.It's Time.

We lived in a teeny apartment on the second floor. I had painted the miniature kitchen sunshine yellow. Her bedroom was soft green with cream pinstripes that my mom had surprised us with. I was a few weeks into this journey of motherhood. Everything had been planned, as it always was back then. We became parents when we decided to - not before, not after. We were blissfully naive and self-assured, and we were young, so young. A decade has risen and fallen since that moment in the teeny apartment, when my fingers first danced over a keyboard and created a space on the web for my words. It was at the dawning of social media; I had not yet succumbed to Facebook, but the blog world beckoned me. While everything had been carefully orchestrated, her birth was a startling jolt into reality, as nothing about it went according to plan. Almost losing my firstborn in her first moments on earth, lit something inside of me that may not have ever been otherwise ignited. Every breath, every cry every hiccup and milestone was a gift that, had those first moments gone slightly differently, I might never have known. I embraced motherhood with an intensity that I had never known. That made me not want to miss a thing and to take joy in the small things. Looking back, it really was a rather exquisite way to enter motherhood. So that first little blog was almost all about her, my Cadence. I weaved stories and photos together about those first years, and then we chose to birth another, and soon after, I needed to expand my blog to include him and our changing family. And I landed right here. Almost seven years have past right here.

But I am not the same person who launched a blog, with her infant daughter, in a bouncy seat at her feet, in that teeny apartment once upon a time.

I have been thinking a lot about writing lately. I miss the way that I used to work through thoughts as my fingers flew over letters. I miss capturing moments, and finding the extraordinary right inside the ordinary. I want to get back to that, but I have been hesitant. In some ways I don't know how to start again. When I go through the catalogue of old blog posts here, I cringe. Some part of me wants to delete them all away and forget how self-righteous and bitter I became in my journey. There is an arrogance that I read into those words from my younger self, a surety; one that I no longer feel. There is passion and fire, and there is icy coldness. I voiced a tiny bit of this feeling to Jim today. I told him that I wanted to start all over again, in a new space, because the truth is, I was born to write, but this space doesn't seem to fit me anymore. He urged me to stay and to pick back up my writing. As I have thought about it, I realized that while I have gone through a metamorphosis of sorts, it's all a part of my story. Even those embarrassing posts, where my passion was most definitely misguided, has shaped the woman who sits on the other side of this screen today. I cannot delete my story. I can only do better when I know better.

So much has changed inside of me. I have been bruised and battered. I am more courageous and more fearful. I am louder and quieter. I am determined and unsure. I am growing older, time is passing me by, my children are no longer babies. I have spent a year on the mission field in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and stripped of all that was familiar, I understand who I am better than ever before. But I am also still discovering me, and who God desires me to be. I am not yet old, but I am no longer young. Friendships are more important to me than maybe ever before, but this year I experienced the ugly side of a fraudulent one that makes me cower from women and put up thick, heavy walls. I am guarded, and I am wary, and I need God to show me something different. It also made me seek out grace and forgiveness with an old friendship that I had single-handedly damaged in the past. But some things don't change - my desire to follow Jesus - even though that desire surely manifests itself in new, different ways, my love for my husband who gets me on a level that nobody else could, my absolute joy in being a mom and raising these children, and my penchant for writing, cooking, wearing gobs of mascara, and drinking coffee. All of those parts of me remain intact.

So I am tentatively trying again. It's kind of scary to open up my life and heart once more in this space that holds so much, but there is just so much to share. There is still story to be told. Someone might connect with my story and find solidarity here in these words. So, I will write again, because the truth is that I love to write. There will always be better writers, but I am done struggling with that, because nobody else can tell my story. There is space for me, even if I am not the best. My grammar will drive grammarians crazy, because although I am a perfectionist, I am also a creative - especially when it comes to writing. I want to fall back in love with writing. I have never stopped writing, but the story has been muted here, it has stayed in my head or in my journals, but it never, ever stopped. I am proud of that, but now it is time....

It's time to let the story back out.

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you. Maya Angelou

A few of my favorite characters in this story.

.A Moment Cherished 10 Most Read Posts of 2013.

