Pulling the Plug

It's no secret that I've become the worst blogger in the world.  Technically, I don't even think I can call myself a "blogger" anymore.  Excuses:  We have terrible internet in our neck of the woods, these days I use Instagram as my "blog", and I just forget to post stuff here.  Just keepin' it real.

For many, many years this little corner of the internet has been my family journal.  And for a good long time, I really worked at it, enjoyed it, and connected with ladies around the blog-o-sphere.  But as time passes, technology progresses, life gets more involved (with growing kids and homeschooling), I find less and less time to devote to it.  A few weeks ago, I was tempted to pull the plug, delete it, and move on. Only, I haven't printed hard copies of my whole blog yet (something I really want to do).  I've printed copies of years 1-6 and still lack the last few years to print.  I plan on doing that real soon and hopefully I'll finish out 2017 with my Christmas home tour and call it good.  If I make it to Christmas, I'll have blogged for over 10 years--if you don't count the long, long sporadic breaks. Who's counting, right?

For those of you who've stuck around through it all...THANK YA! Get ready for post overload as I spend my summer "catching-up" the blog and getting ready to print this sucker.  My domain name expires at the end of December and I think that will be a good time to say good-bye.

It's been good, Our Joy...His Glory!  Thanks for the memories.  Literally!

Guest Posting!

Today, I'm guest posting over at Cultivate Create.  Amanda challenged me to make over a space in our home without spending a dime! Check out how I completed the challenge and while you are there browse around Amanda's wonderful blog.  You'll love her style and the inspiration found on her blog!

Thanks for letting me guest post on your lovely blog, Amanda!

Five on Friday

After about a month break from Five on Friday, I'm glad to be back!

[ONE] Monday was a SAD day around here...I ran out of my beloved Aromatique: The Smell of Christmas.  It's my absolute favorite smell.  all.year.long.

[TWO]

These are the kinds of love notes my husband leaves me...

The best part of waking up... is a fresh pot of coffee!

[THREE]

This week, I got the best deal!!!  I have been wanting a 7X10 rug for my living room.  I came across a beautiful rug at Target marked down from $159 to $79.  I was really happy with the clearance price so I snagged it. Low and behold, when I checked out, it rang up for $44! How awesome is that?  One day in the future, it will look nice on some hard, dark, floors!  A girl can dream!

[FOUR]
Look who's standing strong...

She'll be ONE next week! ONE???!!!

[FIVE]

Earlier this week, I mentioned changing up the Happy Hostess Link Party.  I'm looking for a few more blogs to host the link party every other Monday.  If you would be interested in helping with this link party, let me know by sending me an email.  

********** Did you get to check out these posts from earlier this week? Guest Post: Our Life on a Budget

 My Easter Table Setting

Easter Through the Years

2013 Top Ten

Recently, I was glancing over my blog stats for 2013 and decided to compile a top ten list of your favorite posts of the year.  Here goes...

TEN

Makeshift Office:  I turned a small portion of our master closet into an office nook for Graham.

NINE

 Kelsey + Josh:  a mini photo-shoot with my sister and bro-in-law

EIGHT

What's the Fuss all About:  voicing my frustrations with the "Mommy Wars" including my take on Babywise

SEVEN

To Each of My Girls:  a letter to each of my babies

SIX

 Maternity Photos:  photos from my maternity shoot with my friend and amazing photographer, Ashley

FIVE

$6 Chair Makeover: a Goodwill chair makeover

FOUR

She's Here:  our sweet little Joy Tatum's arrival

THREE

Her Nursery: pictures of Joy's room

TWO

Christmas Home Tour: 2013 Christmas Home Tour link-up

ONE

31 Days of Balance as a Homeschool Mom: a series in which I wrote a post a day for the month of October on finding balance as a homeschool mom

**********
I look forward to another year of blogging and connecting.  My SIXTH year! Thanks for reading, y'all!

new look

I recently posted about wanting a new look for the blog.  I've been wanting a cleaner look, with colors I like, less home-spun, and something that feels more like me!  About a week ago, I contacted Aimee at Dear Harper Designs (Thanks for the reference, Elise) and she has been working on a new look for the blog.   Aimee was super easy to work with.  She helped me nail down my ideas, did several mock-ups, made a few tweaks here and there, and was very easy-going--especially with all of my picky requests. Take a minute and look around the blog.  If you are viewing this post in a feed, click over and check out the new look!  Drop me a line or two.  I'd love to hear from you.

blog goal: connect

Although I'm not new to this thing called blogging, I have an amateur blog.  That's okay.  I'm good with that.  Really...I am.  But because I've been blogging for so long, I feel the need to shake it up from time to time to keep my reader's and my interests up.

My blogging goal for 2014, in one word: CONNECT.  I'd like to connect better with my audience.

