New things to come in 2008
Thanks for an interesting discussion on government and personal responsibility. I didn't really mean to spark a firestorm of comments, but I hope it was instructive and thought-provoking nonetheless!As we enter 2008, I am excited about some changes for our business and I'll try to outline them briefly below so that you can have an idea of what's to come and changes taking place:
1) As I've alluded to before, we are making some significant changes in our business. After much prayer and clear direction from the Lord, we will no longer be selling products other than our own from our website. This downsizing will hopefully allow more time for me to devote to our home and family and more time for me to devote to writing and blogging. I'm still in the process of putting up our simple shopping cart page - it should be finished soon! We'll be liquidating all of our current inventory over the next few weeks so if you are interested in scoring some great deals on God-honoring, encouraging products for your family, be sure to sign up for our newsletter to receive notice of these closeout sales.
2) Instead of selling a variety of products from different publishers on our website, I plan to have a large section of our website devoted to reviews of recommended products which you will be able to purchase from other websites. This will hopefully provide the best of both worlds - the ability for me to share about many products our family loves and finds useful without me having to spend hours of my time shipping out orders. This section of our website is in the works right now and should be available soon. I plan to update it weekly with new product reviews.
3) Since I will be freeing up a lot of my business time to devote to more writing and blogging, Lord-willing, you can expect to see more ebooks and books produced by us this year in addition to more blogging and more regular features on this blog. I receive so many emails every week literally begging for more blog posts or ebooks/books on certain topics and I'm hoping to have more time to devote to these.
Planned additions to this blog for 2008 include:
-Making Your Home a Haven Challenge - this feature from December was so well-loved and I've had a lot of requests for more of this so the plan is that every Monday I'll post a Making Your Home a Haven Challenge and encourage you to join in with me. I hope this is in inspiration to you all as you seek to bless your families and I also hope that it encourages you to get the week off to a good start.
-Getting Back on Track series - I confess that this is for me most of all. I've made a commitment to be more organized this next year, so I'm going to publicly share about my journey towards more organization in our home and in my life. I'll be tweaking our household schedule, our cleaning schedule, my home management binder, and more. I'm looking forward to the accountability and am hoping some of it might be helpful to you all as well.
-Home Education at Our House series - Since Kathrynne is turning three in a few weeks, we will begin doing more educational things as part of our everyday life. I hope to share what we're doing, reading, studying, learning, and so forth in a weekly or bi-weekly series.
-In the Kitchen - In an effort to help out those of you who are new to homemaking, I'm planning to start a regular feature on cooking and baking. This will likely include some of my favorite recipes complete with pictures and instructions. I also hope to post some hints and tips on menu-planning and stretching a limited food budget.
-Book Reviews - Each week (or at least every other week), I hope to share reviews of what we've been reading around here including books I've read, books I've read to the girls, and books we've read as a family. I've set a personal goal to read and review at least one book here per week. I usually am overly-ambitious when it comes to my proposed reading list, but at least I can aim high, right?!
-Hot Topics - I plan to delve into more hot topics this next year on an occasional basis including the Biblical role of women, feminism, what's an unmarried woman to do?, and more. I may very well close comments on some of these posts since I try to avoid contention and unprofitable debate here.
-Topical Series - I'm hoping to do a series for newlyweds, a series on Proverbs 31 as it applies to us today, and a series on women in the Bible.
-Guest Posts - It's been awhile since we've had guest posts around here and I'm hoping to revive that feature this next year. I'm especially hoping for some wise words from older women. If you'd be interested in having a guest post featured here, please email me.
-And of course, you'll continue to see the usual eclectic fare of question and answer posts, input requested posts, frugal tips on Friday, Tuesday giveaways, notable links, pictures of the girls, funny stories from our everyday life, random thoughts, and whatever else I might come across to share with you.
Thank you for being here, for your kind notes, constructive criticism, excellent and thought-provoking comments, and your suggested topic ideas. I always welcome your input and would love to hear if you have a topic you'd like to see blogged about here. Just shoot me an email.
