Nonessential Functions

Over the years, I have come to realize that it takes me longer than I think it should to regain my bearing after a major life change.  Every time we welcomed a new child into our family it took at least a year for me to feel like "me".  When we would move, I would regain my equilibrium in about a year and a half.   I functioned well and accomplished what I needed to accomplish, but I shut down all nonessential functions and concentrated on immediate and essential concerns only.  It takes time for me to emerge from "fight or flight" and settle into a fully rounded, fully functioning lifestyle.

It is now a year and a half since we've moved and opened our own business and I'm just beginning to get nonessential functions back on line.  This blog has been nonessential.  As much as I have missed sharing our lives with you, it wasn't a necessary function and so it has been woefully neglected.  The blog, along with myriad other pleasures in life, have taken a back seat to trying to keep my head above water in wholly uncharted territory.  And, at this point, I can't say with any certainty that I will be writing with any regularity - but I will write when I am able.  I promise!!!

Right now, we are in our "slow season" at the butcher shop and I can't tell you how thankful I am!!  One of the most challenging aspects of our new life has been learning how to integrate our home life with our work life.  I've had to learn how to school the children and run a business - at the same time.  I have found it incredibly challenging to work at the butcher shop and still school the kids, manage our home and be a good wife and mother.  The learning curve is steep.

The butcher shop was extraordinarily busy from late August through the beginning of January.  The kids became accustomed to doing school in the office and then helping on the cutting room floor.  Calvin (Master Calvin) learned to debone meat, help skin and weigh hamburger for wrapping.  Snack (Princess Dragon Snack) became adept at wrapping and labeling meat, along with answering phones and taking cut lists.  Elizabeth (Maid Elizabeth) and Serenity (Miss Serenity) ran our slaughter team, along with our pastor, and were more often than not covered in blood from head to toe!  Our butcher shop is truly a family enterprise.

Connor skinning a lamb

Sabin working on a cow (in her fire fighting greens)

Knight (Sir Knight) and Master (Master Hand Grenade) ran the cutting room floor masterfully and gained a reputation for top-notch work.  Although we had a few challenges, with equipment and suppliers, and we dealt with a few unhappy customers, our first year in business was very rewarding.  Truth be told, it was harder than we had expected it to be.  I was ill-prepared for the customer challenges involved in a service industry.  Most of our customers were very happy with our work, some singing our praises, but we did have a few that were decidedly unhappy - and that was hard to take.  We are learning and we are pushing forward and we are trusting that God has us exactly where He wants us.

Our first year and a half has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows.  We have been humbled and we have been exalted.  And we are exactly where we should be.

Thank you for your patience and your understanding as I navigate these uncharted waters.  I hope to write soon.  All the best, Enola (Enola Gay).

Help! How do I defeat Pirates?

The most absurd thing just happened me.  Someone forwarded an email to me - that I originally wrote!  The email was my post Upside-down Land, verbatim.  No changes, exactly word for word, but, more importantly, no author credit.  Then, out of curiosity, I googled Upside-down Land.

To say that I was stunned is to put it lightly.  Upside-down Land has traveled everywhere from peoples inboxes to blogs to radio talk shows!  A number of rather imposing looking blogs (Sodahead.com, TalkRoswell.com and Opencarry.org) posted the article and it was featured on a number of radio talk shows as well.  Not one of the sites I visited credit me or Paratus Familia Blog with the original content.

The problem I have with my posts be plastered all over the internet is that my material is subject to copywrite agreements.  I don't mind other people posting what I have written (in fact I take it as a compliment), as long as my name or blog location are included.  What I write is part of who I am and I take exception to my intellectual property being pirated.

So, do any of you have advice on protecting my articles in the future?  If you do, I would love to hear from you!