why i blog

I started this blog (previously named The Next Chapter) three years ago as an outlet from my very stressful teaching job and as a way to keep in touch with friends and family.  I am not surprised that I have continued to blog since then because it's honestly one of the things I love to do most!  Since Quinn was born I had the urge to really dive deeper into my blog.  I found myself posting a lot more often and my mind was exploding with ideas for fun new posts.  However, I have struggled the past couple of months with this little blog's identity.  My life has changed a lot in the past year (especially since Q was born 6+ months ago), and naturally my blog has too.  So, for a little while I tried to not worry too much about finding my blog's niche, and just experimented until I found my rhythm.

For the past month I have been praying a lot about the purpose of this blog.  I have also had a number of conversations with other bloggers and family members.  It all came down to, "What is my niche here in blog world?  Why am I doing this?"  At one point I almost just gave up the whole thing, because I felt confused and worried that other people would judge this blog thinking it was just a dumb idea.

You see, there is a difference between what other bloggers do well and my blogging niche.  There are a number of blogs out there that I adore, but if I try to do what they do it just feels all wrong.  That reminds me of the sermon from this past Sunday on how there are many members of the body (church), each with a specific gift (1 Corinthians 12).  I feel like my gifts are so lame sometimes (to be totally honest), but God made me with those gifts and they are significant.  Our pastor compared it to a big puzzle.  You can have the whole thing completed but if you are missing just one piece, it is very obvious.  And, usually that one piece just looks like a blob of color...nothing special...you can barely tell what it is!  After he said that, I was a little more convinced that maybe my gifts are important.

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So, I asked my self, "What comes most naturally to me when I blog?"  I have found that writing from my heart, about topics like this, comes the most naturally.  The second most natural thing would be helping other women/mothers with simple things--like finding a good recipe, or sharing about my favorite baby traveling gear, so that maybe even one mother might get through "traveling solo" in the airport a little less stressed.  And, of course, I like to share glimpses of my family and our life together.  They are a big part of who I am.  But, I definitely feel a desire to pull away from just  posting family updates (which is totally fine by the way...I have done that for the past few years, but no longer feel that it is appropriate for a more public blog), and to focus more on encouraging and influencing others.  There have been a number of things in the past few weeks that have really pointed me in that direction, and I believe I will find blogging most fulfilling when I am doing it for purposes that I feel God is calling me to. 

I couldn't have written this post even a few weeks ago.  I was still searching.  But, I am very thankful that God has brought some clarity to this area of my life.  I believe that God can use even what may seem like insignificant gifts/desires/passions to bring him glory.

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So, what can you expect to see on this blog from now on?  Well, pretty much the same stuff that I have been posting about for the past couple of months...my thoughts on motherhood, baby stuff, how to's, fun projects, five fact fridays, and probably more on Lemon Bee.  I simply wanted to share with you what my intentions are for this blog.  Don't plan on seeing a post every single day, 365 days a year.  Some weeks might have more or less posts than others.  The point is that this blog is going to have to work around my life.  I love the quote, "Live your life.  Blog about it later."  So, that means if I don't put God first and my family second, then this blog will greatly suffer, because it flows from my daily life and experiences.

Thank you for following along with me on this journey, and I hope that you will continue to do so!