Today is my 4th blogging anniversary. On this day 4 years ago, I created a username on blogger so that I could leave a comment on hubby’s new blog-thing. At the prompt from google, I picked a name for my blog on the spur of the moment. I didn’t really plan to use it, but it was part of the process. Then I threw up a quick post so my own “blog” wouldn’t be totally empty.
Hubby emailed me a few blogs that he thought I might like to read, and I was hooked. I made friends online, and met some of them in real life as well. I have even run into a few real-life friends from long ago.
The kids started blogs of their own and we eventually combined all of the family blogs into one, right here.
We cycled through several headers, each one better than the one before.
Now, over 2,000 posts later, I think I’ve forgotten more than I remember. The kids and I sometimes read our archives and reminisce over things that happened long ago – things that otherwise would have passed out of time and mind.
I have a favor to ask of you. Would you mind telling us some of your favorite posts from our blog? The funniest, the most helpful, the most encouraging, the most thought provoking…what do you consider to be our best, and why? I hope it doesn’t sound narcissistic, but I’ve been meaning to compile a list for new readers, but I can’t remember most of what I’ve posted and I’m surely not the best person to present an objective opinion on the matter anyway.
Thanks, y’all. I love blogging!
Related posts:
wow! hard to believe its been 4 years! I remember when Mom first came to your site you had the header with the couch.
I love reading about your family and getting to know everyone!
Happy Birthday LiaS!
Hi Kim!
I love just reading your blog in general, but what has been most helpful to me (other than just general cheerfulness, laid-back-ness, and encouragement in the midst of raising and homeschooling a large family) is your post explaining the effects of progesterone in postpartum moms. It has made my experience with my seventh this time around so much better.
My husband and children thank you too
)
Congrats! I remember your post about making choices about being Quiverfull or not…you know, it got like 80 comments?
Remember that one? Hall of fame worthy for sure!
And I think it was you that introduced me to Vision Forum about two years ago!
Kim,
The lost and later found tarantula is a must read for newcomers!
You probably don’t want to link to the snake that ate the swallows and was then cut open for investigation… or do you?
I am encouraged by your homebirth accounts.
I am encouraged by your quiverfull convictions.
To show your less-than-perfect-side you could include the time when you left a note on someone’s car, because you could not get your pregnant self into your van…
Just my two cents! I love everything y’all write!
Bethany
In the comment above I should have mentioned that I am Bethany W from MO, for clarification.
Congrats and Happy Anniversary!
One post that stands out was when you decided to turn on the computer only after you had read your Bible. I didn’t understand it at the time, but it stuck with me and when I began my blog (about 5 months ago), it was something that I adopted.
I also appreciated where you spoke about reading through the New Testament in one month. I did that with you at the time and have done it several times since. I’ve also adapted that reading method to get through other books of the Bible. It really struck me that there are other books that I will read many, many chapters of at one time, but until your post I had not done that with the Bible.
Thanks Kim! When I began Raising Olives, Life in a Shoe was the blog I looked to emulate (and still do.)
The posts that we frequently talk about in our home are the “man diapers” and the post about the boy knocking his cousin down. You have also helped me with my chocolate addiction, it’s nice to know I’m not alone, ha ha. We love your posts and I’m always telling my husband about this blog, about the family with all the girls and one boy who’s husband works at Vision Forum. Keep up the good work!
Who couldn’t love the live blogging of your births? I totally stayed at my computer and hit refresh a thousand times for those. Very very fun.
My all time favorite is “In Which I Consider Becoming a Smoker” – about the holiday (08) trip to WalMart. I thought it was absolutely hilarious.
I haven’t been reading you for four years… I found you accidentally- don’t even remember how now! But I love how real you always are.
And funny.
I love your blog. I found it a little more than a year ago, when I was pregnant with my fourth child. I was sick, overwhelmed, and just basically discouraged. We were on a business trip with the husband, so I was extra tired being away from home. I googled “large family managment” and found your blog (and another one). I was so encouraged to read about the things that happen in your life, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Even the posts you didn’t intend to be encouraging have been thoroughly encouraging. I found your blog around the time that you had Bethany, and I was hooked. My husband even refers to you by name now, because I refer to you regularly in conversation.
The most memorable for me was when you blogged about the daddy long legs in those giant clusters that look like hairballs. I think I had nightmares for weeks but I remember it well every time I see one!
Also, loved the birth posts! I was on the edge of my seat!
Well, I just found your blog via the quiverfull blogroll on Life-Learning in a Family Environment site. I, too, have nine children.
I love your picture on your header. So cute! I’ll have to go back and read some archived posts to learn more about you.
Feel free to stop by my blog anytime!
I love your posts about everyday life. Cooking, shopping, funny stuff the kids do, bugs, chickens, gardening, how you make homeschooling work, how you keep God first, why you love your hubby. Just life. Oh! And babies being born! That never gets old.
Hi!
I have enjoyed reading so many of your posts! The ones that I can think of that have meant the most to me personally are:
1)the QF ones. It is nice to share fellowship with like-minded believers, even if we have only “met” online.
2)the birthday posts. It is so nice to see a post celebrating the birthday of a child, with special thoughts about each one. I love it!
I appreciate the posts that talk about your new learning adventures. I started reading your blog when you were beginning the no shampoo series. I like reading the ups and downs of stuff like that. Sorta gives me the encouragement to maybe try it too.
Happy Blogiversary!
