Raring to Go

Last December I decided that it was time for me to step away from blogging for a while. I quit reading blogs for the most part, too. I started blogging during the last millennium - 2006 to be precise - and I guess I just finally got tired of it. Some of you reading this have been blogging for as long or even longer than I have been. Maybe you've gone through a similar phase.

Social media has changed so much since I started this blog. Back in 2006, Facebook and Twitter were itty bitty babies. We weren't "pinning" anything but the slits in our skirts. Blogging was the best way to keep in touch with far-away friends and family, and after our family moved from Florida to Georgia, Riverbend Ramblings became my online journal. I starting reading blogs written by like-minded women and formed friendships with a few of them. I got to "know" their families and pets, celebrated milestones with them, and prayed for them when they went through difficult times. Many of those women are no longer blogging. Now it seems like most of the blogs I read are driven by advertisements and are filled with beautiful pictures of perfect homes and DIY projects. It's just a lot different than it used to be. I think that discouraged me a little bit. I missed my little group of blogging buddies, lost interest, and stepped away.

I'm still hoping that some of the gals that were in my little circle will start writing again. I've kept them in my feed reader just in case. But I'm not blogging for them; I'm blogging for me. This week marks the seven year anniversary of my first blog post. Here's the picture I used for my very first blog header.


Those babies aren't babies anymore. Bookworm is begging for her driver's permit, Mickey Mouse is looking less like a boy and more like a man, Curly Girl is almost as tall as I am, and Lil' Nut can outrun us all. The many memories on these pages are priceless.

So, I'm back. I'm over my slump and raring to go. And I hope you'll join me on the next leg of this amazing journey.

 

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~Riverbend Ramblings~
The days are long, but the years are short.
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Thursday, June 06, 2013
Raring to Go

Last December I decided that it was time for me to step away from blogging for a while. I quit reading blogs for the most part, too. I started blogging during the last millennium - 2006 to be precise - and I guess I just finally got tired of it. Some of you reading this have been blogging for as long or even longer than I have been. Maybe you've gone through a similar phase.

Social media has changed so much since I started this blog. Back in 2006, Facebook and Twitter were itty bitty babies. We weren't "pinning" anything but the slits in our skirts. Blogging was the best way to keep in touch with far-away friends and family, and after our family moved from Florida to Georgia, Riverbend Ramblings became my online journal. I starting reading blogs written by like-minded women and formed friendships with a few of them. I got to "know" their families and pets, celebrated milestones with them, and prayed for them when they went through difficult times. Many of those women are no longer blogging. Now it seems like most of the blogs I read are driven by advertisements and are filled with beautiful pictures of perfect homes and DIY projects. It's just a lot different than it used to be. I think that discouraged me a little bit. I missed my little group of blogging buddies, lost interest, and stepped away.

I'm still hoping that some of the gals that were in my little circle will start writing again. I've kept them in my feed reader just in case. But I'm not blogging for them; I'm blogging for me. This week marks the seven year anniversary of my first blog post. Here's the picture I used for my very first blog header.


Those babies aren't babies anymore. Bookworm is begging for her driver's permit, Mickey Mouse is looking less like a boy and more like a man, Curly Girl is almost as tall as I am, and Lil' Nut can outrun us all. The many memories on these pages are priceless.

So, I'm back. I'm over my slump and raring to go. And I hope you'll join me on the next leg of this amazing journey.

 

Labels: ,

13 Comments:
Blogger Wendi said...
Oh yes blogland has changed! For the most part I try to stay away from some blogs for those reasons. It is easy to let discontentment set in when all you see is perfection. I know my life certainly isn't perfect!

Welcome back!

Blogger Paula said...
Thanks, Wendi! :)

Anonymous Anonymous said...
I totally agree with Wendy on this Facebook has kind of become the same thing as well. Perfect lives, perfect kids, perfect everything, which, of course is wonderful for that person but discouraging if you are going through a hard time. I don't know I never felt nor do I feel the need to let the whole world know about my vacations, home updates, etc.

