I Love The Blogosphere

I guess its because the year is ending, but I've been reflecting back on this year - the "Year of the Blog" for me. Until last spring, I studiously avoided reading any blogs. I suspected I could get sucked into the Blogosphere and lose hours and hours of my life every day. While that potential remains, I have avoided it thus far and I am tremendously happy I started reading [and writing] blogs. [And I haven't found it wastes much time after all, because I'm usually doing my blog reading while nursing my baby - day or night].

Blogs are neat. Through reading blogs this year, I have gotten to know my friends better. That sounds dumb I bet, but you have to remember that almost all of my time spent with friends involves being also surrounded by 10 or 12 children [we have 5 and most of my friends have at least 4-6]. And at least a few of those children are babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. So it gets really hard to express a complete thought or share a story all the way to the end. It gets hard to discuss important issues. It gets hard to really do anything other than make small talk between pauses to change diapers, break up fights, and nurse the baby.

This year I have gotten to read the "real" thoughts of my friends. I feel like I know them better. I have discovered things about them that I never knew, even ones I've known for years. They are a really intelligent, humorous bunch of people! Thus, I really appreciate the Blog World.

I have also have made new friends - people I'll probably never meet in real life, but who are part of my daily life because I read their blog daily and I enjoy what they have to say. They inspire me and entertain me, and that's just so Neat.

So, as I'm reflecting back over this year and feeling grateful to have discovered the Blog universe, I want to share some of my favorite blogs with you. I hope you find something here to inspire and entertain.

Funniest straight up Catholic blog that is most likely to help us all on our way to Heaven: Ask Sister Mary Martha

Blog that is most likely to inspire me to be a better Catholic: Totus Tuus Family [and she's just so *cool*. "Save the Liturgy, Save the World!"]

Blog that is most likely to make me laugh out loud when I am feeling sad and that I am most likely to relate to very personally [though I only DREAM about being as good at homeschooling and home management as she is LOL!]: Slightly Crunchy Catholic

Blog by the person I most wish lived closer to me because I'd just like to hang out with her: Laura the Crazy Mama

Blog by the most intelligent man I know personally: A Long and Twisty Passage I used to be smart enough to read his blog and understand it before I had children. No, really... I'm not making that up [though it IS hard to believe I know!]! I graduated Cum Laude from college while working two jobs AND being in the Marine Corps Reserve....I used to be passably intelligent! But I swear I lost brain cells with each child, and now I find I really am too stupid to follow him sometimes. I still love reading the blog though because I learn about some of my favorite little people. ;)

The Blog that has helped me get to know a lovely "RL" friend even better: Deogratias

My favorite blogs that I wish were updated more often because I love the people who write them and I find the blogs thoroughly entertaining:
Aquinas Academy Adventures
Bases Loaded
Our Party of Nine
Pam's Blog
[No pressure guys LOL!]

Now, there are other categories that I could include, like "Blog most likely to make me feel inadequate to homeschool my own children" and "Blog that is way over rated", but I'll leave those off. You probably have your own list. :)

Happy New Year - and to all you bloggers that have made my year more educational, uplifting, interesting, and filled with humor - THANK YOU and God bless you.

And Lola - I expect to see your blog up and running in 2008! ;)