When I started this blog over five years ago, I didn’t really understand what a blog was. My close friends and I decided to start one on the same day, we didn’t know about stats and reviews, advertising, carnivals, I didn’t even know other blogs existed. I sat down on my couch, as the kids napped, looked at the massive pile of laundry that needed to be folded and thought “I Should Be Folding Laundry.” I came here and wrote about the very ordinary details of my life simply to share my life with my friends. They did the same, it was really fun.
Then one day, someone I didn’t know left a comment on my blog. It freaked me out. I felt like someone was peering into my windows without me even realizing it.
Fast forward.
Every window of my life is open, well, not all of my windows but many. For you, for you, for you and for me. So much has happened in my life since the birth of this blog, things I never expected both in life and in the reaction I’ve received from readers.
Life. Death. New home. Kids growing up. Twitter. Facebook. Instagram. iPhones. Marriage ups and downs. Miscarriage. Faith. Faithlessness. Dark. Light. A new business. So many good times, too many to link to.
And it’s here, documented. I didn’t set out for followers or comments, I never tried to make money off of my blog (maybe I should?), I just came here and wrote.
To you.
And you always respond and it never gets old. Not then. Not yesterday. Not today. Everything you say means as much to me as everything I say.
So, I’m glad I came here and skipped the pile of laundry on that day in January, but I’m even happier that you’re here today.
Also? I’m always listening to you.
Very cool post! I’m nowhere near 5 years or anywhere close to the amount of people listening, yet I had many of the same thoughts/reactions when reading
I can’t remember how I found your blog, but I’m so glad I did!
Love.
Thanks for teaching us to do what you love, not just “do” for the money.
Your blog is simply amazing. It helps all of us deal with everyday situations, and to see things from different aspects, and makes us all realize that no matter how difficult things may be at the time, we are all blessed in one way or another…whether it is with children, or a wonderful husband, great family, or a fun job. YOU help us see things in ourselves that we may otherwise never notice. YOU are an amazingly strong person, who for the past few years has taught me a lot…and I am very thankful for you, and for your blog. <3
P.S. I've tried starting a blog numerous times. I have wonderful things in my head that I would like to write about, but never seem to have the words when I want to write…or the time.
great post.
Your blog name is the reason that I started reading. So simple and yet so creative! <3
I love how you are so honest and open in your blog. Sharing your experiences makes all of us that much better. Also, LOVE Idol chat…I look forward to it every week! Thanks for being you and sharing it with us!
Beth…I am not sure how I found your blog either, but I am so glad you write. I enjoy reading what you have to say and often thing how great you are at it.
Thank you for sharing. It is always so good to read and know that I am not the only mom out there experiencing the things that we moms experience.
Praying that all is ok with baby. I loved the pic of the kids and their reactions. I have an 8 and 5 year old and I am contemplating a new addition but I just don’t know if I really want to start all the way over but I often wonder what their reaction would be. It was so fun to see Anna’s face since she’s almost the same age as my girl.
Thanks again for your open windows.
News Anchors mentioned Valpo this morning and I immediately thought of you…. and now I can’t even remember what they were reporting on – weird:-) lol Not folding the laundry that day was the best thing you could have done for us!! Thanks Beth!!
i love how you keep it real….xoxo
You guys are making me emotional with your comments! THANK YOU!
I am glad you skipped the laundry too
I adore your blog and your witty writing style. And I am so grateful for your You Capture challenge. It was the first one I ever particated in and I know it has pushed me and inspired me to learn and be a better photo-taker 
Hugs to you!!!!!
I stumbled across your blog (and Steph and Erin and Erin and Love…) when I was only a few months pregnant with Olivia. She’s my first and I was scared stupid about this pregnancy. I had no idea what was going on, what we were doing, why on earth we were having a kid now – we just got married and and and and so on and so forth. My mom had multiple miscarriages and I was terrified that would happen with me.
Then I started reading your blog and their blogs and it inspired me to start my own. We had a little website that held our honeymoon journal. Seven posts for seven days in Spain. So I opened it up and added a new post announcing the pregnancy.
And I came back here and kept coming back and your words and their words helped calm my fears. I still look to you guys for inspiration or calmness or simply a “Yep, going through it here, too.” and it always makes my day when you guys speak back to me either through Twitter or email. So weird but yeah…
So…. thank you. So much.
You are one of the first blogs I ever read after my son was born (in November 2008). I linked over from Adventures in Babywearing and I instantly fell in love. Your blog is beautifully designed and your pictures are breath-taking. But what I love most of all was how you kept it real.
I think I had some post-partum depression those first few months, but reading about all the things your kids were doing gave me hope that it does get better after those really overwhelming newborn days.
I love reading your blog! You write with such a geniune heart and you are so real! Thank you for your honesty and for sharing your struggles along with the joys of life. You are a beautiful person. Thank you. : )
I don’t think I have commented on your blog before but want you to know that I enjoy it so much!! I love your style of writing, love hearing about your family. Your kids are adorable by the way! Thanks again for sharing so beautifully thru your blog.
such a sweet post. i love how much you are willing to trust your readers with! it’s a beautiful thing!
Reading your blog brings joy to my life…and gives ME and excuse to avoid the huge pile of laundry waiting for me! Thank you for sharing all you do. Lets all of us other moms know we aren’t alone in our daily struggles & joys. Praying for you and baby…
I think I read almost all your friend blogs in addition to yours.
