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4 lads mom
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So...I wanted to start a conversation on blogging. Bear with me as I have a stream of consciousness here...
I have blogged on and off and I feel a desire to blog more. What I have noticed in the last few years is Facebook seems to suck up a lot time, for a lot of people. I just got on last year...and I am backing off. I really love looking at blogs of many varieties, it feeds me more than FB. FB leaves me sort of rattled but itching for more...sounds sort of like an addiction. 
My family and I watched some of Fr. Barron’s latest DVD on Evangelization. He said that we Catholics need to get out there with new media, and tell our Story. That really resonated with me. We all have stories, don’t we, that are unique and have God’s handprints all over them.
So, maybe my reason to blog is to show a family who has been through a tremendous amount of medical stress, what that looks like as we still homeschool. One thing I hope to get across without directly addressing it is the prolife message of having medically intense kids in a world that would often see them aborted. Yes, my kids have had dozens and dozens of surgeries and hospital stays, but look! We still DO things, we live a full life, we LOVE our life....I don’t point that out specifically, and it isn’t always in the fore front of my consciousness as I write...but it is the ever reaching background Our Story...HIS story!!
I love hopeful...I love pretty pictures...I think that’s one reason I’m drawn to certain blogs that are very photography heavy, like Small Things. And of course, I love my blogging friends here as well.  I love blogs about knitting...crafting...daily life...capturing the small moments where the Grace is at....
So...why do you blog? What do you like about blogs, what attracts you to them? Have you felt a change in blog culture with the advent of FB? What place have blogs had in your evolution as a home educating mom, either by writing on your own, or reading other’s?
Thoughts?
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Mom of four brave lads and one sweet lassie
Scenes From This and That
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JodieLyn
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There are blogs with a facebook presense. And all they do is post the link to their blog post on facebook. I love it. So much easier for me rather than remembering to check the different blogs.. and they get people coming to read the blogs.. because they're posted to facebook.
So it's just a thought. That you can use facebook to drive people to your blog. Without needing to do much through facebook. Matt Walsh is one off the top of my head. But also Life Teen.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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4 lads mom
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Yes, totally agree, Jodie! I like that as well...but I do get sort of bogged down by my FB feed, it eats up a lot of time I could be looking at blogs. I DO post on FB when I have a new blog post up...that is a nice way to get the word out.
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Erin
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4 lads mom wrote:
So...why do you blog? What do you like about blogs, what attracts you to them? Have you felt a change in blog culture with the advent of FB? What place have blogs had in your evolution as a home educating mom, either by writing on your own, or reading other’s?
Thoughts? |
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Reasons for blogging vary from person to person. I've been blogging for 7 years now and it's twofold; as a family journal and for a creative outlet for me.
As with the why we blog, the what types of blogs we're drawn to also vary individually. I'm drawn to more 'slice of life' type blogs, but then often I know the person from here, perhaps their humour, a life parallel, their style of writing, what they blog about all play a factor to whether I read them regularly. Generally I have 30 blogs in my feedly. Sometimes I add blogs that reflect various interests too, not only homeschooling or Catholic, they might be book, sewing, photography or food blogs.
Definitely a change since the advent of fb, I recently wrote a post about the Changes within Blogosphere obviously of immense interest to folks because it received the post hits and comments ever on my blog. The consensus was the fb and other social media has not only played a part but the advent of ipads and touch screens where folks read but find hard to comment have affected the community feeling.
oh your last question is a hard one to answer! an immense impact, opened up whole new worlds
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Erin
Faith Filled Days
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JodieLyn
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Not that I want to make this about facebook, and I don't have an active blog, but I did want to quickly point out that you can edit somewhat the things that show up in your newsfeed.. I have taken some people off my newsfeed that are the ones that post the constant minutiae of their day, without unfriending them and things like that.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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JennGM
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I've been blogging as long as Erin. My blog just reflects what's on my mind, so I record family, education, crafts and Liturgical Year.
