I haven't been here in a while. I thought I was done, actually. I mean, I really, really thought I was done. I just didn't think I had it in me anymore to keep this blog up. Sure I still took lots of pictures and wrote posts in my mind while driving here and there, but at the end of day, when it came time to put it down, I just didn't want to do it. I thought about a final post, wrapping it all up with an explanation and a virtual prom queen wave, but then I decided to clean-out my closet instead. My three-and-a-half years of blogging had come to silent halt.
And I really had no problem with that.
Then this past week we were at the family cabin and I went looking for a recipe. The search feature wasn't working well when I typed in "olive oil cake", and so I ended up searching through lots of old posts in an attempt to find the just one. I was so surprised to see so many photos and stories that I'd not thought about in ages. I came across recipes I'd loved but had forgotten to make, I marveled at pictures of my tiny kids over the years, and I thought - "I can't stop blogging - I have to keep this up for my kids!"
We had a great week in the mountains and while I was there I thought a lot about Suburban Homestead and the importance of photography to me, and to us. The camera so wonderfully captures the beautiful moments in silence, allowing you to, in your mind, add the sounds of say, a symphony to their viewing (instead of the screams and whines that were more likely the reality). Without these images and stories, I worry that I might only remember the fighting, or the embarrassment from having seemingly little control over the four-year-old's outbursts. Or even worse, I might forget all it. I already am, just ask my kids.
So here I am, determined (at least temporarily) to keep going. For the kids.