I’ve been too quiet around here. The past few months has been quite a ride for us and I just couldn’t seem to keep up with everything. Especially here at JMN.
My heart wasn’t in it anymore for a time.
I was tired of trying to keep up with everything that keeps a blog going… taking pictures, pinning on Pinterest, posting on FB, emails, affiliate links, tracking traffic and writing.
Especially writing.
Having a blog is a lot of work, but I realized recently that it doesn’t have to be that way. I am not keeping a blog to make a business out of it like most of my blogger friends… so why am I trying to do everything they are doing? They hire VAs to do most of that work! I guess part of me likes the idea of earning a small income on the side to help bless my family and our ministry.
That idea is not a priority because God has been so faithful to provide for our needs. I don’t need to be a work-at-home-mom. I already have a full plate with my growing (and noisy) family, trade school and working alongside my husband in the ministry of Rancho Oasis. Plus, we have a new property where we are building our new {permanent} home!
Life is very full and overwhelming at times right now.
The last few months of silence on here has been good for me to reset my priorities, refresh my heart and rethink my motives with blogging. To spent more time with my family. To be more focused on our day to day to life. To seek the Lord on what HE wants me to do with the blog.
Pull the plug or change the tune?
I know what He wants me to do and have known, in my heart, for a long time
Before, when I was posting somewhat regularly, I really wanted to be more real in my posts… sharing about our everyday life as missionaries and a family living in a third world country and my deafness. I just couldn’t seem to pour out the words that have been sitting in my mind and heart for so long… so I just focused on recipes and sharing a little DIY here and there.
It was easy…. and safe.
But I am now ready to make noise again… I am ready to pour it out and get noisy!
But… honestly…
I am a little scared.
Scared that what I share will be silly or not good enough, rejected, criticized and leave me discouraged all over again, but I can’t let fear stop me from doing what I know I am supposed to do. I also can’t let what other people think or say stop me from doing what I must do!
What am I supposed to be doing?
Journaling… sharing about my life and our ministry in Honduras along with recipes and other things, but be more focused on just being me, here on the blog.
I am no super-mama or anything like that… I am just a deaf mama, wife and missionary. Yes, I am unique… not because of how I described myself, but because of what is written in Pslam 139.
“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex (unique)! Your workmanship is marvelous… how well I know it.” Psalm 139:14
Now, I am excited to begin, again, what I intended to do when I first started my blog. I have so much to share with you… especially about our new {permanent} home and how we are building it. It has been a fun learning experience for me.
I am even more excited to share with you the news that I will be moving over to my own domain very soon… like in May or June! You can see that I now have www.just-making-noise.com, which is under construction right now.
Thank you for being awesome, faithful readers by showing your wonderful support, using my affiliate links and sharing words of encouragement through emails or comments. Quite a few of you emailed me over the last few months, asking why I haven’t been posting and shared with me words of encouragement & prayers.
Those emails have done so much for me! Those simple, yet uplifting words from pure strangers is a beautiful example of how God can use anyone to reach out to me in a powerful way.
Again, thank you and I am so grateful to have a special group of readers who enjoy the blog. Please continue to lift my family up in your prayers when you think of us.
Until the next post… Hasta luego!
I am eager to read more about all the things that you mentioned as your new blog focus! I am truly interested in you and your day to day life as a deaf missionary mama raising and schooling her family in a third world country. I also understand well the long list of jobs and priorities for a wife and mom, so know that every-so-often posts are enjoyed just as much as frequent ones. ~Andrea
Thank you Andrea!! I am blessed by your sweet comment 🙂
Hi, Marillyn!
I am from Bulgaria, Europe and I just want to say that you are a very strong encouragement and inspiration for me! I like your example in everything in your life – deafness, motherhood, missionary, naturally way of living. I like the way you honor Christ and put Him the first place in your life.
For now I can`t do many of your recepies, but I made your deodorant and it`s really, really great! Thank you for sharing! Keep going and be what you are! I want to encourage you with I Cor.15:58.
God bless you!
Elisaveta
Thank you Elisaveta! So wonderful to have you alongside and thank you for your encouragement!
Looking forward to reading more about your real life! Sounds like you have your priorities straight and you can’t go wrong with that. You are a special young woman and I always feel so inspired after reading your blog.
Thank you!! Praise the Lord!
Hey Mare! I’m here in Des Moines, IA, USA and I can’t WAIT to hear from the REAL YOU! Looking forward to your new venture. Terry Colyn<><
Thank you Terry!! Be Praying for me! Hugs amiga
Love it, Mare! I’m so glad to see you moving in this new direction 😀 Love you and always praying for you and yours!!
Thank you Diana!
Dear Marilyn, I have always enjoyed your approach to life, your style and your spirit! That has always come through on your blog! I enjoy your blog because you are devoted to your husband, your family, the Lord…..and really cool food. You are making the world better by just being you…so thanks!!
Praise God and thank you for your encouragement Tammy!
Such a good story post! I know exactly how you feel. I haven’t touched my blog in almost a year for the same reasons. And I, too, would love to move it eventually. I look forward to reading about your adventures. (And hearing what uou have to say)
Well I really enjoyed your recipes and healthy food practices, but most of all, I liked reading about your life as a missionary. My heart has been in missions since I was 12, but that has not been the path God has directed for me. I like to ‘see’ and ‘live’ with you what it’s like to reach the lost, go to the dark places with the Light, and be on the ‘front lines’ as I think of it. Please write all you want about it- I certainly would never judge! I have four daughters, one of which has special needs, and I can’t imagine living our life in a hard place like Honduras. I’m glad you are ‘back’ and look forward to what you have to say 🙂 God bless you!!
Thank you, Anne, for your understanding and encouraging words! I do hope to share more and more of our life here. Blessings back to you!