Graphic from Art.com
Labels: Blogging
posted by Crystal Paine at 1:16 PM
30 Comments:
You had me nervous all weekend on what your changes were going to be :) I am glad you are back! Hope your little ones are well and everything looks great!
I am hoping to hear more from you and your husband on your personal experiences with homeschooling and the directions you plan to take-What it was like as teenagers, what sorts of curriculum you and your husband were exposed to, how your parents handled criticism(especially difficult for me right now go here and see what I mean), what conventions you have attended??? and so on!!!! I know the list could go on, but it is so neat to meet someone who is the product of homeschooling.
You tube has a series of teen boys running a "Ask the Homeschoolers" Kind of cute, but not really serious.
I also like the Make the home a haven Challenge on Mondays--that is always a tough day for me and perhaps that will motivate me!!
Overall I am looking forward to more e books by you and more blog writing--you are truly motivational in homemaking!
Thanks for all you do!
Sounds great to me! I'm looking forward to all of the inspiration to come in 2008. :) Thanks so much for all your hard work!
I too enjoyed reading all the comments....I love lively politial debates. :-) Like you, I am a political juinkie, especially living here in the nations Capitol.
I'm looking forward to all the new posts to read. :-) Especially the "getting back on track" ones. I have let some things slide around the house, want want to get caught up!
Wow! I love everything you have planned for this year! I am so excited for all these new series, especially the homemaking and organization ones. I'm beginning to realize that organization is an ever ongoing project that will never be done! It's a good thing I enjoy doing it :-)
Happy New Year!
Wow! Can't wait for the "getting back on track" posts. With 3 littles around here, I always seem to need to get MORE organized! Also, I have a two-year-old (Amy) at home that is trying to make out letters (mostly copying her big sister), so I'll be interested in what you're teaching Kathrynne. It seems a bit early, but I'm planning to start having a little "school" time with Amy since she's so interested. Phebe
Dear Crystal,
Since you mentioned there would be changes I have been checking to see if you had posted anything about them!
They all sound great. I'm looking forward to your new e-books too.
Stacy
I'm glad you'll have more time for posting! It's always disappointing to check your blog and see nothing new up!
Btw, my sister and I will be looking forward to your sale! We've been waiting for the end-of-the-year deal for months now.
:)
I'm looking forward to the getting back on track posts too. That's one of my goals for the new year as well. I would especially like to finish creating my binder! I can't remember if you've posted this before or not, but you and your readers would probably find it inspiring in 2008! It is supposed to be the "definitive" list/chart of how often to complete various household tasks:
http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/web/pdf/0505/cleaning_chart.pdf
Crystal,
I would love to read a post or two from your mom!! She seems like such a Godly woman. I am not sure what the topic would be, but I would love to read anything and everything she would have to say!
Happy New Year,
Carla from Maryland
I'm looking forward to your new changes in 2008. Especially the Getting Back on Track Series. I am working towards becoming more disciplined in every area of my life in 2008 and I can use all the help I can get! Have a Happy New Year!
I agree with some others about the organizational posts! We have a small house (but I love it!). We will this spring have three little ones in one room, and be running our business, personal finances/home management, and homeschool out of our spare room. I definately need to be organized, and will take all advice and suggestions given! I really want to be more structured with my time too, so I am looking forward to getting a glimpse at your schedule and binder. My eldest will be in Kindergarten (homeschool) this fall and with two babies I am a bit nervous that I will not give him the time he will need. With all that you do w/ blogging, being a mother and running your business...when and how do you schedule time with Jesse? Do you do date nights? Some posts on that would be great, or maybe an older woman guest who can instruct in that area of keeping the marriage alive!? Thanks for all you do!
I'm so excited about the New Year and what you have planned. It seems like the Lord has really helped you with plans for the upcoming year.
Edwena
I am so glad to hear that you plan on writing more books and e-books. I would like to make a suggestion for one. I love your "What my parents did right" CD, and a print version would be great (even like a transcript). Maybe you could even expand upon it more. Those of us who were raised in daycare and went to public school (but are trying to homeschool our little ones) need concrete ideas like you presented in your CD. I think I have listened to it about 8 times already, and I am not joking! Thank you so much for such wonderful information. It has truly been a blessing.
