How Did This All Come to Be?

I will never do a blog!  That’s what I said years ago.  I didn't have the time, see the need, and I certainly didn't want to share my personal life with the world.  Besides, at that time my life didn't seem so joyful. 

However, the last year or so I've been thinking that I may want to do a blog as a way to record or keep a journal.  At least it would be a place to put and preserve some of the many pictures I take and tell the story behind the photo.  Because, I certainly don’t scrapbook!  [As a side note, I've decided, or rather have learned about myself, that I take pictures that seem significant and memorable to me, but probably meaningless to others without the story to go along with it.  When it is time to take the photos from my phone or unload the camera memory card, I often don’t know what type of category or file to put the photos in.  I don’t want to delete the picture, but where do I put it?  Perhaps a blog may be part of the answer.]

The past month or so the impression to begin a blog has become increasingly stronger.  I suppose there is not one main reason that the time is right, but many. 

1.  My in laws are planning to leave soon for a six-month temple mission and I've thought a blog would be a nice and easy way for them to keep up with what is happening with my family.

2.  I do have a desire and feel a need to write down, preserve and share meaningful events and experiences with my family.  Realizing, that while they may not be fully interested now, at least it would be somewhere and could be read in the future.  This is a way to preserve the Lance and LuAnn family history! 

3.  I don’t  feel I am very eloquent with my speaking, and sharing my feelings or thoughts vocally with others.  So this may be a fun and easier way to express and record the thoughts in my head and the feelings of my heart. Perhaps something I write will be a blessing to someone else, an answer to a prayer, or a word of encouragement to keep going. 

4.  My church leaders continue to encourage its members to share our lives.  To share with the world the day-to-day, normal, everyday happenings as well as our beliefs and feelings through on-line media.  I desire to be obedient and do my part and feel now is the time.  There have been things that have been thrown in my path, such as articles and quotes that I've read that have cheered me on in my decision.  So many thoughts and ideas have spoken to my heart and have seemed reasonable and clear in my mind.   I know that God wants me to do this, the impressions have been strong at times and the spirit has helped confirm my decision.  I cannot deny the power of personal revelation, I know I've been shown how to do this and why. 

For example, a few weeks ago as I was reading the scriptures, a particular passage stuck out so very strongly to me.  I had to read it again.  The words of Jacob, written so long ago, were expressing how I was feeling about beginning a blog.  So reading it a third time, I decided to personalize the scripture to fit me and my particular desire at the time and this is what I came up with:

"Now...I...know that the things which [I] write upon [this blog] must remain;
                ...but [I] can write a few words upon [this blog], which will give [my] children, and also [my] beloved [husband, family, and friends], a small degree of knowledge concerning [me]...
                Now in this thing [I] do rejoice; and [I] labor diligently to [write] these words upon [this blog], hoping that [my] beloved [husband, family, and friends] and [my] children will receive them with thankful hearts, and look upon them that they may learn with joy and not with sorrow, neither with contempt, concerning their [mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend.]
                For, for this intent have [I] written these things, that they may know that [I know] of Christ, and [I have] a hope of his glory..."  (Jacob 4:1-4, The Book of Mormon)

This was the final witness I needed to confirm my decision that beginning a blog is the right thing for me and now is the time. 

Perhaps in time I'll discover other reasons why doing this blog is important.  But for now, I'm excited and a bit nervous to create and start.  My life seems busy enough and I don't want this consuming my life or take away too much from my family.  But here I go.  I'd be lying if I said I didn't have worries and some concerns, but I'm going to move forward with faith and the good thoughts and impressions I've had.