Blogger Unknown said...
Wow, your kids have really grown! I think I'm starting into that slump you are coming out of. I enjoy blogging, but it really is such a competitive thing now. I think I'm going to thin down some of my social media...I dunno. Anyway, welcome back!! I'm looking forward to reading more. :)

Anonymous Anonymous said...
Oh it was so WONDERFUL to check my blog and see a comment from you....I've MISSED you!

And I feel the exact same way in how blogging has changed. We had such a lovely little community, didn't we? I miss the interaction, I get very few comments these days, but know that people do read (I know this from my stat counter). I think FB and Twitter killed blogging, like we knew it, and now it's as you say...Advertisement driven and beautiful photography. This saddens me....

I'm glad you're back and I'll be putting you in my links and visiting you often. :)

Hugs!
~Michele

PS Happy Blogiversary....I've been blogging for 7 years too. :)

Anonymous Anonymous said...
One more thing....Your blog looks *gorgeous*. So clean and fresh. :)

Blogger Paula said...
I was thinking that you had started blogging around the same time as me. Time sure does fly!

Blogger Paula said...
I'm not on Facebook or Twitter, and I don't follow anyone on Instagram or Pinterest. I have enough clutter in my brain without the nitty gritty details in the lives of others. Hopefully your creative juices will get flowing again soon, Valerie. You are a gifted writer! :)

Blogger Karen said...
Well, Paula, hello! I have missed you. We "met" when you were a Georgia girl, and I don't think I ever knew your first name! I'm so glad you stopped by my old blog. I guess you've figured out that we moved back home and the CFC just didn't have the same ring. I am blogging for the most part at Kindred Haven, which is private for now. If you'd like an invitation to that, just let me know. I'd love for you to visit there. It is still the same! I'm still thinking of closing Creek Farm (Headed Home). If I do that, I will link to my old blog for any readers still left. :)
I agree about the flashy, magazine worthy pictures. It can be depressing, as it's not real life. For me, anyway. If I visit a new blog and it takes forever to load due to all the ads, then I just don't go back. I miss the old and simple ones, like you say. I like the old ways. In case you didn't already know. ;)
So glad one of my early blogging pals is back!

Blogger Adrienne said...
Yes, it's changed - but I'm still here! A few days ago I turned down another request for someone I've never heard of to do regular guest posts on my blog. I would receive small pay for that. I replied and said that I have chosen to keep my blog commercial free and that it is for the sole purpose of sharing my life and faith with those I have come to know through this media. That's my story - and I'm sticking to it. So glad you are back! I've been through a bit of blog slump and haven't blogged as often as at first. Hoping to stay in touch with you, my friend.
~Adrienne~

Blogger Paula said...
Getting paid to let someone else write posts...that sounds kind of strange. I guess these days you just never know what people will come up with. I'm with you about being free to share Christ through blogging.

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Blogger Faith said...
Well i am soooo glad you are back! I loved reading about your children and their adventures and your wisdom that you have written about spiritual things. I often write about my children (although believe me they are NOT perfect and my home certainly isn't perfect....LOL...in fact, we don't even succeed with DIY projects very well! LOL) but....I blog and don't advertise because I want it to be a way for me to explore creative writing (which i do via my more spiritual posts....devotionals or thoughts based on devotional or meditative times) and I get lots of readers as is evidenced by my stat counter but rarely comments other than a faithful few. I am on FB and I have a pinterest account although i am rarely on it.....I do FB mainly to keep in touch with college and grad school friends or far away family and to share our pictures of our children and their "stuff". it's fun!! Twitter is something I never got into...i never saw the point altho i know the teens love it. My own children are too busy to do twitter or blogs although my oldest has FB. Social media can be fun but it can also be so distracting. Thus my blogging break the last week.....but seriously, I am glad YOU are back. I wll be too after tomorrow :)

Blogger Unknown said...
Thank you for saying that, Paula. It made my day! We just got iPhones, so now I have texting thrown into the mix, yes, I need to reduce internet waste! :)

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