Showing posts with label Blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blogging. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Delighting in A to Z 2015


I signed up a little late for the A to Z Challenge this year and haven't blogged since last November, and my blog visiting has slacked off lately, but I decided it was too much fun to not jump back in. So here I am, last minute, but here. Since I literally just added my blog on the last day of March, I'm not prepared this year. That will certainly make the challenge more of a challenge, but I have no doubt it will stretch me in a good way.

I believe that we are meant to be always stretching, always learning. As a Christian, I want to be always growing in my faith, testing it, confirming it, deepening it. I want to be able to share it meaningfully, truthfully, lovingly. So in that pursuit, I hope to complete my A to Z with resources that will do that, stretch, and in the stretching, grow faith, and in the growing, share.

I look forward to once again visiting old A to Z friends and making new ones. Thank you to Arlee Bird and all the A to Z team for this blogging adventure. It's time to relearn blogging for me. I have so much to learn and relearn and I will delight in the journey.

                                                                                                                               Maria


Monday, November 17, 2014

Blog Blitz 2.0 is Here

     I can't believe how long it has been since I checked into my blog. It is so easy to let the months roll by since time is a limited commodity. I find myself stretched thin during the school year as a homeschool mom even with only one child left under my tutelage. Since the computer can easily distract me from my top priorities, so I try to relegate blogging to the bottom of the to-do list.
     Today, however, I'm back to recommit to the "Blog Blitz 2.0."

                                      
                                    

     In March 2013 DL Hammons started the blog blitz as "a tool for focusing blogosphere energy for fun" and encouraging bloggers. It is fun. It's a simple way to meet other bloggers, to expose oneself to new blogs, and to be part of that positive blogosphere energy. 
     I haven't been blitzed yet, and honestly, I hope I am not anytime soon, because I am not spending the time on my blog that I would like to at the moment, so I don't really deserve or desire a blitz. However I like to hop aboard the blitz of others whenever I can, keeping my hand and head in the blogosphere a little bit. Though I can't do it every time, it is a little pleasure for me to be a blessing to a fellow blogger in this small way when I can.
     I do hope when I am more regularly blogging to one day wake up and have some extra visitors who might like what they see but for now, I'll be a blitzer. If you are a blogger or if you aren't, this is a fun and worthwhile  blog hop to be a part of. So hop on over to DL Hammons blog and sign on to the blog blitz 2.0. You'll be glad you did.
     
                               Have a delight filled day!  God bless, Maria 
 

Monday, May 5, 2014

A to Z Challenge 2014, Reflections

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As I reflect on this year’s A to Z challenge, I find a smile come to my face, satisfied to have completed another and already planning for next April.  Why smile?  Well it feels good to accomplish something that is, well, a challenge.   It is always fun to reacquaint with friends from the previous year’s challenge, meet new friends and cultures, and discover talented bloggers to follow.  It’s also a real delight to find how I grow through the challenge.  I appreciate alternative views a little more.  I find myself more compassionate towards the hurting.  I understand blogging, writing, and thinking a bit better.

1.     Loved catching up with some blog friends I made in last year’s challenge.
2.     Loved meeting new friends.
3.     Loved visiting with people from diverse cultures and from around the world.
4.     Loved being challenged to write.
5.     Loved being challenged to think and grow.
6.     Glad to be back blogging again after such a long hiatus.
7.     Sad so many didn’t finish.
8.     Glad I learned so much from some great bloggers like Silvia at Silvia Writes, who wrote on all things Romanian and Sharon at Shells, Tales, and Sails who taught us about all things fruit.  Did you know there was an ice cream fruit?
9.     Sad I wasn’t able to visit 5 new A to Zers every day.
10. Glad for those I did visit and revisit.  I hope to continue to check out others on the list in the coming days and months. 

Things I learned that were helpful.

1.     It was valuable to check in with the challenge website as often as I could to see the daily post there.  Often there were helpful tips to enhance the challenge experience.  Also, those who are commenting on the challenge website are among those who are surely continuing and so they make good first visits.

2.     It was nice not to have a particular theme, but I find that I enjoy visiting those who did, so I am thinking about that for next year.

3.     I like being able to find out more about the bloggers themselves.  So I appreciate reading the about me link and seeing their photo.  I may have to do a better job of that myself.

