Looking Back and Ahead

So, today I'm excited to announce Embrace the Grace crossed a major threshold.

We've now had over half a million views!!  (Definitely merits two exclamation marks!)

While that is a tame number for more experienced bloggers and media personalities, it's definitely encouraging for me.

That means at some point over the past ten years, almost 50,000 people annually have clicked on here to see what's happening in our lives.  Now, I fully understand that probably many of those were accidental visitors.  My husband and girls have stopped by a few thousand times.  And friends are the go-to team for blog reading.  

But I've also had people visit from such far away places as Ukraine, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Fiji and Thailand.  I've always enjoyed traveling in order to share hope, encouragement and Good News.  Who knew I could do that from the comfort of my very own prayer chair located in my dining room beside the big windows looking onto our back yard?  Who knew, indeed!

I remember discreetly asking Amanda Bock (now Hoggard) to help me get set up.  She created the graphic, chose my font, instructed me on how to save, edit and post. Becky Smith was the mentor whose writing I still emulate.  And my family (much smaller then) cheered loudly, urging me almost daily, "Press the publish button.  Put it out there.  You never know until you try!"

Amazing, isn't it?  How one decision leads to another which then opens the door to possibilities you never could have imagined.  That first year of attempting to always write something of value, humor or encouragement involved a LOT of failure.  But I kept trying and now the "publish" button on my computer is not nearly as scary as it was in 2009.

So, that's looking back.  What's ahead for Embrace the Grace?

I want to become proficient in posting pictures which I believe really add to the quality and experience for you, the reader.  Besides, with NINE adorable grandchildren, I have a bounty of fun pictures to share.  Doubtless one for every topic one might chose to feature.

Also, I've been working the past few months on becoming more consistent again; I want to post more often.  The key lies in not waiting for the lightening bolt thought to hit me, rather writing and hoping the words will be powerful for those reading.

Today, that meant coming home from work and making myself finish this post before anything else, including dinner.  Not glamorous but definitely productive.

So for each of you who have been making time in your hectic lives to read Embrace the Grace, I pray blessings, courage and joy in abundance.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for those who have gone so far as to comment, some even a year later.  Your visits and expressions tell me this blog matters.  And I'm Grateful.

PS:  Last Friday, I had a wild revelation about how big a deal this year really is in my life.  Stop by soon for the full story.  



How about you?  Is there a milestone you're celebrating this year?  Does it cause you to look back and ahead, as well?  We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.