Happy New Year’s Eve! New Year’s Eve is definitely a time of reflection for me. I don’t always do resolutions, but nostalgia is definitely my jam. So nostalgia is what this post is all about. We’ll talk about resolutions soon though.
It’s hard to believe that I only started blogging in March of this year. Crazy, huh? It seems like second nature to me now. I love coming to this space, spilling out my heart, sharing my favorite things, documenting life, and connecting with all of you. Blogging has put a lot of things in perspective for me, and it’s also helped me stay focused on the positives in my life. Sure, life isn’t always rainbows and butterflies, but I’d like to think of myself as an optimist. I always look for the silver lining. I wasn’t always an optimist, and I still have my days when I’m a grumpy gills, but I’m a work in progress, and I’m working to be in the positive lane as much as I possibly can. I also still get scared of things, especially when it comes to spilling my guts about my highs and lows in this life of mine. When I get scared about pushing that publish button on one of posts this quote comes to mind: “What if I fall? Oh, my darling. What if you fly?” It has been somewhat of my mantra this past year in regards to blogging, and I love it.
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| Via Jenny Maiedae |
Let’s rewind and look back at what you and everyone else loved the most here on Seven Graces. These are the top 10 blog posts according to the stats. I’ll work our way backwards, with number one being the most viewed of all time.
TEN.
This was my very first post I published on the blog. I wrote about why I wanted to start a blog and how I listened to God’s calling. It was the start of something new. I couldn’t believe people actually were reading. I thought for sure my family would, but to find out that there are hundreds of people reading who I have never met still blows my mind. This post is definitely the heart of it all.
NINE.
I attended my first blog conference, Blog Elevated, with some amazing people back in September, and I learned so much. I tried to recap it the best I could, and apparently people liked what BE had to say, too. Tips about using Facebook, Pinterest, and more can be found in that post.
EIGHT.
I loved this post! I didn’t hide anything and even talked about my favorite mesh panties. I held nothing back in that one. It’s also part of the series I created, New Mama 101, for new moms who are clueless just like I was and depend on blogs to carry them through pregnancy and motherhood. It’s definitely a labor of love. No pun intended.
SEVEN.
I’m so happy to see a Currently Confessing post make the list. These are my favorite posts to write each week, because most of the time they’re light and fun. I try to give you something to smile about or something that I think you’ll love. This one had the best crock pot recipe to date, and I’m pretty sure that Pinterest helped the numbers for this post. If you need a chicken taco recipe that only heeds three ingredients, this one is for you.
SIX.
In the beginning of November, my sister and I went with my mom to Napa Valley and had the best time. My hubs was basically our travel agent (he wears many hats), so we went to some of the best places and stayed on a reasonable budget.
And now we’re into the top five most viewed posts…
FIVE.
Another New Mama 101 post documenting my pregnancy with Charlotte Grace was a crowd favorite. I’m going to bet it’s the pitting edema that people liked in one of the pictures I shared. Oh, the horror of my swelling was too much. However, I’d go through all of that pain and misery all over again times 1000 to have my sweet baby girl. But did I really need to gain 60 pounds?
FOUR.
THIS IS MY FAVORITE OF ALL TIME. When people ask me what’s my favorite post I’ve ever written, it’s this one. It’s also the post with the most comments on the blog. These lessons aren’t just for my daughter. They’re for anyone who needs a reminder about how to keep your chin up in this thing called life. I go back to this post when skies are gray.
THREE.
Now see? People love this New Mama 101 series. I’m definitely crediting Pinterest to keeping these posts alive. Must-have essentials that I couldn’t live without during my pregnancy…of course I had to share.
TWO.
After battling back to back colds with my sweet girl, I needed to document how I made it through and helped make her better. I’m so happy to see that other mamas have found this helpful, too. This is also part of the New Mama 101 series.
And the most viewed post I’ve ever written is…drumroll, please!
ONE.
I don’t have all the answers, but what I do have is faith. This is my faith on a computer screen about what I’ve learned being a SAHM and things I know that make my days better. I like to make lists to remember things, because mom brain is real, so this post was a no-brainer for me. I am so grateful for the love this post has received. It makes me thrilled to know that other mamas needed to hear these words, too.
Now here are a few of my personal favorites that didn’t make the highest stats list but are some of my very favorite pieces. I won’t add as much detail as I did to the top 10, just a little blurb.
Grace & Heartache – My heart on a platter. My life in a nutshell.
