 Nighttime can have a strange effect on me when I am alone. Perhaps it does to everyone at some point or another. In the dark, my mind begins to imagine and feel things it would never think of otherwise. Problems surface that I am certain will never be solved. Pressures mount, fears grow deeper, and life begins to feel impossible - even hopeless. Then comes morning. It always amazes me when I encounter the morning. No matter how overwhelming or suffocating life might feel in the darkness, the sunshine brings God's perfect grace and the beauty of a second chance. Each day is perfect and new, with no mistakes in it... yet. This light we find every morning is just one taste of what Christ offers us forever. His mercies are new every morning, every hour, every moment. No matter how dark the night, His light will always be waiting. What a gift of love - and one we can only begin to truly imagine. 
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 I’m often asked, “How do you start a blog?” “How do I find what I want to write about?” “How do I become successful at blogging?” “How do I get traffic to my blog?” The first blog post I ever wrote was for a blog my mom and I started to chronicle our adventures as a family. I still remember clicking "post" - and being stunned by how many people actually enjoyed reading what I had written. That was eight years ago. Since then, I have written hundreds more posts for our family blog and eventually for my own. As I dug deeper into the world of writing, I discovered numerous ways to reach out to the blogging community, meet new people, and even began submitting articles to larger websites. I learned by trial and error - in everything from design to writing style - and that method proved to be not only fun for me, but successful. Nevertheless, there are plenty of bumps and mistakes I could have certainly avoided... if I had known they were there. I was given the privilege of reading this booklet not long ago written by Rebekah Black, a young author who blogs at The Narrow Road for Teens. She wrote this quick-start guide for beginning bloggers and let me tell you, it is a gem! Not only does Rebekah write in a fun, easy to read style, but her tips and tricks are clear and simple, turning the world of blogging from a mountainous task into a breeze. I loved the step-by-step path to success and simple layout, and was especially encouraged by the fact that this young author gives you tried and true techniques that she has used on her own site. It is a neat tool that will give any beginning blogger a head start in the blogging world. Snag your own copy and I know you won't be disappointed! Are you a beginning or veteran blogger? How did you begin and what do you wish you had done differently? I would love to hear about it! Happy Blogging!  Note: I received a copy of this booklet from the author in exchange for an honest review.
 February - A month of chocolate hearts, snow flurries, cozy sweaters, and a time to be creative indoors while the sun is hiding behind grey winter clouds. Just for fun, here are a few of my favorites (on the web or otherwise) from this February. Age of Minority Podcast - I have really enjoyed listening to this podcast hosted by best-selling young author Jaquelle Crowe and her dad. They tackle a lot of relevant topics for teens in today's culture, all through the lens of the gospel, and have fun doing it. Daring to Hope by Katie Davis Majors - I have been wanting to read this ever since I read the author's first book Kisses from Katie, and was thrilled when a friend gifted it to me last Christmas. This book pretty much picks up where the first left off, and is packed with spiritual insight, convicting truths, and stories filled with the awe-inspiring love of God. Katie Majors' story is purely of Jesus and His goodness. Three-Ring Binders - I have lately fallen in love with anything that will help keep me organized. Using binders to arrange anything from my daily schedules and to-do lists, to my latest novel outline and a map of 1940s Germany is pretty sweet! 3 Questions to Ask Before Using Social Media - This is blog post by my dear friend, Katie Stone, on 3 questions to ask yourself before diving into the world of social media. In an age where most teens own a smartphone and often don't think twice about interacting on social media, this post is convicting and a breath of fresh air! These Dark Chocolate Honey Mints - I had to mention my new favorite treat since February is Valentine's month. They are simple, chocolate, peppermint, sugar-free. Does it get any better?! Have a lovely rest of February, readers!  |
