Road to Relevant

I started blogging in June of 2008, a few months after my diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and in the midst of a period of being bedridden.  Prior to that I had no concept of what a blog was, let alone the idea that it was something I could do or would grow to love.

My blog grew from something I did for myself to something the Lord does through me.  It has been a humbling experience to write in a way that helps other women and their relationships with God, their spouse, kids and themselves.

I attended my first blogging conference in July 2009.  I went so excited to meet people I interacted with online and (I thought) to learn ways to grow my blog.  I left that conference disheartened, discouraged and not even certain if blogging was for me.

Since then I have attended four other blogging conferences of various sizes and venues.  I have found that the smaller the conference the more connected I feel.  Then I heard about Relevant.  I instantly knew I wanted to go.  The concept is exactly what has been lacking at the other conferences I have attended (even the good ones).  Getting together with like minded women who view the internet as their mission field, while remembering and honoring the fact that our primary mission field is our home.

There have been rough periods of blogging for me as well.  Whenever I lose focus of why I blog and get caught up in blog stats, comments and “measuring up” my writing and my passion for blogging suffer.

I can’t wait to meet so many of my twitter and blogging friends in real life.  And I have no doubt that I will leave Relevant refreshed, inspired and revived.  Can’t wait until October!

What is this blog for anyway?

I arrived home from Blissdom with a heavy heart.

Mind you, I had a fabulous time (with a capital F) and learned a lot.

I also realized that I had strayed from my passions- the passions that led me to start this blog in the first place almost two years ago.  I have been working on shifting my focus back to sharing life from my heart with my readers.  (All my product reviews, giveaways, professional organizing advice, etc. will be on my professional organizing site starting March 1st.)

I blog about life.

Life as an adoptive mom of a child with severe emotional and behavioral issues, life as a mama of all boys, life as a mama of all tween/teen boys, life as a wife, life with multiple sclerosis and lupus, life as a former foster child, high school drop out turned teen mom who found Jesus and has never been the same since!

I blog about cutting through the clutter of life…the things that distract us from seeing and enjoying the life and purpose God has for us. When I speak at mom’s groups and women’s events, I usually am either sharing my testimony or sharing how to get control of your calendar, manage your time, set realistic goals and priorities and handle money the way God intended.

I’m glad you stopped by if you are here from Kelly’s Korner and invite you to read my About Me page and/or listen to my intro video to learn a little more about me and this here blog ‘o mine.

Sheer Bliss

Having your expectations exceeded is such an exciting thing.  And that is exactly what happened for me this weekend while attending a blogging conference called Blissdom.

My husband, the concrete, analytical thinker that he is wanted to know what I learned in the sessions.

I learned a lot in the sessions…I learned how to be introspective in the writing craft wisdom workshop, I was inspired during the opening keynote, I discovered I have veered {slightly but noticeably} from the voice I want my blog to have.

Those things were important and I am glad I was able to explain all that to my husband so he could be comfortable with the ROI of the conference.

But, I learned so much more that can’t be measured and in some cases, by those that don’t do what I do online everyday, can’t be understood.

I learned that when you get a group of women together, excited to have the opportunity to dress up but regretting their shoe choice, we will tuck our skirts beneath us and get comfy.

Photo credit of Casey

I learned that you can have a roomie, whom have only conversed with on Twitter and Facebook, and feel like kindred spirits {inserting Anne of Green Gable speak} immediately.  Frelle, you rock!

I learned that God will position you to meet and speak with exactly the women you are supposed to. And that He will use the impromptu chats on the floor at the (in)courage party to confirm what you already knew you are supposed to be doing {but had been putting off due to fear}.  Thanks, Emily.

I remembered that although I enjoy looking at, cooing at and holding other people’s babies, I am fine with being done with that stage of life.

I discovered that if your flight gets canceled due to the blizzard of the century and you decide to rent a car and drive home, Jessie is the gal you want to ride with {but be warned that she will have you laughing so hard you will not be able to see the speedometer through your tears and the Virginia State Police don’t take kindly to going 79 in a 65}

Thank you Alli and Barbara for putting together a phenomenal conference and to all the sponsors that made it possible- you rock too!

Thanks to Aircut for sponsoring my trip!

This post is linked to Tuesdays Unwrapped and Musings of a Housewife

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Technology and Marriage- a match made in?

I haven’t participated in Wifey Wednesday, hosted by To Love, Honor and Vacuum in quite a while.  But when I read Sheila’s topic for the day I knew God was sending me a message.

I have many friends (in real life) who complain about the amount of time their hubby’s sit in front of the TV, surf the ‘net or engage in gaming (online or video games)

I can’t relate to their issue…but boy, can my husband!

About a year and a half ago, I stumbled across a blog and the rest is history.  I am hooked.  I love blogging.  I love writing.  I love reading other’s posts and connecting with other fabulous women through the internet.

That is not a bad thing.

It becomes a problem when I allow the computer to become an idol in my life.  When I allow Twitter or Facebook updates to become more important than my marriage.  When I say “just give me a minute” as my children clamor for my attention.  That type of behavior is a bad thing.

All the enemy needs in our life is a foothold.  Yes, I feel called by God to engage in the activities on the ‘net that I do (with the exception of Bejeweled ).  However, I have felt convicted since last fall that I was sending a (albeit unintended) message to my family that they are not priorities in my life by needing to look up from my laptop to give them my attention.

So, I did something about it.

I prayed and asked God what I needed to relinquish (some writing commitments, a radio show and a website), what I needed to cut back on (twitter, facebook, time spend blog surfing) and I set a schedule.  This new way of doing things has worked for me since the fall.  As a matter of fact, I have been blessed with several new opportunities that fall within that schedule!  Go God!!

