A Fresh Start
Finally! A fresh look for the blog…
It’s taken longer than I anticipated and there’s still much to be tweaked. But alas, a fresh start. I hope you like the new look. At the risk of sounding like I just accepted an Oscar, I’d like to thank a few people. It’s as big to me as an Oscar anyway.
Donna at Thirsty? (bundymum.blogspot.com) made a contribution all the way from Australia towards the new look of insert grace here. As it turns out, we both considered the same beach scene for our runner’s up list. Great minds think alike, Donna. Donna has become someone special to me. Through email and the blogosphere I feel like we’ve known each other for years. I hope you’ll stop by her blog for a visit. You’ll be glad you did. Thanks a million, Donna!
Jo-Lynne at DCR Design is responsible for the new blog duds. I did some searching and she took care of the technical work. In other words…the hard part. You can also visit her at Musings of a Housewife. You rock, Jo-Lynne. I think it’s “purty”, too. If you’re considering a new look stop by her site and browse a while.
Cathy at Desperately Seeking WordPress took on the installation of the header and new theme as well as the switch from WordPress.com. Cathy has been a lifesaver over the past few weeks and even invited me to my first ever online conference. I highly recommend her for all things WordPress. Thanks Cathy! I hope you liked the Sugar-free Mississippi Mud recipe. I’ll have to post that recipe one day. For more recipes, you can also visit Cathy at Strawberries are Gluten Free.
So what’s been happening?
You may have missed mine and Ginger’s Daily Mercies posts the past couple of weeks. We’ll be posting them again soon. Stay tuned for a post by our friend Laura at I Have to Believe…coming soon.
I’ve missed blogging terribly over the past few weeks. Since my mishap with my images (heavy sigh) I have been sidetracked not only from posting but from reading my favorite blogs as well. During this time, the Lord spoke to me. I struggled tremendously with getting my blog “fixed”. It may seem ridiculous, but the frustration of my images being deleted by my own hand was overwhelming. I wanted it fixed and I wanted it NOW! The mishap along with my strong desire for a change and a fresh look had me “blogged down”.
God’s timing is perfect. A precious woman of God and new friend of mine, Daneyel, recently shared a story with me that painted such a beautiful picture of what God has been teaching me over the past few weeks.
Daneyel shared, “He reminded me of something that I had heard a long time ago and had forgotten. That is that we try to juggle many balls in our life, often times way too many. They all seem important so we continue, exhausting ourselves. When we stop and examine these balls, some of them are rubber and they will bounce if we drop them. But some of them are glass and they will shatter if dropped. My relationships with Christ, my husband and my children are glass balls that will shatter and I have come close to dropping them too many times to count. All of the other “important”, “good things” are balls made of rubber and they will bounce and God will cause someone else to catch them.”
What a lesson! I’m so thankful that He allows things in our lives to slow us down and give us an opportunity to prioritize. I love blogging! I cannot say enough how grateful I am that He has opened doors for me to meet such wonderful women. I love to write. I love sharing the daily happenings of my life and what He teaches me. And I look forward to sharing some of those happenings soon. But I want to be sure to allow my blog to reflect my life, not consume my life. Now I’m not saying that my daily blogging was consuming my life, but after deleting my pictures, it almost did. And if my mistake keeps just one person from making the same mistake, then it was all worth it. I think.
And it was absolutely worth the lesson learned. I look forward to a fresh start on my blog and hope you’ll be back to visit. And I can’t wait to catch up on what’s been going on in your lives as well. I’ve truly missed you!
P.S. Comments make a blogger feel loved! HUGE GRIN!
It would be my honor to leave your first comment on your new fantastic refreshing blog. And hopefully to spread a bit of love.
I cant believe I made your oscar speech! 😀
(I’m cheering you from the sidelines sis!)
Donna’s last blog post..Healing Waters
Woot woot! I’m the first to comment on the new blog… Love it. Looks beautiful – first I had to check the hammock and make sure that you hadn’t left your swimsuit in there and gone skinny dipping… (did you?) Is that where you’ve been??!! On second glance, it’s wise not to swim in sunglasses or with your book (bible?) Smart girl!
I hope this is as easy for you to use as it is beautiful.
Have a great rest of your week. As promised, I am working on that post for Daily Mercies.
I’m a Believer!
Laura
Laura’s last blog post..Oh, The Depth of the Riches…
Yeah! She’s back! The site looks beautiful!
love ya, g
Ginger’s last blog post..Jindal Faces the Nation
Looks great, girl !
Wow, this looks great! Easy – breezy. I really like your new layout. Way to live out inserting grace into your own life. You left room for Him to work, with your patient, God honoring heart. Keep on keepin on girl!
Audra Krell’s last blog post..Finding God in the Shack
Wow, your blog looks fantastic!!
Welcome back!!
Susan’s last blog post..Forever Faithful
oh sweet sweet Rena!
how I have missed your words, thoughts and crazy happenings!
but I will venture to say that it was TOTALLY WORTH IT!
wow! I absolutely LOVE what you’ve done… and with your own dot com…
I tried that one time for about two days and couldn’t wrap my mind around it.
i’m in awe of this blog and YOU!
I get blogged down too… that was such a cute way to say it,,, and the Lord remimds me of the same exact thing that you have just shared. i never thought about it in that context with the rubber and glass balls, but it is a good picture to remind me of how the Lord wants me to spend my time.
In fact, I joined Facebook a few months back and last week, He said OFF!!! No more for awhile. So, I haven’t touched that in awhile either.
You are so precious. Your messages to me make me smile. Thanks for your kind thoughts of me and I WILL be checking in on you!
Annie’s last blog post..Looney Toons
i love your new blog site, rena! i just purchased my full website name too and already feel more accomplished in my bloggy-ness.
jenifriend’s last blog post..If My Church Allowed Animals…
Looks GREAT Rena; good job.
