Hi there....remember me? It's been bugging me for days (ok, weeks maybe) that I haven't been blogging....all it took was a few nudges from friends and a sleepless night with a head cold and here I am. I'm proud to announce that it wasn't so long between posts that I forgot my password...got it on the first attempt this time. That's gotta count for something, right?;). I wish I could tell you I've been busy, sick or tired and that's why I've been so quiet....it's not. Actually, I have been busy (marathon training is serious stuff), we have all been sick (stomach bugs, fevers, coughs and congestion have been raging in our house and I have been tired (apparently three year olds with broken bones don't get much sleep. More on that later.)....but all excuses aside, I've been off developing thicker skin for awhile.

You know that saying that it takes five compliments to make up for one criticism? Or something to that effect, you get the point. Well, it's true. And maybe when you already have insecurity issues, it takes about fifty compliments to erase the doubt of a single critic. My posts are vulnerable. That's kind of the point of them. Being real with you forces me to dig deep within myself and recognize areas in my life that God is working to stretch me. I also hope that in doing so, every now and then I will strike a chord with someone reading and that my vulnerability will let you know that you're not alone. That in this crazy ride of life, marriage, motherhood, just being a girl....we're all in it together. What I forget is that every now and then(or more often than not for all I know) there will be someone that reads what I'm saying and has no idea where I'm coming from. And wants to let me know. Well, I've been learning to be ok with that. Sticks and stones, right?

Starting off my Detox study, I said that I was going to be sharing with you on each topic....and I haven't. On purpose. The themes, while all different, have all had the same significance for me (over and over again each week). In my life it's been in a good way but I don't want to beat a dead horse with all of you. You see, whether it's negative thoughts, self acceptance, body image or comparison, the point keeps getting driven home that I care waaaaaaay too much about things that don't matter (other people's opinions to name just one!) and I don't love myself or give myself nearly enough credit (which is just as prideful as thinking I am (as my niece would say) the bomb.com) and that I need to get a grip and spend my time and energy on what really matters and that true beauty will come from the overflow of that. This study has been incredible for me. I've been learning much and digging deep and I'm so thankful for seasons of refinement in my life. There is something so beautiful about recognizing the ugliness you've got going on and picking up your feet and walking away from it. One measly step at a time. But a few measly steps are better than none, so I cannot complain. And if this week's study wasn't on sexuality, maybe I'd share more. But I'm not about to go all Dr. Ruth on you...at all.

So there you have it. Thank you to those that have egged me on to get back to typing. There is nothing more unsettling than getting an email from Stat Counter showing me who has been reading only to know that I haven't been writing! Here's to "not another three weeks between posts"....wish me luck!

xoxo,

ali

p.s. if you annoyingly find yourself using the term bomb.com after reading this, you can thank jane maikkula for that!;-)