I have being trying to form these words for sometime. Not sure why I can’t. Yet I feel within that I need to let you all know what is gong on with New Life on the Road blog. Its time for my family to have more of me, and for me to have more of my family. I am going to Disconnect to Reconnect from here to spend more time with all of my boys and my husband.
Its Time For Family
I have been chasing my dreams for so long yet I can no longer see what those dreams are. No longer am I a Mum who is needed by her babies every day. My boys are growing up fine but I am left wondering “What is Next” in store. Did you know that my older two boys never used to know I had a first name. For years they thought my name was Mum which I loved. Yet it was a shock to realise that I do have a name and I am a person. Who is needing quality time offline.
Going Outdoors
I am going to be gone every weekend from here. There will be no blog posts from me, and there will be limited Facebook access. Twitter will be non-existing on weekends. I loved our time at Theresa Creek Dam ~ there was no internet where we camped and I was over the moon excited because it took all the pressure of me…..my family gets all of me instead of….. “Just a minute, I need to do this online and then I will be able to be there for you”
It was a great wake up call. David and I (Actually David created New Life on the Road and then he became too busy to keep blogging so I took it over!) started our journey with the intentions of creating a different lifestyle from how we used to barely live together in a house. Yet the last few weeks I have seen my family still stuck in the same old patterns of living in a house – sleeping, cleaning our motorhome, school, after school activities, library, trying to cook a fast dinner, being quiet so David can sleep, off to bed and start the day again tomorrow.
No. More. Will. I Walk. This. Path.
I will not keep going down the same track we used to walk before we decided there had to be more to life than barely existing. So I have been deep in thought all week, and I have done a lot of soul-searching. If I am no longer needed by my little ones, what is next? Where do we go from here?
My boys are (finally) starting to step up (grow up?) and all of them are helping out around with simple things like washing up and drying up, putting away and even helping with the washing of our clothes. And its nice. Nice to have that one-on-one time with each of my boys….as they go about their jobs we all have a great chat and a joke. That is what our family needs more of. More bonding time, more fun, more laughter and to grow stronger together.
Finding Balance In Life
There are so many hints and tips about finding balance in life. Well I am not good at taking those hints on board. I usually throw all of my self into a project and forget everything/everyone that is around me. Not a good thing when hubby needs his wife to be there and look after the family needs.
It has been a week of lots of questions. And a lot of wondering…..where does New Life on the Road go from here? Not sure ~ not sure about a lot of things lately. But do know one thing….I am going to disconnect to reconnect. From now on there will be only a few blog posts a week, none on the weekend and lots of exploring time.
Something About Getting Out
There is something that is drawing me to trees and nature at the moment. I want to take photos of the most amazing trees that I come across, yet trees never used to make me excited! Seems weird but its like I am amazed with how much beauty they have. Last weekend we escaped for one night to Eungella. Along the way I asked David to stop and take a photo of me next to a water fall. He took a great photo and I am proud to keep the photo. Normally I delete photos of me from the camera and our computer. I am not keen to have an image of me anywhere! That photo means a lot to me as it was about a weekend of doing something that we don’t get a lot of time to do ~ spending time doing whatever we wanted to.
Photo of me along the way to Eungella Chalet~
Before I rushed back to the car, and dropped my camera 🙁
This Tree Caught my Eye while we stayed at Eungella ~
Its bare but so beautiful!
It was also the last photo (the one of me next to the waterfall) before I dropped my camera 🙁 I now have a camera that will only take photos either inside or takes photos where there is the full sun. Its sad but its a good thing. As I have been dreaming about buying a good quality camera and learning how to use the camera. I would love to take photos where I can look back (later on) and be proud of the colours, the angel, the lighting, the style of the image and have the photo displayed in our Motorhome where we can remember good times!
Maybe its time that I listened to my inner voice and discover the true meaning of happiness.
Pull The Plug?
