“Keeper of the Home”

http://www.keeperofthehome.org

After being a blog reader for about a year, I began to see how blogging could be a way for me to combine several passions into an exciting, creative outlet- natural living and nutrition research, Biblical womanhood and homemaking, developing my writing skills, and earning money to adopt internationally.

I love the way that I can combine all of these areas, while staying at home and focusing on serving my family, and the most unexpected bonus has been connecting and developing relationship with other like-minded women!

I began blogging in mid-October, 2007. So I guess I’m at about 8 months, and still going strong (most days!).

Oh, it’s so varied, but I decided early on that I wanted to have somewhat of a focused niche, so for me that is natural living (which includes nutrition, reducing environmental toxins, health issues, going green and stewarding our resources), as well as frugality, mothering, faith, homemaking, cooking (and recipes!), among others.

Hmmm, that’s so tough because it is continually changing depending on the season that I am in!

I’d say that a few really strong favorites include Biblical Womanhood, Passionate Homemaking, Sorta Crunchy, The Nourishing Gourmet, Like Merchant Ships, MomAdvice, Amy’s Humble Musings, Organizing Junkie… I just can’t list them all, but let’s just say that my Bloglines feeds are pretty full!

Expect things to start off slowly, but just jump in with both feet and give it your all. Celebrate the little victories (comments, a rise in traffic, or just writing a post that you’re really happy with). Use lots of pictures, try to be yourself, and just have fun with it!

I’m not super chatty (mostly due to lack of time, not because I wouldn’t love to be), but I definitely try to address questions and respond to anything important, as well as just join in to interesting discussions.

Yes, quite a few of them! In fact, my Mom lets me know when I’ve missed a day (thanks Mom!), and many of my friends feel like they keep up with me by checking my blog! I guess that’s how it goes when all your friends are busy moms, too!

On my own blog, I probably spend a solid 1-2 hours per day (in the morning, before my kids wake up, and in the afternoon during their naps, and occasionally in the evenings). I love reading blogs and I can get absolutely lost in it, but I restrict myself to about 15-20 minutes per day, otherwise I just wouldn’t ever get around to cleaning or cooking dinner!

The first site I ever visited was Biblical Womanhood, who was introduced to me by my mother-in-law! Even that first year that I read BW, I still had little idea of what else was really out there, until I got started up with blogging myself, and then I was just amazed at the scope of it!

The things going on in my day to day life… my kids, my garden, my meals, questions or struggles I have, things I read or hear about… I try to let my blog really flow out of the journey that I’m on, because that makes it the most real, and hopefully relevant to others!

You know, a few weeks back I was feeling a little bit overwhelmed with blogging, and pondered the idea of whether it was worth it to continue. I asked my husband what he thought about it and was really surprised and encouraged by his response.

He said that in the time that I’ve been blogging, he’s noticed a lot of positive changes in me, in my homemaking, in my self-discipline and determination, in my writing and thinking skills and my entrepreneurial spirit, among other things. He thought that it was really challenging me, both in my roles as wife, mother and homemaker, and also to really think through and consider what I believe and why, and how those beliefs should impact the way that I live… in other words, blogging made me more thoughtful, purposeful and intentional!

I think he’s right, and I feel that I have been so enriched by being a part of the blogging community, and having the opportunity to glean from, be inspired by, and just share with other women!