This has been such a unique year. Sometimes I blogged through it, and sometimes I shut myself off from sharing here. As I sat down yesterday to journal through some new goals for 2014, writing appeared high on my list. I am hoping to do more, get better, and learn to take the time to share the story of my life. Our family plans to make the big move to Africa in 2014, and with that will unfold many more stories.

These are the posts from this year that had the most reads. These are the ones that you shared on facebook, pinned to Pinterest and emailed me about. Many of these posts I would have chosen as my favorite as well -my heart was spilled out in them, but some took me by surprise.

1. Dear Special Needs Mom

2. For Her 

3. An Open Letter to the Anonymous Guest 

4. Reclaiming the Bride 

5. Why Can't We All Just Get Along 

6. Gena Revisited {Ethiopian Recipes} 

7. Vision Video

8. The Truth Is 

9. A Simple Command or Is It? 

10. Rearranging my Heart and Rethinking Family First 

Thank you for always coming back here, for reading and for investing. For sharing your stories and continually encouraging me to write. I cherish this space, and I cherish you. Here's to 2014 - whatever it may bring.

.One Story at a Time.

For a moment I thought perhaps 2013 will be the year that I will stop blogging - when my fingers will hover over the keyboard and then slowly back away from the keys. The year when I will say enough. I've let enough people in, and I would straighten my shoulders, push back my chair, brush my hands off and walk away from this space. A space that has brought me so much beauty and so much pain. I have been blogging since 2005, shortly after my Cadi was born. I wanted a place to remember all of her firsts and what it felt like to be a young, first-time Mommy. My blog has grown and changed just as my story has grown and changed. I have been writing for as long as I can remember. Journals fill up boxes that tell of my life, my thoughts, my dreams - my story.

And here, this tiny space, in the great big web, this tells my story too. It tells a story that He is authoring, and the final chapter hasn't been completed yet, so gently He asks me to keep writing.

Keep writing when I am misunderstood.

Keep writing when my hands shake and my heart races.

Keep writing when the story doesn't make sense, and the next chapter seems crazy, or forgotten, or too far away.

Just keep writing, because someone, somewhere will connect with this story and will collide with these words, and our stories just may mingle and weave beautifully together in the Ultimate story. Because alone, our story is insignificant and incomplete, but as part of the whole, Ultimate story, it is beautiful and relevant, and it all ties together in a breathtaking mosaic.

When one shares a story - writes it and lays it open for others to read - there is so much vulnerability in the sharing. But if I have learned nothing else, these past years writing out my soul, it is this: we all have a story to share. It is in the sharing of these broken, everyday stories that the beautiful redemption of Jesus is so brilliantly seen.

I feel nudged to keep coming here and keep writing - to be brave when I don't feel like it, and write authentically from my heart, because I know there are other women working in the Kingdom, who just might connect with the words on this page. In Jesus we are connected; we are community. I know that other people are meant to share the pages of my story.

My prayer is that at the heart of my story, in the words that I share, that you find Jesus and your own words to share your story. Our stories matter. Let's take time to share them, one story at a time.

Come and listen…let me tell you what God has done for me. Psalm 66:16

(A few stories I am reading while the stomach flu ravages our home.)

.But Why?

Lately I have been asked a few similar questions.

Why do you blog?

Why do you take the time to put your thoughts and your family out on the internet?

Couldn't you make better use of your time?

The questions startled me, and made me ponder and pray and reevaluate, and yet again I came back to the same thoughts that I had written out a year ago under the tab on the right marked About my blog. It is good to constantly assess and to reevaluate, and I feel content and at peace with what I had written. When my purpose changes or God moves in a different direction, than I will follow. For now, here I stay, confident that this is His plan. Here is what I wrote:

A Moment Cherished started out as my little space filled with memories of my life right now - while my children are little. I wanted to remember their childhood. I wanted to remember the joys, the blessings, and even some of the trials of being a young mommy. I still want to remember that. However, God has morphed my blog into more than just that. My blog is also my story - well God's story of how He took a scared, shy girl on the adventure of a life time and how he taught me to release my control. Right now this story is resulting in bringing home a son from Ethiopia, and from there God has yet to reveal to us.

