Appreciations and Confessions... Update at Bottom.

First of all I want to deeply thank all of you for keeping up with my blog, for leaving your kind comments so often and for even "following"! You have all made my life so fun and exciting these last few weeks. I have so enjoyed reading all of your blogs and getting to "know" you. I truly think of you as my friends and am thrilled that you think the same of me! Thank you to those who have put my blog link in the side bars of your own blogs (Rebekah and Kelli!) and whom ever else may have done so. I never dreamed that this could be so much fun or that others would actually want to read my blog! (This sounds a little like an acceptance speech for an award, doesn't it?)
However, this has also been very addicting to me and I find myself using this as a way of escape from life when I'm bored or just don't feel like doing some of the things I know I should be doing... like spending quality time with my boys, house work and even quiet time with my Lord. I want to make a point of reading His Word each day and have been trying to follow along on Prairie Passages (thank you for this, Prairie Chick!) every morning but I get so distracted by everything else, mainly the computer.
Yesterday, at church, we had a message on the Spiritual Discipline of Fasting and how it doesn't always have to be about food but can be about anything that has been put before our time with God in our lives and I immediately thought about the computer. I know that what I am doing is not wrong or sinful in and of itself but, because it is taking away from time with my family and most importantly my Lord, it has become an idol in my life.
I have been convicted of this for a few days now and I know that something needs to be done, so... here is my plan of action. I want to start by taking a break from the computer during the day... and we'll see what happens from there!

I will check my computer to find out what Prairie Chick's Bible Passage is for the day and then read Ann's blog "a holy experience" (her writing is so uplifting and I love to read hers in the early morning hour of each day). Then I won't go on the computer again 'till after the boys are in bed in the evening and then only for an hour and a half max. (This may seem like a lot but it's not near as much time as I have been spending!) I still want to keep posting everyday if possible so I hope you all will still stop by and comment once in a while! : ) Please? I'll still be checking your's too, just not during the day when I should be doing other things!

Now, I know that I could have probably done this all on my own without having bothered you with this LOOONG rambling post, but I guess I felt I needed to for my own sake... sort of like an accountability thing. It makes me more inclined to follow through with my plans if I've told someone else about it... and I want to be honest.

Are you the same way?! Please tell so that at least I don't feel like I'm the only one with blogging addiction! : ) Ultimately, I just want to get to a place where it can be an enjoyable pass time for which I am not obsessed.

I sincerely hope (and also honestly believe) that you won't stop reading and commenting as a result of me baring my heart and revealing my weaknesses. Like I said, I deeply appreciate all of you. Thanks for "listening".

UPDATE: Wow... I am completely floored by all of your heartfelt encouragement and honesty. Thank you all SO much! Today has been wonderful, though hard at times when I was feeling the call of the computer. I didn't go on it at all except for the reasons that I stated and I must say that when I finally sat down after the boys were in bed it was like Christmas with all those wonderful gifts of words from you all waiting to be read! I loved it and am so happy I have gone through with this... you all are so understanding and supportive, I feel that maybe this will work and I'll be able to find some balance in my life again.

Well, I'm off to check out your blogs!

Oh, and BTW I just posted a really cute tidbit on my other blog "Of Books, Blocks n' Boys" about something fun I had Jayden do today and how he fooled me quite thoroughly. :o)
Check it out if you're interested!