I even thought about shutting down our blog and our facebook fanpage. Blogging used to be fun for me, lately I have lost the motivation to blog. I have lost what we are about ~ sharing our family with our amazing readers. Then I realised that I didn’t want to pull the plug on our blog because I want our boys to be able to read about our amazing journey from living in a house to living in a Motorhome. Not sure if they want to read it, but it’s here for anytime they do decide to. I also want to be able to have our family history shared with our kids/grandkids. This blog is not something that I am ashamed of, its been good writing from the heart! And its been a way to met some amazing people.
Not sure what this blog is aimed at anymore. We are a family that is different. We live in a Motorhome, yet David works along the way. We like to escape from our Motorhome, yet we are not full-time campers. We like to explore on the weekends, yet we are not spending all of our time doing that. We are a family who is different. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Not sure. Yet which community do we fit in ?
With community I mean online blogging groups. It’s not a mummy blog, nor a travelling blog, nor a personal blog, nor a cooking blog, nor a fashion blog, nor a healthy lifestyle blog, nor a life coach…..there are so many different blogging groups. And some amazing bloggers who can put there blog into one group! I think that because we blog about our lifestyle that we fall outside of the square! Guess you could say we are never going to fit into one area, which means that we are left wondering what is this space about. Maybe while I spend quality time with my family it will become more clear?
Until then I would like to say a huge thanking you to our amazing loyal readers. Some of you have been reading here from day one, and some of you have left comments every single time we posted! And some of you send amazing emails to us, which we love getting. Some of you have sent amazing questions on our facebook page. All of it means so very much to our family.
Seen as how its Friday, we are looking forward to tomorrow. David is working on the outside of our Motorhome while I take our boys out for the day of fun. The motorhome needs a lot of outside work before we can head to Western Australia, and I need to step up and take on my role of helping David out. He needs weekends where he can go flat-out and not have to stop to make lunches/dinners/coffee etc for us all.
Its time for family fun-filled time 🙂
Hoping You All Have a Great Weekend.
Thanking you.
Cheers
Lisa
New Life on the Road.
You’ve got the tree thing going on too huh? I’ve put it down to old age!! Every flower, tree or sunset has become a fascination for me!! No idea where it has come from as I’m not particularly into those things! And just don’t get me started on the moon!!
Tracey – Life Changing Year recently posted..Love Locks. Don’t Really Say Romance But Look Cool On A Bridge!!
Hi Tracey,
Its so not an old age thing happening!!! Not sure what is going on but Trees are calling out to me and I love being near them 🙂
Havent looked at the moon (yet) ~ will have to check it out.
Looking forward to finding myself and what happens next on our journey
Cheers
Lisa
I LOVE LOVE LOVE trees. One day, when I’m brave enough to get a tattoo it will be of a tree. They represent beauty, strength and wisdom to me.
I absolutely understand what you mean about needing to disconnect. I had distanced myself from our site a fair bit over the last month or so, we’d been sick and are in the middle of trying to sell everything off.
I’ve been questioning our goals, our motives and the life we’re choosing for our children.
When it all gets too much, I tell myself (as I was told by a friend years ago) if you didn’t worry, it would mean you didn’t care. The fact you question and worry means you’re trying to do the best you can for your family, so give yourself a break.
We get one life honey, we get one chance, go out there with your boys and enjoy it xx
Loreena recently posted..Preparing to Travel Australia: Choosing a Car Type
Hi Loreena,
Now that would be so cool – having a tree tattoo! Actually having a family tree tattoo would be amazing 🙂
I like your friends saying, and I guess if we didnt worry then it would mean anything to us.
I am needing time away from online and time with my family. Its something that I feel we all need. Good to know we are not alone with wanting life to be easy and simple.
Thanking you so much for your kind suport and kind words.
Cheers
Lisa
Oh, glad to see I’m not the only tree liker! I got some great tree photos while we were away in Victoria – the trees are so different down there!
Glad to see you are following your heart Lisa and doing what is best for yourself and the family.
Look forward to seeing your less frequent posts.
