The Power of Blogging

My first introduction to blogspot (and blogging in general) was through my cousin. She'd had professional family photos taken by (try to follow me here) her brother's wife's brother's wife, who is an AMAZING photographer and who I plan to use for as long as she's working. (find her work at Katie Elmer Photography) From her blog, I found Jessica Kettle's photography blog. I follow these and two other blogs DAILY. It's part of my morning ritual: turn on computer, get coffee, check inbox, check Katie's blog, check Jessica's blog, check Mrs. Q's blog, and check the fantastic Bento blog. It was somewhere in between finding Jessica's blog and Mrs. Q's blog that I decided to start my own.

I discovered today how to see the number of page views my blogs have had. I also learned that there are people from Russia and Denmark who have visited this page. (hi!) It amazes me to find out that I'm being read by people all over the world. (I'm not even talking about anything important...but more on that later)

It made me start thinking about the content of my blogs, this one specifically. First off, the purpose of this blog is first and foremost to act as my own personal diary. I was always horrible at maintaining a written journal, but have always been interested in documenting my life. Reminiscing and remembering important events has always been important to me. I think that's why I've always been so drawn to social networking. I can keep photos organized, write notes/post bulletins about important things, and follow up on friends and family all at the same time. Convenience at it's finest!

Another purpose of this blog is to update and keep informed my family and friends. I have LOTS of family and friends who live in all corners of the world and not all of them are on facebook.

Lastly, this blog serves as an outlet. I am free to write about whatever I want. I can rant and rave, I can recite beautiful poetry, I can stand up for a cause...

Which brings me to the content of my blogs. At Kenyon and Tayshawn, I post the funny things that happen in my household. It's good documentation for CR and the things that are said within those walls are TOO funny not to share with the world.

This blog content ranges from my experiences coaching high school cheer, to my on-again off-again on-again relationship with BS, to my daily schedule...like I said before, this is intended to be my personal diary, so entries are whatever is on my mind for the day.

Mrs. Q posted an entry today discussing blogging. [A little background on her blog: she is an anonymous elementary school teacher eating school lunch with the rest of her students every day in 2010 and blogging photos of the food as well as her opinion on it, along with some insanely though provoking guest bloggers and such...if you have time to check it out, I totally recommend it.] The post made me think about what I'm doing with this blog, if anything. Finding out my blog has been read in Denmark and Russia really emphasizes the POWER of blogging. Mrs. Q's efforts to reform school lunch really emphasize the POWER of blogging. You never know who is reading and what they can do about the issues.

ALL of that being said, I can't say that I'm going to start some revolutionary blog that's going to change the world. In fact, I don't think I'm even going to change my blogging style much. I still want to keep my diary, to look back on and say "I remember this day...". But, as I've done already, I will continue to post about children and my love of children and helping them, I will continue to post my "wisdom" on relationships and finding oneself, and I will keep on posting about my crazy roller coaster of a life.

I hope that even if I don't start a revolution, even if I don't change the world, SOMEONE can take SOMETHING away from these blog posts.

Have a happy Thursday, readers! <3

HE'S HERE!

Born September 30, 2010 at 5:11 pm, please welcome the new love of my life:

Mr. GAF

10 lbs, 20" long and 100% adorable...I can't wait to get myself down to SoCal to kiss those precious cheeks! Both baby and mama are doing well!

ps: homecoming halftime was phenomenal...go on to youtube.com and search for "COHS Cheerleaders Candyland" and you'll see the hard work my girls put into their performance. we were so proud!

pss: hockey is upon us, the Sharks play in Sweden (?) on Friday...I attended the pennant-clinching Giants game last Sunday and let me say, the atmosphere was amazing! and now they're in the playoffs!! I do love me some sports! :)