It's Time for the Annual A Beautiful Ruckus Reader Survey!

Where do I even begin to thank you for the support that you've shown to me, my family, and my writing this past year?

I love writing, I love hearing from you, and I love being able to help my family a bit with finances with what I do! Each time you visited our blog, left a comment, clicked on ad, or went through an affiliate link, you helped us keep our kids in diapers, and for that, you have my gratitude. I know (I know!) there are hundreds of blogs out there. You don't have to read mine. But you do, and I don't take that for granted.

In 2013, I tried some new things with the blog to see how they would fly. I learned a lot about what works, what doesn't work, what I like to write, and what I hate to write. Earlier this week, Sean and I sat down and talked a little bit about my writing and what I wanted to do with it this year. He knows that I have a passion for writing and always supports me 110%. Seriously, what would I do without my partner in life cheering me on every step of the way?

This year, I would like to write more of what I call "heart posts." I tried a few on for size last year, and found that they were my very favorite to write and also seemed to resonate with you all. Everything from The Toy Box Lesson to Why I Don't Agree with the Modesty Argument to When the Cracks Start Appearing. Those are the posts where I bear my heart. On the flip side, I did get some hate mail on a couple of those "heart posts" so we will see how well I hold up under that. But the goal is to write more of them!

So with January comes the annual 2014 A Beautiful Ruckus Reader Survey that I like to put together.

There are certain posts that you will never be able to get away from. Hey, this blog started as a way to document raising our quadruplets, so you are stuck with that. But they are cute, so hopefully you won't mind too much. hehe!

But there are other topics that I've added to the line up, and I'd love to get your thoughts on how much you enjoyed them last year. The survey is anonymous, so I won't know who says what. Please be honest!

I have YOU to thank for your support and encouragement this whole time. If I could, I'd give you each a big hug! And thanks for taking the survey so that I can continue to improve what I write!

Click here for the 2014 A Beautiful Ruckus Reader Survey. It should only take a few minutes!

Where do I even begin to thank you for the support that you've shown to me, my family, and my writing this past year?

I love writing, I love hearing from you, and I love being able to help my family a bit with finances with what I do! Each time you visited our blog, left a comment, clicked on ad, or went through an affiliate link, you helped us keep our kids in diapers, and for that, you have my gratitude. I know (I know!) there are hundreds of blogs out there. You don't have to read mine. But you do, and I don't take that for granted.

In 2013, I tried some new things with the blog to see how they would fly. I learned a lot about what works, what doesn't work, what I like to write, and what I hate to write. Earlier this week, Sean and I sat down and talked a little bit about my writing and what I wanted to do with it this year. He knows that I have a passion for writing and always supports me 110%. Seriously, what would I do without my partner in life cheering me on every step of the way?

This year, I would like to write more of what I call "heart posts." I tried a few on for size last year, and found that they were my very favorite to write and also seemed to resonate with you all. Everything from The Toy Box Lesson to Why I Don't Agree with the Modesty Argument to When the Cracks Start Appearing. Those are the posts where I bear my heart. On the flip side, I did get some hate mail on a couple of those "heart posts" so we will see how well I hold up under that. But the goal is to write more of them!

So with January comes the annual 2014 A Beautiful Ruckus Reader Survey that I like to put together.

There are certain posts that you will never be able to get away from. Hey, this blog started as a way to document raising our quadruplets, so you are stuck with that. But they are cute, so hopefully you won't mind too much. hehe!

But there are other topics that I've added to the line up, and I'd love to get your thoughts on how much you enjoyed them last year. The survey is anonymous, so I won't know who says what. Please be honest!

I have YOU to thank for your support and encouragement this whole time. If I could, I'd give you each a big hug! And thanks for taking the survey so that I can continue to improve what I write!

Click here for the 2014 A Beautiful Ruckus Reader Survey. It should only take a few minutes!

No Apologies for the "Non-Mom" Part of Me

Last week, I wrote a post in response to a reader's comment about how I find time to blog with toddler quadruplets. I'll admit, I was very taken aback when I initially read the comment. I mulled it over for a couple of days and looked at the comment from every angle I could come up with. Eventually, I decided that there was a whole other layer to the question that would have been easy to miss at first.