And Erin's post of blogs changing is very good. I posted my own thoughts here when I was looking at what post is most popular of all time.
Bottom line, yes, your blog is public and you have readers, but ultimately you are writing for yourself and need to be comfortable in your own "skin".
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
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LLMom
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I love blog and do so for several reasons. It is a creative outlet/hobby for me, I love sharing memories, and now I love sharing and encouraging moms who need help.
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Lisa
For veteran & former homeschool moms
homeschooling ideas
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4 lads mom
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LLMom wrote:
| I love blog and do so for several reasons. It is a creative outlet/hobby for me, I love sharing memories, and now I love sharing and encouraging moms who need help. |
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Yes!! That is how I feel as well....I have questioned on and off whether I should keep blogging, but then I look back on the last few years and am SO grateful I captured pictures and in writing what our life has been like. It’s a lot easier than scrapbooking...
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LLMom
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4 lads mom wrote:
LLMom wrote:
| I love blog and do so for several reasons. It is a creative outlet/hobby for me, I love sharing memories, and now I love sharing and encouraging moms who need help. |
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Yes!! That is how I feel as well....I have questioned on and off whether I should keep blogging, but then I look back on the last few years and am SO grateful I captured pictures and in writing what our life has been like. It’s a lot easier than scrapbooking... |
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Yes, so much easier to clean up when you blog vs. scrapbooking! 
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Lisa
For veteran & former homeschool moms
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pumpkinmom
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I've been blogging a few years now and I started just because of the simple fact that I enjoy readings blogs and wanted to create that same joy for others. Being an introvert, it is a comfortable way for me to connect with like minded individuals. I also have a smaller goal with my blogging and that is to improve my writing. Around the age of 12 I had a dream to be a writer. Well, that never happened no thanks to my public school education. I thought if I get out there and write that eventually my writing would improve.
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Cassie
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Bridget
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I miss the blog enthusiasm! I encourage a blog resurgence as often as i can!
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God Bless,
Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
Our Magnum Opus
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MarilynW
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4 lads mom wrote:
So...why do you blog? What do you like about blogs, what attracts you to them? Have you felt a change in blog culture with the advent of FB? What place have blogs had in your evolution as a home educating mom, either by writing on your own, or reading other’s?
Thoughts? |
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I really miss blogging. I don't Facebook and don't care for it. But blogging was a creative outlet for me, a journal, a photo album, liturgical year celebration, a homeschool lesson planner, family cookbook and commonplace book all rolled into one. I love looking back at my blog.
So why don't I blog - well some privacy concerns (and I cannot use different names for my kids etc - just would seem odd), trying to spend less time online, general lack of time, and less commitment to blogging often. I have various blogs set up - some as a commonplace journal, private one for photos etc, but don't seem to have got going.
I read few blogs - generally only ones of people I know (or have some connection to) with a couple of inspiring ones - priests etc.
I really want to figure out a way I am comfortable with having a public blog, and a way to make the time to blog regularly.....
But then I am also working on my paper Commonplace Book and journal, my calligraphy, my knitting and crochet, and slow food in the kitchen.....
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Marilyn
Blessed with 6 gifts from God
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mariB
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I have loved blogging over the years, but lately I have kind of lost my voice. For some reason I have been afraid to put myself out there.
I have been feeling lately that I might not want to connect my blog to FB but just to my twitter where those that might stumble upon it would be one who might need a word of encouragement.
I do love reading other blogs...especially about homeschooling, Catholic faith, crafts, and the cooking.
4LADSMOM, About Catholics needing to get out there and tell their story..that just might be the thing to help me continue blogging.
Thank you. 
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marib-Mother to 22ds,21ds,18ds,15dd,11dd and wife to an amazing man for 23 years
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4 lads mom
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Bridget wrote:
| I miss the blog enthusiasm! I encourage a blog resurgence as often as i can! |
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I agree! I used to LOVE the blog carnivals we used to have.
