Am I really doing this?

I have decided to embark on a new adventure.  A writing adventure where I open my life up to all of you.  My experiences, feelings, emotions and opinions.  Being the introvert that I am, can I really pour out my heart and soul to the world?  Can I let there be a window into my world that no one has looked into before? Is it worth the risk?  There is no time like the present to find out!

I have always had a passion for learning, education, and helping others achieve their goals and dreams.  I have two kids that I homeschool, or better yet, unschool (ages 7 and 2) and a newly married 21 year old step-son who serves in the Army.  I have an MA in Adult Learning, and my husband is in the final stages of completing his PhD in the counseling field.  We currently live in the Southwest.  My journey since getting married 10 years ago has led me from here to the east coast and back.  I am about as white as people come, but I am also about as colorblind as a person can get.  I like to give people the benefit of the doubt and hope for the best in them too.

When it comes to education, my eyes have been opened wide over the years.  It amazes me everyday the passion my children naturally have for learning.  I have come to understand what part a formal education really plays in life.  Because of that, I am learning to live life in a meaningful way and getting priorities straight in hopes my kids will carry that into their futures.

I am a Christian, but don't let that scare you away.  I see God as love and Jesus as the greatest gift.  And I believe in forgiveness and second chances and that it is not my job to fix individuals--I have enough to fix about myself!

So, now I ask myself what do I have to offer the world?  My insight from a life of experiences far different from my plan from 20 years ago.  My compassion for others and the desire to inspire and comfort and encourage others.   My understanding and ability to be real, kind, and fair.  And my ability to know that while I am knowledgeable about a lot of things, I do not claim to be an expert (although my husband might disagree), and I also know there is always more to learn.  So with that, I hope to make a positive difference in some small or big way in your life, amongst all the craziness of raising a family in today's world.  I hope to share with you the ups and downs and the struggles and successes.  I hope to share with you our new and old traditions, family recipes that create common bonds, and the things that did and didn't work for us.  I want to share a glimpse into our world of everyday living and learning and helping others realize there are a lot of things that are more important to life than a degree and a high paying job (although they can be nice!).  So will you walk along side me in this journey of life?