Breaking the Ice

I'm just checking in here to stop my bad habit of procrastination. I haven't posted in a while because I'm not exactly sure what I want to say or what I'm going to do.But I need to do something.

I've decided that I want to have a real blog. You know, like one people actually read. I want to keep posting about my life, but I want my blog to have more of a purpose than simply keeping in touch. I have things to say, though I'm not quite sure what they all are yet. I also don't know whether to start my real blog now or wait until I have discovered my voice. But I worry that I never will, because I'll never write.

So this is just me stopping that cycle.

Now, let me tell you about my vision for my blog.

For a long time now, I've wanted to document the things I am learning about being a wife, mother, and homemaker. I've done a lot of research about babies, especially. And I've made a lot of decisions about how we would raise our little Muffin Man (pseudonym assigned because of his cute muffin top--and I am aware that his name appears elsewhere on the blog. I'll worry about that later), but now I forget many of the reasons why I decided to do what I did. I wish it were written somewhere.

I'm also learning a lot about education. I am a huge proponent of homeschooling, but I'm still working out the details of which method(s) to use. I am so inspired by the classical education described by Susan Wise Bauer, but I think a Charlotte Mason approach will make for a better fit for our family. I want to share insights I gain as I continue learning about learning.

Also, Dustin and I were talking a while about about the decline in morals and values in our culture.We had just visited his grandfather in a nursing home and watched how sweetly his grandmother attended to him. Their marriage has lasted. Nowadays, we don't see this kind of commitment. The value of the family and marriage is sinking. Additionally, our generation is often inconsiderate and rarely takes responsibility. I hate to say it, but we're a self-centered bunch. I have things to say about these and other problems--but not just complaints. But this will definitely be a venue for me to indulge in nostalgia for a time I never knew. (I'm daydreaming about a vintage theme!) But it will also be a place to honor the people who are upholding these and other values, and a place where we can come up with solutions. (I hate it when people complain about a problem but don't offer any solutions!)

I want to tell you about the good books I'm reading, delicious recipes I'm finding, and other fun things, too. And I want to post lots of pictures. Having a blog will help me remember to take pictures every day.

So, here's a question for you. What do you think I should call this new blog? I have some thoughts, but I want to see what you might suggest. Here are some thoughts to get your ideas going:

• My blog will whole-heartedly embrace many old-fashioned values and customs

• It will be focused on the family

• It will be a lot about raising children, but as I don't have much experience with that yet, I have other areas I'd like to focus on, too

• Some keywords: traditional values, traditional roles, morals, character, education, child rearing, old-fashioned, daily life, handmade, from scratch
• Some inspirational books: Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, Little House on the Prairie, Milly Molly Mandy

What would a blog like this be called? What would it look like? What do you think?!