So glad you all started them. So glad you didn’t fold laundry that day – now if only something so cool could come from ME not folding laundry… ha!
Love this post.
Haven’t been around for much of it, but definitely have enjoyed to date.
Thank you for the inspiration and the love you share. Anytime I see two animals together, I always think of James and Jake and you are all constantly in my prayers.
Thank you for your honesty and your openness! It’s always refreshing!
I’m so glad you’re here too.
It’s crazy to think how much blogging and all the social media stuff has changed in that time. I’ve been blogging almost as long as you and I had NO idea how many blogs were even out there when I started. And now there are conferences and “tweet-ups” and all kinds of things. And well, some of my good friends have come from this “hobby”.
You’re a blogging pioneer Beth. Keep “not” folding laundry, I give you permission…
I have never commented here before, but something in this post just made me feel like I should. I was led to your blog a couple of years ago through a link on some other blog, and it has quickly become my favorite personal blog. You just write in a way that is so easy to relate to and I always look forward to reading your entry.
I was also very excited to see that you are expecting a new addition, and, even more excited to see that your new addition is expected only one day away from my expected due date of my first baby. Hope the pregnancy is treating you well, and that you know you have lots of readers looking forward to hearing (I mean, reading) what you have to say.
I enjoy reading your blog so much. I happened upon my blog in much the same way. In 2008, I received an email about a blog belonging to a woman who had adopted a coyote puppy. She was taking photos of the puppy and posting them on the blog along with short stories about the trials and joys of raising a coyote puppy (http://www.dailycoyote.net/). I was enthralled by the photography. I am an amateur photographer and I was excited about the prospect of sharing my photos with people other than my family. Thus, my blog began. My posts are somewhat haphazard and never follow any set routine, but I know its there for me to share my photos, thoughts, and opinions with the few lovely people who happen upon my blog. I love it when people stop by and read my comments. My blog traffic is still pretty light, but that’s okay. I just enjoy the opportunity to share my photos. Plus, you can Google my name and my blog shows up. How exciting is that? LOL
I was chatting with a friend about the weirdness of getting caught up in blogs of people you haven’t met. She put it into perspective: “People get caught up in soap operas of make-believe people… so I think getting caught up in the real life struggles of real people is a much better thing.”
I enjoy your blog too. Thanks for putting yourself out there.
It was a January day in 2009 that you talked me into starting my blog. You helped me come up with the name and on January 13, 2009, Bacardi Mama was born. I had no clue then that I would love it so much. I had the best example ever to learn from in you. You are real, loving, truthful and funny to name a few of your million good qualities. I’m just so happy that I get to be one of the lucky ones who gets to know you in person. Love you Beth. Can’t wait till the 30th to see you.
It just doesn’t get any better than this! Your blog is the best of the best because you never fail to keep it real (this is true gift). I should always be doing a million different things but I am always glad I stopped by your blog. Your family is amazing and I love getting a glimpse of something so beautiful.
I love your blog. The realness. The beautiful pictures. The feelings (all of them). It’s crazy for me to care about people I’ve never met. But your words have a way of making that happen. Thanks for sharing all of it with me. I enjoy reading it, as much as you enjoy sharing it.
i gotta say: i’m glad you skipped laundry and started ye old blog. keep it up!!
PREGNANT!??!?! FANTASTIC!!!!! Yes, I’m shouting because I’m SO happy for you and your family! Just love those sweet babies and if the good Lord blessed me with more I’d be so pleased. It looks like our family is perfect with 3 kids~God definitely laughed at my plans and continued on with His.
I’m so glad your window is open! It’s been great getting to know you through your blog.
I have a similar story only in reverse. I started reading blogs and entering the contests they held. I made many friends along the way but over the last year and a half I have stopped entering contests and stopped reading most blogs except three.
I get so much from you and your love for life.
Thank you for sharing with us.
What an awesome post Beth…i am so happy that i got to know you through your blog.
What i always loved about your blog is that you have always been very honest and real about who you are and what you and your family go through, the ups and the downs.
Thank you for sharing your life with us.
I’m happy you started it!! Your blog is one of a few that I check every morning while my kiddos still sleep!! I’m super thankful that now I can call you a “friend”!! Crazy how it is such a small world!!!
I’m glad you are here, too. Many of the super-awesome people I have met on-line I met through your blog. It’s funny how one little decision (to start a blog) made by someone I don’t even know (you!) changed my life. So, thanks.
I just ran across your blog through another blogger friend of mine and I just wanted to say hi. So glad I found your site and can’t wait to read more. I am also excited to start participating in your you capture challenge.
I think you should. There’s nothing wrong with it and people love coming here.
Awesome post! Yay for 5 years of blogging. That’s cool.
What a beautiful post Beth, as always your posts are so filled with emotion and I just love reading your blog so much. It is always up on my computer waiting to refresh the tab and while my computer is chugging along to reload I sit anxiously waiting, hoping that a new post will be up to read over my morning coffee
You are truly inspiring to me on so many different levels. Like others have said, it feels so weird to have never met you but I feel like you are a new friend that I so look forward to getting to know better. Know that I am also praying for you and that this pregnancy has no more scares but rather filled with peaceful moments making memories with your family preparing for his/her arrival.