Why Blog?

I have been following many blogs for quite some time now and find such a wealth of knowledge and inspiration from these people.  I love to cook but women who share recipes and cooking tips like Ree with a sense of humor and bit of spice inspire me to be a better chef in my own tiny kitchen.  Then there are women who making cleaning their home sound fun and baking doable (I'm not a baker by any means!) like Lindsay.  She is such an encouragement in my role as a mother, homemaker, wife of a youth pastor and child of God. 
I know I can find inspiration everywhere but sometimes I forget.  I forget that the drops of rain outside forming puddles which reflect the green from the Catalpa speak of the Creator and shout to my kids "jump in me".  I forget the music that plays on my computer, kitchen CD player or from the mouths of my precious children is the music singing within my own soul. I need reminders and find them in books and blogs.
Kat makes me want to be a better woman inspiring me to not just know about my Heavenly Father but to study Him.  My ultimate favorite blogger right now is the author of One Thousand Gifts.  In January, I was encouraged by Lindsay on passionate homemaking to put together a reading list.  I did and on that list was Ann Voskamp's book One Thousand Gifts.  This was before the book became a New York Best Seller, and I read it in a day.  It has changed my life.  I have always known that being content with the now was so important and so I prayed for contentment.  As a mother of young children I often find myself wishing my kids were older.  "When they are all out of diapers" or "when they can dress themselves"  then I will be content.  But then that stage comes and I'm not.  Ann's challenge to start a gratitude journal has prompted me to do the same and my life is changing because of it!
So all these beautiful, godly, honest women are blogging and I thought maybe I should blog.  Then I immediately thought "why should I blog?  what could I possibly have to say that isn't out there on the web already?  These women have so much to share-I don't."  Sure my kids do funny things (at least funny to me) and I am an insane woman so my thoughts might be of interest to others but really . . . So why an I blogging?  Well because I need somewhere to put my thoughts, and I want to share my creative nature.  Because God is teaching me things all the time and I want to share what He is doing in my life, even if it is small and seems insignificant.  So here you will find my musings on my own broken life, my marvel that God loves even me, and my creations aka art.  I hope you will find inspiration and encouragement here and on the other blogs I have shared.  God says to you and me "you are precious and honored in my sight, and . . . I love you." (Isaiah 43:4)

The day I came up with the title for my blog I received this devotion from Proverbs 31 Ministries and it confirmed in my mind that indeed I am broken but I am loved and I am treasured.  We can be restored and healed.  So are you, my friend!  Be inspired and go inspire someone else . . .