn't be more full!

Building The Ark: The Toddler Years

Going down in history "On this day..." there are many noteworthy events:

First off, today my dear old dad was born.

Next, the world was graced--literally--on this day with the birth of our Blessed Mother.

And, trying not to steal the limelight from these two...is the birthday of this blog!

The Ark is now officially two years old, which means we won't be sharing well, playing nicely with others, using our inside voice and will probably need a nap. It will depend on the day moment whether we have a full blown toddler meltdown complete with leg-flailing and sippy cup throwing.

The good news is if you stick around long enough, we should grow out of it.

Please leave us a comment to say hi if you've been reading here awhile. Maybe our moms can schedule a play date for us?

No! Really, don't leave without saying 'hi'? It would be a good idea, trust me. Remember, the warning:

We are TWO now...and prone to hysterical tantrums when we don't get our way.

Oh, goody! We are just tickled you reconsidered. Please excuse us now, I believe it's time for Barney.

Link Round-Up

Why have I never heard of the Freebie O' The Day site? How is it that I almost missed out on free Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit facial scrub? Thanks to Faith, that won't be happening again!

Looking to make your own Frappuccino? Craving a Cherry Slurpee? How about an Orange Julius? These yummy, FREE recipes were also courtesy of Faith! She sent us this excellent link to the Everyday Cheapskate's Icy, Cold Summer Drinks.

To go along with these tasty frozen treats, why not stop over at The Catholic Company for these Family Friendly Movies and DVDs? If you haven't seen it, I can't recommend Champions of Faith enough. Our family loved it!

In case you missed it in my Google Reader in the sidebar, this week's Catholic Carnival is over at A Catholic Mum Climbing the Pillars! Ebeth has done a fantastic job of hosting this week and there are several wonderful, inspiring entries. Definitely make a stop there!

Before it's next Wednesday, here's our belated Wordless Wednesday picture! Can you even stand the little ham hocks on her little legs?! And to think that this baby was failing to thrive! That was before her name went straight from our lips to God's ears! What a miracle!


For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

Back to School...With a Purpose!

I think I've finally gotten a handle on creating those pesky little blog buttons. Too much time on my hands and too little knowledge of html code can be dangerous...and time consuming!

Check back later for details!

Ooooh! I'm so excited about this...