Searching for the One – Being single in my 20s and how I finally met the One.
When I Became a Mama…My Messy, Beautiful – My journey into motherhood and how I changed.
Things That Make You Go Hmmm – Quite possibly my funniest piece to date. I need more of these.
When Miracles Happen – A health scare with Charlotte and how prayers changed the outcome.
Sister, Sister – A birthday tribute to my sissy. But this is for all the sisters in the world.
Confessional Friday: #NoFilter – An observation of social media and how grace comes into play.
25 Things You Don’t Know About Me – Us Weekly style rundown of some fun facts about moi.
Four Years of Marriage – An anniversary post filled with our wedding pictures.
33 Things I Know at 33 – You learn a thing or two the older you get. Here’s what I know.
10 Things I’m Thankful for that Most People Dread – Being thankful for the not so fun things.
It’s really hard to pick my favorites, because I put my heart into everything I write for this blog. I love every single post, especially the ones about my Charlotte Grace. But this blog is also for you. Just like that picture says up there, “Sometimes the best way to share our faith is to simply share our lives and our stories.” Yes. Just yes. That is why I blog. That is why I write.
I’m so excited to continue this blogging journey in 2015. Here a few goals for the new year:
1. Become a better photographer.
2. Be more consistent with blog posts and maintaining some sort of schedule. Which leads me to one change… Tuesdays will now be the host for the New Mama 101 series. Mondays are just not good days for me. Tuesdays are more realistic days to host such special material.
3. Comment more on other people’s blogs.
4. Be more vulnerable and less fearful of what others might think.
5. Continue on being me and telling my stories the best way I can.
Thank you so much from the very bottom of this big heart of mine for reading and following along this year. You all have no idea how much you all mean to me. I’ve loved the relationships I’ve built through this blogging community and am forever grateful. You are awesome!
What are you most proud of this past year? Any new goals for 2015?
Happy New Year, sister! Continue on shining your light.
I love that I came across your blog!@ I love your stuff and of course, seeing photos of your beautiful Charlotte! :) I can’t wait to see what you have coming up for 2015! xox
Aww, thanks, Alycia! I’m so thankful for this space, and especially for making friendships with girls like you. Bloggers like you make this gig a fun one. ;) Cheers to 2015!
Yay! I’m so glad you got so much out of blogging this year. I hope 2015 is just as good, if not better!
Thanks, Susannah! I hope so, too! Happy New Year!
I love that I came across your blog!@ I love your stuff and of course, seeing photos of your beautiful Charlotte! :) I can't wait to see what you have coming up for 2015! xox
So excited to follow you in 2015!
Yay, Whitney! So happy that you’re here! :) Happy New Year, my dear!
Yay! I'm so glad you got so much out of blogging this year. I hope 2015 is just as good, if not better!
So excited to follow you in 2015!
Seriously so glad we crossed bloggy paths, you are amazing! I love that top quote, it’s one of my all time favorites. I can’t wait to see where you take your blog this year, I have some similar blogging goals as well! I hope you and your family have an amazing New Year, cheers!!
Aww, Jess! I feel the exact same way about you! I’m so happy to know you, and super thankful for all of the friendships 2014 brought me. Here’s to making those friendships even stronger in 2015. ;) Cheers, girlfriend! #hashtaggersporvida
Seriously so glad we crossed bloggy paths, you are amazing! I love that top quote, it's one of my all time favorites. I can't wait to see where you take your blog this year, I have some similar blogging goals as well! I hope you and your family have an amazing New Year, cheers!!
Loved your stay at home mom tips :) and also your c section post, hoping to do natural births when the time comes but you never know what God has planned for you and baby
Thank you! And I totally know a thing or two about plans not going your way. But God always sees you through. :) Happy New Year, friend!
Loved your stay at home mom tips :) and also your c section post, hoping to do natural births when the time comes but you never know what God has planned for you and baby
Love this….had no idea you had only been blogging since March! I have only been blogging since August and did a similar post today. Can’t wait to finish browsing through your faves! We are a decade apart but you are already so wise….definitely great perspective. happy New Year!
Aww, thank you, Shelly! Isn’t it crazy how blogging becomes such a special part of your life? I love following yours along as well. :) Hope you have the best 2015!
Love this….had no idea you had only been blogging since March! I have only been blogging since August and did a similar post today. Can't wait to finish browsing through your faves! We are a decade apart but you are already so wise….definitely great perspective. happy New Year!
