I just realized that four years ago today, I started blogging. I still can't believe that much time has passed. The twins were infants, girls just wee ones, and my husband and I were enjoying a quiet New Year's at home. We were watching TV to pass time waiting for the infamous ball to drop in Times Square. I happened to check my email and came across a post from my friend Kate, who had been blogging for a bit both for leisure and for professional development. On a spontaneous whim, I said to my husband, "I wonder if I could set up a blog?" He said go for it, and that night I established a blogger account and dot.com.
For a time, dot.com was a place to explore thoughts about parenting, nursing, and Christian living, capitalizing on my mother-in-law, Dot's, sage advice. Eventually, dot.com evolved into The Laundry Alternative, and for a time I added resources and encouraging words for moms trying to live life from under the pile. In 2007, as my writing found its own voice and my heart for women in all stages of life became apparent, Extravagant Grace was birthed.
Blogging has brought me along on quite a journey, and I give all the glory to God for anything I (or anyone else) has gained from it. As I take a moment to reflect and give thanks, these are some of the great blessings God has brought my way through blogging:
- a realization that my writing and design degrees were not impulsive but deeply tied to my passion, to be used by God for His glory
- a community of like-minded women to be sharpened by, held accountable to, and to grow with
- the chance to read and review dozens and dozens of thought-provoking, life-changing books, including a selection of creatively put together Bibles
- the opportunity to not only visit California, but to lead my very first retreat on a subject that has transformed my life -- Holy Habits
- unexpected gifts, especially my beautiful LifeVerse bracelet from Christine
- ultimately, the blessing of refreshing others, and thereby being refreshed (Proverbs 11:25)
As a token of my deep gratefulness for you, my sisters out there that spur me on to blog, I would like to offer one gal a brand new blog make-over. All you have to do is leave a comment with your
- name
- email address (so I can contact you, if you win!)
- blog address, if you have one
- why you blog, or why you want to blog
Plus, I will offer every gal who leaves a comment 50% off a new blog design, to be used at the time of their choosing.
Leave your comment by January 2nd! I will pick a winner and announce on January 3rd!
Feel free to share about this at your blog. I don't mind offering the blessing to those who have never been by Extravagant Grace.
She who is blessed can't help but bless others!
By His Grace & Mighty Power,
Posts
19 Comments:
oh, you are so sweet to offer this! Just yesterday I was looking through your blog designs section!!
I've been blogging now for about 4.5 years -- since I moved away from home to grad school. My first blog was at xanga, now I use blogger to host both my personal blog and cooking blog.
Over the last year, my cooking blog (joyinmykitchen.blogspot.com) has taken on a life of it's own, and I've greatly been enjoying cooking more and more from scratch.
My personal blog is a place for growth and reflection and a way to share our lives with those family and friends that are far away.
Happy New Year!
Great post - God gives us tools to glorify Him and it's amazes me when we finally discover that everything we have done and gone through is to bring us to the moment and/or moments when we can Shine For Him.
God bless you and keep you in this New year
Kelly
http://www.amazingsalvation.com
Oh please enter me! You already know I love you and your work and I've been thinking about a new project. Enter me! This is the best bloggy gift ever!
You know my name, email, and blogs so I'll answer why I blog. On my writing blog I want to encourage other writers and especially those who might be just starting their journey or those who need a booster shot. On my personal blog, who knows? I'm refocusing at present. What I thought it would be about when I started and what I think now are two different things.
Happy New Year!
Since you've already done my beautiful blog design, I'm just hear to say: HAPPY 4TH BLOGOVERSARY!!!! I am one that has been blessed by you. I would love to hear how you prioritized blogging. I sometimes go to both extremes, to much then not enough.
Lisa - I have loved your blog from "afar" and love this offer so much!
I am "Georgia Jan." My email is granjan@comsouth.net, and my blog is Gran Jan's Joy, http://granjansjoy.blogspot.com.
I started blogging to tell the story of my joy - joy in Jesus and joy in His blessing our lives with a grandchild. Now I have two more on the way, He is so faithful.
I adore all the bloggy friends I have met and made, and I love your creative talent. In fact, your gifts have graced my blog!
Thank you again,
Jan
You are indeed very talented. I love how God has prepared you for this ministry of yours. I believe our blogging has become a ministry.
I was thrilled with a blog makeover for Heart Choices recently. It was a gift from a blogging friend so I was so overjoyed. I love my new design so I guess you don't need to include me in this giveaway. But I love how you write Scriptures in such uniqe designs. I know I could learn much from you.
I am so looking forward to January 1-7 as we begin to live intentionally. You are such an inspiration to me. Happy 4th year of blogging!
Blessings and hugs,
Debbie
What a great gift this would be! I have two blogs both in need of design...
http://moziesme.blogspot.com : This was started so all our far-away relatives could keep track of our baby girl and so I could document all the firsts of her life in Mozambique. And somehow it morphed as I realized there was a whole bloggy world out there, and we've since moved back to the US. I love the community I've discovered through it - and I think we'll be focusing on preschool stuff since most of my audience is moms of young kids right now.
http://winningreadings.blogspot.com : I started this one because I was looking for lists of family-friendly book giveaways and couldn't find anything like this online. It's a bulletin board of book giveaways, including Christian books that I've reviewed and am giving away.