Cheers
JJ
Jenny Johnson recently posted..Port Campbell Day 2
Hi Jenny,
Trees are so incredible! Wonder why it has taken me so long to notice them?
Time away and discovering who I am is what I really need for our family at the moment.
Thanking you for your kind support.
Cheers
Lisa
Sounds like a great plan Lisa! Getting balance is always a good thing and I think as bloggers, it’s so terribly easy to get so caught up with online relationships and friendships that we forget that the most important ones are our offline ones! Looking forward to continuing reading your posts… whenever you are able to post.
Little Gumnut recently posted..Faith and reflections on the week that was.
Sounds like a great plan Lisa! Getting balance is always a good thing and I think as bloggers, it’s so terribly easy to get so caught up with online relationships and friendships that we forget that the most important ones are our offline ones! Looking forward to continuing reading your posts… whenever you are able to post.
Little Gumnut recently posted..Faith and reflections on the week that was.
Thanks Little Gumnut for your amazing support. I am really needing this time to cut back online and spend time with my family. It was such a relief over the weekend to not have to worry about turning on the computer!
And its so very true ~ we do need to remember our relationships are way more important than anything ever 🙂
Cheers
Lisa
Good on you for getting your priorities straightened out Lisa. I started taking weekends off a little while ago and I find it makes it easier to come up with ideas to write about during the week. Plus, of course, it leaves lots of time for great family adventures. I definitely think you’re heading down the right path…except for that tree thing. I honestly can’t say I understand that (but I’ll enjoy the pictures anyways).
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Hi Steve,
I really enjoyed the weekend with no pressures and no blogging! It was so refreshing and I am looking at cutting back on my blogging during the week. Good to know that I am not the only one who reckons it makes sense to have weekends with family and family adventures.
Regards the trees ~ I am not sure where the desire for trees has come from? Its really weird but I could sit and look at them all day! Will try not to take too many photos and write too many blog posts about them 🙂
Cheers
Lisa
I love trees, our yard is full of them. We can share you with your family Lisa, just don’t disappear completely, that would not be fun!
Jan
jan recently posted..Fantastic Friday – Dubai Here We Come
Hi Jan,
I am not really sure what it is about trees but I so could stare at them all day long! Freaky stuff happening for sure 🙂
Regards not disappearing, I am cutting back online but wont be gone forever ~ just needing a break for awhile!
Thanking you so much for your suppost Jan
Cheers
Lisa xxx
Sweetpea…
It takes a while for me to catch up on your news. I am SO not surprised by your decision… it happens to us all… enjoy, embrace and enlighten your ‘new life on the road’
Love Annie
Hi Annie,
I am so relieved to have the pressure taken away from me, and to remember what is really important – my family. Its good to be on this new road and discover what happens next for our family 🙂
Thanking you so much for your kind support, amazing words and your love xxx
I understand the need to have a break from blogging and rediscover life. I recently had a break away and still haven’t quite got the balance or the mojo back. But I have rediscovered that I control my blog and I only need to write for myself, not for anyone else. So the pressure is off and I’m enjoying online and offline life a little more than before. Good luck with your break!
Kirsty @ My Home Truths recently posted..My Real Life Dirt Girl
Hi Kirsty,
Its good to get away from online stuff and refocus on what is really important – family. I need this time and I am discovering what makes me happy, which makes my family happy!
I like that idea – being in control of my blog instead of my blog being in control of me 🙂
Cheers
Lisa
It sounds delightful! Best of luck and happiness w/the journey!
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I have just been blog hopping to search out other campers treking around Asutralia and found your blog. I haven’t had the time to read much but I will be back. We are geographically close as I am presently just north of Rockhampton and a quick look at one of your earliest post also tells me we both come from the south coast of NSW. Way to go. As to your recent post. I can identify with you needing to find yourself and create some changes. Trying to keep a balance in all areas of life is an ongoing battle. Take all the time you (and your family) need to find out what and where you are heading to next.
And who knows we might just meet up somewhere in the great outdoors!
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