This may seem like a shameless plug for more followers but more than anything, it's an attempt to get to know you--to connect:  

Some people follow along through Bloglovin', Twitter, and Google Friend Connect.  Those are good options for receiving updates to this blog as they are published.  But the Facebook page and my Instagram have really connected me with some of my readers on a more personal level.  I post more frequently to these two sites and I get to see the faces, pictures, interests/hobbies of my fellow bloggers and friends.  Hmmm....I totally won't be offended if this blog is the most of ME you need in your life! :)  But, fo reals, I want to know Y-O-U!  *Did I just type 'fo reals'?  Now you understand how much I want to connect with my peeps.  My peeps?  It's getting late...I need to quit this. Moving on...

If you'd like to 'LIKE'...

Bloglovin', Twitter, and Pinterest badges can be found on the sidebar.

**********

Before I wrap-up, I have a few questions and I'd appreciate your feedback.  Seriously.

1.  Fellow bloggers, do you get many spam comments.  Recently, I've started getting one or two a day.  Tips? I know about word verification.  Been there, done that, and  I'm not a fan.  It seems to discourage comments and, for me, that's one of the fun things about blogging--connecting, sharing, encouraging, etc.  I've noticed that some bloggers have made the switch to Disqus but I just don't know enough about it.  Any feedback?

2.  I'm wanting a new, yet affordable look.  I've spent a whopping 30 bucks on this blog in the 5.5  years it's been in existence.  I don't want to spend a lot, but I'd like a new look. For the first 4.5 years, I did all of my make-overs myself and I wasn't awful, but time and html codes have gotten the best of me!  I just want something simple, clean, and easy to load.  Suggestions?

3.  What are some topics you'd like me to tackle--homeschooling, Bible study, crafting, etc.?  Of course, the kid posts are here to stay!  Those girls are the main reason this little 'ole blog got it's start in the first place.

**********
I love my little blog community.  I've made some great "friends" over the past five years.   I look forward to connecting with more and more folks!

                          

Getting Back in the Swing

My posts have been few and far between these days.  Three girls, homeschooling, CC, soccer mom, dance mom, laundry, cleaning, cooking, church, and everything else has really taken a toll on my blogging capabilities.

I want to be more committed to posting every couple of days or so--if I still have any readers out there.  Do I?  I'm not altogether sure, but I started blogging for me and I'll continue to blog.  It's therapeutic in ways--something about it is good for the soul.  I still enjoy this ole' blog thing and I'll keep it up until it loses it's appeal.  The way I look at it, I can't stop now.  Joy just got here and it wouldn't be fair to neglect posting about her endeavors as I have with her big sisters.  Right? I'm also excited to jump back into linky parties and blog hops, something I've been dodging since Joy's arrival.

I made a few minor changes to the layout.  I added several pages under the header for easier access to projects, recipes, contact info, etc.  I hope that makes navigating a little easier for folks that read mostly for those types of things. 

Of course my faith and family are the driving force behind most posts, but I like to throw in a few crafts, how-tos, and decorating posts occasionally.  It's also therapeutic to get sucked into a good project.  I actually have a fall craft that I'm excited to tackle and I will be sharing it in the coming weeks.

Speaking of fall...Bring it!  I'm ready for cooler temps, bon fires, hay rides, and the like!  Who's with me!?!

Anyway...Here's to getting back in the swing of things!  Are you with me?

That's Life!

When I started this blog five years ago, has it really been that long?, I had a tough time understanding blogland.  I'll explain...If you have read my blog for a while, you know that I started blogging in order to keep our family pacified with pics and stories of our first daughter, Ava Grace.  Naturally, I posted lots of pics of AG (smiles, happy, content, sleeping like an angel, etc.). Occasionally, I would post about other things, but AG was the driving force behind the blog.  When I realized that more than just family were reading my posts, I began to feel a little nervous.  I worried that people would take my words/pics, etc. and use them against me. Hello, insecurities! I worried that people would think I was trying to paint this perfect picture of our lives.  Regardless if that was a true assumption or not, that's how I felt.  After a little soul searching, I decided enough was enough!  I was determined that my blog would not put on airs or so to speak.  I don't mind posting the good (because I have a lot to be thankful for), the bad (I'm here to tell you--every day is not Friday), and the ugly (down-right).  

This is not a confessional and I don't plan on airing all of my sins and vices, but I want to keep it real like I decided to do when this blog got it's start.  Social media is great in so many ways, but it does tend to paint these "perfect little pictures" of  "perfect little lives"...don't buy it for one second! :)

Truth:  I'm a sinner but, Praise the Lord!, I'm redeemed.  By the way, it was totally not a work of me, but a work of God!

Just something I felt compelled to share.

All smiles in our "Sunday best"!!!

Let me fill you in on something...

