After 5+ years of blogging, I’m writing what could be my last post.
Quite honestly, I don’t want to begin. Nor do I want to end.
I’ve loved blogging over these past five years. This space has been the home to stories about our children, our books, our chickens, and our thoughts. It has been a place where I can meditate on Scripture, work out a problem, promote a great idea, stand on a soapbox, and share a personal story. You, my readers, have been like a great and constant gust of wind that has filled my sails for 5 years, and kept me writing, writing, writing.
So, it’s you I must thank. Because of your enthusiasm, I’ve learned how to write better here. I’ve learned (a little bit) about how to respond to comments and emails; I’ve learned (a little bit) about how to express my thoughts for a limitless audience. I’ve learned that people will love and support me even if I can’t come up with anything profound or helpful for weeks on end. (Your support has been such a gift!) Here, I’ve learned (even more) that I’m not alone. I have friends all around the world – some as close as blood relations, others as distant as strangers across the ocean – but all friends, here.
Lately, I’ve been reminded that to everything there is a season, and that my beautiful season of blogging is ending for now. I’m hoping that it will cycle back around again just like the spring rain we anticipate when February spins and tips us closer to the sun.
I’ll certainly keep this space open and ready for a new post when the time is right. (As always, there are still a dozen posts swirling around in my brain and I can’t believe I’m cutting them off. I wanted to write about how I’ve come to believe in a low-carb/high good fats fertility diet, how I’m loving the band Gungor, how Lia had an “I Love Cheese” birthday party, and how I still endorse Hard Lotion, Covenant Eyes, and microfiber cloths, but those posts will have to either find another outlet or wait until I return. Oh! I also wanted to write a post about how you’ve just got to read Tim Keller’s The Meaning of Marriage AND listen to Mark Driscoll’s series on marriage: both are gourmet, delicious, nutritious food for the heart and soul of a marriage. They are not a dime a dozen; not your average marriage material. You’re just going to love them, I know it! Oh, shoot. I have so many things I still want to tell you. How am I ever going to not blog??) I just need to take a deep breath and get on with the good byes. (This is much more painful than I thought it would be.)
As it turns out, it’s time for me to take the precious time that I have been pouring into my blog, and invest it into more reading, private writing, and Bible study. I feel very strongly that this is very important for me to do right now. I’ve known that it was coming for a while, but I’ve loved blogging so much that I’ve put it off as long as possible. It’s as if my “blogging sailboat” has bumped up against a strange new shore, and I have some exploring to do. Thank you for helping me arrive here.
You can access the archives at any time. Review our VLOGS, my book recommendations, thoughts on marriage, or even my thoughts following our stillbirth experience. I’ve tried to include each post under an appropriate category so that you can find what you are looking for easily. Over time, I’ve even included some of my favorite blog posts under the “BEST OF” category. I hope you like them, too.
And, of course, you can always buy Blogger Behave for your friends, coworkers, neighbors, and local service workers. So, by all means, feel free to stop by the Blogger Behave site any old time. 😉
If you’re new to the “world of blogs” and somehow stumbled upon 10 Million Miles as a starting point, I recommend you check out Sisters in Bloom or Allume so that you can meet lots of lovely writers at once and find what you’re looking for. If you like my writing style and topics, you might like a few bloggers whom I admire: Molly Piper, Rachel Jankovic, and Marla Taviano.
May God bless you, may you know how much He loves you, and may you walk in His ways so that you are protected, guided, and blessed.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading my writing.
Your time has been a gift to me.
Here’s hoping I’ll be back soon.
Comments
21 responses to “A Time to Stop Blogging”
I’ll miss hearing from you Laura. But if there’s one thing I’ve come to trust about you, it’s that your heart is to follow God where He leads you. So I’m happy for where you’re headed and praying for God’s continued wisdom on the journey friend. Thank you for your support and encouragement of me over the last year or so.
I am so sad that my inspiration, my support, my encourager will no longer be blogging! I guess we’ll just have to catch up at the family reunion (as we are actually planning on coming this year!). Thank you for getting me back into writing and for always being an encouragement to me! Love you, Cuz!=)
Laura,
thank you for your words and your time here. Know that they made a difference and I must say that yours will be one of those blogs that I will “check in” to see if they’ve written something more.
May God use your life to continue to teach and encourage others.
Hugs, Kristina
Laura,
You’re words and your writing have always inspired and encouraged me. Thank you! I hope this new season is a blessing to you and your family. I’m sure we’ll hear more from you in one way or another soon! 🙂
You will be missed. But God wants you MORE than any blog readers ever will. Congratulations, enjoy this next journey!
Laura. Oh, boy. I understand (just a little bit) how hard this post was to write. I stopped blogging a couple of years ago because it wasn’t fitting well with my priorities and season. Your book Blogger Behave kind of confirmed all the reasons I wasn’t blogging, yet made me think that perhaps, given the right boundaries, I could return to it. I’ve thought and thought and thought about writing again (regularly and more than my tiny blog about our family happenings here and there). I must say that this post is the most powerful one I’ve ever read from you. It takes great courage (great!) to step away from something like this. I am more encouraged, inspired, and challenged by you stepping away than I’ve ever been by the many moms who look like they’re doing it all and all I see is the shiny stuff. May God go with you. May you feel the warmth of His pleasure as you give up the applause of others. It is really, really hard for me sometimes to do things in the quietness of my own home where no one sees but him. I want to write–to hear someone leave a comment that makes me feel like I’ve done something well. It takes so much more humility to be unrecognized! I may have rambled on here and said too much and not used separate paragraphs (!!), so I’ll stop. I sincerely hope that you receive this comment as a gift of encouragement and thanks. If anything about it sounds bad or hurts you, pretend like I never said a thing! My intent is to bless you, dear Laura! May God honor you and your family.
