the disease is contagious...

If you consider Blogging a disease, as some do. Surprisingly, I tend to agree with the many people who say they dislike blogs, even as they quickly assure me "oh, but I don't mean yours!". I know blogs can become narcissistic, long winded whines about nothing or just well-polished bragging. But of course the problem isn't the blogs themselves. They are just an inanimate tool. The person using that tool decides whether it is used for building or tearing down. When done correctly, and with authenticity as the constant goal blogs can be a way to connect families that live far apart, to encourage friends and draw people closer. In a world where separation and isolation are the damaging norm, shouldn't warmth and connection be considered a worthy goal of all of us? Blogger or not, I think yes.

My brother Brian and his sweet wife Anne have been some of my loudest cheerleaders, for 200 posts. I am pretty sure Anne gets the award for "Most Comments Made". They are SO supportive that when strolling through downtown Portland, they saw this vase in a high-end gift shop window and immediately went in and paid retail---gasp! We don't do that as a family!!

for this beautiful planter. Just because it had Sparrows on it. (You can all feel free to buy me expensive sparrow stuff just to prove you love me, too.)

So the blogging disease is contagious. You start a blog on a whim, your husband sends it to your entire email address list and then you are out there and committed. Suddenly the symptoms start multiplying...
Walking through your day noticing more. Jotting down reminders of those funny kid things that the busy afternoon would've snatched away. Remembering the camera more often, taking more pictures. Taking yourself less seriously. Using spellcheck. Drinking copious amounts of coffee. That last one may not be directly related to the blog. I just looked over and saw the mug and thought yeah. I drink it with every post so perhaps it counts.

Anyway, all this to share some good news. My brother Brian and his wife Anne have started a blog over at http://artisticallydenied.blogspot.com/

If you visit, please take a minute to leave a quick comment to cheer them on in this endeavor. She's threatening to quit already and I need my CNC fix.

(Cody and Caitlin)