There is so much brokenness in the world....and while we aren’t immune to that, showing our stories to the world would hopefully be a story of Grace. I’m not saying anyone should have guilt over not blogging, etc...just if you feel called, maybe this is one reason....to show what it looks like to keep showing up, finding joy, and leaving others hopeful that there is a God who Loves us!! None of that has to be overt.....just telling your Story.
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Mackfam
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I love blogging - even if it is so 2007!!
I love being creative there! I love that it is an outlet for my creative vision, a space for my voice, and a little digital space I can tend. My husband loves that I can use up my daily vocabulary for the day! And I've always thought it was a lovely way to evangelize - to bring beauty to the internet. Why not use a small corner to inspire and seek to bring loveliness and encouragement?
I have been challenged to blog this past year. One issue for me is time. As we find more routine I enjoy blogging more and more...but then I had setback after setback in terms of my blog platform and how I share. So, I had to do some real soul searching in terms of whether or not I wanted to continue writing there. That was an easy answer - I do! But I'm leaving blogger. For many, many reasons really, but it wasn't an easy decision because my blog is pretty established at blogger. I'll lose all my stats and followers when I move my blog, but I know I can forward to my new url so I'm hoping that I can settle back in to my new little spot on the web. Actually, I've already imported my old blog to my new space and have started setting it up, but I'm still tending to it and getting it all set up before I go public. I can't wait, ladies! It's not perfect, but I'm truly excited!
So...I'm ready to be a part of the blog resurgence, ladies! With renewed enthusiasm! While I do think that there is a place for F/B and other forms of social media, I've really thought about this, and I also think there is still a place for blogging, and in looking around online, there are still many blogs that are doing well!
marib wrote:
| I have loved blogging over the years, but lately I have kind of lost my voice. |
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Yours is one of my favorite blogs to read! I find your voice very real, refreshing and happy - and I'd love it if you felt comfortable enough to return! You truly offer something special!!  
4 lads mom wrote:
Bridget wrote:
| I miss the blog enthusiasm! I encourage a blog resurgence as often as i can! |
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I agree! I used to LOVE the blog carnivals we used to have.
There is so much brokenness in the world....and while we aren’t immune to that, showing our stories to the world would hopefully be a story of Grace. I’m not saying anyone should have guilt over not blogging, etc...just if you feel called, maybe this is one reason....to show what it looks like to keep showing up, finding joy, and leaving others hopeful that there is a God who Loves us!! None of that has to be overt.....just telling your Story. |
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EXACTLY! You've shared it perfectly! That's the vision! Let's encourage a resurgence!
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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MarilynW
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Jen - I would love to hear why you are leaving Blogger - and what alternative you are going with. I have issues with Google and blogger - but am not sure what the alternatives are. Can you just have your own space - do you have to purchase it, and from where?
Also how easy is it to transfer blog content?
Looking forward to seeing your new blog.
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Marilyn
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CrunchyMom
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MarilynW wrote:
Jen - I would love to hear why you are leaving Blogger - and what alternative you are going with. I have issues with Google and blogger - but am not sure what the alternatives are. Can you just have your own space - do you have to purchase it, and from where?
Also how easy is it to transfer blog content?
Looking forward to seeing your new blog. |
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Me too. I miss blogging as an outlet for me, but the last few times I tried to add to my blogs, the technical stuff just took way to long. I have a hard time finding time to blog, but I really have no time for technical problems!
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
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[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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Mackfam
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MarilynW wrote:
Jen - I would love to hear why you are leaving Blogger - and what alternative you are going with. I have issues with Google and blogger - but am not sure what the alternatives are. Can you just have your own space - do you have to purchase it, and from where?
Also how easy is it to transfer blog content?
