Judson's Legacy

Your Gold Star

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Dear Reader,

If you are still with me after an almost 6 month hiatus, then you deserve a gold star!

I have decided it is time to pick up the figurative pen and paper to start blogging again.  As the new year commences, it seems a fitting time to re-engage.

When I chose to take a hiatus in July, I felt emotionally beat-up, discouraged and confused, desperately crying out to see God move in some challenging circumstances.  I was running low on hope and no longer wanted to feel the vulnerability of walking through my disappointments with God publicly.  I also feared mis-perceptions; I was concerned about people coming to inaccurate conclusions about my journey.  My skin wasn’t tough enough to endure judgment.

Strangely, little in my circumstances has changed in these last 6 months and we’ve even had some compounding challenges added to the mix, but I feel ready to start blogging again.  My discouragement, confusion, and desperation has ebbed and flowed over this season but through it all, I have become more convinced of my call to engage the complexities openly.  

I am certainly not coming back to this platform with a pretty package tied neatly with a bow, but rather a continually messy, sometimes unattractive, multi-faceted intermingling of joy and pain, with far more pain than I’d like.  But I do have a renewed sense of purpose and strength, while also feeling released from some of the blogging pressures that seemed to have entangled me.

So here I am again — back with all my warts, so to speak. 

This time around, I hope to make my blog a little more conversational and interactive.  I am going to try to respond more consistently to blog comments and am also inviting questions.  There is now a form on the right-hand column that gives space to suggest a blog topic and I’ll be soliciting questions on Judson’s Facebook page.    Feel free to ask about anything — my faith, my grief, my parenting, my kids, my marriage, my book, my relationships, my views on certain topics, so on and so forth.  Sky’s the limit, as far as I’m concerned — I may not have anything profound to share, but I’m committed to being honest.  No Artificial Colors or Flavors is simply intended to be a real, authentic glimpse into one journey of life and faith.

Most importantly, I really want to express my gratitude to you.  If you’re reading this, it likely means you’ve somehow chosen to let me into your life through this blog.  I am honored.  Thank you.  And thank you also for electronically sticking with me.

Love,
Christina

Categories: Blogging, General Life, Letters

31 Responses to "Your Gold Star"

  1. Welcome back to the blog world! I look forward to your continued blogging!
    God bless you and your family!

  2. Michal says:

    I’m honored to accept a gold star and will look forward to hearing more about your challenging journey to wholeness. You teach beautifully!

  3. Thank you so much for returning to your blog. You are an inspiration to me! I have learned so much about you, me, God and life in general. I look forward to learning, crying and laughing with you!
    Thanks again.

  4. Tammy says:

    Great BIG smiles….and hugs

  5. candace g. says:

    Welcome back. I have missed all of your thoughtful pieces. I hope 2011 is a year of healing. Love always!

  6. Marissa S says:

    So glad you have decided to begin blogging again. I’ve missed reading your thoughts, but I understand that you just sometimes need a break. You are an inspiration, and always in my heart

  7. Rebekah says:

    Welcome back, Christina! It will be good to read your posts again… love to you all.

  8. Freya Remmer says:

    Hi Christina!

    I like your new picture, and I, too, am glad you’re back to blogging!

    Freya

  9. Traci says:

    I’m still here! Looking forward to seeing you sometime soon too!!!

  10. Kristy says:

    Still here, and very happy to be! I look forward to hearing from you again through your blogs! Much love to you! ~Kristy

  11. Anna says:

    I too am glad that you’re back. May God pour out His blessings on you in 2011.

  12. Wow! What a gift to come home and find all these comments after declaring that my hiatus is over.

    Thank you, Michal, for accepting your well-deserved gold star.

    And I am grateful for the many encouraging comments.

    It’s good to be back! ๐Ÿ™‚

  13. Love to you Christina. I have missed your blogging. If nothing else (as if!), your blogging keeps you and your family at the top of my prayer list. You are so inspirational. Thank you for being so candid with all who follow you.

