What has God done for me and my blog?

What a day to call my Blog Anniversary: Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the Inauguration of President Donald J. Trump. 😅 In the midst of this very exciting time, I am pleased to share with you that it has been a year since I wrote my first post The Greatest Creator.

It was my best effort to point my readers (in the midst of a blog about great creators) to the Greatest Creator. I'm so happy that I got the chance to publish a post that pointed people to the One True God. But I also love the post for another reason: it shows me how much I have grown. Last year, as I published that blog post, I had no real idea what I was going to post each week, who was going to read it or what the response to my writing would be. And while it was certainly stressful getting it up and running, designing the blog, and deciding on a new topic for each week, I can see so clearly how God has blessed me in my journey.

There are many reasons I'm glad that I started a blog, and that I want to keep it up.

I've Learned

Yes, I've learned so much by keeping up this blog.

1. I've learned about the topics on which I chose to write!

2. I've learned how to research

3. I've learned how to maneuver around my platform

4. I've learned that there are people who care about what I write

5. I've learned consistency by posting weekly

6. And I've learned when it was okay to take a break

I've Grown

Not only have I grown my blog (the people I've reached, the feedback I've gotten etc.) but I have grown mentally and spiritually in my upkeep of it.

1. I've grown spiritually by learning to pray that my posts will bless people

2. I've grown closer to the Lord as I rely on him for strength and peace about my blog

3. I've grown to love my blog, but to love the people who support it even more

Some of my Favorites

I've developed many favorites on my blog from this last year.

Favorite Blog Posts

(Ah, one reason that I'm so happy to have a blog: a great place to save and record so many of the pieces that I've written over the last year.)

Starting with the oldest ones, some of my favorite posts are

Jane Austen Pt 3: 1995 or 2005?

Winter of Dragons: A Terrific Novel!

The Raging Sea (An Original Poem)

The Butterfly on the Wall

What is Childhood? (An Original Poem)

Excellence before Originality

My Top Ten Movies of 2024

Favorite Comments

(People have shared the sweetest comments with me)

"Little Miss Tolkien"

-Tara Tarr, in response to "The Raging Sea"

"'Little Kit was a pony. She was a yellow spotted pony to say for sure. She was born December 1973 she was born 3:00 in the morning.'

This beginning is epic. XDD"

-E. G. Runyan in response to "When my Writing Exploded" in which I shared the first story I ever wrote

"One more downside (about NaNoWriMo): your fans didn't get to read your blog during this time!!! I missed it!"

-Carolyn Joy in response to "NaNoWriMo: What don't I like?"

I've had so many faithful supporters; I know they're God-sent. He has blessed me with so many loving people who read and comment on my blog all the time. I don't deserve you, but I'm so happy you found my blog. I hope you have had a good journey so far and will continue to. Every comment and bit of feedback brightens my day. I love your support. ❤️

My Goals for this year

I have several goals for this year, the foremost of which are 1. expanding my email list and 2. pursuing the possibilities of self-publication. Those of you who have subscribed to my email list know this: I have felt God leading me to grow my subscribers for it this year. I took the step as I felt called, and in the last couple weeks, my email list has increased by 50%. I can't seem to believe it, but I can only credit God.

If you want to support me in expanding the outreach of my writing, please share this link with your friends and family. So many of you have done that recently, and I am indebted to you.

Also, if you haven't joined my email list, I would love for you to do so. I will probably be talking a lot about some of my books in the near future. Subscribers will always be the first to get excerpts of my novels and short stories.

I would never have thought that I could have come this far last year, but I did. I have people from other countries who view my blog and have signed up for my email list. I have encouraging remarks on stories and art that I have shared with people, and I have had people thank me for my consistency in keeping my blog pointed toward God.

Am I bragging?

Surely not about myself.

"The Lord has done great things for us;

    we are glad."

-Psalm 126:3

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

-Colossians 3:17

"But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”

-Jeremiah 9:24

I have learned and grown and loved so much about this past year, and I pray and hope that it continues. Thank you for your constant support, and may God bless you in whatever He has for you in this year ahead.