This is a little taste of what we are up to! If you would like to be invited to our blog, please email me at brookeoromney (at) gmail (dot) com

Sunday, January 18, 2015

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

Monday, May 5, 2014

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.



Tuesday, March 11, 2014