What I’ve Learned in My Five Years of Blogging

I turned 45 this past Friday. Woo-hoo!

And since I launched my blog on my birthday back in 2010, it got me to thinking about my blogging experience over the past 5 years.

So, here’s what I’ve learned about blogging…

1. The internet is like a newspaper on steroids. 

I started this blog to be more effective in evangelism and discipleship.  I remember when I would pass out gospel tracts in public and there would be no effective follow-up, or I would give out tracts with a family centered message, but there would be no instruction beyond what could fit on an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper.  I knew that the internet was a very effective way to get out the message of the Gospel and its relationship to family life; a place where women could always visit to get encouragement.  Thanks to this website, I’m reaching people beyond my limited physical reach with the message of hope that only Jesus Christ offers, and it feels great!

2. God has to teach me how to blog, what to say, and when to say it . . .

and even then, when I think I got it right, I get it wrong!  Some members of my family are private, while others have a broadcast me to the world personality (like their mom).  And I’ve made a mistake or two or three or four in trying to figure out who was who. What’s acceptable for one kid would make another dive under the bed in sheer embarrassment – or call me to express their complete and utter disdain: “Dang it, Mom!”  I’ve posted pictures that I said I wouldn’t (but in my defense, she was soooo pretty – even with the forbidden, green swim cap).  And I’ve been told by my husband to “Edit that post – now!”  Yes, I’ve had to learn some things the hard way.  Thank God for His grace.

3. I miss my late-night couch-time.

I like to sit on the couch late at night to decompress, eating ice cream and brownies while watching the news (and growing my waist line), but because of blogging that life for the most part is OVER.  I grind and hustle all day keeping a regimented schedule and homeschooling the kids and by the evening I’m more than ready to let my hair down.  But I’ve since traded that in to spend time writing and developing content for this website.  I have to steal time from somewhere to blog – and I’d rather steal it from watching the nightly news than from my family time.

4. God has to continually help me not to want to be popular or famous, or blog just to drive traffic.

While I’m certain that it’s God’s will for my life to teach about faith and family life – and I’m grateful that blogging affords me that opportunity – when I write a post and press “publish” I don’t want to feel like I’m blogging for just one person: I want a ton of people to read my stuff and I want to be loved and affirmed by the masses and penetrate the inner circles of popular mommy bloggers – whomever they may be (THERE ARE SO MANY!).

There’s a monster in me that craves fame and glory, and I’m constantly having to allow the Holy Spirit to check me on my motives for why I do what I do: Did I sacrifice 2 hours of sleep because I need the applause of men or did I offer my sleep-time up to the Lord so that He can be glorified?  It all comes down to motives.  The Lord has had to check and correct me on this more than once. Because of this, I’m constantly tweaking this website so that it reflects more of Christ and less of me.

5. I lie to myself about what I’d be doing if I weren’t blogging.

I tell myself I’d read more if I had the time.  It’s a lie!  I barely finished a book before I began blogging – but I blame that on homeschooling! – and it happens even less now, since this blog. Don’t think that stops me from amassing a lovely book collection (which collects dust on my shelves), or starting books (and not making it past the first chapter).  In this post I romanticized the idea of taking on possibly the toughest read of my life yet: Pride and Prejudice. I’d update you on my progress but I have to go now . . . THE MAILMAN IS RINGING MY BELL!

6. Social media is an all-consuming beast! 

Trying to keep up with social media can consume you and suck the very life out of you.  The only reason I started a Pinterest, Instagram and Welcome Home Ministry Facebook account is because it’s one of the best ways to keep readers connected and to grow your blog.  But I’m sick of trying to keep up with all of these social media platforms! I honestly don’t know how other mommy bloggers do it.  For me, finding the balance between communicating what God has put on my heart AND THEN blasting it out through multiple social media platforms is like walking a spiritual tightrope!

7. It’s OK to be less plugged in (I hope).

I’ve let my Pinterest and Instagram accounts fall by the wayside (they are there, but I haven’t updated them in some time) and I’ve removed my Facebook app (and Messenger!) from my smartphone.  And I couldn’t feel better!  In an age when being “connected” is seen as something favorable, I’m finding that hearing from many voices clouds how well I hear from the Lord.  Being less connected doesn’t mean I’m more spiritual.  Perhaps this is a season I’m passing through.  All I’m saying is that I was way too plugged in for my own good.

Can God really use a blog that has limited reach or is not on top of social media?  I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

8. Blogging is Hard WORK! 

HARD WORK…Ah-Choo!!!!  {Gesundheit.}  Thank you!  I’m allergic to hard work. Even the very word makes me itch and sneeze.  Yes, I truly enjoy blogging, but finding the balance between blogging and tending to the needs of my family is not (always) easy.  When I’m blogging in my spare time it feels great, but when I’m writing a blog post at 12 am and I’m delirious from sleep deprivation, it just feels forced – it feels like WORK!

I once wrote a blog post on this very topic, about my struggle to post regularly and be a “good” mom.  I was whinny, and grumpy and semi-incoherent from writing it after midnight, when everything in me wanted to run for my covers – and it went viral!  (Which means that 10 people read it.)  Go figure!

So yeah, blogging requires a sacrifice – a sacrifice of my time: I can be reading or blogging; washing dishes or blogging; sleeping or blogging.  I can rub my husband’s feet or blog.  (I hope my hubby doesn’t read this because I don’t actually rub his feet, but he may want me to start.) :o)

9. Finding your own voice is not easy!

There are several bloggers whom I love and adore. Bloggers who give me a daily dose of happy.  Bloggers to offer an unapologetic view of why homeschooling is for everyone, even if it’s not.  But God designed me to be uniquely me, and I can’t be anyone else – no matter how much I try.  It took me a while to find my own voice; and honestly, I’m still finding it. Fellow blogger Holly Gerth said, “Everyday, try to write in a way that scares you a little.”  I think that’s great advice.  It’s not easy being transparent and vulnerable and putting yourself out there for everyone to judge.  I wrote this post and was shaking in my boots before I pressed publish. My husband had to finally tell me, “It’s OK, Tiff – just do it!”  And every day, I’m still trying to Just Do It!

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So whether you’ve stuck around here for the past 5 years (that’s mostly just me!) or for the past 5 months, I want to say Thank you.  Thank you for posting comments when I feel like I’m only writing for myself.  Thank you for letting me know you’re out there somewhere – somewhere out there in cyberspace.

**Holla Back!**

Even five years in I feel relatively new and I’d love your feedback about Welcome Home Ministry.  Is there anything that I can do to improve it?  What do you like most about it?  What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?  Should I highlight my hair again?  I don’t know, just holla back!