I still need to read some of these!! I’m so thankful you started blogging, I just love your heart and sweet family! Keep doing what you’re doing because you’re great at it :) and if you ever need help with #1 I’m happy to help 😉 not that I’m an expert at all… Haha
Tawnya, you know I am so grateful for YOU! I’m so thankful to have gained a new BFF through this wonderful world of sharing words and pictures. :) Love you to pieces! And if you ever want to do a Vol. 2 to that, have at it! Lol. Clearly, I’m no expert either. I still am trying to wake up earlier than Charlotte every day, but I can’t seem to do it. Help! Lol.
So I only just started reading your blog, and I’m in SHOCK that you’ve only been blogging since March! I love reading your posts and you seem like you’ve been doing this forever, congratulations! I pushed publish for the first time in August and I’m loving blogging so far! I have lots of goals for this year and hope to grow and get better at it!
Oh and I’m bookmarking this post so I can go read all those old posts!!
Liz, you are the best! That is such a sweet compliment. :) It really does feel like I’ve been doing this forever, and I love it completely. I’m so excited to follow you along this year, too!
I still need to read some of these!! I'm so thankful you started blogging, I just love your heart and sweet family! Keep doing what you're doing because you're great at it :) and if you ever need help with #1 I'm happy to help 😉 not that I'm an expert at all… Haha
So I only just started reading your blog, and I'm in SHOCK that you've only been blogging since March! I love reading your posts and you seem like you've been doing this forever, congratulations! I pushed publish for the first time in August and I'm loving blogging so far! I have lots of goals for this year and hope to grow and get better at it!
Oh and I'm bookmarking this post so I can go read all those old posts!!
Aww, thanks, Alycia! I'm so thankful for this space, and especially for making friendships with girls like you. Bloggers like you make this gig a fun one. ;) Cheers to 2015!
Thanks, Susannah! I hope so, too! Happy New Year!
Yay, Whitney! So happy that you're here! :) Happy New Year, my dear!
Aww, Jess! I feel the exact same way about you! I'm so happy to know you, and super thankful for all of the friendships 2014 brought me. Here's to making those friendships even stronger in 2015. ;) Cheers, girlfriend! #hashtaggersporvida
Thank you! And I totally know a thing or two about plans not going your way. But God always sees you through. :) Happy New Year, friend!
Tawnya, you know I am so grateful for YOU! I'm so thankful to have gained a new BFF through this wonderful world of sharing words and pictures. :) Love you to pieces! And if you ever want to do a Vol. 2 to that, have at it! Lol. Clearly, I'm no expert either. I still am trying to wake up earlier than Charlotte every day, but I can't seem to do it. Help! Lol.
Liz, you are the best! That is such a sweet compliment. :) It really does feel like I've been doing this forever, and I love it completely. I'm so excited to follow you along this year, too!
I have loved getting to know you through blogging over the last several months. I recognize many of these wonderful posts, but several of them I haven’t read just yet. And let me tell you – I feel your pain with the pregnancy swelling. Yes it is absolutely worth it, but MAN! That swelling is tough! :) I am so envious of the mamas that have a big basketball belly and nothing else. My hips grew, my butt grew, and the swelling was outrageous. ha!
Thanks for linking up today with the SHINE Blog Hop!
Thank you, Chelsea! I have loved getting to know you, too! I love reading your blog, and I especially love reading your comments! :)
I can’t even with the swelling. It is the one thing holding me back from taking the plunge and trying for baby #2. Lol. However, some of my friends who did have bad swelling during the first pregnancy say that it doesn’t get that bad for the second pregnancies. But I’m still hesitant! We shall see…
I have loved getting to know you through blogging over the last several months. I recognize many of these wonderful posts, but several of them I haven't read just yet. And let me tell you – I feel your pain with the pregnancy swelling. Yes it is absolutely worth it, but MAN! That swelling is tough! :) I am so envious of the mamas that have a big basketball belly and nothing else. My hips grew, my butt grew, and the swelling was outrageous. ha!
Thanks for linking up today with the SHINE Blog Hop!
Thank you, Chelsea! I have loved getting to know you, too! I love reading your blog, and I especially love reading your comments! :)
I can't even with the swelling. It is the one thing holding me back from taking the plunge and trying for baby #2. Lol. However, some of my friends who did have bad swelling during the first pregnancy say that it doesn't get that bad for the second pregnancies. But I'm still hesitant! We shall see…