Resolutions, Change and a Link up

If you read yesterdays post then you are promised my New Years resolutions. I consider this post a CELEBRATION versus other feelings I felt previously on the topic but read on to find out what I mean.

First, here are my resolutions for 2017:

-To better my health, soul and spirit. I could go on and on with this topic but I don’t want this to seem to negative so I will just leave it at that.

-Find my peace and purpose in Christ alone. This blog, LipSense, my family, friends, luxuries of this world cannot replace what only Christ can provide and that is His undying love and purpose for ME…for YOU! I am just learning to fathom ALL and I mean that in ALL caps what Christ has done. Sometimes I feel like a fool at all the THINGS I allow into my life when my Lord is patiently standing beside me waiting on my acknowledgement of Him. Too often I give Him the lower end of the stick and I want that to STOP in the name of Jesus..the sweet name of Jesus.

-I want to continue to build friendships.  Lately I have met with several of my girlfriends to fellowship and share in laughs and support. LipSense and Blogging have been amazing at providing me with just the right amount of women that I am HONORED to cheer on, love as sisters in Christ, love as moms, workers, both working moms and stay-at-home moms etc. You ALL are amazing and uniquely made and I love seeing your successes and how you are growing individually!

-Better my home, parenting. This would be a book if I typed all this out but in short I want to be a better mom, wife and take better care of what God has given me.

-Work part time and substitute more

– Finally, to CELEBRATE change. More on this below.

What am I CELEBRATING?

At first the following news didn’t come across as celebration to me but rather shock. I poured almost 3 years into this blog but months ago knew it was time to end it.  I was standing in my kitchen in my night gown getting the trash bag ready to go out when I felt God pressing in my heart to end blogging. I stared at my husband in that moment and told him what God was telling me. My husband was supportive and so were some of my friends and family as much as they could.  Then I sunk into a depression about it. I felt like a passion was being taken away from me. I stopped promoting my blog because I thought why try?

The reason for my decision was out of treating the blog like a god, my whole world. For two years my main goal for blogging became selfish. I worried about the numbers, getting sponsored posts, products to review all while trying to remain in the “oh but I blog for a passion,” mindset. Inside I was dying and seldom would I put out a post that I considered “mine” in entirety. I spent more time blogging in the evenings than choosing family time, I listened to every podcast I could on growing and attended several webinars on the side while trying to blog. Eventually it became too much.  I had hoped to make blogging my full time job one day as well and blog for income but obviously God had other plans that day when He pressed on me to end it.

I battled with ending though. I would cry about it, feel at peace about it, then cry about it again. My husband saw my ups and downs on it and one day expressed that he wanted to start blogging. I told him he could take over my blog (since I pay for the hosting/name, etc). He told me “Rachel, I won’t blog without you.” He got my attention! He told me that he didn’t know a thing about blogging and that I could help him figure it out. Then he went on to saying that he wasn’t trying to over trump God or anything but that it could be that my passion for blogging needed to change focus or niche and happen less.

When my husband told me what he thought I told him I needed to pray about it. I understood what he was saying but I want it to be what God wants as I don’t know what blogging would look like without fashion, lifestyle posts etc.

So here we are! This post is a CELEBRATION of what may or may not occur. I may continue to blog with my husband here on faith based posts or I may not.  I am going to take the month of January off to fast and pray for God’s direction on the decision. I welcome your thoughts and prayers. I appreciate the friendships I have made, the collaborations with so many of you and I hope these can continue in some form online or through blogging in the future. Right now I need to focus on God being my God first.

Thank you for being my amazing readers and enjoy the last link up for now! I look forward to your posts.

Meet your Host: Rachel of Garay Treasures blog:

 

Rachel is a stay at home mom by day and blogger of Garay Treasures a fashion and lifestyle blog by night. Garay Treasures includes posts on every day outfits, faith and everyday treasures. Rachel loves drinking several cups of coffee a day (hot or iced), blogging, and reading and playing with her children. You can follow Rachel by bloglovin, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest.

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Linking up with: Turning Heads Tuesday Lisa, Melissa, Style Me Wednesday, Trendy Wednesday, Sandyalamode, Confident Twosday, Pumps and Push-ups, Thursday Fashion Files, Whitney, Grace, Trend-Spin,Leelo, Michelle, The Mummy Chronicles, Alice, Spotlight Weekly, Top of the World Style, Two Peas in a Blog (Tuesdays), Style Elixir (Tuesdays), The Style Files (Fridays), Elegantly Fashionable, Jaymie, Lauren, Carylee, Rachelle, Cappaccino and Fashion, Book of Leisure, Monica, Carrie, Style Me Weekly, Forage Fashion, Myriad Musings, Jennie, Molly, Cherie, Not dead Yet Style, Clairejustinexoxo, Wednesday Wearables, Fashionably Employed, Posh Classy Mom, Sheela Writes,