Or maybe it was just a straight question and I'm reading into it. Either way, I'm going to run with my thoughts anyway because I feel like it's important.

The comment was (slightly paraphrased), "I would think that you would have better things to do being a quad mom than to sit on the internet and run a blog." I addressed how I fit blogging into my routine in the previous post, but I think there is something bigger here than simply breaking down when I fit blogging into my day.

I blog mainly for myself. It's a stress reliever and how I relax. If I don't get stuff out on paper, then it builds up inside and may not be too pretty in the end.

I won't apologize for making time for me.

One of my biggest fears when I found out that we had quadruplets on the way was completely losing my identity in my children. I was Rebecca before kids, and I'm still Rebecca today. God made me with certain talents, ticks, character qualities, and areas where I struggle. I'm unique and specially created just like every other human being. Having kids doesn't change that, it only amplifies it.

Here is the truth about me. I am a Type A personality. I like things a certain way. I see issues in black and white. I don't like change. I am not a patient person although having kids has been magical in teaching me to slow down. I have a desire to help my family financially as much as possible by either saving money or bringing in a small amount of income. I have to take a nap at least every other day during this toddler period or I get very, very cranky.  I write because I need to to maintain my sanity.

Motherhood requires so much sacrifice. It requires putting others constantly ahead of ourselves. It means sleepless nights, being thrown up on, and not getting to eat warm dinners because everyone else needs something. But motherhood does not require complete and utter martyrdom to the point where there is nothing left of us when the kids are grown and gone. 

Listen, sweet friends, there is nothing wrong with still growing and enjoying things that you did prior to being a mom. In fact, you might find that taking a moment for yourself will actually make you a better mom. It makes me a better mom because I've had a chance to decompress doing something that I enjoy. Yes, certain things have to be rearranged or given up when motherhood enters the pictures, but I challenge you not to give yourself up and forget who God made you to be!

I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Do you agree or disagree with the idea that we can still maintain part of ourselves while answering the call of motherhood?

Last week, I wrote a post in response to a reader's comment about how I find time to blog with toddler quadruplets. I'll admit, I was very taken aback when I initially read the comment. I mulled it over for a couple of days and looked at the comment from every angle I could come up with. Eventually, I decided that there was a whole other layer to the question that would have been easy to miss at first.

Or maybe it was just a straight question and I'm reading into it. Either way, I'm going to run with my thoughts anyway because I feel like it's important.

The comment was (slightly paraphrased), "I would think that you would have better things to do being a quad mom than to sit on the internet and run a blog." I addressed how I fit blogging into my routine in the previous post, but I think there is something bigger here than simply breaking down when I fit blogging into my day.

I blog mainly for myself. It's a stress reliever and how I relax. If I don't get stuff out on paper, then it builds up inside and may not be too pretty in the end.

I won't apologize for making time for me.

One of my biggest fears when I found out that we had quadruplets on the way was completely losing my identity in my children. I was Rebecca before kids, and I'm still Rebecca today. God made me with certain talents, ticks, character qualities, and areas where I struggle. I'm unique and specially created just like every other human being. Having kids doesn't change that, it only amplifies it.

Here is the truth about me. I am a Type A personality. I like things a certain way. I see issues in black and white. I don't like change. I am not a patient person although having kids has been magical in teaching me to slow down. I have a desire to help my family financially as much as possible by either saving money or bringing in a small amount of income. I have to take a nap at least every other day during this toddler period or I get very, very cranky.  I write because I need to to maintain my sanity.

Motherhood requires so much sacrifice. It requires putting others constantly ahead of ourselves. It means sleepless nights, being thrown up on, and not getting to eat warm dinners because everyone else needs something. But motherhood does not require complete and utter martyrdom to the point where there is nothing left of us when the kids are grown and gone. 

