Why

Why have I created this blogspot for us?

I think a lot. I write a lot. I think about you guys a lot. So I've been lamenting on how I could put all that together? So I am creating this blog for us!

Shalom babayit. What do I mean by that? A peaceful home is a place. A real place with walls and a roof. You hear the rain fall on the roof, but you are dry. You hear the wind whip around the walls, but you are warm.It is a place where you feel safe and loved. A peaceful home is a state of mind too. In your shalom babayit you find your sanctuary. You go there when the world gets scary and crazy. You can go there when you need to escape, reflect, or plan.In your Shalom babayit, you can be yourself. You don't have to pretend to be anything you are not. You don't have to worry about what anyone else will think.

I have found that writing is the best cathartic exercise. At the very least, when I am feeling bad or sad, the simple act of writing it down seems to release it from my body. At the very most sharing the writings has brought joy, understanding, or love to the reader.
The sharing part has been most difficult. No one really wants to hear anyone's sad story. People want to hear the stuff that makes them laugh! They want to hear stories of remember when...They want to hear about what happened to them and what happened you and what you did about it and will that work for me? People want to voice their thoughts, concerns and beliefs without fear of judgement or ostracism. Hmmm sounds like family to me!

Stories are fun. Remember when we all got together at Bubbies house for Chanukah? She made sure we each had 8 presents! Michelle and Sarah were babies. Becca, Alex, and Bets were the big kids! There was wrapping paper everywhere! Toys, dolls, books, trucks! We had potato latkes and briscuit. She baked. Oh G-D. What did she bake for chanukah??? Sour cream coffee cake? Applecot Jumble Squares? Mint chocolate brownies? Norwegian almond squares?

My family is the most important thing to me. Defining who family is has been difficult for me lately. Do blood relatives define family? What about the people you spend all day with? Your coworkers, or roommates (sorry Michelle). Aren't the people who see your daily struggles more qualified to be considered family? They are the ones to offer a helping hand on a daily basis. I grew up with tons of cousins and too many Aunts. I didn't really know them and they didn't really know me. I am a simple person and I require a simple life.I need to be in a judgement free zone. I need unconditional love. I need to surround myself with the people who I love most. My Chris, My Alex, My Michelle, My sister, My brother-in-law, My nieces.

My hope is that we can use this blog spot to share and stay connected. Although I created this blog, you are all included as authors. It is a closed site visible only to us. If we choose to invite anyone else to view it, we may upon my approval. I am not real computer savvy-surprise! But, I will do my best to maintain the blogspot and keep it updated. I will try to learn it's features so that we can all enjoy everything it has to offer. However, it will not succeed without your participation. It is my hope that you will participate. Feel free to make suggestions and offer advice on the actual maintenance of the spot as well as offering your blogs on life!!!!!

My life. Your lives. A shalom babayit. A place of peace, a peace of mind.