I am so glad that you stopped by. Pull up a chair, kick of your shoes, and share a cup of coffee with me. The “me” you will find is my husband's Sweetheart, my childrens' Mommy, and daughter of the King. I spend my days loving and teaching my children. I love to create by decorating my home, cooking and baking, photographing the loves of my life, or finger painting a masterpiece with my children. I steal moments with books and Ethiopian coffee. I'm knee deep in church ministry with my husband who is an associate Pastor in our church. We are passionate about missions and advocating for orphans. I am just your average house wife living an average life, but I am blessed.

My blog has always been about capturing the moments - seizing them and cherishing them – that verse, James 4:14, is the heartbeat of my blog and hopefully my life. I wanted a place to take time to see the blessings in my life, and preserve the fleeting time of childhood for my children. I want to leave a legacy for my children. I hope that some day they can look back on my blog and see how much their mommy cherished them and their sunny days of childhood.

I try not to write for an audience, or at least a human audience - my writing is always directed to an audience of One. My blog is the overflow of my heart. It’s not a business to me, it’s not a competition in readership, or a performance for my writing – it’s a bearing of my soul. I want to keep it that way. I don’t follow a schedule or someone else’s rules. I write when I am inspired to write, and I write what God lays on my heart. I try to be very attentive to His desires for my blog – for my writing. I never want to lose focus of why I write. Ultimately I write for the glory of God.

God has lain it upon my heart that He is using my blog as a ministry. During this season of my life, I feel burdened to be a full time, stay-at-home, homeschooling, mommy and homemaking wife. From this position, there are very few ministries that I feel I can give my heart to at this time, so this blog is my ministry for now. I have received countless emails and comments from women telling me that I have encouraged them in their roles as a mommy, or a homemaker, or a wife, or that their families have been convicted to respond to the the demands to care for the orphan, the poor, the widow, or the needy because of something they read here. I don't get how God can use a mousey housewife with a penchant for written words, but He does. I marvel that anyone would read my words, and that they can truly make a difference. And in and of myself they cannot, but when coupled with the power of God - well anything is possible, dear friends.I want to be careful and clear to say that it’s not about me – it’s about the One who created me. I pray that is evident to everyone who reads my blog. I don't want this blog to be about me or my family or my passions. I want it to ultimately be a reflection of the gospel and of Jesus Christ.

I pray that if you landed here you feel welcomed, comfortable in who God created you to be, and encouraged.I'd love to hear from you. Please feel free to email me at anytime at amomentcherished(at)gmail(dot)com.

.Getting Back into the Groove.

I have been sporadic with my writing - my blogging lately. I have needed to as we acclimate to our new normal, but everything is going really, really well (minus the sleepless nights, but eh...). It settled over me this morning, that we had indeed found our new rhythm - all is falling into place, our days are steady and have found a new schedule. It feels as if Jamesy has always been here - like the gaping hole that was in our family is healed. And with all this, my desire to write is bubbling up and needing an escape.

I gave up being a contributing writer for Raising Homemakers (which I still love and am passionate about homemaking!) several months ago, as I needed to slow and prepare my heart for my son to come home. I also stopped writing regulary - scheduling posts and planning ahead what I would write - and that was perfect for that time.

I have waivered back and forth about whether this season of blogging (I have blogged now for almost 6 years) was coming to an end. I have played with things here, wrestling with whether my blog should remain without comments, but knowing that I cannot keep up with the emails without the comments open. I feel so blessed to have my life intersect with hundreds of sisters in Christ across the globe, because of a little blog. I always feel guilty when I do not have the time to sit and answer someone and give them the time they have given to me. So for now comments are open, and I am trying a new comment system (which is being kind of wonky). I am hoping this allows me to interact quickly with my readers and alleviates my guilt of not responding to emails. If yours was one of the emails that did not receive a response please forgive me. I beg grace from you. I read each and every one of them, and I was so blessed. Thank you for taking this journey with me - it has been a year, sweet friends, since I announced our intent to adopt on my blog. I was covered in prayer, love, and support from many of you, and I am truly indebted.

This morning over our Ethiopian coffee Jim and I got to talking about my blog. He encouraged me to invest more time into my writing here again. I love that I married a man so in-tune with what I am passionate about. Some have told me that I hide behind my written words, but Jim is forever telling me that it is my gift and I need to steward it. He knows that I have to write - I was created to write, and his encouragement has renewed my passion for this little space. I am still not sure how it will all look, but I am eager to move ahead. I write for my audience of One. I write to glorify my God, and to use the talents He has given me. But the fellowship from my faithful readers is the sweet cherry on top. I am thankful for each one of you that has stuck with me during my lag in writing. Although, my ultimate goal here is to always write for God, to write what the Spirit lays on my heart, I do know that God is bringing women here to read. I pray that something I write blesses someone, and always points back to God - not to me.