We were a mess mere seconds before the camera snapped! (tears, missing shoes, toothpaste on the shirt, running a little behind, and frazzled)
That's life--our life!

Amy's blog

My friend, Amy, has a wonderful blog.  She is a great writer and never ceases to import her wit into every post.  You'll love her content about life (in general), her kiddos, homemaking, and her love for Christ Jesus.  I recently helped her with a blog make-over.  Head over to Covet the Dust to check it out...

what's up with that?

I am so frustrated with g**gle!  Things I love are going away...
GoogleReader:  gone in July
iGoogle: gone in November

I have read/skimmed/scanned/followed 115 blogs through GoogleReader for the past 4 years.  It makes blogging/blog reading so quick and organized.  From time to time, I'll check in on the actual blogs I follow, but mostly I just keep up through GoogleReader.  Oh, and I have my GoogleReader account linked to my iGoogle homepage.  Again...gone are those days.

So...
I found out about Bloglovin'.  Apparently, it's comparable to GoogleReader.  I haven't been linked up long enough to make a decision either way, but I have several blog friends that have posted about it and seem to enjoy it.  It literally took me 2 minutes to transfer my favorite blogs from GoogleReader to Bloglovin'.  It took me another minute to organize them into catergories.  The app for my phone was free (another good thing), and it looks like I'm all set.  I guess I will keep my GoogleReader account open until it is no more in July, but I can use this time to get used to Bloglovin'. 

If you are like me and read your favorite blogs through GoogleReader, you might think about trying out Bloglovin' or if you find something better, post about it so I can see if I like another subscription source better. ;)

You can follow my blog through Bloglovin' by clicking on the link below. 

another spotlight

Last week, I spotlighted some friends' blogs that I read and gave a little make-over.

Here's another blog that I spruced up a bit...

Celebrating Life is written by my friend, Sandy.  She writes about life as a mom to nine wonderful children, homeschooling adventures, recipes, and her love for and commitment to our Lord.  If you get a chance, check out her blog.  You are sure to enjoy it as much as I do.

Spotlight on Some Friends' Blogs

I have a couple of friends that have recently started blogging (or should I say...Again, Amy!?!)  I love it when my friends jump on the "blogging-bandwagon"! I helped their blogs out a bit with a little make-over.  Check out Amy's blog:  The Crispins...Everyday Blessings.  She writes a about her family and life as a SAHM.

And check out my friend, Kara's blog: Milk & Honey.  She writes about her two little girls, life as a SAHM, and her new business: LaneyBugs.

These girls have been good friends to me since moving to Texas.  I have enjoyed reading their blogs and look forward to upcoming posts!  

changes around the blog

You may have read in an earlier post that I made some changes to the blog and I was worried that my old domain (blogspot.com) wouldn't link to my new domain:  ourjoyhisglory.com .  It appears that all the kinks have been worked out and the new domain is up and running.  Supposedly, any links to the old domain will be redirected to the new one (let me know if you have any issues being redirected).  The only problem I have encountered deals with pins in which people have linked to the old address.   It looks like those pins show an error instead of redirecting to the new address.  That problem may eventually work itself out or all of those pins may be lost forever.  For now, only new pins will link to the new address.

So...for the first time in the history of Our Joy...His Glory, I paid for a blog make-over. *gasp*  Granted, I paid 15 bucks and it was a premade template, but I like it.  It was a splurge.  It was so easy and I love the simplicity of the new look.  After years of trying to make my blog look as good as I possibly could on my own--I'm worn out.  I also paid 10 dollars for the new (.com) domain.  Twenty-five bucks for the ole blog after almost five years isn't too bad. :)  Who knows, maybe I'll get even more gutsy and add some ads in the future.
*If you ever choose to update your blog through designerblogs.com, please tell them I sent you.  I would love a $5 coupon for the distant future. :)

If you are a Google Reader subscriber, click over and check out the new look.  If you're like me, you like to peek in on the actual blogs you read from time to time.

Thanks to all of my readers/subscribers/followers.  I don't know if I bring much to the table, but I appreciate you sticking with me!  Also, thanks for the sweet comments on my posts--it's encouraging and motivating to hear from you.

featured

I'm so excited to have my canvas transformation featured on It's Overflowing.  Check it out.

blog facelift

I've had the yellow and turquoise color scheme on the blog since before Christmas (and that's a REALLY long time for me).  It's time for a change...

Blog Facelift

Fa-la-la Fabulous Fridays

I was highlighted on...

Check out the post on Finding Home.

Blog Facelift

I gave the blog a makeover for a less home-spun look and a more clean and polished one.  I'm kinda getting tired of all the makeovers, so I wanted something that would look nice and neat for a while.  We shall see how long it lasts!

blog facelift

Check out the new look...

Blog Facelift and Desktop Background

I updated the blog for the summer...