How did I get to be a blogger?
I remember trying to find a good place to sign up for a blog. I tried one other unknown venue and quickly deleted my account when I found goo.gle. “The Fine Print” is my first blog- now closed. I wanted to update family and friends on our adoption. I wanted to provide educational tools and facts. Eventually I began to pour my heart out. At that time I thought that only people I knew were reading, but slowly I discovered that strangers or friends of friends were reading every day. That changed me. For someone who used to be extremely shy and guarded, I did not care that my inner most thoughts were made public. Writing helped me and helped others. I was finally able to explain to many people the hell we had endured for 4 years. I was finally able to rejoice over our pending parenthood.

I have been a writer most of my life. I wrote poetry starting in second and third grade. I was an avid reader of Nancy Drew and many other books. I sat down countless times to write my first novel. I did well in English class in school. But, over the years I stopped writing. I did not have a meaningful place to write except in a journal. About 5 years ago I took over our company’s newsletter and thoroughly enjoyed writing and producing those pieces. I took a couple of writing classes and my goal to be published was revisited.

As my blog and readership has grown I have realized that my life is open. Sure, there are many things that I keep private. But, my posts are intimate, they are honest and real.
I am subjecting myself to criticism and hurtful comments. But, I am also subjecting myself to meeting wonderful people, hearing words of encouragement and being told that I am making a difference in someones life simply by writing my posts.

Words are my life. I wear my heart on my sleeve and sometimes get overwhelmed with what to do with my emotions. I care so deeply about so many things- it is a blessing and a curse. I have learned some lessons about the writer that envelopes herself in her words. I have learned that once I hit “send” it’s out there. Being very open is not an easy thing to do. The mask of the computer makes it easier, but it also makes it easy to forget how many people my words will reach. I have taken a step back to realize that even though my intentions are never to hurt anyone, that sometimes my “thoughts” posted in this blog may make someone else feel uncomfortable. It is my choice to write about my life and it does affect other people.

I have missed blogging in the past 2 weeks. It is plain to see that this has become a huge part of my life. It is an outlet for all of my thoughts. And, I am thankful to have it. Blogging has opened up writing as a career for me. I never thought this would happen. Blogging has opened up a whole new world of people- good people. Thanks to all who read and make me feel appreciated. I would continue to write if nobody read it but my mom. However, thoughtful comments and encouragement keep me going and force me to develop my craft. Knowing there are readers pushes me to have interesting content on all parts of the emotional scale.