Listen, sweet friends, there is nothing wrong with still growing and enjoying things that you did prior to being a mom. In fact, you might find that taking a moment for yourself will actually make you a better mom. It makes me a better mom because I've had a chance to decompress doing something that I enjoy. Yes, certain things have to be rearranged or given up when motherhood enters the pictures, but I challenge you not to give yourself up and forget who God made you to be!

I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Do you agree or disagree with the idea that we can still maintain part of ourselves while answering the call of motherhood?

It Only Gets Better From Here!

Whoohoo! 2013 is here!

As my husband told me earlier this week, we were supposed to have flying cars at this point and all we have are blankets with sleeves. He said he saw that somewhere online but I still thinks it's funny!

In the past few months, I've been thinking about how I blog, why I blog, and where I want to go with it. It seemed like the first of the year was a good goal to have some thoughts in place. So here we are in 2013 and while I have some thoughts, they are still trying to settle. It turns out that the actual writing is the easy part! Everything else that goes with it is what is so time consuming and often confusing.

Here's what I do know: I love writing! I love documenting our adventures for our kids to read later down the road! I love helping other multiples moms who are looking for tips! I love interacting with mamas who know a whole heck of a lot more than I do! And I love hearing back from you as my readers!

So it looks like I'm in this for the long haul!

In 2013, I'm hoping to be more intentional about my blogging. I even went and printed a nifty blogging planner so that I could plot my blogs out ahead of time to make sure I have a nice mix of content. I did a practice run in December...and of course, it changed based on what the day brought, but I felt more "with it" anyway.

I'm also hoping to do more giveaways, pick up a few paid ads, and maybe some sponsored posts as I try to help with the cost of diapers over here. Apparently they put fewer diapers in each pack the bigger the diaper size. That, and the boys already eat a ridiculous amount! Our grocery bill is a definite indication that we have growing kids!

So here's where you come in. As I work to improve the blog and find a good balance of posts, I'd really like to know what YOU think. I greatly value your opinion. While you won't be able to get away from stories about my family (that's why I started the blog in the first place, so you are stuck with it), I do want to know what you enjoy as well! Would you be so kind as to take this super quick, 10 question survey? It's anonymous and will give me a little guidance as I keep tweaking our little slice of the blog world.

Survey Link

It only gets better from here! Thank you SO much!

Whoohoo! 2013 is here!

As my husband told me earlier this week, we were supposed to have flying cars at this point and all we have are blankets with sleeves. He said he saw that somewhere online but I still thinks it's funny!

In the past few months, I've been thinking about how I blog, why I blog, and where I want to go with it. It seemed like the first of the year was a good goal to have some thoughts in place. So here we are in 2013 and while I have some thoughts, they are still trying to settle. It turns out that the actual writing is the easy part! Everything else that goes with it is what is so time consuming and often confusing.

Here's what I do know: I love writing! I love documenting our adventures for our kids to read later down the road! I love helping other multiples moms who are looking for tips! I love interacting with mamas who know a whole heck of a lot more than I do! And I love hearing back from you as my readers!

So it looks like I'm in this for the long haul!

In 2013, I'm hoping to be more intentional about my blogging. I even went and printed a nifty blogging planner so that I could plot my blogs out ahead of time to make sure I have a nice mix of content. I did a practice run in December...and of course, it changed based on what the day brought, but I felt more "with it" anyway.

I'm also hoping to do more giveaways, pick up a few paid ads, and maybe some sponsored posts as I try to help with the cost of diapers over here. Apparently they put fewer diapers in each pack the bigger the diaper size. That, and the boys already eat a ridiculous amount! Our grocery bill is a definite indication that we have growing kids!

So here's where you come in. As I work to improve the blog and find a good balance of posts, I'd really like to know what YOU think. I greatly value your opinion. While you won't be able to get away from stories about my family (that's why I started the blog in the first place, so you are stuck with it), I do want to know what you enjoy as well! Would you be so kind as to take this super quick, 10 question survey? It's anonymous and will give me a little guidance as I keep tweaking our little slice of the blog world.

Survey Link

It only gets better from here! Thank you SO much!