Family Pictures 2014!

Lots and lots of pictures we loved this year, plus a few other updates. Trying desperately to catch up!

www.arizonaromneys.blogspot.com

Father's Day and Fish Lake!

Latest updates on the blog!

Spring and Summer 2014!

Here is a little family update!

My most exciting career moment!

This might be boring to most, but since this is our family journal, I felt like I needed to chronicle it.

I don't really have a career, but I do blog, and I love it. It is a great way to keep up my writing and share my ideas and thoughts with the world. My blog continues to grow and I have a steady group of readers, averaging about 8,000 views per month. I never expect anything to be really BIG, so I was blown away when I published my recent article "No Leprechauns, No Valentine's Boxes, No Elves, and why that is Okay" and it went viral on social media. Within a few days I had had over 70,000 views on the article. It has been shared over and over again and because of it, my blog audience on a regular basis had doubled with 14,000-20,000 views each month (102,000 in the month of March!). I am so grateful.

I was receiving emails from all over the world and comments on the blog post about how my article had resonated with them and how much they loved it. I could not believe it! I wanted to share two of the emails I received:

"I am probably breaking some blogging etiquette rule by emailing you

rather than using the comment function on your blog.  However - I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your recent post about women and mothering. I live in Doha and am friends with Lindsey Wintch through church - I happened to see you commented on an instagram post of hers,and for some very strange reason, I clicked on your name, then saw your blog, and went to it.  I have no idea why I did that - well,maybe I do - I really needed to read what you had to say.
I am a mother with an outside the home career. I've always felt lik ethat was the right thing for me, but have often been challenged by guilt about not being the stay-at-home mom. I have read tons of blogs and articles about motherhood and working mothers, etc. - particularly it seems in recent months after the whole Sheryl Sandberg book came out.  I always felt worse after reading those.
Yours is the first I've read that ever made me feel good!.  I loved your definition of feminism and I loved your story about realizing you are the mother your kids need. I love the idea that accepting that helps you to be a more confident mother and that your kids see that.
Thank you - from the bottom of my heart!"

The comments on my blog were equally kind and supportive, and I felt like my heart might burst. I was so grateful for the inspiration and courage I was given to write and publish the post. The night before I hit "publish" I was so nervous, I almost didn't do it. My skin is not incredibly thick, so the idea of someone bashing it or disagreeing with it really worried me. I certainly didn't expect such a wide, positive response. I think what was most shocking is that I did not have one negative comment on the post or about the post...really amazing in the cyberworld where everyone wants to be a critic. It was one of the sweetest, most exciting experiences I have ever had to know something I had thought and written made a difference to so many.

In addition to the fun internet positivity, Brooke Walker of Studio 5 in Utah got a hold of the article and wanted to interview me on TV. It was so awesome! I was incredibly nervous and rehearsed the night before, but overall, it went really well. There were things I would have liked to change, but I am choosing to focus on good. March was a very exciting month for me!

Me with Brooke Walker. I was so grateful my mom came to keep me company (I can't find that picture!). I was more nervous than I thought I would be and she was there to reassure me. Here is a link to the video: http://studio5.ksl.com/index.php?nid=71&sid=29204791

We filmed the spot on Monday and it aired Tuesday. My new friends were so awesome to throw a "Viewing Party," for me. about 10 ladies were there to support me and cheer me on. I moved into such a great area where the women and families are so excited for each other. I feel blessed everyday.

Parker's Birthday and March Updates!

Click HERE!

Orlando!

Click HERE!

A Little Blogging Excitement

I have had a little excitement in my blogging life lately...read about it HERE!