Life is good at the Cottle home! We have so much to be thankful for! I have loved blogging for almost 2 years now (where does the time go?), but have really struggled with my blog over the past few months. I use to blog about our real life, about things that bothered me, things that I loved and things I missed. Lately, my blog has turned into a photo album and an occassional random post. As a family, we have struggled with our blogs and facebook status being thrown back at us and I just can’t decide if it is worth sharing our lives on the internet. I write posts all the time in my head and sometimes in my drafts, but then I wonder if I should. Will certain people use this against our family, take our blog out of context, view us as something we aren’t??? (note — these are not strangers, this is not a scary, stalker situation)
I have no answer to our situation. And - No - going private wouldn’t help.
Does the good outweigh the bad? What would Christ want me to do? Am I being vain? What is the purpose of my blog? You get my drift. . . Then, I wonder has anyone noticed. Or do people just want to see my kiddos anyways???
Just wondering aloud . . .
UPDATE — I am not planning on leaving my blog! I just am struggling over how much real life to add! Do I stick with random picture posts and random musings — or do I go deeper???
Dont worry about what other people say. Yall are just being honest. I love all of it!
By: Allison on November 3, 2009
at 2:55 p11
Katie–I think you are thinking into this way too much. Does it really matter what other people think? Your blog is by no means vain. Your blog is great and it is just you being honest and real! Everyone loves seeing your kiddos. I guess it is just a personal decision. Our blog is like a photo book and Lance says I write too much sometimes, but to me it is a record of our life for myself and I really don’t care what others think because it is for us. I decided to print our blog once a year and there is my scrapbook for the year. I think it is a neat thing to leave with your family. How I would treasure to have a record of my grandparents or great grandparents lives (the good, bad, and ugly). How I would love to know more about the “little” things that took place throughout their lives. I hope you decide to keep blogging……because I love reading your entries and I know others do too, but I respect your decision whatever you decide. It is a hard one to make. You will do the right thing.
By: Lance and Kim Cone on November 4, 2009
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Oh Kim! I am definitely not going to quit blogging. Just wondering how much personal life to add — does that make sense???
By: Katie Cottle on November 4, 2009
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Well I have been enjoyin the pics of the kiddos. My blog is like a photo book most of the time. But if I wanted to write something personal I just would. And if someone had something to say about it I’d probably just shrug it off but that’s just me.
Most of the time I can relate and it’s nice to see others doing, feeling, or going through some of the same things as you are.
You just have to decide what works for you and know weather or not you’ll be able to shrug it off or if it will get to you. If it gets to you most of the time then it might not be worth it. But regardless you know no matter what you write there will always be someone somewhere that may or may not have something to say about it. I guess that’s just a part of life ya know? There’s really no good answer for it you just have to decide what you’re willing to deal with.
But don’t worry, I won’t judge you
By: Erin Duvall on November 4, 2009
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I say go as deep as you want! Use it to glorify Christ. Use it for YOU. Use it as a journal for Charlie and Molly Kate to read one day! You go girl!
By: Courtney on November 4, 2009
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Oh how I can relate!!! Funny that you should write this just at the time that I think I want to blog again. As you well know, I fell off the blogging wagon when people who work for HN thought my Christmas letter was real!!!! Dan, fighting to cut costs and hold onto positions, and some thought we were home living the good life while those all around us fell apart!!!! But just this weekend, I decided “to heck with it!!!” If you really know us, then you know the truth….AND if you don’t, then I can’t write anything out here in cyberspace that will change your opinion!!!!!
Rock on. THERE will be bloggin’ by mama again soon!!!!!
By: karenparmer on November 4, 2009
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Katie- although I don’t comment often, I do read your blog regularly. I love it when you post “bargains” and the pictures of the kids are so cute! I thought I’d share this from one of my favorite blogs, flythroughourwindow.com, as a kind of disclaimer for her blog:
“This is my best attempt to capture the memories we are creating. Over the last few years the Lord has shown me the many rewards of transparency. What better way to be transparent than to share my life with others! It is my prayer that my “conversations will be full of grace and seasoned with salt” Colossians 4:6
I will also remind you this a BLOG, this is NOT a full real life account, but merely a tiny glimpse into our life. We don’t sit around craft, bake and smile for pictures all day long. We do strive to glorify God but fail miserably and recognize our deep need of a Savior. What comfort we find in knowing that our debts have been paid and we have been set free.”
By: Mandy Bowman on November 4, 2009
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I guess by all the responses you can tell you have a good following and there are probably more that have not commented. But I think you should use your blog as you see fit and we both know that in everything we strive to glorify God. As you can see from the post above we do fail miserably, but I would not shut down an avenue that God can use in others lives if you feel he is leading you to post about certain topics. I have often thought about posting things concerning personal struggles etc of my own. But mostly have not out of fear of what others might think. Being spouses with husbands in the ministry it adds some extra awareness to the things we write, not to put on an inadequate persona, but just extra awareness. I think there is a balance and when ever what you are doing no longer glorifies Him, you can take a break. But don’t worry over what others might think, you know your intentions are pure and so does God and at the end of they day that is all that matters. Those who know you will know your intent. I love everything about your blog, for goodness sake you have at least inspired 4 people to start one of their own
By: Annie on November 4, 2009
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Just so you know, you’re not the only blogger out there who struggles with this issue. From the same blog as above:
“Too often I trust myself. The lesson this morning was about praying, not blogging but I couldn’t help but think about what is my purpose in all of this? I think about it a lot. What makes me think that any of you actually care that I took my handrail down out front of my house or that I painted my brick because it didn’t match. In general, blogging does not provoke a poor spirit or a spirit of helplessness. I just want to be completely honest with you all that I struggle with this on a regular basis. I sit down to type a post and think is this for His glory or my own? And sometimes I can’t tell. But if I daily came here and told you how rotten I am, how I walk around in the world look at people, compare myself to others, judge others, get frustrated with my children and husband {and yell at them} it would be a very different blog. I guess, I always want to be clear that I am a big sinner, that my hope is in Christ, that in my own strength I can do nothing but I have a Savior who is bigger than my sinful self. I share my interests and hobbies with you and it is my prayer that my conversations will always be seasoned with salt…. that you can taste of the goodness of Christ and be encouraged.”
By: Mandy on November 4, 2009
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Well I am just glad to hear that your mom is going to be back to blogging! She cracks me up!
By: Lance and Kim Cone on November 4, 2009
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i second that. what happened to karen parmer?
By: Erin Duvall on November 4, 2009
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Katie…I love reading your blog (and your mother’s too…I do not know her personally but I love her’s too) Your words of faith, struggle, and hope encourage me daily to be a better christian. I am sure it is very diffcult for you to put your life out for others to view but whatever you decide please know that I am truly touched by your words! Thank you for being so open…
By: Tiffinnei Weatherford on November 5, 2009
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Katie, first off, I LOVE YOUR BLOG! You are such an inspiration to me. I laugh and cry with you. It is great to see I am not the only mother with great memories and struggles. My favorite blog of yours is the one about “Sundays.” I always tell my friends, “Do what is best for you.” Who cares what others think. If it is what is right for you and your family that is what you need to do. I broke several rules as a new mommy, proud of it, do not regret it, knew I was doing it and would do it again, should we have another child (sleep on stomach, eat cereal at 6 weeks, a dap of vicks, a q-tip to the exterior ear, etc.). I know if I blogged about it, people would be in awe. It worked for me. You know what is best. Follow your instincts.
By: Breanna on November 5, 2009
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