Please come out of the woodwork and share with me today. Why is it that you read here? What draws you in? What makes you stay or what makes you turn away and leave? Months ago I deleted the stat counter and I no longer keep track of how much traffic comes to my blog or who comes from where. I have no idea, and that has freed me. So I am not asking this with traffic in mind. I am asking this wanting to connect with the hearts of other women. So help me to connect - what can I do/write to encourage you? There is a reason you are here, and I am grateful that God has collided our lives.

I have been thinking and praying over bringing back Momentous Monday. Would anyone still join me? I am excited to be more fully engaged in my writing. It's amazing to see how God can use even a shy, stay-at-home mom and her little keyboard.

My coffee pot is on, and I have a cup waiting. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Sit and stay awhile.

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.Not Defeated.

Yes, we are sad about the time line that God is seemingly erasing before our eyes. But we talked and cried, prayed and held each other, and ultimately came to the peaceful conclusion that really we knew all along.

"My time are in Your hands" Psalm 31:15

We are trusting in that.

We are not defeated.

You are all such a blessing to me. Within moments of sharing my broken heart with you, my comments were filled with encouragement, my inbox was filled - both in my email account and on facebook, and my phone rang with sweet, precious friends and family encouraging our wounded hearts.

We are grateful, so grateful.

So please do not take this the wrong way. Because it is safe to say that you, my fellow blogging friends, have been one of the most significant encouragements to my husband and I on our journey to adopt Jamesy. We are eternally thankful for you and humbled by the love you have poured out on us. Many of you are strangers and yet you have wrapped your arms around us, shared Scripture with us when we most needed it, rallied around our family in prayer, and many, many of you have even sacrificed financially. We have seen Jesus in you. Both of us have come to this screen and read your words and just wept. We feel indebted.

But I cannot feel so indebted that I do not take this next step that I must take.

In the stillness of today, while we let the news of no court date settle over us, I knew in my heart that this extra time before Jamesy comes home is actually a sacred gift. God is graciously giving me more time to right some things in my home that need to be righted. To re-prioritize some things that have gotten knocked over.

Right now in this season, in this waiting, my God and my family deserves all of me. God has given me this time, and I cannot waste it. There is purpose in this wait. How foolish of me would it be to waste this wait and not use it for God's glory? Maybe Jim, Cadi and Scotty need a little more of me right now, so that I can give a little more of me to Jamesy later. I do not know. I cannot pretend to know.

His timing is not for me to know.

I am sad, but I am not defeated.

I am going to go live a little bit and enjoy the last few moments that I have with just two littles in our home. So dear friends I am unplugging until God brings me back.

I will be back, but it may look a lot different for awhile. It may be empty here for awhile. I don't know, but I am okay with that.

It's time to stop sacrificing my family for followers, because the only stats that matter at the end of the day are the number of kisses I gave to a blond headed cherub cheeked boy, the times I snuggled with a growing girl and listened to her cautious tongue learn to read, the I love you's that reached the ear of my husband, and the pages I turned in God's ultimate love story to me.

It has been said that adoption is redemption, and that is so true. I am finding so much redemption in this wait.

Not defeated. Redeemed.
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.In Response.

Wow. I loved the discussion that followed yesterday's article. I don't usually write with the thought of receiving comments. But yesterday I was hoping to get feedback, and feedback I got! {grin} I am working on a follow up post that I will publish sometime next week. Your comments were thought provoking and brought to light some things that I left out. I know I have not typically blogged so boldly on controversial subjects, and some of you may be uncomfortable with the unveiling of this side of me. However, God has been convicting me lately to do so. I cannot hide behind my "good girl" veneer always. It is amazing how God is clearly making known to me that my tiny blog is a ministry. It is a ministry that I take seriously. If you did not get a chance to read here yesterday, I would love it if you would take a few moments to do so, and then share with us your thoughts. If you have been lurking, now would be a good time to de-lurk! {wink}



