In all I am, do, and will write, my aim is to hit God's mark. I will have moments of being misguided as I am not perfect, but know that I serve a God that loves me through it all.
In three days I will have been blogging for one year. This is my 68th entry. As I reflect back on my blogging experience, I am pleased. I have stayed true to my commitment toward this blog:
Before I started, I made several promises to myself:
1) The blog was not to be used as a gossip chamber or a venting stage against my children or husband.
I can't say that I have not been tempted to dump family problems into the blogosphere. Gossip is very easy to write about and to read about, but that wouldn't exactly be aiming higher than the norm, now would it?
2) Entries were to always be uplifting or encouraging. Any more serious entries were to aim to point myself and others to God (thus the name of the blog). That wasn't to mean there couldn't be any silly entries.
We have way too many sources of "downers" in this world. I just don't want to contribute to it. I want to continue to aim high, to set myself aiming for the ideal and to encourage any reader to join me. By ideal, of course, I mean a relationship with Jesus Christ that is true and honest and puts Him first.
3) Learning my way around blogging designs and templates, etc. was not to take priority over my ongoing quest to be a better wife, parent and homemaker.
One can only look at my template to see that I have kept this one with ease. I've pretty much not touched my template in a whole year! Or, one could conclude that I have a lot of work to do in being a better wife, parent, and homemaker. :>) But it is true, my husband and I have been working on our relationship more intensely this year than ever before. (That's a good thing.) We have gotten more serious in making goals for our children both in character growth and educational goals. I have been working on improving my home management skills. Eventually I want to have one of those home management binders I've read others have. If time spent on these objectives means no time to write a blog entry...so be it.
4) I was not to write a blog entry just to write a blog entry. Or, write just to keep readership up. Any entry was to be worth someone taking the time to read. I did not want to play a role of encouraging others to spend too much time in front of the computer.
Oh, I have posted silly things, yes. I did them mostly when I was trying to learn something about posting or something like that, but those are such quick reads, I figured it was harmless. I do, however, stick to my commitment to blog without obligation. You will see that I have put a button thing on my template that points to another person's entry explaining what blogging without obligation means. I sincerely hope that any of my entries are worthy of the time you take to read it.
Do I have more goals for this year? You bet!
1. I really do want to get a blog design that truly does reflect me and my family and the aim of this blog.
2. I really do want to figure out how to post pictures, video, sound, and those little stamp pictures that people put up for things like Works for Me Wednesday, carnivals, Saturday Stirrings, Green Hour, etc.
3. I want to be more consistent about postings regarding our homeschooling days.
4. I want to be more serious about posting entries that demonstrate how God is working on me. Maybe as you read about this work in progress, you will see what God is doing and what He can do.
5. I want to be able to organize my entries by categories. I'm very confused on how to do that.
So, how can you, a reader, help me?
1. Pray for me.
2. Challenge me by holding me accountable to the goals. If I falter, tell me! I am not put off by constructive criticism. In fact, I respect people that lovingly rebuke me! Note: I said, lovingly. Meaning: A rebuke coming from God's words are refreshing, but a rebuke coming from someone who just doesn't want to be wrong is, well, not lovingly motivated.
3. Let me know how God is working in YOUR life. This is SO encouraging. It's a bonus if something I have written has spoken to you personally.
Now, stop reading and go hug your children, get dinner on the table, and greet your husband with a warm smile. Oh, and de-lurk just for a second to let me know you are there.
Hi Holly!
I am gearing up for the Christian Heritage conference next weekend and remembered that you commented on my blog aobut it once. If you plan on attending, I'd love to meet up with you. It is always such a treat to meet other homeschool moms IRL.
