Thankful Thursday: Celebrating 20 Years of Blogging!

 

                Twenty years ago today, I trembled as I hit publish on my very first blog post. The idea of submitting words into the world to be read by those I might not know was simultaneously exhilarating and terrifying.

                What if people misinterpreted what I was trying to say? Indeed, they sometimes did.

                What if people were mean to me? Indeed, they sometimes were.

                What if I made new friends this way? Indeed, I sometimes did.

                What if this became a beautiful platform for encouragement? Indeed, I hope it has.

                I was not the same Bekah twenty years ago. Those of you who have been here from the beginning – or nearly so – have watched me grow up in this space. Sure, I was already a legal adult when I arrived, but you have watched me grow up in my heart.

                Back then I was single, a mama to two cats, living in house #1, working in Financial Aid, and I hadn’t even gone on my first grown-up vacation yet.

                You watched me…

                …turn thirty. And forty!

                …say goodbye to Kaegan and Braeya.

                …publish two books.

                …wander through an eclectic mix of jobs: financial aid counselor, radio producer, freelance speaker, church admin, community advocate, grant writer, LifeWise coach, and pastor.

                …survive the breakup I thought would kill me.

                …find the best love story ever and get to live it for the last almost 14 years.

                …live in five different houses.

                …fall in love with lake life and then actually get to live on the lake.

                …go on my first grown-up vacation and then many other travel adventures, too!

                …live through some this-would-only-happen-to-Bekah stories. And by some, of course, I mean many.

                …say goodbye (on earth) to many people who were dear to me and whose lives impacted mine.

                …become a puppy mama.

                …sport a lot of hair colors.

                So many things. Too many to link or picture in full. But here’s what I know on this 20^th year of blogging milestone: God is good and faithful. He has walked with me through far more than I ever could have imagined twenty years ago.

                I hope that in these twenty years, I’ve mellowed about the things that don’t really matter and become ridiculously passionate about the things that do. I hope this space has been more of a help than a hindrance. I hope it has become a place where you come to find encouragement, the occasional funny story, and some inspiration for all parts of your life.

                I hope that you feel like you have a friend on this page – and if so, I thank you for being here and letting me be a friend. I haven’t followed any algorithms or rules for growth and followers, but I am thankful for those of you who show up and those I’ve even gotten to meet in real life!

                At this time, I plan to keep doing what I’m doing. No big, flashy changes lurk around the corner. I appreciate the accountability to write here, and I plan to keep doing that. If the Lord nudges otherwise (whatever “otherwise” might mean) I’ll follow that.

                Happy 20 years of blogging to me! Thanks for being here for my very low-key party today!