Valerie
Ooo, I shall look forward to your blog agenda for 2008! =) Your blog is by far my favorite blog, and I'm so grateful for all the things you share here.
Blessings,
Cheri
Sounds good!! Blessed New Year to you and family!
Crystal, Thank you for the time you take to write your blog (and Money Saving Mom). Your sweet life is such an inspiration to me and I feel like their is no "phony-ness" with you. You truly point us toward Christ daily and I thank you for that. Wendy
Yay! I'm really looking forward to the new blogging articles! I would love to e-mail you some of the articles I will be writing on my own blog this upcoming year(i.e. on the true history of feminism, feminism's destructiveness, Proverbs 31 daughterhood, etc. etc.) for you to possibly post on here. Your blog clearly gets many more readers than mine does, so that would really be a blessing for me if you would be willing to post some of those.
I pray that the Lord will richly bless you and your dear family in the upcoming year!
All for His glory alone,
Rebekah
P.S. I'm still working away on my book! :) Please continue to pray that the Lord would
I am inspired, motivated, excited, and comforted (thru your biblical judgements that were made after prayer) by your "to-do" list for 2008.
My husband and I will continue lifting you up to our Lord for discernment and growth in His ways for these upcoming changes.
And I must say: I wasn't planning on making a "new-years resolution" list, but I may have to now....since my first one would be:
1) Log on daily, if not more often, to Biblical Womenhood.
:)
May our Lord show Himself to you during all these changes, in real and practical ways, yet in personal and intimate ways as well.
Exciting times!
Kris
Yippee!!! Can't to see all that you will be sharing this coming year. Happy and blessed New Year to you, Jesse, Kaitlyn and Kathrynne!
I'm really looking forward to trying to participate in the Making HOme a Haven challenge. Sometimes it's easier for me to plan if I know a day in advance (i.e. on Sunday night), but I know that probably wouldn't be easy or even possible for you to do if you avoid blogging on Sundays, etc.
God bless you in the new year!
I'm really looking forward to everything you are going to be posting! Especially the stuff for newlyweds and making your home a haven and the getting back on track stuff! Yay! Many blessings to you as you continually seek God!
I am very excited about the changes coming to your blog. I have been praying about making similar changes in my life and hoping God will provide some inspiration in those areas. Well, I think God has answered my prayer via your blog and the changes you have planned.
Happy New Year to you and your family!
Wow - looks like great stuff coming up! I'm especially excited to see the Making A Home A Haven Challenge - it was such a blessing to me!
Hapy New Year!
I found your site a few months ago while searching for modest swimwear for little girls. Since then I've enjoyed my return visits to read your daily blog.
I also want to pass along my thanks to you for the tone of your site. One word comes to mind, "gracious." Keep up the good work and I wish you blessings in the new year for you and yours.
Sounds like we have a lot to look forward to! :)
I really am excited that you'll be doing the Making Your Home a Haven ~ I've read on a few other girls' blogs about them doing this and I'm excited to jump in. I'm new to the blogging world and can't believe I haven't been a part of it for all this time... but now than never right?
Crystal I'm so looking forward to continuing visiting your site for the encouragement for godliness I find here. Your faith inspires many of us!
Blessings~
Sheila
P.S. I've also started a new blog to focus more purposefully in 2008 on teaching my sons God's word, even without a participating husband. Check it out if you'd like- leave advice too :-)
www.timothymoms.blogspot.com
thanks for all you do!! I'm so excited to have found your blog. I am looking forward to the new things in '08
tonya
I know I have only posted a couple of times, I had to let you know that I am so excited about the new things that you are planning.
I have been married for 5 years, but I am pretty new to the idea of homemaking, and I am really looking forward to the home organization and cooking posts.
Your homeschooling series sounds great. I have started somethng on my blog with a Mr Linky called Thinking Thursday but so far have had no one post what works for them with teaching their children in homeschooling or just plain teaching them. But I don't have the traffic on my blog like alot of others but if I keep plugging away at it...
If you by chance get an opportunity to visit come on over I have older children so my day isn't nearly has busy as yours!
Erika
http:thepioneerhomemaker.blogspot.com/
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