  14. Ken says:

    Have you been away !!!! Lol.

  15. Jen says:

    It’s good to see you back! I know I have a hard time keeping at with my blog at times and feel like if I was honest as I wanted to be, people wouldn’t like that version of me. Or at the least, they’d think I was crazy.

  16. Sandy says:

    Wishing you a great and awesome New Year. I hope the Lord gives you peace and comfort and new desires as well as this desire to write. I wish I knew how to use words to express things going on in my life. I look forward to reading what is on your heart. "The Word" is more important then we think, bringing hope, wisdom and salvation. God bless you and your family in 2011.

  17. Denise says:

    Christina,

    How perfectly you have described the past 6 months in our lives….praying for your precious family in 2011.

  18. Jody Casares says:

    Woohoo!!!! ๐Ÿ™‚

  19. What’s that Neil Diamond song, "Hello, my friend, hello…." ???? ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Love the new pictures!!

    -Kristy

  20. Robyn Morton says:

    Welcome back Christina. I have been praying for you (nothing new about that!) and am thankful that you feel strong enough to continue your blog. It sounds as if you have used to time away to strengthen and renew yourself. Nothing wrong with retreating at times to find yourself again and to find your balance. You have faced more challenges in the past few years than most people face in a lifetime. Be gentle and be patient with yourself! Love to you, Drake and Jessie Girl and always, my love to Jud. Blessings.

  21. Dawn Mills says:

    You have taught me so much…as we travel this journey together. I will look forward to reading more. Welcome Back! ๐Ÿ™‚

  22. Do you remember that season of high school where your nickname was "Honest"??? Well nothing’s changed as far as I am concerned! ๐Ÿ™‚ Looking forward to re-engaging with you through your blog this way. You are a superb communicator!

  23. Sarah says:

    Welcome Back!!! ๐Ÿ™‚

  24. Name says:

    You do what you do! Glad you are writing again…but if you need a break—TAKE it! You deserve it! love to you and your family!

  25. I am feeling really blessed by each of your words. Ken: thanks for making me laugh! Jen: I’m convinced people think I’m crazy…I guess I’m just learning to be okay with that. ๐Ÿ™‚ Denise: my heart hurts to consider your journey. Please give Lukeman a hug from me. Robyn: you see into my heart and seem to know just how to encourage. I am grateful! Dawn: so thankful to be on this journey with you too. I thought of you so much on the 22nd. Missing MaKinley with you! Mary Margaret: oh, such great memories! I need to search out those pictures. Weren’t you "Sweet?" Nicole was "Nice." What was our adjective for Amy? I can’t remember.

  26. Amy Dresher says:

    I am so glad to see you have decided to come back to your blog and continue writing! Welcome back!

    God bless!

  27. I’m so looking forward to reading your blog again. You’re a huge encouragement to me and so inspiring. Welcome back Christina, and thank you!

  28. Sue H. says:

    I still have Judson’s picture on my dresser at home. He always makes me smile and I feel happier to have known him and the family!

  29. Karise says:

    Welcome back, Christina!!

    I commented here the other day, but it didn’t save, so I’m back. ๐Ÿ™‚

    That’s funny, I was just talking with my dad the other day about his profession and being in the public eye and that was exactly his response…"you just have to be yourself…warts and all." Interesting how I would have a hard time in that position myself, but so appreciate the vulnerability and openness in others. (hmm, that in itself perhaps reveals a little more than I like! ๐Ÿ™‚

    That being said, I so appreciate you, your vulnerability, your raw writing and allowing us into your process with you…and to top it off, your beautiful, creative, thought-provoking communication. Looking forward to continuing your journey with you!

    Hugs

  30. rhemashope says:

    welcome back, christina. i think of you and your Jud bud often. your writing has always touched me deeply. the Lord uses you in this space – may He continue to bless your ministry here.

  31. Amy says:

    It’s been a busy month and I am just now checking in. Glad that you are back! Praying for you.

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