All posts tagged Ultimate Blog Challenge

A Letter of Apology to My Adult Children

Time to write a letter

Over the last few weeks, I have heard a few rumblings from my kids about my current rate of blog postings. I explained, in case they missed it, that I am doing a challenge. Here are some of the comments, which have fueled me to write a letter to my kids.

“Mom, once a week was fine. I am happy to read your WEEKLY blog posts. Weekly. Around Day 6, I knew I was in trouble. How long will this thing go on?”

“You’re killing me!”

“My in-basket is overflowing.”

“You’re thinking about blogging about (fill in the blank). I can see it in your eyes.”

“You’re obsessed.”

Alright, that last one was my husband, but you get the point. So, here goes:

Dear Kids,

I know this past month has been difficult for you. How challenging it must be for you when every day there is something to read that your mother wrote. Your mother – the one who loved you before you were born. The one who carried you for nine long months, six of which involved a lot of puking. The one who helped you with your homework and drove you all over town. The one who watches your children so you can go out with your spouse. Sigh.

I am sorry for the pain and suffering which this Ultimate Blog Challenge has caused you and I want you to know that I understand. You want to support me, yet you feel overwhelmed.

There is also the matter of the monthly test about my blog content which I require you to take. I know there’s a lot of pressure to do well, so for this month, and this month only, I will make your test multiple choice instead of essay. I will also give you an extra week to turn it in to me for your grade.

Happy Reading!

Love,

Mom

And, to my regular readers who have been with me for a while, thanks for sticking with me. I appreciate you.

This is Post #23 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge to post every day in April.

20 Comments

by Bonnie Anderson on April 23, 2019 • Permalink

Posted in Family, Stuff I Go Through, Ultimate Blog Challenge, Writing

Tagged too many blog posts, Ultimate Blog Challenge

Posted by Bonnie Anderson on April 23, 2019

https://lifeonthelighterside.com/2019/04/23/a-letter-of-apology-to-my-adult-children/

Whole 30 for Writing – Where you want to gain not lose

Every day is Blogging Day in April

I’ve been asked if I take the weekend off from blogging. In light of the current challenge, which I have dubbed the only Whole 30 (crazed writing, not crazed weight loss) I will ever do, I understand the question.

My kids will get particular enjoyment out of the question as they know I’ll take a day off with great ease. The real question is – take a day off from what? But I’ll cover that in future posts.

I know writing is what we’re focusing on here, but it’s only part of the – what’s that math thingy I’m trying to think of, oh yeah – equation. (Again, I’ll check in with my engineer later to make sure of this.)

I was geared up for this blogging challenge. I had several drafts in the works and ideas were flowing, which I greatly believe was God giving me the green light on this. Half of my April will involve having family in from out-of-town, so sneaking away to write may become a challenge, especially when my grandchildren from North Carolina arrive, but I’m also confident that where grandchildren are, blogging ideas flow.

Days 1 – 7 were relatively easy. Finding something like LEGO Jesus was the kind of thing that primes my writer’s pump. But my MO has been to finalize the day before I post. Yesterday was Sunday and I discovered I should have used Saturday better. After church Bob and I went to an usher’s meeting/game afternoon. Again, if you ask me to play a game, my writing will not even enter my mind. We were the last to leave, too, putting us home at 5:30, just in time for Bob to fix dinner.

I’m on a crazy diet right now, so if Bob doesn’t cook, he doesn’t eat anything interesting. He does this out of love for me and support for my weight loss endeavor. Thankfully, he likes to cook.

By the time dinner was over and I did the last of the dishes, I realized that due to circumstances, I hadn’t had any time with Bob for the last two days, so I took the night off from blogging. I even resisted using my devices except for a facetime with our granddaughter, Layna, who turned 7 on the 7^th and was pretty pumped about her golden birthday.

Because I am driven to perfection regarding this Whole 30, it was surprising and delightful to me when I realized that I was okay with a quiet night with my husband instead of leaving him to himself while I wrote. And then this morning, our blog-meister Paul asked about taking a day off, so now you know the rest of my story. Sometimes you just have to let it go. When I return to my normal schedule of a once-a-week post, I won’t typically write on Sunday. But I have no hard and fast rules. If inspiration hits me, I’ll pull away and at least jot down a few notes, night or day.

I hope you had a restful Sunday and thanks for reading, especially during my Whole 30!

This is Post #8 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge to post every day in April.

11 Comments

by Bonnie Anderson on April 8, 2019 • Permalink

Posted in Stuff I Go Through, Ultimate Blog Challenge, Writing

Tagged 30 days of writing, a day of rest, LEGO Jesus, taking a day off, Ultimate Blog Challenge, Whole 30

Posted by Bonnie Anderson on April 8, 2019

https://lifeonthelighterside.com/2019/04/08/whole-30-for-writing-where-you-want-to-gain-not-lose/

Hello There!

Welcome to Day 2 of April, aka April 2. I am excited to be part of the Ultimate Blog Challenge during this month. That means 30 days, 30 posts. I’m hopeful to meet some new friends while continuing to put fresh content out to my regular folks. So, first off, thank you to my regular readers for keeping with me and encouraging me. It means a lot.

This is where I jumped ship (metaphorically, of course).

Secondly, I want to introduce myself to the Blogging Challenge people. I started blogging eight years ago, that was way back in 2011 (thought I’d do the math for you). The blog was basically the same type as it is now except it was named Ship Bound for Tarshish. It took me a couple of years to realize how weird that name was, not to mention how hard it was to spell, so I jumped ship and became Life on the Lighter Side.

I was motivated to write a humor blog because I was weary of the heaviness of the world getting all the attention. I wanted to offer something to lighten people’s load – a momentary laugh or encouragement, if you will, because there really are a lot of things out there that are funny, amusing, and uplifting. I wanted to keep looking up and encourage others to do the same.

Trying to remember to look up, even if it’s dark out

So, you can look at my blog as a bag full of feathers to tickle your funny bone with the occasional hot air balloon thrown in. (If you want to know more about me, you can click here.)

I had barely started blogging when this crazy thing called the Ultimate Blog Challenge was announced and my good friend and fellow blogger Debi Walter of The Romantic Vineyard fame encouraged me to do it. So, we both dove into the deep end of the pool and did it. We even accomplished all 30 posts and met some amazing people. Some of those folks we continue to be in contact with to this day.

I hope you’ll check back with me this month as I have a lot to share with you (I’ve been storing up). See you tomorrow.