4.     I really liked when someone recommended another blogger, and I usually went over to visit them as well.  So I did do that a few times.  If I plan it out better, I'd like to include  more recommendations or bloggers I found worth a visit.  There are plenty I could and would recommend.

5.     Last year I planned it out a bit more.  That was helpful especially when time got tight.  However, I feel less stress about it at this year’s conclusion.  Is that because it wasn’t all new or because of just getting to it when and if I could?  I don’t know, but I think, if possible, I’ll plan ahead a bit next year.

Thank you to all who stopped by.    Thank you to the all the A to Z team for your dedication in seeing this through and encouraging all of us.  I don't know how you do it, but I know it wouldn't happen if not for you.  I appreciate you.  And thank you again, Lee, for your brainchild.  Really enjoyed visiting with each one of you.

                                                                                                                  God bless, Maria

A to Z Challenge, 2014

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Vis for Visit Vikki at the View

There are several websites I really enjoy visiting.  I know you have them too.  One of those for me is Vikki Thompson’s blog, “The View from Outside.”  During the A to Z challenge, Vikki has been writing short vignettes with a twist for the letter of the day.  They are always fun and intriguing.

So today, I invite you to visit Vikki at The View and read her vignettes.  Her 'V' word was vengeance and since I am a day or so behind, her 'W' vignette is posted too.  Enjoy!


A to Z Challenge

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

N is for Nouveau Scarecrow



I love the A to Z challenge for the opportunity to meet and discover some amazing blogs.  One of those is Nouveau Scarecrow by author Michael Cahill.   Michael’s subtitle is “A ragged soul investigating the human condition,” and he does an amazing job of it.  He is a rare talent who has a way of touching other “ragged souls” through his words.

Bob Ross

I left a comment on his blog telling him he was like the Bob Ross of writing to me.   If you have never seen Bob Ross, he too is worth checking out.  Though he died in 1995, his art classes are still available for purchase  and some can be seen on You-tube.  As he painted his "happy little trees," he had a way of teaching and painting that just relaxed you and soothed the soul.  Michael has that same affect on me with his words.  I could go back again and again and reread his posts.  


How many blogs do you feel like that about?



A to  Z Challenge

Michale Cahill's prose can also be read at Word Worth, the online magazine of ideas and the arts.

Friday, April 11, 2014

J is for Juncture

 



We all hit significant junctures in our lives.  We have insights that open our eyes.  We have experiences - emotional, physical, spiritual - that change our lives.  We do things that make a difference.

We think, we feel, we do.

Sometimes these junctures change us significantly, not just our thinking, feeling, or doing, but our very being. 
Who am I?  Why am I?  Isn’t there something more than what’s here?

                            A juncture.  Questions.  Answers?

Jesus came with answers.  He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”  (John 14:6)

Meeting Him, the Christ, welcoming Him is a significant juncture

We start out already behind in life.  No encouragement can conquer all doubts and uncertainties or solve the problem of the human condition. 

He can, the One Who has given His allFind out what it is to know Him.  Then hold on to Him. 

It’s the juncture that matters.

A to Z Challenge


Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Signing up for A to Z Challenge

Well I waited until the bitter end here to sign up for the April A to Z blogging challenge.  Delight Directed Living is 1338 on the list at the A to Z Challenge website.  This challenge is the brainchild of Arlee Bird of Tossing it Out.  I am privileged to try my hand at it for a second year.  I hope I can survive this year as I don't feel nearly as prepared even though, or maybe because, I am more aware of what I am getting into.  I remember what fun it was, though, and I invite you to check it out for yourself.  

How does it work?  Well straight from Arlee Bird:


HERE IS MORE INFORMATION
IN A NUTSHELL...THIS IS IT…
Starting April 1st, for 26 days, write a post for each letter of the alphabet. 
With 30 days in April, that allows for 4 days off - seems like Sunday was a favourite last year!
This year, April 1st is a Sunday...so your first post will be that day, then go from there!
Need more details? Click HERE.


I expect to experience some of the delight of getting back to blogging a bit more regularly.  So, woohoo, here I go.  I am now officially signed up and psyched!  
                                                       God bless, Maria

A to Z Challenge

Number changed to 1304.  Trying to track it.
Number now 1266 on April 6. 
1255 on April 7
1249 on APRIL 9 
1203 on April 13 
1186 on April 15 
1160 on April 23 
1143 on April 30