I want to make it very clear that I enjoy feedback - whether we are like-minded or not, whether you strongly oppose choices I make, or agree with me, or fall somewhere in the middle. I appreciate honesty. However, I do not appreciate snarky comments. Rudeness is inappropriate. The anonymous commenters are welcome to join in the discussion. I do prefer if an anonymous commenter leaves her name as it is more personal. My husband, in his comment yesterday, was only referring to one anonymous comment that was left. I did not delete the comment out of respect for that person and her opinion. However, if I need to delete an inappropriate comment, I will. The other anonymous comments were fine and appropriate and appreciated. I think that is all I have to say about that. I really do not want to stir up dissension.




I am going to get out of here now. I have two little children waiting to see what kind of sunny day we can etch into their childhood.



Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and the needy. Proverbs 31:8-9




I would love it if you stick around. Don't miss a thing - click here!

.This is How I do It.

Recently I have been asked by a few different people about blogging.

More specifically how do I balance having a blog and having my family?

I thought it was a good question, and one that I have even wrestled with on and off, so I decided to address it right here on my blog. This is how I do it. I just have a tiny blog, and I write to remember, so I don't feel pressure like maybe some "bigger" bloggers might. So if you are wondering how they do it - ask them! {grin}

I blog. A lot.

I just have an insatiable desire and even an intrinsic need to write, to get my thoughts out in some way. I am an avid fan of journaling, and I have loved that since my childhood. It started with a beautiful scented diary, complete with a lock and little key when I was eleven years old. My love of recording my thoughts, feelings, and the moments of right now took off like a forest fire. I could fill boxes with old diaries and journals. I still love journaling, but it has taken a different form in this stage of my life - in my homemaking journal and here on my blog.

For me blogging can consume my entire day, if I were to let it. I don't. Here is how I try to make sure of that:

I write my posts quickly. That is because before I ever sit down at my computer to type them out, I have already written and rewritten them in my head. This post, for example, was written the other night as I was trying to fall asleep in bed. Sometimes my posts are written while I am taking a shower, or doing mundane housework, or running on my treadmill. I have done this for as long as I can remember - write in my head and then on paper.

I stockpile photos. I have numerous photos that could go along with various posts. I edit them at different times (usually) then I type a post. Now sometimes a photo just begs me to write a certain post, and I do that, too. I usually only get little chunks here and there to sit at the computer, so that is what works for me.

I draft posts and schedule them to publish (this post for example is drafted. I am not sure when I will choose to publish it.), so if I ever do have a good chunk of time I can write a whole week's worth of posts in one sitting. This has become huge for me, especially with taking on my new role as a Raising Homemakers writer. Early on in my blogging I learned that one should always publish posts at different times of the day, rather than always publishing at say 2:00 in the afternoon. I practice this, but don't know if it really matters!

My family and living life always comes before blogging. I would rather live it then blog it! And if ever blogging starts to take precedence, or I just need a break - I take it, and have done that even recently.

I have just started viewing my blog as a ministry, and I pray about it. I also pray that God would help me to maintain balance and not let blogging consume me, because at this point in my life blogging is not my main ministry - being a wife, mommy, and homemaker is.

I love reading blogs, and I love the godly women I have met via blogging. However, I do have to limit my time reading blogs everyday. I used to read a book every afternoon. Now I read blogs, and I save my books for before bed. I have to set a timer for myself, though. I really do. There are just so many fantastic blogs out there, but I only have so much time.

When I am with my family - I try to be intentional and in the moment.

These are just a few of the ways that I can think of right now that I balance blogging with family.

I certainly do not want to miss precious and cherished moments with these three while I sit in front of a computer.



Now I am curious. How do you balance blogging and family?

.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!

.Sunshine Award.

I received this sunshine award from Bobbi at Casa Camacho
What a sweet thing for her to give to me!

The sunshine award is given to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspires others in the blogworld.

I really cannot imagine inspiring anyone, with what I write, but I do pray that God uses my words to bless others.

The rules for accepting this award are:

*Post the logo on your blog.
*Pass the award on to 10 bloggers.
*Link the nominees within your post.
*Let the nominees know they received this award by commenting on their blog.
*Share the love and link to the person you received this award from.

