The Sweet Aroma of Blogging

This week's theme in the Carnival of Beauty is The Beauty of Blogging and is being hosted by novelist Mary DeMuth in France at RelevantBlog. Be sure and visit her blog on Wednesday when she'll post the links to all the participants this week.

Blogging--whoever could have imagined such a thing a few years ago? For the past year-and-a-half, blogging has become an interesting part of our family's life. Two years ago I only knew one blogger, my sister, whom I knew sat in front of her computer and read and wrote "blogs," something I'd never heard of before! What the thrill was we didn't know, and why she would spend valuable time each day checking updated blogs written by people she didn't even know was something we couldn't fathom.

Well, she decided to let us in on the thrill and gave us a family Christmas present of a Typepad blog back in 2004. Since that long ago day, we've written 677 posts and received 2282 comments, and Jonathan even branched out with his own blog last year. As you regular readers know, Mountain Musings is a group blog written by different members of our family; the subject matter varies considerably depending on the blogger, so when folks check back here they never know what they'll find!

Being a keep-in-touch, letter-writing type of person, I have found that I absolutely love connecting with people via the blog! We've moved away from many friends throughout Virginia over the years; however, because of the blog, folks can keep up with the Girotti goings-on...almost daily. Friends across the country can dial up and read what the girls are making for supper, the latest on the rabbit invasion, or see our most recent quilt project.

My long-lost-friend, Tammy, found us one day when she decided to type in our name and surf the web. We connected after years of losing track of each other when her family moved overseas. We've shared prayer requests since and feel more a part of each other's lives.

I really enjoy reading blogs written from other countries, too; we can learn so much by bloggers' daily lives in a different environment than our normal one. It's a continuing geography education even though we've finished the homeschooling years.

Amanda at Following an Unknown Path has increased our awareness of serving in Taiwan. I love her blog! Check out where she eats! Sherrin at Small Things in Australia includes photos of Tasmania where she lives; it's been interesting because we have mutual friends in Texas who used to live in Tasmania so we're getting to see a part of their countryside! I've only been to Canada once for an overnight, but Susan has whetted my appetite with her beautiful scenery of Vancouver and the church they've planted there. It's a small blogging world out there!

Only within the last month have we personally met bloggers we knew just from reading about their families online...we connected with Carmon (from California!) of Buried Treasure Books and the Serven Clan (from Missouri!) at the History Conference recently! And now, since meeting them was such fun and a rousing success, I wouldn't mind having a blogging get-together with several Virginia bloggers and inviting everyone over for lunch! John, Lisa, Cindi, Susan P., Donna, and Mrs. Wilt...sound like a possible fun future event? (Although I think I might feel a little intimidated serving tea the proper way if Mrs. Wilt attended! Hmm, I'll have to work on my etiquette a little first.)

I know the Lord can use blogging to encourage and uplift others because I've benefitted from reading how He has worked in other families' lives, and we'd like to use our blog for His glory in whatever way we can.

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;"  ~ II Cor. 2:14-15

~Deb

Comments

[Cindi]

Well said! I would love to come to tea! Sometime when I am up that way maybe we can go shopping. A friend just told me about the turkey/chicken place near Dayton's Farmers Market and another place up 11 that has marked down items.

[Lauren]

Blogging is great for reconnecting and making new friends as well.

What a neat idea, giving a blog as a Christmas present. maybe your sister just wanted to be understood. If you don't blog, you don't get it's draw.

Enjoyed the post.

[lisa]

Oh I'd love it! Count me in!

[Mrs.B]

This was really nice to read. I'm so glad I discovered blogging. I've learned so much and have been so encouraged by the blogs I read. (o:

[Donna]

This was a great post, Deb. I enjoyed it. And should the Lord allow, I would be tremendously excited and blessed to be a part of a VA get-together!

[Dorothy]

Well...if our orders for Biloxi go through, maybe I'll start a blog so family and friends can keep up with us. I do enjoy reading your blog each day...plus the links to other blogs are fun to explore! Is your a/c fixed?

[Michelle]

I love the idea of different family members blogging on the same blog!

[Diane]

Well said! I often wonder, if the Apostle John, while aging on the isle of Patmos may have had a vision of satellites....(angels?) beaming across the skies--hooking us all up! I know it's a stretch...but satellites look a little like what could be called an angel--don't they! No matter--I'm just glad that God uses the internet......for HIS glory!

Diane

[Heather I.]

I also love connecting with old and new friends via the blogosphere -- especially Amanda in Taiwan. It's so cool for me to see what her life is like as a missionary/ teacher living overseas.

I put my blog address in my Christmas newsletter last year and have reconnected with so many old friends on a much deeper level! :)

[Keziah]

You said "we've finished the homeschooling years." Isn't it wonderful that we never stop our education through conversations, books, films, experiences and now the Internet!

[Erin]

Both of my sisters blog as well and it is the neatest thing to see their different personalities come out in their blogs.

[eph2810]

You are right - it is very neat to 'meet' people from around the world and find out about their culture. I have several blogging buddies around the world.
Too bad thought that my family doesn't read English, otherwise it would be great tool for me to stay in touch via the internet.

[Sherrin]

I have only just had time to read this post, Deb! I'm glad you've been enjoying my Tasmanian angle. I really enjoyed reading your post on blogging. Thanks!