Happy 1st Bloggy Birthday!

After thinking about starting a blog in the fall of 2008, I posted a few devotional thoughts in October.  I wasn't really sure what I was doing, but decided to give it a try.  However, at the time, I didn't realize how rewarding the experience would be.

Having taught ladies' Bible classes for years, I was taking a break - not that I needed one necessarily, bu thought it would be best to give other ladies the opportunity to teach.  Soon I realized that I missed the studying that went along with teaching.  It was then that I decided to post more often.  It became kind of a challenge in a way and made me feel accountable to my blog readers - no matter how few they might have been.  But at that time and still now today, it seemed like a perfect way to keep myself in God's Word - not just in a "daily Bible reading way" (not that there is ANYTHING wrong with that!) but in more of a "study-type-way" - more like I had been doing for so many years while teaching ladies' class.  Serving God in a unique way by sharing Jesus with others - all over the world - was something that seemed very interesting to me.  I had no idea that the blog world was so big at that time.

After those first few posts, I didn't do any others until three months later - in January of 2009. And then, after another month of no posts, I decided to get more into the blogging world and be more regular with the devotional thoughts.  On February 17, I began what I thought would be regular posts, but by "regular" I only meant two or three a week.  Because of the positive response I received via post comments, emails, Facebook messages, and face to face, I began writing regular, daily devotional thoughts on February 23, 2009. 

I'm still not always sure of what I'm doing, technologically speaking.  I'm sure there is a lot more I could do on the blog and there are a lot more ways to interact.  Someday I'll work on that, but not now.  Right now I'm content just sharing daily thoughts with you about God, Jesus, and from His Word.  I also enjoy sharing stories about my family - especially my children.  It's a way of documenting these special times in our life as our children grow up and learn new things.  The Chronicles of Biscuit, posts which specifically tell stories about our youngest child, Tyler, is something that I will be glad to have in the future.  Why?  So that I can show him when he has children of his own!  Yep.  Then it's payback time, for sure!

Yes, today is the official birthday of "Shine Like Stars".  This post makes #347.  That a lot of writing, and thinking, and studying, typing, and sharing.  I've missed a few posts through the year, so it hasn't been every day.  A few months ago I decided to take Fridays off, too.  Sharing the Good News in this way has been a blessing to me and I pray that it is to those who take the time to read the posts.  It's been great hearing from many of you throughout the year.  I know a lot of you don't like to comment, but still enjoy stopping by.  Right now approximately 70 of you receive "Shine" daily.  Others stop by daily or fairly often.  Thank you to all of you.

So, for this Gratituesday, I am grateful for the 1st year birthday of "Shine Like Stars" and for those who take the time to stop by.  I appreciate you!

Note:  My first five posts used the acrostic SHINE.  Those devotional thoughts are still some of my favorites because they're good reminders to me of what I want this blog to be about - Shining Like Stars.  Here are the links, if you are interested:  S - How can I SHINE?;  H - Hold Out the Word of Life;  I - Illuminate Your World!;  N - Never Give Up!;  E - Establish Your Priorities.