blogging for passion

I felt chills come over me as I read the words on the introduction page. Tears swelled up in my eyes and I was confused at the convulsions of excitement my body seemed to be producing. It was ridic. I'm serious, guys, I literally started to shed water from my eyeballs as I began my journey of reading "Blog, inc." Crazy, crazy! But just in the first few pages something was affirmed to me. I LOVE BLOGGING, THROUGH AND THROUGH. Love it, love it, love it. For so many reasons, and Joy seemed to just perfectly express the beauty of blogging in the first few pages.

I started my blog back in 2009, a few months after Jared and I were married. It almost seemed mandatory that once you got married, you just started a blog. At first it seemed pointless, because I was just posting photos and I could do that on facebook. And I didn't write all that much because I talked to my friends and family all the time, and they were the only ones following along so it just seemed dumb for me to write the ins and outs of our days. But then something happened. I began to take the blog to a different level. A personal and creative level. Joy talks about a blog being pertinent for a transitional period of your life, and being young and married, that was definitely a transitional time for me. I began to realize that blogging was more for me than it was for others. It was more about documenting how I was being redefined from being single to married woman. I now had an outlet to express myself in a way that was open for others to respond to, to find similarities and differences, to connect with on a such a different level. As I began to explore the blogosphere more, I realized that there were so many in this world that were going through similar situations as me, or others who were in greater trials than myself and made me count my blessings, or others who inspired me to be better, others who allowed me to recognize the beauty of this world through their words and talents. I realized that blogging was making me a better person.

Naming a blog is always tough. I went through a couple names myself on this place I now am so comfortable with.  I decided on Little Almanac because this is a teeny space where I am constantly chronicling tiny parts of my days which accumulate into years. Almanacs are usually published annually containing information of general interest and past times, so my archive is fittingly an almanac of our family life.

I'll be honest and say I worry sometimes that I am too narrow in my focus. That maybe I should expand and do a bit more of fashion or food or what have you. I'm worried that I'm mom-ifying this blog too much and that there's more to me than being a human spit rag and tantrum suppressor. But then I realize that I am blogging what I am passionate about. And right now I am passionate about motherhood.

I also love that this place is a creative outlet. I love re-designing my blog every couple of months {I'm sure you've noticed :)}. It is always such a stress burner for me to sit in photoshop and create something that is totally conjured up by my brain. I love the release that comes from writing and getting my thoughts out there. Writing is therapy for me. I could write 50 blog posts a day. My brain now THINKS in blog posts. I've learned through blogging and writing that the little things are what make life great.

I love the friends I have made through this blogosphere. The sense of community felt is amazing. There are a handful of you that I have been able to meet in person that I otherwise would not have been able to connect with if it weren't for this blogging world. There are others that I know I would be instant friends with if we were ever to be face to face. When Warner was born I was amazed at some of you women who reached out and sent beautiful gifts {thanks Jess, Sonya, and Shauna!}. I am constantly in awe by the love I have felt from wonderful readers friends like you. I need to be a better friend and be more consistent in outreach and comment responses. Having two kids has definitely limited my time to respond back to each comment and email, but that doesn't mean they aren't appreciated. I'm going to try my best to holla'back in-line to each comment.

Boy, who knew that just cracking open the first few pages on this book would unleash this fury of a post. Basically, I'm bearing testament to you that blogging is awesome. That I love this blog. I love that I can write whatever is important to me, and at this time it seems that my family is stealing the show, which it rightfully should. And sometimes I blog about good food {mostly desserts}, because food is my second main reason for living. Maybe in 20 years from now I'll have a travel blog, but for right now this is my Little Almanac about my life in transition of being a mom, yet still feeling like I'm 10 years old, sometimes immature and overdramatic, but mostly just obsessive over my kids. Thanks for reading along!