When the internet is a source of income Starbucks money there is a certain amount of time networking, maintaining relationships and actually working that needs to be done.  It is a lie of the enemy that you can do that without a plan and not negatively impact your family.

I set hours for my computer use.  I don’t have the computer on after the kids and hubby get home unless they are otherwise occupied.  I take Sunday’s off from posting.  I plan posts ahead of time (this was hard for me, as I like to write as the mood strikes but I got used to it).  I have said no to opportunities that require me to be online in the evening.

It is possible to juggle (notice, I did not say balance) this unique world of blogging, internet marketing and social media.

Do you agree?  Do you struggle with this?  How do you handle this special juggling act?

Monday Mingle

Getting back into my blogging groove since the holidays and since it is Monday- it is time for Monday Mingle, hosted by Eighty MPH Mom.

Today’s questions are:

What is the neatest/coolest car you have owned (I have to include a picture)

The other two questions: Have you ever been to San Francisco? NYC?

Are you planning to attend BlogHer?  Did you attend last year?

So, watch the video below for my answers =)

I blog because…

This is my first time participating in Fill in the Blank Friday, hosted by The Unexperienced Mom.  I decided to join in this week because I love the sentence we get to complete.

I blog because…

• I needed an outlet to vent and share when I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2008.
• I have grown attached to my online friends and love writing for them and reading what they write.
• I get lonely at home by myself most days.
• I loooove to write and have so much to say.
• I enjoy sharing my life with others (I’m an internet social butterfly)
• Blogging is a great platform for ministering to others.

There are probably a million more reasons that I just can’t think of right now.

Why do you blog?  Why don’t you blog?  Tell me!

What I learned in Vegas

I will certainly have more to say about all the things I have learned while attending Blog World Expo and Sitscation this weekend but….there were some things I needed to say right away:

1.  Thank you to Tiffany and Heather for reminding me what community truly means.  The vibes at the Sitscation conference were so positive and supportive, I was truly proud to be in the room with such amazing (and giving and talented and….) women!

2.  Mommy bloggers (or whatever you want to call us) are passionate about causes we believe in.  Case in point, raising $900 for SpiritJump in one night (while dancing, mingling and oogling a brand new Coach purse).  We are truly a multi-tasking breed!

3.  Tip Junkie is quite possibly the sweetest AND cutest blogger I have ever met!  She also introduced me to the term “blenvy” which made me laugh out loud!

4.  I was reminded that I am more than a wife and mama to three boys.  It is important to remember that sometimes!

5.  Alli Worthington was full of wisdom- one nugget was this “personal branding can’t be fabricated“.  Remembering that what we do and say on the internet stays there forever should encourage people to be respectful and real (JMHO)

6.  I need to do my kiddos a favor and buy their url’s.  I would have never thought of that on my own (I’m a little slow :-)

7.  I learned that you can subscribe to a Twitter feed (and that I could just soak up technical knowledge from PHATmommy all day)

8.  Renee Ross is a fantastic public speaker as well as an all around rockstar (and she comments on my blog)

9.  Keep it Classy Jen did not know I had a momtv show!  You guys know I have a momtv show, right?  (Wednesdays, 1pm/EST The Invisibles)

10.  I need to be true to myself, my personal brand, my blog and my passion.  More on that to come!  And pictures too!

Thank you again to the gals from SITS for putting together a conference that was cozy, informative and fun!

****note to self, Blog World Expo was too much to add in. Stop putting so much on your own plate****

Multitasking Mama is an Everything Mom

So, life is always full of surprises….I had given up on going to BlogHer months ago when they sold out faster than tickets to a Kenny Chesney concert.  I left it in God’s hands.  Last week I got a ticket. Woo hoo!  I am going to Chicago- going to Chicago.  Sorry, I digress! (the excitement does overwhelm me at times)

Now, just when my hubby is asking how in the H-E-double hockey sticks I am going to pay my way I find a sponsorship contest by Everything Mom.  In the interest of full disclosure (a big deal in the blogosphere recently)I had never visited the Everything Mom site before hearing about this contest on Twitter.  However, I am thinking this works in my favor.  Their goal with this contest is to spread the word about their site and the details of their Sharing Revenue Program with moms. 

Speaking of the Sharing Revenue Program (go CHECK it out!!) that helps blogging mama’s, such as myself, make a little extra spending money to support our blogging habit pad our pockets- I would love the chance to share the opportunity with the gals I meet at BlogHer (did I mention I got a ticket and I’m going yet? squee!)  How would I do this you ask?  Well, by blogging and vlogging my little heart out on behalf of Everything Mom, for starters.  In addition, putting my marketing background to good use (hey, I am not above shameless self promotion at this point) I would develop creative and fun ways to let mom bloggers know about the money making opportunities that await them at Everything Mom.  Off the cuff,  I am thinking business “cards” that look like money with the Sharing Revenue Program details on the back.  In addition, I would be willing to wear (and make if need be) Everything Mom on my head (a hat that is), chest (a shirt that is), and anything else they would ask of me.  Suffice it to say, Everything Mom would be very well represented!

Now, as for what I hope to get out of attending the BlogHer conference itself (other than meeting other fantabulous bloggers, learning more about the ins and outs of blogging through the break out sessions, making connections with companies and brands and enhancing my online presence) I would really like to show my hubby that blogging is not just my hobby. It is a relevant, modern mode of communication with the outside world that has proven to be a lifeline for me since I started blogging a little over a year ago.

So, go check out Everything Mom and say a little prayer that I have the honor of representing them at BlogHer next month.