Tuesday, November 15, 2011

A New Direction

Well, I've been alluding to this announcement for some time, but here it is in all its detail: my goals for this blog are changing. I hope you’ll join me (even though the only time I have to post seems to be in the middle of the night when I'm having trouble sleeping).

Originally, I had only a few goals when I started this Blog:
  • Efficiently update concerned family and friends who wanted to know about Brynn’s critical condition.
  • Inspire by sharing the blessing of God’s peace during challenging times
  • Record my life in a convenient form of journaling

Over time, I added more goals:
  • Educate (prematurity, deafness, and other odd topics are difficult to just write about without explanations)
  • Entertain (though I confess I didn’t know why anyone would find my rather average life entertaining)

Then, last December, I read Sharon Slater’s Stand For the Family and Skousen’s 5000-Year Leap and something inside me ignited. I also read a few books by H. Verlan Anderson and the feeling became consuming.

I realize I may not be a person of any real consequence in this world, but I’ll tell you: I wanted to take a Stand.

So I did.

In many respects, it was my first time really Standing for anything. And being so new, I made some mistakes that were unforgettably, excruciatingly painful. I worried I had embarrassed not only myself but also those dearest to me.

I thought how easy it would be to sit silent. I could post pictures of the kids, report on trivial news, and joke about diapers and spit up. I told myself: it’s all that my readers want, anyway. I thought about how easy it would be to just keep living my wonderful, comfortable life instead of painting myself as a “crazy radical.” Couldn’t I just keep my thoughts between God, my husband, and the voting booth? I wondered if I was risking my reputation. And if so, was it worth it?

I prayed. I studied scripture. I consulted with my husband. I went to our sacred LDS Temple.

Yet my desire to take a Stand kept getting stronger. I read BROKE by Glenn Beck, watched I.O.U.S.A. several times, and reviewed Egonomics again. I even added None Dare Call it Conspiracy just in case I wasn't already “radical” enough.

I cried. I lost sleep. I worried. I wrestled. I questioned. I cried some more.

And now, here I am. This blog is changing. Sure, I will still keep my 2011 Resolutions, report on big news like Brynn’s surgery, and post pictures when it is convenient. But this blog is decidedly not about my daily news. This blog is about finding Truth and Standing for it.

My Isaiah project is part of this. It is almost as much political as it is religious (I know…could anyone possibly cover more controversial topics at once than combining religion and politics?)

I hope you, dear reader, will not be passive if you disagree with what I think is true. I hope you will challenge me and point out the holes in my logic—because you may know some Truth that I don’t have. I hope I can improve in my ability to listen to criticism. I will love you still even if we have to agree to disagree. But in the end I will do my best to stand.

Will you join me?

2011Res: To Matt: I love that you got on board with my FHE idea to bake cookies...and then did all the baking by yourself. To my girls: today I savored Brynn's first big success on potty training. Hooray! Dear Mr H: today I made an extra big effort to be cheerful even when both girls were crying all evening long because I love you.

7 comments:

Jenn Ross said...

I'm glad that I'm not the only person who has cried because of her blog!! You have to be pretty brave to share your feelings. Love you Nat!

Unknown said...

I am 100% in! And a Stand for the Family has totally changed my perspective on life and politics. For the first time in my life, I'm interested in politics.

PS - this post showed up in my reader. As did your newest post

The Basil's said...

My brother just put this on his fb post and I couldn't help but send it along:
Unfortunately, we as a nation have apostatized in various degrees from different Constitutional principles as proclaimed by the inspired founders. We are fast approaching that moment prophesied by Joseph Smith when he said: “Even this nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground, and when the Constitution is upon the brink of ruin, this people will be the staff upon which the nation shall lean, and they shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destruction”

We must become accurately informed and then let others know how we feel. The Prophet Joseph Smith said: “It is our duty to concentrate all our influence to make popular that which is sound and good, and unpopular that which is unsound. ‘Tis right, politically, for a man who has influence to use it. … From henceforth I will maintain all the influence I can get”

- President Ezra Taft Benson- Ensign Nov. 1987
Our Divine Constitution - Ensign Nov. 1987
lds.org

annie said...

Dear Natalie-
I don't know you in person, but I love you :). I discovered your blog when I was googling something about homeschooling. Since then I've followed your journey with your sweet daughters, been happy that you have a great husband, but most of all been inspired to take more of a stand myself! I've worried so much over my blog and what I maybe shouldn't say because I know too many people who disagree. You are a beacon of light encouraging me to share what I'm learning...even if I haven't gotten all the right logic into all the right places yet. Thank you!
Annie, of http://apitcherfamilyadventure.blogspot.com/

Alyson said...

Well done. Can't wait to read it. :)

Natalie said...

Thanks for your encouragement, everyone. I have a feeling this will be a long, hard road--something far more than one single post will address--but I'm glad some of you will love me instead of hate me for it :)

@ Annie: Welcome to the blog and thanks for commenting!

Matt and Tommi +4 said...

I'm with you!