Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Bitter Sweet Good Bye from MLBB.



As you may have noticed, I have been conflicted as to how much I should continue with this blog.  I have loved getting to know the ins and outs of blogging for fun and for a little extra income. I have loved the sponsors and the fans. I have loved the giveaways and product reviews. I have loved sharing our financial hardships and successes and the support I have received most of all.

It has become more and more clear that I can not raise my children effectively and prepare them in the ways they most need to be prepared when I give so much of my time to my blog and trying to have a side business. I haven't wanted to admit that to myself, let alone all of you, but now more than ever, I know what I need to do. 

I need to be MOM. I need to TEACH my children to pray, love, learn, and to grow. I need to provide a loving home and give my time to them as well as give my time to the Lord. He has blessed me greatly with a beautiful family and with the ability to choose my own path, even if I don't always choose the right path. He is always forgiving and loving. Through my God given responsibilities as a mother and a wife, I can find my voice. I have often thought I needed to use my blog or else where to find my voice but the most effective place is with my husband and children in our home. 

"No other success can compensate for failure in the home."

As I make this transition, I will be eliminating pretty much any and all posts regarding daily deals, ad match ups, and featured deals. I am letting you know now that I am leaving the blog up so that I can from time to time post something that matters to me and my family, our Epic Mickey, and some other tid bits on occasion. I plan on continuing a monthly post to help us as a family keep a record for our efforts and to keep our goal in view. If time permits, I may post once in a while on some other topics too but, first and foremost I am MOM and WIFE and will be intensely focusing on becoming a better mom and wife. I can forgive myself if I get behind on blogging, but if I get behind on being mom, that is time completely lost- whether I can forgive myself or not.

Thank you so much for your support over the years! 
I wish you all the best with your family, finances, and faith! 

I'm so grateful for the freedom to choose what to do with my life. That can never be taken away! 
You do too, Choose wisely! 

Sincerely, 

Julie Thompson
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2 comments:

JaclynsMusings said...

Julie,
It was through a giveaway you hosted on your blog in June 2011 that led me to first 'meet' you. And then I was fortunate enough to win one of your awesome coupon keeper organizers (which I still use btw). Then I decided to try starting a blog of my own and it is still very much a work in progress (which I believe ALL blogs are). And I've since gotten to know more about you. It doesn't even matter that we live several states away from one another, but we've still managed to become friends. Even though we live 1000+ miles away from one another and practice different religions, we're both young women bloggers. I love how the internet has the opportunity to introduce one to people of very different backgrounds from ones own. I have friends in several other countries that I met online (in their cases through an interest specific online program) and I've since had the pleasure of meeting 3 of them in person. One in particular who has invited me to visit her in Europe (someday)! She even choose to spend a year studying abroad at the same Uni I went to and we had such an amazing time getting to know each other in person after only knowing each other online for several years. I know that while my specific experiences were quite unique, it has given me an even greater respect for this incredibly powerful tool known as the internet.

I completely understand that when it comes to your beautiful family that they will always come first (which they should). I understand how time consuming blogging is and if there were only 30+ hours in the day, then maybe you'd have more time for this type of hobby. But I do hope that you will continue to post periodically with updates about your ever growing family. Maybe instead of focusing on deals and coupons (since there are lots of blogs that focus on that as well), that you focus on a couple posts a month about events from your neck of the woods. Instead of trying to have at least one new post every day, just post every other week or so. No set schedule. Just short entries with your thoughts and feelings on Mommyhood. Or a new family 'adventure' or a new favorite recipe. I know I'd be much more interested in stories about your family and surroundings. (Just about anyone) Can start a blog (on coupons/deals/freebies/etc), but only YOU can write a blog about YOU and your view point on whatever is important to you at that moment.

Does that kinda make some sense? And you could still consider doing some product reviews (and giveaways) since that is a lot of fun, but instead of spending many hours a week working on pitches, cold "calls" emails, etc, you could just send out a dozen or so a month always dependent on how much time you have to work on it. I'd be happy to share with you some tips I've come up with about this (but in a private conversation, can't giveaway all the hints/tips I've managed to learn/figure out). And I'd be honored if you'd like to write a guest post on my blog at some point (in the future) as well.

And who knows? Maybe we'll even get the chance to meet "in person" someday! ;-) I just hope that you don't leave the incredibly awesome blogosphere completely, but that you take a long 'vacation' ;-)
Anyways, I know this ended up being a really long response.
**Hugs**
Take care,
~Jaclyn~

Julie said...

Funny, I thought I replied to this already- and it was a long one too! Thank you so much Jaclyn for your kind words and advice! I have enjoyed getting to know you as well. I'm sure I'll still randomly post as I have a hard time letting go completely but my priorities are set and I just have to retrain myself to keep it that way. Thank you for your continued support!

-Julie

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