Today marks both my 38th birthday, and the public debut of my new blog. I have been blogging since 2006, on a small personal blog on blogspot, The Joy of My Salvation. In fact, I started it before Gary and I ever married. I've been writing even longer than that, creating stories or narrating my cousin's comics even as a child. I have always enjoyed writing, telling stories, recording life. For years my mother in law has encouraged me to turn it into something I do as a living. I always kind of blew the idea off. I enjoy writing, but how many people would really enjoy reading my writing, outside of close friends and family. Besides how would I ever manage the technical side of blogging.
Well y'all, I've finally done it. Looking to bring in some extra income, I threw out another idea a few weeks back to the husband. I told him I'd been rolling the idea around in my head for close to a year. The idea of not only recording our lives, but offering advice, helping others in those areas that we've gotten to be a pro in - large family life and homeschooling. With this new adventure we are embarking on, we'd have so much fun stuff to share. Even better wouldn't it be wonderful if we could build a community where people can connect over these three big arenas in our life, no matter where they live, or as soon to be our case, no matter where they are parked. After all the learning curve for fulltime RV life is sure to be steep. He was enthusiastic about the idea. He thought I could really build something here, and encouraged me to do the research.
And so, two weeks ago, I started seriously researching the idea, making tons of notes figuring out cost, what I'd need to make to break even. I then discussed it again with him. He gave me the green light, with the understanding that we'd give it a solid two years and then re-evaluate. And so the technical side that so daunted me began.
I had to buy a domain name, and a hosting platform. I needed to design and set up the blog. I shared the news with two close friends that I was mostly sure wouldn't think I was crazy. They started out as my test audience as we figured out the blogging, swapping over my Instagram account to a creator account instead of a personal account, and working out the kinks to a Facebook page for our blog. They have tried every button, followed every link, and liked all my content. There are still some things to get worked out. I'm still trying to figure out the email mailings, chats, and the subscribe button. I still need to set up the ability to live stream through Facebook and start a YouTube page. We are still working on some of the coding aspects along with Google Adsense completely up and running.
There have been some wild successes. I might have danced and shouted excessively when I figured out not only how to set up an Amazon Associates account, but the first time I actually managed to get an ad to go live on the site. You know, those things everyone scrolls by will actually make me money if you happen to click on one and purchase an item. When I blogged about Homeschool Convention Speakers and shared the post on Instagram only to have the FPEA page reshare my post and drive traffic toward my site was another dancing and shouting moment, one that required a celebratory text to my cheering squad.
They say that your children should always see you learning and growing personally, if you want them to have a love of learning themselves. If that is the case the last few weeks should be stretching everyone in our house. I've spent the early mornings on chores and preparing the house to sell, the next several hours on schoolwork with the kids, the late afternoon and early evening boxing, only after supper to sit down and learn how to be a blogger. The husband has spent his days much the same only substitution researching remote work opportunities while watching the twins during our school day, and looking into campers in the evenings. The new direction has been contagious. Britt confided that he has been wanting to ask us to let him start a YouTube channel on gaming, and is researching what all it would entail. We, along with him, talked with our friend and realtor who creates digital content for his business. He gave us some great ideas for next steps and needful equipment to get started well.
To manage it all, as you might have guessed, I've started a new bullet journal notebook. I needed somewhere to keep up with all the things I still need to research and learn. I needed a blog schedule as I've learned I need to blog 3 days a week, go live with video once a week, and share everything across social media. I needed a work schedule to keep up with my behind the scenes work, and a place to brainstorm everything. It's hard work, but it's enjoyable work, attempting to build something of my own, that I'm passionate about. Especially knowing that it will down the road be a resource and great help to others, keeps me working when the technical aspects frustrate me.
On my birthday, I'm prone to looking both ahead and behind. This year I'm looking ahead in wonder at what the next year will hold. Thanks for the best birthday present, of supporting us in this new endeavor, liking and sharing posts. Letting friends and family know about us. Contributing to comments and in private messages. I hope you will enjoy what we are building here as much as I am enjoying building it.
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