The Scribble Pad: Blogging

Showing posts with label Blogging. Show all posts

Influenced + Influencer

Leading up to Influence, several thoughts were running through my mind. My brain wanted to attend strategy sessions, but I was fearful that my heart needed life sessions. As an extrovert, I am great at meeting people, less strong in building relationships. I was fearful of giving people the wrong impression, of them misinterpreting me. I was worried, preoccupied with me, me, and me.

And then this happened:

The ladies, in the order of appearance from left to right: Melody // Lena // Jami // Blair // (I am missing some of the pixie #teamawesome) // Raechel // John (the man) // Cally // Courtney // Meg // Kerrie // Sarah // Haley // Jessi // Jen // Cyndi // Julie // Blair // Kirsten // Brooke // Brooke // Amber // Alissa // John (again) // Lena // Sarah // Plus all the ladies I don't have photos with, but you should still get to know: Rebecca, Sarah, Moriah, Natalie, Rebecca, Amanda, Rachel and Kathleen.

Incredible women opened their hearts, their arms, and their love for each other. A few of their words (and a few smart guys too!) are already impacting the way I think about the balance of faith, family, and online presence.

When you are at capacity, to say "yes," means to have to say "no," to something already in your pipeline - John Saddington

Keeping your conversations in your head doesn't do any good. Talk to your spouse. - John Saddington

I am not in a movie, I can only bring vulnerably and the real me. - Haley Morgan

If you are going to have social media streams, they need to be consistent. Spotty is worse than zero. - Haley Morgan

You can't continue unless your husband is on board. - Nick Connolly

There is a process of learning our brave yes and our strong no. - Emily Freeman

Allow yourself the time to pour into your non-parenting activities guiltlessly. - Sarah Matheny

Have the type of grace for yourself that God has for you. - Sarah Matheny

What you worship is obvious to anyone who spends any time with you, or reading your blog. Can people see Christ through your blog? - Jami Nato

To tell yourself you are going to wake up and do better is a disservice for the cross. - Jami Nato

The beauty of a blogging conference over other conferences is bloggers don’t see each other as competition but community. - Will Bogel

When you belong to Christ, you can't filter him out of your life. - Sarah Matheny

My blog isnt enough to make me cut my hair. If 1,000 readers told me to cut it, it wouldn't be enough. - Blair McLeod

Understand what you are trying to do before using technology. Choose a few and do them well. - John Saddington

Be strategic in your post titles. Stand out in feeds and readers. - Casey Wiegand

And then there are these women, my roommates (+ one fine lady). The depth of conversation, their heart for serving the Lord, and their encouragement made it all worth it. It was all worth it.

I learned a lot of incredible things about strategy. I learned even more about the Sovereignty of God. Conversations that took place throughout the weekend have inspired and renewed me. A new set of goals, including my family, my faith, my marriage, and my blog are leading me forward. I have ideas about how to implement some of the things I have learned here. But even more so, I look forward to you engaging in the change. Welcome to the ride.

#InfluenceConf

Ask Questions

There is a recent movement on the internet about the things bloggers are AFRAID to tell you. See here, here, here, and here. I've been thinking about this ever since I first saw Jess' original post. In the end, I am not sure it applies on The Scribble Pad. I do my best to keep it real. I don't hide much. In fact, the only things I am afraid to tell you are privacy details that protect my family, Candis captures the concept well. You won't find me giving you our license plate or social security numbers any time soon.

That said, I do want to share with you. I get the occasional questions on formspring, which you may or may not see. So I am working up a post to share those with you. In the mean time, feel free to ask more questions over there or right here in the comment section. I've enabled anonymous comments and moderation, so none of the questions will show below, but I will still get them. This is my first jump at a q & a, so indulge me a bit.

these text images were created by me,

but intended to play off the image found on creature comforts.

Starting the Conversations

Although I have been blogging for a few years now, I have been keeping a wall between us. I have been hesitant to share. Hesitant to let you, incredible readers and fellow bloggers, into the nitty gritty of my life. I have been keeping you at a distance.

No, it is not because of fear of putting things on the internet or even personal security reasons. The reason runs much deeper. In reality, you have gotten as close to me as most other people in my life. I operate with smiles over coffee, keeping friends at arms length. I have been burned before. I've had and lost friendships that hurt. And so I am fearful of that pain.

I tend to be short on the warm and fuzzy, quick to offer cold hard facts.

But here I am, jumping in with two feet. Committed to starting the conversations. True, deep, personal conversations. Here is my plan:

I have created a formspring account. Yes, I am jumping on the bandwagon. But I have received quite a few emails about babies and breast feeding. You have taken time to seek me out. Imagine the conversations that would start if I made it easier? So that is where formspring comes in. Look up at my top nav bar...way up there..."QUESTIONS" will take you to my formspring. Ask away. I am excited to hear what you want to know!

Commenting...and responding. I respond back in the comments section of my blog posts occasionally. I am going to start picking it up. Responding more regularly. Hoping to make the comment section a bit more conversational.

Email. Now you have it. Use it wisely.

What do you want to read about...

I really want to know. Fill me in. What do you want to hear more about? Take the poll to the right and let me know. And feel free to leave some comment love on this post to tell me more!

Today kicks off my CSA for the year. I am super excited. And do you know what that means? More CSA inspired recipes coming your way.

Check back tomorrow Maggy will be guest blogging, and trust me, it is gonna be good!

Oh, and before I forget, here is one of my favorite pictures {from March} of Behr sleeping.

...~~walk~~ sleep like an egyptian...

Tag, You're a Bogart

Yes, that is correct. I am calling you names, well at least one good one.

My dear friend Bridget passed on The Bogart Award:

"This award means you're really going places, Baby. You'll still be blogging about your great adventures 10 years from now, and I'll still be reading them."

This Award comes with some rules:

1. Post where you would like to be in 10 years

2. Pass it on to 10 other special Bloggers!

In 2020, where will I be?

About to turn 36

Loving my husband more deeply after 13 years of marriage, still going on lots of dates, or course.

Proud mama of a large brood of fantastic children (5+?) who love to be outdoors rolling in the grass, playing in mud, and swimming until the sun sets!

Learning more about leading a Christ-like life each day.

Serving others with greater kindness and compassion

Running a booming calligraphy and stationery business that is nationally recognized (well, maybe just regionally)

We own a home on the Eastern Shore and sail on the bay, often.

Added kayaks, skis, snowshoes, and a larger sail boat to our collection of outdoor gear.

Perfected my golf swing to be able to hit par on a few holes.

We continue to love Washington, DC, the city that made us "urban."

Traveled to a continent I have not yet visited.

Have skied on three more mountains.

And still be blogging...

To 10 of the ladies in my life who are going places, I present you with the Bogart Award!

Sara