Facebook

Facebook (FB).  Who isn't on it these days?  Grandparents, pastors, kids and coworkers.  It isn't surprising who I see on FB, it's more surprising when someone isn't.  It's connected me with old coworkers, summer camp bunk mates, high school friends, distant relatives and next door neighbors.  It's allowed me to peak into the lives of friends across the world and given the gift of encouragement from someone on my street.  It connects the unconnectable (not a real word).  It's given me coupons and invited me to events.  There's seems to be no limit to where it's wireless fingers can reach.  

Most of us know all kinds of people post all kinds of things.  Sometimes I check FB after the kids go to bed and nearly an hour later I realize how much time I spent randomly pondering and clicking on a bunch of nothing.  Just tonight, both girls were asleep by 7:45 pm and after checking FB it was 8:30 pm.  I can't say I read a single worthwhile post.  It can be a bragging board, an advertising arena, and I've seen things like politics or religion turn it into all sorts of ugliness.  Seeing what other people cook for dinner can make me feel insecure about my own leftovers.  Reading the amount of miles someone logged on their 7 mile run before I'd even brushed my teeth can make me feel lazy.  Date nights and check-in's can make me feel alone or boring.  Most often these things aren't the case and I've been very guilty of being sucked into posting much of the above as well.  

Certain days, maybe I check it one too many times or read into a few too many posts.  However, I'm finding more often than not, Facebook is making me a better mom.

Flip some of the things I previously stated and that envious dinner someone made can be a new recipe for me to try.  Someones run can encourage me to get out my sneakers.  Just maybe that place a friend checked-in would be worth checking out with the family.  Perspective.

While on FB I've been encouraged by articles, invited to blogs, guided to eat better, informed to make better choices in nearly every single area of my life, rallied for a preemie, giggled into another mother's quirky toddler story, cried into a tender moment, spoken to by scripture, convicted to be my best, inspired to parent my best, swept into all sorts of emotions where the dust simply needed to be disturbed and dealt with.  I honestly think I've experienced every single human emotion while on FB.

I've literally read a posted link or an article on FB that has changed my day, my week, and for a few of them they've changed my life and in turn the life of my family.  It's become such an amazing source of so much information.  Naturally it needs to be sorted through and I can't just run rampant with the latest craze in anything from parenting to skin care, but it's helpful.  So very helpful.

I don't know why I wanted to write all that.  It's not like FB needs a plug from me, but I sure enjoy the plug I get from it.....does that even make sense? No, not really.  Time to unplug and go to bed.