Back to blogging?

New seasons of life often bring new opportunities...with new opportunities, former activities may fade into the past or change to conform to the new "normal".

[caption id="attachment_473" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Our Big Happy Family 2009"][/caption]

Nearly 4 years ago, my friend, Renee, told me I should start blogging - that my customers would like to know more about me.  I thought she was nuts!  Now I have know she was right.  I was amazed how quickly my blog picked up popularity, and has stayed popular - getting on average over 1,000 hits per month...even when I'm not posting regularly!

The last year, when Esther was in the hospital, a whole new audience joined the ranks...friends, family, friends of friends and family...complete strangers...last December we had over 12,000 hits!  With time on my hands while Esther was in the hospital I was able to share more of myself with my readers...especially what God was doing in our lives.

Since she came home, however, time has not been something I've had much of...life was/is very busy with a large family,a home to run, a husband to love and support, a business to keep afloat, Bible Studies to attend and study for, all the while recovering from our ordeal.  Just this past November I felt myself ready to jump back in to doing things like home-making...doing more of the little things that make a house a home.  I even commented to Daryl, "Could it really take nearly a year to recover from Esther's ordeal?."  He thought it might take even longer!  I think he's right in some ways!

[caption id="attachment_474" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Pizza Night - 4 pizzas, 3 crazy bread packs, 3 2-liters of pop...every night's a party at our house!"][/caption]

So, where am I going with this, and why all this introspect???  It's a new year, we've just passed the one year mark for Esther's return home after her heart surgery (marking 1 year without any hospital admittance!  Yeah!), and my friend, Renee's, 1000th post on her blog, A Baker's Dozen.  She's still blogging away, and has started her own business in photography (she's been doing work for us as well - to debut this year in Mother's Magazine ads for Snap-EZ).  Plus she is also the mother to 13 children and one of the way...and inspiring woman to be sure!  So that's what put me in the mood to think back....

But where am I going with this...I've been thinking about my blog lately, especially in light of my involvement in Facebook (which, BTW I love - staying in touch with my friends and family on a daily basis, keeping tabs on my friend's blogs better...playing silly games when I find the time...plus advertising opportunities!), which is in many ways like miniature blogging.  Do I still want to blog?  Can I find the time to blog?  Is there enough interest in my blog to keep on blogging?  What is the purpose of blogging that I could not fulfil on Facebook?  Will this year be different from last year, allowing for time to blog and things to blog about?

Here's what I think in answer to those questions:

Do I still want to blog?  I do want to still blog...it's better for more in depth sharing.

Can I find the time to blog?   Time is a toughy...but I don't need to blog everyday, right?  Just when things out of the ordinary happen, right?

Is there enough interest in my blog to keep on blogging...YOU can answer that - if you like reading my blog, please post a comment and let me know why you are still reading my blog in spite of my lack of blogging lately!

What is the purpose of blogging that I could not fulfill on Facebook?  This one take some thought...on Facebook you are limited to the number of letters in an intial post...most people are looking for a quick snapshot of your day...not good for really sharing things that matter to you.  So, if I want to share more indepth about things that I care about and event in our lives, then this blog is better for that...so I think the answer is yes here.

And lastly, will this year be different, allowing for tiem to blog and things to blog about?  I think it will.  One year ago I had a medically fragile child who needed around the clock care, I was recovering from a life threatening delivery and months of stress, and a son being deployed...this year looks like a walk in the park...but then again, I can't tell the future, can you???  So, barring any unforeseen catastrophe, this year should be a better year for blogging....as far as time goes...as far as things to blog about????  With 11 children and a home business I don't think that will be a problem, do  you?

So, stay tuned and see if I can be more present here, and to be on the safe side, if you want to see what I'm up to on more of a daily basis, ask to be my friend on Facebook - search for Snap-EZ and you'll find me!

[caption id="attachment_475" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="We've come a long way, baby!"][/caption]

Happy New Year Everyone, and I hope this decade will be your best ever!

God Bless

Ruth