One of the first posts I read on your site a couple of years ago was about how your daily routine works and about how you manage life with such a large family. The details of how it all works (color-coding cups, blanket training babies, sharing hairbrushes) fascinate me, as I was raised with just one sibling. I find your energy and practicality inspirational and (although we usually seem to approach things from completely different viewpoints), your posts on the “bigger questions” are always thought-provoking.
I’ve been reading since you were pregnant with Bethany and I loved hearing about the saga of being pregnant. Also I really appreciated your series on a big family in a small house. We currently have 3 young sons in a two bedroom condo and your posts encouraged me greatly!
Also just enjoy the down-to-earth tone of your blog!
The series on having a large family in a small house was fantastic. I also love the posts that show your pluck, resourcefulness, and refusal to complain — such as the time you didn’t have water, the Daddy Long legs hoards, the missing tarantula, the day of a dozen errands with 9 kids!
On a more somber note, your post on ectopic pregnancy was very helpful to me, and also blanket training and teaching your babies to stay quiet in church. Thanks for all you do!
My goodness! Looks like you’ve hit the big 0-4! I think I even see a few wrinkles creeping in.
My absolute favorite post has to be the “He said, She said” one. I litterally giggled about it for days after that.
I have benefited from reading lots of different and I can’t seem to pick one right now. But I thought you might find it interesting to know how I found your blog…. I went searching for a cbd discount code. Found one on your blog and was hooked!!
good job Kim and family!
Happy Anniversary!
I love your blog! Like others have said, your down to earth-ness is wonderful. You are a real person! (I know because we have met in real life twice.) You have an awesome family as well (Hi everybody!) Thanks for sharing your lives with us!
The blog post that immediately comes to mind is the memo to your hair, posted on Mar. 23, 2007. That one was laugh out loud funny! I have to say that the clusters of bouncing Daddy long legs post was fun in a creepy sort of way! And I remember the girls making big money killing them at a nickle each!
Your reading through the Bible posts were inspiring to me too. The fact that we will read chapters of other books, that are pages longer than the chapters in the Bible, but settle for reading a page or two of our Bible a day was eye opening.
I am thankful that the Lord (and my friend, Diana) led me to your blog. Your blog was the first blog I had ever read. Keep up the good work! You and your family are a blessing to me.
Congrats on 4 years! That is amazing! I am not quite sure how I stumbled on your blog… but I am glad I did. I would have to say the posts that stick out to me the most would be the ones I read in the beginning of receiving your blog…the “no shampoo” experiment for you! Your explanations of what your hair was doing was great! KEep on Bloggin…. you’re great at it!
I minimized this post yesterday intending to roll it over in my head. Then I come here and read what everyone else remembers and I have come to the conclusion that there are way too many good ones to choose just one!
However, I just found out that I’m expecting my 6th baby (first baby since starting my own blog) and I would just like to say that I have a new found appreciation for you blogging so faithfully during your first trimester with Bethany despite having such horrible morning sickness! Because I feel like letting my blog die for a little bit while I try to live and there’s no way I feel as bad as you did!
Thank you so much for your blog- it has been a source of joy and blessing in my life for these past three years that I have been reading.
Happy Anniversary! A critter story section would be great-bugs lost in the house, giant chicken feeders, puppies everywhere. I liked the walm*rt shopping list on google. The blogs about baby births and happenings. The home planning and improvements are interesting too.
Wow! happy Birthday!
Well, I have to say the posts which have stuck with me the most are your sharing of the stories of the births of your children, but most especially the story of your sweet Sarah. It moved me, and inspired me that you and your family were able to so wonderfully rely on God for comfort during what was obviously a very sad time.
In general though I just love your blog! I love the stories about the exploits of your children, I love your humour, I love your tips on frugal living, I love your testimony of living for Jesus, I love the fact that your example has helped to convince me of the decision to leave ‘family planning’ up to the Lord (if it’s His will that I marry!) and I love the fact that although we’ve never met and live in vastly different places, I feel like I know you all!
Thanks so much, and keep up the good work!
Blessings – Ellidh
Happy Blogoversary!
Hmm… I can’t figure out how to get my reader to show me the posts of yours I’ve shared, so I can’t give you a list of my favorite posts. Sorry!
~Luke
I discovered your blog after doing a search for “large family small house” (or something like that). After reading that post I was hooked and love reading the new posts and looking through the old ones! Your posts, as well as the links on your blog have been very encouraging and helpful!
Happy Birthday!
My hands down favorite: the lost and found tarantula and the girlfriend or was that boyfriend oh.my. Creeps me out every.single.time I think about it!
Happy Belated Blogoversary!
I’m a recently new reader and ever since I bumped along your blog I was hooked lol
Especially when I realized you lived in San Antonio after you posted a pic of your daughters B-day at Incredible Pizza I had been there with my family the day before for my daughters birthday! My fav. posting has been one a while back I believe it was about being Quiverfull.
God Bless
Eevee
Happy 4 years! I love to come to your blog to get a good laugh. The way you write, even though I don’t know your voice, I can totally “hear” you telling the story. My favorites are when you guys had the sewage problem in your basement and anything about The Boy. I also like all the birhtday posts. I think you also introduced us to Vision Forum…Thank You!!
Like a couple others, the post about the daddy long legs…stuck with me, lol. I think that’s the most memorable post on any blog I read!!
Happy birthday!
Grace,
Mae
happy blogging anniversary (belated)!
i’ve been blogging since 2005, because i wanted to chronicle my journey with adoption and about my daughter…
you have a good blog!
peace,
melissa