I decided to take a look back at the writing I've done this year, especially because 2014 marked the beginning of really taking this writing thing more seriously, including writing regularly for the Columbia SC City Moms Blog. Because I am still figuring this blogging thing out, I've only had Google analytics on since October, so that is the time period for my official stats. Take a peek below at the top ten according to GA (plus a few more), what I'm learning, and what I'd like to know from you!
First, here are the top ten most popular according to Google Analytics (all since October):
And here are an additional ten based on Facebook shares and my memory of comments made to me:
So in the words of the Tin Man, "What have you learned, Dorothy?" Three main things:
There are a lot of hurting people out there. Some of my popular posts have to do with deep hurts, starting with my own, and then resonating in someone else's heart because of their own hurt or that of a friend. When we are hurting, we need one another, both for comfort in the hurt and for hope that things will not always be this bleak.
Parents are awesome advocates for their kids. Another kind of post that has resonated is those that other parents can relate to because their kids are struggling with the same issue. The tribes of parents of kids with apraxia and type one diabetes are strong and numerous, and they want to be understood and to connect with others.
People want to swim against the tide. The posts I've shared that have attracted attention have generally taken a minority stand (we don't do Halloween, we don't pretend about Santa, most nativity scenes have it wrong, why we homeschool...), and while I could chalk that up to controversy "selling", I think it is more because a lot of followers of Jesus want to be challenged to think, and to live, outside the box. I'm not saying it is more spiritual to not celebrate Halloween or to do Santa, but being challenged to think biblically about those and similar topics, no matter where you land in the end, is stimulating, and those who do choose the road less traveled find strength in knowing that they are not the only ones on that road.
So, my question for anyone reading this is...why are you here? Maybe it's because you're my friend. :) That is fine. But what would keep you coming back? Because I believe God has given me something to share, in His time and in His way, and while I need to be writing for Him as an audience of One, I want to also write in a way that meets the needs of those who have tuned in.
Please share in the comments below what would minister to your heart, whether it is connecting with someone with similar hurts in life (pregnancy loss, infertility, and general feelings of "not enough" being my "specialty"), advocating for our kids (especially dealing with apraxia and homeschooling), swimming against the cultural tide in our walk with Jesus, or anything else on your heart. Thank you for trusting me with your time online!!
- A prayer for my son with apraxia
- Just because we don't do Santa
- My hang-ups with Halloween
- Advent: God's gift to the brokenhearted
- A big family heart in a small family mama
- What I've learned about type 1 diabetes
- Don't worry, you won't remind me
- What a chemical pregnancy is and isn't
- Comfort, even when your story is different
- Clearing up some Christmas confusion
And here are an additional ten based on Facebook shares and my memory of comments made to me:
- Stuck in Saturday (4/19/2014)
- Singing "Amazing Grace" with my life (2/26/2014)
- Scars (3/20/2014)
- Five (5/13/2014)
- Enough (6/11/2014)
- I won't homeschool because... (7/8/2014)
- On losing a baby in your forties (9/10/2014)
- Why it's okay to be sad about your baby in Heaven (10/18/2014)
- Dear friend of a mom of a baby in Heaven (10/3/2014)
- Dear mom of a baby in Heaven (3/11/2014)
So in the words of the Tin Man, "What have you learned, Dorothy?" Three main things:
There are a lot of hurting people out there. Some of my popular posts have to do with deep hurts, starting with my own, and then resonating in someone else's heart because of their own hurt or that of a friend. When we are hurting, we need one another, both for comfort in the hurt and for hope that things will not always be this bleak.
Parents are awesome advocates for their kids. Another kind of post that has resonated is those that other parents can relate to because their kids are struggling with the same issue. The tribes of parents of kids with apraxia and type one diabetes are strong and numerous, and they want to be understood and to connect with others.
People want to swim against the tide. The posts I've shared that have attracted attention have generally taken a minority stand (we don't do Halloween, we don't pretend about Santa, most nativity scenes have it wrong, why we homeschool...), and while I could chalk that up to controversy "selling", I think it is more because a lot of followers of Jesus want to be challenged to think, and to live, outside the box. I'm not saying it is more spiritual to not celebrate Halloween or to do Santa, but being challenged to think biblically about those and similar topics, no matter where you land in the end, is stimulating, and those who do choose the road less traveled find strength in knowing that they are not the only ones on that road.
So, my question for anyone reading this is...why are you here? Maybe it's because you're my friend. :) That is fine. But what would keep you coming back? Because I believe God has given me something to share, in His time and in His way, and while I need to be writing for Him as an audience of One, I want to also write in a way that meets the needs of those who have tuned in.
Please share in the comments below what would minister to your heart, whether it is connecting with someone with similar hurts in life (pregnancy loss, infertility, and general feelings of "not enough" being my "specialty"), advocating for our kids (especially dealing with apraxia and homeschooling), swimming against the cultural tide in our walk with Jesus, or anything else on your heart. Thank you for trusting me with your time online!!
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