Oh Laura!
I am so going to miss your blog posts! One of the things I have always loved about your blog is the quiet way that you demonstrate your priorities, by not feeling the need to blog everyday just because that is what your readers may want or to keep up with other bloggers. I really respect that about you and made me listen more closely to what you had to say. I love the way you love God through the way you educate your children and love your family. Your blog has been a huge inspiration to me and I will still use it as a resource. Thank you so much for sharing your life with all of us! I know you are going to great in your next step and I am very happy for you!
God bless, Brooke
Laura,
Oh I love you girl, and so glad we have met and conversed and blogged a little together. I will miss you. I love your heart and most of all your love for Jesus and following His lead. I am sad for us, and happy for you.
Thanks for bring a part of the vision at Sisters In Bloom if only for a short time. I believe you were part of the inspiration behind it’s birth.
I pray we meet again some day and that you will pop in and say hi once in a while.
God bless you sister!
I’m sitting here with tears in my eyes as I read this. I’m so very, very grateful for you and your writing. I know this was a difficult decision to make, but I also know God will bless you because you are seeking Him. Obedience is not always easy (in fact, it’s more likely than not very hard!), but always rewarding. I’m learning that more and more every day. I will miss your posts (even though I haven’t been around lately, I’m still here!), but I’ve still got you on my radar just in case a post pops up once in a while. Thank you for sharing your heart with us, you beautiful woman.
For the little time I’ve “known” you, through your blog and Blogger Behave, you have been an inspiration for me, and someone who has helped me to keep my head and heart on straight through this new venture of blogging! You will be missed by us, but those closest to you, who deserve it most, will receive even more of the blessing that you have to give. I can totally relate to everything you said – I’ve often wondered how long this season of blogging will be for me.
I am Sad I won’t have a chance to meet you at Allume I guess? All the best Laura and thank you for the blessing you have been!
I have been a reader of your blog for quite sometime (although I only recently subscribed). I just wanted to let you know what a blessing your blog was to me. I felt like maybe, if we were to meet in person someday, we might be kindred spirits. Thank you for speaking truth into my life even though you don’t know me. God used your blog, and I am confident that He will continue to use you in this next season as you follow Him in obedience. I am from Central PA too, so maybe… just maybe, I’ll run into you sometime. 🙂
Sweet Laura, I love how your heart comes through in this goodbye. It sounds like you are in a place I found myself almost two years ago when I laid down Extravagant Grace. The season I spent off line and with the Lord was serious nourishment to my soul.
When God allowed, by His Grace, for me to return to online ministry, it had a sharpened focus, new boundaries, wonderfully evident purposes, and the support of my family. It is still a journey of discovering how to spend my time and where to put my investment online, but it is so much easier than it ever was before, and a whole lot more rewarding.
I pray your time in this season of refueling will become incredibly precious and holy for you, and pour out upon your family a fierce gift of His love.
In Him,
Lisa
Laura, I’ve been so encouraged & blessed by all you’ve shared here. Thank you!
Here’s hoping you’ll be back soon too! Although, I certainly understand the precious time, especially with 3 little ones. I have to admit to a selfish need for your blog: I love seeing the children! They are growing up on the pages of your blog and I’ll miss seeing their progress. I will keep on praying for your family though! Blessings to all of you!
I will miss your daily posts. All the best!!
Sending a huge hug your way, Laura! I’ll give on in person, too, the next time I get to see you.
wow laura…i know how hard it is to make the decision to walk away…i’ve been questioning that so much myself lately. thank you for your honesty. you are a blessing and you have ministered to me. you are right…who knows when it will be God’s green light for you to return. you are an example to many bloggers who also maybe feeling this nudging. GOd bless ya!
Wishing you the best…God Bless.
Laura – more even then your words in this space and in Blogger Behave, I have treasured your example. You giving up blogging is another powerful lesson on living in line with our priorities. I’m so glad you are giving yourself permission to focus on your greatest passions, and that you are willing to sacrifice even this ‘really good’ thing for what is ‘best’ in this season. I pray the Lord gives you grace and resolve and confirms your path. And I thank you so much for what you have shared with us. I have so much more balance in the time I give to the computer thanks to you.
Blessings,
Trina
P.S. if you still do email and ever want to chat about that garden of yours this summer, my addy is [email protected]. 🙂
I’ll miss your blog and hope that maybe you’ll be back someday. Thanks for leaving your site up so your archives will be searchable.
All the best to you!
I will miss reading your blog! It was always an encouragement to me. Thank you for sharing your lives with us. I am very intrigued by your comment about the low-carb/high good fats fertility diet… if you have any information you would want to send to me on that I would truly appreciate it! We have been trying to get pregnant for sometime now so that peaked my interest. Blessings to you in this new phase of life!
Krista
[email protected]