My Dear Friends –
I could make this more fancy, but I won’t.
I could try to think about my word choices, but I can’t.
I am going to do what I do best when it comes to sharing my heart with you – and that is to let it pour right on out.
If you have been following the blog, you know that I, like many of the rest of you, have been a bit overwhelmed lately. IT’s mostly a happy-kind-of-overwhelmed, but still tough.
Since I have started my new wonderful job, things have gotten a bit shook up. I am grateful as can be, but I am going through multiple adjustments right now that are small in comparison to what many of you are going through, but rocking my world nonetheless.
Anyway, this is not a pity party blog, rather, one in which I seek your input – which I value ALL the time! Next to the Lord, it is YOU that I seek for wise counsel when it comes to this blog and our blogging community!
While I am adjusting to my new schedule, going through a lot of training, trying to fit in time to work out and blog and do my bible study, I have found myself having a hard time in replying to your heartfelt comments.
If you know anything about me at all, you realize that I cannot STAND lack of acknowledgement and encouragement amongst friends. I have always found it easy to make it a point to specifically validate and reply to my friends comments, and even make the time to comment myself on your posts too.
Yet…I have been lacking in this area – as I am sure you can see.
Let me be clear: I am reading every last single ever-loving ONE of your comments, friends. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them and want you to keep them coming. It helps me know what you find valuable, how you are, what I can pray for, and I gain encouragement from them as well. It keeps me going when it comes to the blogging and the sharing, and helps me know what you’d like to hear about.
However, I need to take a vote on a couple of things.
Here is what I need your vote and comments about – I have some choices here, but am also open to your own original suggestions as well if you find there is a better option that you can share.
For now……
1 – Would you prefer for me to continue to try to blog daily, read your comments, pray over them, but not necessarily answer them all?
2 – Would you rather I submit a blog post once a week or so and reply to every comment you make and make time to comment more frequently on your own posts (which I still read, by the way).
Any feedback you can provide to me is going to help me immensely. As you know, we are all in this together, and I want to allow Jesus to add value to you, your blogs, your lives – who better to ask about that than YOU?
Thank you friends. Please vote in the comments section below, or give me any thoughts or ideas you might have and I will check them out. I am excited to hear back from you. And I MISS you guys!!!!
Annie B. 🙂
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10: 24-25
![posters_encourage_one_another[1]](https://ambirkelo.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/posters_encourage_one_another1.gif)
Eyes Wide Open 
The only advice I can give in this area is to follow your heart. Some weeks may be better than others, and that’s okay. Sometimes you can write and respond a lot, sometimes you can’t, and that’s okay. Blogging, as we all know takes a lot of time. Mix that with life and you can sometimes be overwhelmed. Follow your heart on any given day or week. Don’t stress yourself over what you may or may not think we want to see or hear through response. We support you nonetheless (even if we ourselves don’t have time to respond 🙂 ). If anybody should be understanding it should be fellow bloggers for we know the time and dedication it takes. Follow your heart, take the matter to the Lord in prayer, and be blessed 🙂
P.S. If you haven’t noticed, I finally have a little free time myself and am playing catch up with reading/posting/responding 🙂
Annie, you do what you feel the Lord is leading you to do. This is entirely between you and Him.
Anne, I think you should write when you are inspired to, and only respond to comments when you have time or feel particularly called to do so. But, I also think that you know in your heart the best thing to do for you, and you should do whatever that is!
Don’t allow yourself to get stressed about either. The most important thing is your relationship with the Lord. Trust Him to lead you. You’re a wonderful inspiration to a lot of people. I rarely comment, but I enjoy your creativity immensely. We all know it isn’t easy to blog every single day. I vote that you blog as you are led and make short, brief replies to the comments as you have time. I don’t think anyone will be offended. God bless you with your new job! That should be your number 1 priority!! Take care. I’m praying for you daily! 🙂 Dave
first please let me say that I am blessed by your blog each time I read it…I was a bit overwhelmed by blogging when I first started and here is what I learned…I am blessed by God so much more when I read then when I write..so, I try to read as much as I can, and reblog as much as I can. I am committed to writing when God so moves me….not just to keep up appearances or a writing schedule….God bless you and give you strength to do all that is required of you!
Annie, I appreciate your loving heart. You do what you need to do, to maintain balance and health in your life. Whatever you can give, is wonderful. Please, do not reply to my comments, I totally understand where you are! Love you dear sister!!
Annie, just continue to be who God needs you to be in every situation. I often struggle with feeling overwhelmed because I am a person who loves being real with others. However, that by default opens me up to getting overwhelmed by trying to ‘do it all’, even if I don’t have time. I agree with what so many said above, just let God lead you. What I always remind myself is that I answer to Him alone with how I use my time. If He is pleased, that’s all that matters. He knows your heart, and like the rest of us who see your caring bleed through your writing, He is pleased with your offerings of love for fellow bloggers, no matter how often you reply.
Annie, I agree with Lyn’s suggestion about it being between you and the Lord. He is gentle and leads us in this gentleness.
Blessings ~ Wendy
Hi Annie! Wanted to let you know that I totally agree, 100% with every comment already posted. The comment from “wordforlifesays”…..about following your heart on any given day or week…. says it perfectly! You are a blessing to me, my Sister in Christ, and your blog posts always bless my heart : )
I agree with the rest of the comments, no answer required to any of my comments though I do not leave many comments anyway, I like the like button. I hope you have time to keep blogging I like reading your blogs, they are a blessing
There is some great wisdom here in these comments. I would only add: Has God truly asked you to blog everyday? Thank you for your blessings and encouragement.
Annie, I know how hard it is to juggle life and everything else that comes with it. The best thing for you to do is to pray on this decision. The Lord always comes through for us. Sometimes it’s not always the answer we want, but it’s always the best one if it comes from Him. I enjoy your posts and I’ve been slack lately in commenting, but we’ve had VBS at Church and being the Children’s Minister means I’ve been really busy. 6 kids got saved so it was worth every minute 🙂 You know I’ll support you in whatever you decide to do. I hope you keep your faith filled posts coming.
annie, your blog postings are always a blessing but no one would desire them to be either a burden or a distraction to you or your family. as others have suggested, listen to what God is saying to you. HE desires you to look to Him and He will guide your ways!
so whatever God leads you to do is great with me! whether it be daily, once a week, or as God puts a special word to share on your heart, please know that you are special 🙂
Grace in all things!
Annie, always remember the Lord is YOUR Shepherd and will lead you! ~ Blessings ~
Letting God work through you is a joy, “working for God” in your own strength is the fastest way to a breakdown I know of. Since my own blog is an outgrowth of my devotions, I write every day regardless, but I post only after my wife has edited, so it’s not daily. I think you probably have Encourager gifting (see Discover Your God-given Gifts, by Don and Katie Fortune) and that certainly has a vital place in the Body. Let the Lord who gave you the gift give you guidance, peace, and joy in using it for Him.