Why the Merge?

Long ago when I first started blogging,it was here in this comfortable, little B is for Bissonnette blog space.  As time went on, I felt that perhaps I wanted to share more in the way of crafting and educational ideas and faith-filled reflections.  But I wasn't so sure I wanted to share our family so publicly, and thus was born the idea of my second blog, Roses for Mommy.  

During the 2 1/2 years that I maintained the two blogs, I continued to keep a record of the goings-on within our family unit at B is for Bissonnette and used the Roses for Mommy blog as a platform to be able to share educational ideas, recipes, reflections, etc. in a more public setting.  My hope, at the time, was to reach further with my reading audience and be able to cast my net deeper to reach out to others (moms especially) who were going through similar struggles and to share and encourage. 

And I really enjoyed it for awhile.  Eventually, as more and more kids came along, and we made the choice to homeschool Kayla for Kindergarten (and now First Grade), I began to feel the strain from trying to keep up with not one, but two blogs.  I could always find inspiration to write in the Scriptures when all else failed, but all I did was write.  It left me very little time to really reflect on and live out the words the Spirit was speaking in my life.  I kept trying because that is what I do.  I don't give up.  I work harder.  

But my health and my family end up taking the toll, and after listening to this Building Bridges podcast, it suddenly became just so apparent that I needed to let some things go.  Jenna Guizar spoke in the podcast about how she made the decision to stop blogging and it opened up time and talent for God to use her gifts to found Blessed Is She.  And most of all, she felt peace.  

I didn't hear an actual "voice", but I heard it in my soul.  It was a whisper, an affirmation, that I didn't have to do it all.  I wasn't letting God down by giving up on expanding my blog and reaching more people.  I thought back to when I was really and truly excited and at peace about blogging.  Most of my thoughts centered around blogging about my simple, ordinary, real life with my little family.  

As a little girl, my mom would tell you that I only ever really wanted to be a mom.  Eventually, I also found that I loved teaching and child development.  I loved creativity and music.  I loved pictures and poetry.  I loved reading.  I still do.  

And I have all those things in my family blog.  I am blessed to be a mother to 4 beautiful little ones, and we are currently homeschooling our oldest, Kayla.  I am teaching.  I am writing and reading.  I am singing to my little ones and exploring God's vast world with them and my incredible husband.  And I don't need to share those experiences with the whole world to fulfill my vocation.  

So I am returning to blogging from that simple, honest perspective here.  

This is my vocation.  To love and care for the family God has given me.  Simply.  

Filled with peace. 

Catholic + Women + Bloggers + Community = CWBNCA 2015

So....I couldn't even tell you how I found out about this wonderful event exactly.  Through Facebook somehow.   I blog mostly for my own sanity (it's sort of like talking to yourself, except people don't judge you for it).  I also blog to share ideas and my faith in a little tiny way.  

So what in the heck was I interested in a Catholic Women Blogging Network conference for?  

Community. 

Oh, you thought I was just trying to be funny about talking to myself?  

Yeah....no.  That's real. 

I'm a SAHM to 4 littles (aged 4 1/2 months-almost 6 years old).   I have an incredibly awesome and supportive husband who is my best friend, but he is also a man.  Chatting (read:about everything!) is not his thing.   I just started homeschooling this year.  I'm home with my own questions, frustrations, and thoughts for most of the day. 

So, I crave community with other like minded women.  When I saw that this conference was happening relatively near me, I signed right up (after checking to be sure I could bring a nursing baby, of course!)

And then I got more and more excited, especially after I found out that a gal I recently met through our homeschooling group was going too!  We both confessed on the drive up together that we had been like kids at Christmas, and could barely sleep the night before the big day!!  

We were greeted upon arrival by Jenna Guizar who founded Blessed Is She .  And then we just waltzed right in through THE red door that you see in many of Kendra's (from Catholicallyear.com) WIWS posts .  The following day we all squeezed in for a What I Wore Sunday picture in front of the same famous red door.  

Photo credit: Kendra and her daughter Betty (who snapped the shot) from Catholicallyear.com

Anyway, so the event took place in Kendra's home.  The hostess with the mostest, right?  Yes! She welcomed a bunch of strangers from the internet into her home.  And served us.  She made the totally adorable cookies with our names on them, as if just opening her home wasn't more than enough. 

I won't rewrite a recap because the woman behind putting this whole thing together, Micaela Darr, already did that here on her blog .  

When I arrived, I felt a little like this lone rose that I noticed on one of Kendra's bushes.  I had been feeling isolated. Rather alone. 

The long and short is that I came away with blogging tips and tricks, yes, but even more than that, I came away with a true sense of community and support.  I came home ready to say YES to the Holy Spirit in a bigger way in my life.  I came home asking God how I could serve Him better.  I came home seeking to grow more in holiness, and support these incredible women and others in their walks as well.  I came home filled to overflowing. 

Photo credit: Jiza of Olive and Cypress 's camera plus Betty who actually clicked the button. 

Aren't these ladies lovely???  I can tell you that their hearts were even more lovely, so yeah.  WOW!

For more pictures, head to Instagram and look under the hashtag #cwbnca and also check out my pretty terrible quality (BUT. I'm. just. so. excited!! and have to share them!! ) pictures below! 

Those are our hostesses Kendra and Micaela in the middle 

Totally creeping on these inspiring ladies having a conversation.  

I love, love, love the Blessed Is She community, so of course, I love Jenna for saying yes to the Spirit's call to start it.  Also, because she's super sweet.  

just one of the beautiful gals who sat at my table, Karianna

Laura held my baby for awhile because she was missing her 11 month old baby who was staying home with Daddy for the day...

terrible selfie time with Ronni and Laura

Can you live closer, Jiza and Theresa?

I actually went to school with this lovely lady, Kristin, at FUS.  It was so great to reconnect and hear all about her journey with podcasting!

I met Erica from beaheart.com .  She is amazing and talented and she is also the leader of our online Blessed Is She book club (we are reading Love Does by Bob Goff).  Shameless plug, but she has a Mother's Day sale going on right now--check out her site.  

Andrea escaped back to Arizona before I managed to ask/beg for a selfie....how did you manage that?

The day in somewhat of a nutshell: note-taking as we listened to wonderful women speak about different aspects of blogging, praying together, and sharing art and beauty.  The print on the top right was made by Erica and was a gift to each of us!  

On Sunday, many of us returned with our families and attended Mass at the San Fernando Mission. 

 

 And Kendra graciously opened her home to us all again for a lovely brunch that she and Micaela planned and cooked for, bless their hearts.  

Thank you, beautiful ladies for everything.  I am excited for (crossing my fingers) next year, as well as hoping to connect with some of you in various ways even sooner!  Thank you for your hearts and for sharing your blogs and yourselves with me this weekend.  I feel so very blessed!!