Looking forward to seeing your new blog. |
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I'm moving to Wordpress. Because my blog does make a little money through Amazon affiliate links, I decided to pay for blog services rather than confine myself to free blog space (which is still entirely possible through Wordpress). I paid for my own domain, extra server space, ad-free, and the ability to customize my design. There are other options available for purchase as well, but free blog space is still pretty flexible. It really just depends on how you want to use the space.
I left blogger because:
** They don't support file sharing in any way, and that is a primary way I enjoy sharing. I cannot upload a simple pdf file directly to blogger - they just don't offer that server space. For years, I've been uploading pdf files to Adobe Workspaces, a free platform which holds my files and allows me to link to them from my blog. Workspaces is shutting down within a year - so I knew that was it. That was the catalyst that finally got me to move.
** I spoke at a few conferences a couple of years ago (which I really loved!), and I've been asked to speak again since then (both last summer, which I declined because of the brand new little one and at another conference this summer - not sure if I will go yet), but I wanted more options to build on my speaking availability, and again, the ability to share resources. Sort of like a small business, really.
** Bloggers stats has made me extremely uncomfortable the last few months, and if you use blogger, please read this! Stat trolls are common on any platform, but they are insidious on blogger, and the two primary trolls right now link you directly to p*rn*gr*ph*c sites. It's a direct link to a vision I'll never get out of my head. I was sickened. I wrote blogger to no avail. This is just the way it is, I'm told. And I do get that these trolls are out there - but I should be able to have some kind of control over them if they link to my blog, and I just don't have any control at blogger. (These trolls link to your blog hoping you'll click through their link as you check your stats and that builds up their hits and thus boosts them in google hits and ratings. Your readers never see them or their link - only you, and you'd only see them if you check your stats. They can be as innocuous as a clothing website clearinghouse, or as repulsive as you can possibly imagine.) At Wordpress, I can block domains if needed, and I like that. Bottom line for those of you at blogger - DO NOT allow your children to check their stats, and if you are checking your stats, don't do so with children present!
** On Wordpress, I can opt out of third party data mining if I choose. It essentially means that third parties can't "watch" how users interact with my site.
** More and more, people are reading on a tablet, and my files as they are currently shared (on Adobe Workspaces) don't behave well on a tablet. (I get at least 2 emails a week about it! ) And to be honest, blogger doesn't always translate well on a tablet. But, I'm thrilled to report that Wordpress is fully supported on all sorts of mobile devices, and file sharing is easy on a tablet through Wordpress! That was a big deal for me! The look of the blog is pretty on a tablet, and clicking on a shared file works seamlessly!
There are a few other visual/cosmetic issues I have with blogger, but they were irritants, and not really big factors in why I left. They certainly helped tip the scales, but I don't think any blogging platform is going to be perfect, and I'm already finding little things I don't really care for (minor things) at Wordpress, too.
I really couldn't decide between Wordpress and Typepad as blogging platforms, but in the end I chose Wordpress because I had more flexibility and could make my site run more like a website alongside a blog than I could with Typepad. But, I really love typelists, too, and wish I had that option/feature at Wordpress. So, there are good and bad with either decision! I thought about HOW I wanted to blog, WHY I wanted to blog - how I shared and who I was going to be sharing with - and I chose the platform that fit those needs best.
Transferring blog content was easy, although some of my formatting is a little off. I expected that.
Hope this is a help, Marilyn! Good luck deciding if you'll re-enter blogging!
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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JennGM
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Interesting, Jen! I am working on the same thing for my blog! I currently use the free version of Wordpress and have always been pleased with the file sharing aspects, as well as the options for privacy. They did add some ads at the bottom of my posts which I don't like, so I am working on creating a new paid site and domain.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Family in Feast and Feria
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4 lads mom
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Wow, this really helps, Jen! NOW I get what all of that ugly stuff was on my stats...good grief. Okay, I’m looking into wordpress now as well. I thought I was going to Typepad, but you have me interested...
Thanks, Ladies, great discussion!
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Mom of four brave lads and one sweet lassie
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Topic: Blogging
