Blog Encouragement and Happy Valentines!

I hope today is unexpectedly wonderful for you.  Regardless of whether you are celebrating traditionally or not.  If today’s holiday is one you would prefer to skip, please remember, you can always go to God the Heavenly Father.  He wants a personal, loving relationship with you – Always and Forever.  You can be a daughter of the King of Kings, a princess, just for asking and believing in Him.  {John 3:16}

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This post is meant to be an encouragement to those we are inspired and encouraged by.  I’m only going to list two because otherwise I’d be here all night!

Of the two, the blog I have enjoyed the longest (and it’s not really a secret) is Donna at Funky Junk Interiors.  I love how she decorates and puts so many different things together.  Each project she shows is wonderful!  We are fellow single-moms and I’m so inspired by her honesty and willingness to share the hard times in life as well as the good times.  When there is something she doesn’t know how to do – she learns how.  Then she posts about it and it all seems so easy – but she often reminds readers so quickly, with such perfect word pictures, that we are only seeing what has been “put out there” and not everything is as easy as it can seem when we read about others’ lives.  Which is so true, not just for her blog, but for all of us as bloggers and readers.

The second one I’ve only known about for a short time {I think it’s only been one week} is Karen at Simply living…for Him.  I haven’t even begun to read enough to satisfy…I am a homeschool mom and I really appreciate all I have read so far. {including her two e-books as well}  I appreciate Karen’s passion to encourage “younger” moms in the homeschool field too {by “younger” I’m only meaning those who haven’t home-schooled as long as others}.  She is also all about Simplifying.  So far every post I’ve read, I feel as if I’ve known her for a long time, or at least as if I had read her blog for a long time so I feel like I “know” her. 

{see that really cute button off to the right under encouragement?

...it's supposed to be here, but it isn't working}

I am participating in the “I have a Secret Blog Crush on you!” linky party that Diane at In My Own Style is hosting.  It is just amazing what the internet has provided so many of us.  We are able to communicate with others about similar interests when we don’t even know where the other lives.  Also, with the craziness of schedules these days – we can connect on “our own” time – for me it is evening when for someone on the East coast it is in the middle of the night, and when we get more than that 4 hour difference we are into being on different days even.  

Diane, thank you for providing this opportunity for us to share and encourage others.

One week from today

{deep breath} Can't you just smell them?

One week from today will be Valentines Day.  This is typically, at least in our American culture (I don't know about others), a day of expressing love or appreciation for others.  I saw the button for "I have a secret blog crush on you!" link party and I followed it to see what it was about.  Diane at inmyownstyle.com is the one I know of who started this.  I read her post on what this linky party is about and really appreciated the idea of giving encouragement to others via this link party on Valentine's Day.

{I LOVE flowers, but roses are my absolute favorite - in particular the brown ones}

We all need encouragement.  I know as an adult I started to think I didn't need it, but would like it.  I tried to trick myself into believing I was fine without encouragement - but that just isn't true.  I'm changing my thoughts on this, I need encouragement and I am guessing you could use some too.

This idea bears repeating and it's very difficult for me to write; especially knowing I am going to publish this and I don't know who all will be seeing it.  I'm making myself write it out again.

I need encouragement.

Life is hard.

Things don't go the way we planned.

I don't understand God's ways (and I'm not supposed to).

Life is full of hardships.

Bad choices.  Wrong decisions.

But, when we encourage each other we help each other carry those burdens.

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,

just as in fact you are doing."

I Thessalonians 5:11

I am really looking forward to participating in this group encouragement - one week from today!  Why don't you take the challenge with me?

~ Choose to think about why you like to read each blog you do.~ Choose to tell that blogger why you are inspired or encouraged.~ Choose to be purposeful in what blogs you read, and how you spend your time online.