.Protecting Those I Love.

I really love blogging. The more I do it, the more I love it. I have always loved to write, to journal, to inspect my heart with a pen. When I started on xanga four years ago, I had no idea what an outlet blogging would be. I know there are those who cannot understand that, but I think that most of you who read my blog will "get it". I love being encouraged by women of like faith whom I have never met and will likely not meet this side of heaven. Growing up I always had a pen-pal, and that continues to be my most favorite way to get to know a person - on paper first and then over coffee. I feel a little more prepared that way. {grin}

I have said this before, but I am just so humbled by all of the wonderful people who read my blog. I never really imagined my little nook on the web would attract any attention. But with a rise in followers and readers lately, and who knows how many lurkers {grimace}, it seems that maybe God is using my little space, and I pray He is using it for His honor and glory. It always makes me nervous when people say they are a regular reader but never comment! It's not that I need those comments and I certainly do not blog for comments, but sometimes that leaves me feeling vulnerable. At the same time I am the one who has put myself out there, so I can expect and accept that. From time to time I have worried about protecting those I love, though, and I wonder if I am putting them in harms way by having such an open blog. For a time I had locked my blog on xanga before I came over here to join blogger. I liked the security of that, but at the same time if I were to lock this I would miss out on some beautiful women. Some women I have found via coming to my blog and have developed a real relationship with - exchanging emails, reading their beautiful blogs, sharing prayer requests, and even tweets. {grin} I don't want to miss out on that, and I don't want to miss out on an opportunity that God may have for me to encourage other women, other mommies. I feel like this is my little niche - here blogging - writing. I always dreamed that I would someday be an author and get a book published, but maybe not, maybe I am just to blog and have a few women connect with my writing here. How cool is that? My ministry priority of course is my home and family. That continues to take precedence over my little blog.



I want to be safe because I love my family. I have started watermarking all of my photos on here. I have settled on watermarking them with the name of my blog, so that is what you will see unless I post an old one or one linked with my photography site. I get very nervous about having my photos of my children stolen. That just makes my skin crawl. I have heard some creepy things about that lately, and I want none of it. I think I need to go even farther and disable the right click-ability. I have looked at a few tutorials, but keep getting lost. I need to have my hubby help me out with that. I know a lot of blogging mommies use fictitious names for their family. I can see the validity of that, but I am already in too deep. I would have to spend days changing our names here, or so it seems. I read a great post on this subject of blogging safety here.


However, I want to know what you, my sweet readers, do to protect your family in this blog world. Many of my bloggy friends have much bigger blogs and followings than I, and I thought you might have some wise counsel. Please share!