Cristi
Why is it I always really feel like you do?
I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own blog and was curious what all is needed to get setup?
I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny?
I’m not very internet savvy so I’m not 100% certain. Any tips or advice would be greatly
appreciated. Thanks
If you want to grow your knowledge only keep visiting this website and be updated with the hottest news
update posted here.
Hmm it appears like your website ate my first comment (it was extremely long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I wrote and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog.
I as well am an aspiring blog blogger but I’m still
new to everything. Do you have any points for novice blog writers?
I’d genuinely appreciate it.
I am extremely inspired with your writing
abilities and also with the format to your weblog.
Is this a paid theme or did you customize it your
self? Either way keep up the excellent high quality writing, it
is uncommon to see a great weblog like this one today..
Quality posts is the key to attract the visitors to visit the site, that’s what this web page is providing.
Just desire to say your article is as surprising. The clearness in your post is just nice and i could assume you’re an expert on this subject.
Fine with your permission let me to grab your feed to keep updated with forthcoming post.
Thanks a million and please keep up the gratifying work.
What a material of un-ambiguity and preserveness of precious familiarity regarding
unexpected emotions.
My family members always say that I am killing my time here at net,
however I know I am getting knowledge all the time by reading thes good
content.
Hey there, You have done a fantastic job. I’ll certainly digg it and personally recommend to my friends.
I’m confident they will be benefited from this web site.
Greate pieces. Keep writing such kind of info on your blog.
Im really impressed by your blog.
Hi there, You have performed a great job.
I will certainly digg it and personally suggest to my friends.
I am confident they’ll be benefited from this website.
Hello I am so glad I found your web site, I really
found you by accident, while I was researching on Yahoo for something else, Anyhow I am here
now and would just like to say thank you for a marvelous post and a all round entertaining blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to browse it
all at the moment but I have bookmarked it and also added in your RSS feeds,
so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up the fantastic job.
always i used to read smaller articles or reviews that also
clear their motive, and that is also happening with
this paragraph which I am reading here.
I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here.
The sketch is attractive, your authored material stylish.
nonetheless, you command get bought an edginess over that you wish be delivering the following.
unwell unquestionably come more formerly again as exactly the same nearly a lot
often inside case you shield this increase.
Wow, that’s what I was searching for, what
a information! existing here at this blog, thanks admin of this
web page.
I do consider all of the concepts you’ve introduced in your post.
They’re really convincing and can certainly work.
Nonetheless, the posts are too short for starters. May you please prolong them a bit
from subsequent time? Thanks for the post.
Have you ever thought about writing an e-book or guest authoring on other sites?
I have a blog based on the same subjects you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my
subscribers would enjoy your work. If you’re even remotely interested, feel
free to send me an e mail.
Great article.
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I have truly loved browsing your blog posts.
After all I will be subscribing in your feed and I am
hoping you write once more soon!
I loved as much as you will receive carried out
right here. The sketch is tasteful, your authored material stylish.
nonetheless, you command get got an edginess over that you wish be
delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come more formerly again since exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case you
shield this increase.
Thanks for another informative web site. Where else could I get that type of information written in such an ideal way?
I have a project that I’m just now operating on, and I have
been on the glance out for such info.
Hello to all, for the reason that I am truly eager of reading this
website’s post to be updated regularly. It contains nice material.
Hi colleagues, pleasant post and good urging commented
at this place, I am really enjoying by these.
Hello Dear, are you truly visiting this website daily, if so after that you will without doubt get good experience.
Good day! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could get a
captcha plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform
as yours and I’m having problems finding one?
Thanks a lot!
After I originally left a comment I seem to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on each time a
comment is added I get four emails with the same comment.
Perhaps there is a means you can remove me from that service?
Appreciate it!
Great site you have here.. It’s difficult to find quality writing like yours
these days. I seriously appreciate individuals like you!
Take care!!
Your style is very unique compared to other people I’ve read
stuff from. Thanks for posting when you have the opportunity,
Guess I will just bookmark this blog.
Whoa! This blog looks exactly like my old one! It’s on a
entirely different topic but it has pretty much the same layout and design. Superb choice of colors!
A fascinating discussion is worth comment. There’s no doubt that that you ought to write more on this issue, it might not be a taboo matter but
typically people don’t discuss these topics.
To the next! Cheers!!
If you are going for most excellent contents like me, simply pay a visit this web site every day for the reason that it
presents quality contents, thanks
After I initially commented I seem to have clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on every time a comment is added I recieve four emails with
the exact same comment. There has to be a means you can remove me from that service?
Thanks a lot!
This is my first time pay a quick visit at here and i am genuinely impressed to read all at single place.
Greetings from Idaho! I’m bored to death at work so I decided to browse your
site on my iphone during lunch break. I really like the knowledge you provide here and can’t wait to take a
look when I get home. I’m shocked at how quick your blog loaded on my mobile ..
I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, fantastic site!
Highly descriptive blog, I enjoyed that bit. Will there be a part 2?
It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d most certainly donate to this
excellent blog! I guess for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my
Google account. I look forward to new updates and will talk about this
blog with my Facebook group. Chat soon!
Attractive component to content. I just stumbled upon your
blog and in accession capital to say that I get in fact
enjoyed account your weblog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing in your augment and even I fulfillment you get right of entry to constantly rapidly.
I used to be able to find good info from your blog posts.
No matter if some one searches for his required thing,
thus he/she wishes to be available that in detail, thus
that thing is maintained over here.
When I initially commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added”
checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get four e-mails
with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove people from
that service? Thanks!
Heya i’m for the first time here. I found this board and I find It truly useful & it helped
me out much. I hope to give something back and help others
like you helped me.