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
Congrat's on 4 years! Hard to believe it's been that long!!
and I'd love to win!
the160acrewoods.com
This is so an answer to prayer! I have been wanting to set up a blog for some time, but have NO idea how to get started!! Thanks for the chance to win!!! maddiemont@yahoo.com
What a blessing for you to offer this! I started blogging a year and a half ago when my husband and I took a job in Atlanta, 4 1/2 hours away from home in Savannah. We wanted to give an opportunity for our friends and family to keep tabs on what where we were and what God was up to in our lives. I have loved the opportunity to share! Thank you again for this opportunity!
Blessings, Kristin
kamclendon@gmail.com
http://themclendonwhereabouts.blogspot.com
Wonderful post. Your words always touch me and are always heartfelt. I don't believe I have ever commented before, but one of my 2010 goals is to become a better commenter. :)
I blog at http://green-enough.blogspot.com. I'm a SAHM to two boys, and the wife of a soldier. We live in Germany. I've found that blogging is a wonderful outlet to adult conversations, a venue to learn something beyond coloring in the lines. Sometimes this life is very lonely, and the bloggging community has opened doors to many new friendships, has strengthened current ones, and is allowing me to keep in touch with old friends...
Blogging has also kept me sane. There are days where I can't find the right words, much less who I would say them to. So I write. And I click publish. And my random organized thoughts are out there for someone to read and understand.
Happy 2010!
greenenough4me AT gmail DOT com
I used to blog regularly but then it kind of fell by the wayside as I focused on other areas of my life. I really need to pick it up again--not to gain readers and popularity but to have a place to record memories and share thoughts/ideas. Like other things I'm working on, I need to do it for myself (and be true to myself) rather than for everyone else. Know what I mean?
What a great offer! Congrats on 4 years of blogging. Funny how God could take something you started on a whim and use it greatly! :)
I started blogging on a whim also. I had stopped teaching bible classes at church when I returned to full time teaching. I needed a creative outlet for my teacher brain. So I started a blog one day, not realizing at all what I was getting into! :)
But I could use a blog makeover, I am so clueless in that department. I still use a free site and don't know how to design my own. So count me in!
Happy New Year!
1) Kris Ann K. Riedmann
2) pamperedka@yahoo.com
3) http://momsonfire.blogspot.com/
4) I started blogging because I love to write for the self-discovery aspect of it all - and because I wanted to record everyday family stuff - and extraordinary God stuff - and because I wanted a place that I could come back to and reference without having to search high and low for that little scrap of paper I jotted my thoughts on or the journal I started and misplaced 10 years ago, etc. I lead a mom's ministry group which I teach weekly - and speak occasionally at other mom functions - so having a place to sort out my thoughts is a "must" for me. These are the reasons that I began blogging - but now I also blog to connect with other women, to both encourage and be encouraged by.
Happy New Year! (And - I hope I win, I hope I win ...)
Dear Lisa,
I don't need a blog makeover (Darcy did one for me earlier this year), but I found myself really wanting to leave a comment here just to say thank you. This is truly a lovely thing you're doing--what a blessing this will be to the winner who is blessed by your generosity.
I found you via Bonita Lillie (I'll be honest--I hope she wins your giveaway! She is so kind!). I'm glad to have found you.
Every blessing to you!
Hi Lisa,
Just visited Bonita's blog and came over to visit with you.
I blog because He gave me a dream to share Him through writing.
I was scared at first, but He helped me.
He's really cool like that.
Hope you have a wonderful new year!
Sweet dreams.
This is my first year of blogging (gatesmc@juno.com). I currently have 6 blogs! If I win, I would absolutely love having them all combined - somehow....can that be done? My primary blog is rebecca-lifeandgodliness.blogspot.com
Why do I blog? To give form and substance (words) to my thoughts, intentions, and desires. To create. To encourage others. To have a way of measuring progress. To communicate with my family. To honor my Heavenly Father. I can't imagine life w/o blogging.
Back again. I misrepresented my blog address! It's lifeandgodliness-rebecca.blogspot.com
Oops!
Lisa I would love to have a blog makeover. My name is Cyndi Spivey and my email address is cyndilspivey@bellsouth.net. My blog address is lovinlifeasapastorswife-cyndi.blogspot.com
My Mom encouraged me to start blogging to encourage other women. Mom passed away in September with gastric cancer. She was my mentor,and my best friend and life has been difficult. Iwould so love to start the New Year out with a new blog. I need it! So glad I've found your blog.
Post a Comment
I'm so glad you decided to leave a comment. I'd love to hear your thoughts. I'd also love to follow up with you, so be sure to leave your email address or a link to your blog! If you'd like to contact me directly, just pop an email to Lisa at extragrace at gmail dot com.
Blessings, extravagantly,
Lisa