I would love to pass this award on to the following women:
1. Joanna - I have been inspired by Joanna's blog for a few years now. Her writing is like none other. She is a fantastic photographer, and she really knows how to see and claim the little blessings in life. I feel like I have a connection to her, not only are we both introverts, but I worked with and went to church with her sister for a few years.
2. Deb - I really love this woman's simple, natural take on living. Her blog has some amazing ideas and crafts for decorating your home. I like reading this woman's blog, because she seems to have this innate desire to create, something I share with her. Deb also has a heart for God that is evidenced in her blog. She also shares some really yummy recipes!
3. Organizing Mommy - This woman has fabulous, practical tips on organizing. Organizing is not a strength of mine - HA! So I really appreciate her insight. I love the fact that her organizing story revolves around putting God in the center of her life, and allowing Him to give her wisdom in the area of organizing. She also shares posts about being a wife and Mommy.
4. Pineapple Princess - I just recently started reading her blog. It is wonderful and inspirational. This woman's love for Jesus shines so clear in every post! She has a wonderful eye for photography, yet claims to not be a photographer -hmmm. lol Pineapple Princess has a wonderful sense of humor and way of writing that makes her blog one of my favorites.
5. A. Ann - I have been inspired by this woman for a few years now. Her blog is one of my all-time favorites. I have never seen someone as creative as she is. She can decorate beautifully with items that seem worthless and with just a few dimes. Her photography is top-notch, with very little editing - rare these days. This woman's love for her seven gorgeous children and her husband is a blessing, but what I love the most about her blog is her heart for God and her desire to grow in His love and grace. I will never forget how last year, when I was struggling through some questions regarding family planning, she took the time from her very busy life to email me a very personal and lengthy email. I still have it, and really value the things she shared with me.
6. Kelly - This blog is another recent find. Kelly is a stay-at-home mommy to a beautiful one year old baby girl named, Harper. I have enjoyed catching up on her story of how she begged God for a child and was finally blessed with one, only after some heart ache and trials. Kelly is a very upbeat, positive blogger with a fantastic sense of style!
7. Shanda - Hers is one of the first blogs I ever started reading. Shanda's blog is always beautiful and creative and filled with gorgeous photos. Her love for nature, God and her family is inspiring and refreshing. Shanda has a very transparent blog, that always speaks to my mommy heart.
8. Susie - I started following Susie's blog, when her son, Joshua, was born with a severe, neural tube defect. I witnessed, through her blog, this family's heart ache upon losing their son, and their reliance and faith in God. Their story helps me to count my blessings and reminds me to be thankful for my healthy children each day. Susie is also a great photographer and so very crafty - she is an inspiration!
9. Julia and Sallie - These two sisters post fabulous recipes! This blog is packed with tasty treats and yummy looking photos. I am inspired by their desire to make memories in the kitchen. I just recently found their blog, but have really enjoyed reading the posts these two sisters share.
10. Vanessa - I am not sure if I have ever read a blog from someone as creative as she is! Oh. my. You must check her gorgeous mosaics out. It seems every other post, Vanessa shares another project she is working on, and everyone of them is truly a work of art. Her blog is fun and honest, and I have enjoyed reading what she writes.

Whew. I could have easily given this award to three times the amount of women. I tried not to duplicate the blogs for this award, that I gave the last award, too, but I could have easily given this same award to those women. I am thankful for the creative outlet that blogging is for me, but also for the way God has allowed the blogs of other women to teach me, encourage me, and inspire me.

.New Mom on the Block.

I am not new to the blogging world as I have been blogging since my almost four year old was but an infant, but I am new to blogger. I have been tossing around switching venues for my blogging for quite some time, and tonight I finally decided to take the leap. I am not sure what finally made me do it. It is strange starting all over with a new blog, in a new place. It's kind of silly, but I am nervous. Will I like it here? Will I find a new blogging community? Does it matter? I don't blog so that I can get a lot of people to read what I have written. I blog as a way to record my everyday moments, as a mommy, a wife, a sister, a friend, as an undeserving, but oh so grateful, daughter to the King. I don't want to forget the everyday blessings. I hope this will be a place to savor a moment cherished. I look forward to nestling in here with a cup of strong Starbucks and my thoughts in the moments to come. It should be a good ride.