My First MEME

A fun gal I met in San Antonio, Robyn tagged me to blog about the impact blogging has had on my life. I guess this is the post where I need to share how my blogging began and where it is headed.

The first time I blogged was on our first trip to China when we went to get Davie Anne. I kept a journal of our travel on a website David set up for that purpose. I posted photos of us, gotcha day and some thoughts God laid on my heart while there. When we got home I didn't do anything else with it. It's still out there somewhere in cyberspace. Actually, I need to print all of it for Davie. When we were led to adopt another baby from China I figured I'd do a travel blog like the first one, but as we were waiting on our little one things happened that were from the Lord and I decided then to make a record of the journey to her. Originally I named this blog, "Journey to Joy" and posted every once in a while. Well, that was over 2 years ago and now, "One Momma's Journey" is where I update folks on our life here at home. When I was in San Antonio and on the way home I felt led by God to redefine my "blog calling". When you see folks that have become sort of celebrities through their blog you realize that these things can take on a life of their own. As I thought about that I came to the conclusion that I was not really into that. I just want to be able to keep in touch with people I know face to face or have gotten to know (Karin)because of our mutual interests through the internet. All that said, I will now get to what Robyn tagged me for.

How blogging has impacted my life:

Fellow Adoptive Families: the relationships I have made through adoption have been such a sweet blessing from the Lord. Our last travel group has remained close primarily because nearly all of us blog and are able to stay up to date with eachother through the internet. That would not happen without this form of journaling I am sure. Life is so busy and I am thankful that if I want to know what is going on in their lives and with their precious little ones I can find out with the click of a button. (I realize that most folks don't post the hard stuff that is happening, so if you need me to pray for something hard, just email me, friends!)

I feel loved and connected to my friends here: When I post about the stuff that happens at home and my friends that I see weekly care to read what I write it makes me feel loved by them in a different way than before. Sometimes I can write my heart and share it all at once and have folks all over the place praying for me in the midst of a struggle. Do you know how much time that would take if I were calling my friends one by one? I just can't afford the cell minutes (I have teenagers I share minutes with, people!). Not only can they keep up with my heart, but if they blog, I can keep up with theirs. It's a beautiful thing!

I can share how God has impacted me and hopefully encourage others in their walk with Him: Enough said.

I get to record stuff for the Fam:When I'm partying in Heaven my kids can search through cyberspace and gather all kinds of info that I wrote for the viewing of all of creation. Not that I think all creation is reading this, mind you, but it is out there and someday they can read through it and call me a saint for caring to keep all these notes on their lives. Just think, they won't have to clean a garage and go through a bunch of junk to find this. Sort of thoughful parenting, don't cha think?

The negatives of blogging: I want to be funnier. I feel pressure to make my writing entertaining. I don't have a lot of time to manufacture that kind of entertainment. It's like scrapbooking...I enjoy the end results, but sometimes I just do it to fulfill a sense of responsibility. Every post is not what is could be, but it is done. Ring true for any other bloggers out there? And the techy stuff of blogging is just hard for me. I'm not very computer savvy. I'm sure you had no idea. And, last but not least, IT TAKES ALOT OF TIME!

So, here are the rules to this meme(what does that word mean anyway?)

1. Write about 5 specific ways blogging has affected you, either positively or negatively.
2. link back to the person who tagged you
3. link back to this parent post
4. tag a few friends or five, or none at all
5. post these rules— or just have fun breaking them(could not do this one, sorry, Meet me, Miss Rule Follower)

Here are the folks I'm tagging:

Jill I met this precious gal in San Antonio
StephPrecious friend and fellow adoptive momma
Juliemy young friend who used to babysit my kids and now has a heart for Ethiopia and writes wonderfully
Jenanother precious friend who moved away and needs to blog more :)
and last but not least:Phil and Juliecause they are such a funny couple and our daughters are Fu sisters!
Ok, this is an example of a long, timely(do you know how long it took me to do all these links? but look Ma, I did it!) and yet,fun post. Love to you all, Jackie Sue