Chatting Over Chocolate's 5th Blogiversary // Five Ways that Blogging has Changed my Life

Hello, sweet readers and cherished friends!  Today I have the great pleasure of writing a post in celebration of Chatting Over Chocolate's 5th Blogiversary!  If it were possible I'd write each of you a personal thank you note for being such a fantastic part of this blogging experience and I'd invite you out to The Cheesecake Factory for a celebratory slice of Godiva chocolate cheesecake.  Instead I invite you to step away from your computer for a moment to grab your favorite sweet treat for us to "chat" over.  Perhaps hot chocolate in your favorite mug would be perfect!  Don't forget the whipped cream and extra sprinkles, after all this is a special occasion! 

Got your chocolate?  Ok, let's chat!

Today I'd like to talk about five ways that blogging here at Chatting Over Chocolate has changed my life.  I hope along the way I'm able to encourage you to notice joy in unexpected places in your own life and that you'll leave here knowing how much I appreciate your readership and support!

FRIENDSHIPS

The number one way that Chatting Over Chocolate has changed my life is easily the friendships formed!  When I spent a cold winter's afternoon back in 2013 thinking about starting a personal blog, dreaming up a name, and typing up that first post I had no idea if anyone would care to read it.  I certainly couldn't fathom then what an impact this place would have on my life 397 blog posts later!  Here we are five years later and I have been blessed by this started-on-a-whim blog, far beyond what I can even fully articulate.  It is no exaggeration to say that some of my dearest friendships have sprouted and blossomed out of blogging.  The Christmas card holder hanging on my wall here is filled with the sweet smiles of families I've met through the blogging community.  For the past few years I've actually received more cards from blogging friends than we do from both sides of our families combined!  That makes my heart so full!  Each of you, whether you're on my wall, a familiar face in my comments section, or a name I see regularly as a Bloglovin' reader, are a valuable part of this lit'l nook of the blogosphere!  Without you my blog would simply be a public diary, but with you it becomes a conversation and makes the title of this blog fitting! ;)

PRIORITIES

I've heard it said, "You can do anything, but not everything."  Each of us is given a 24 hour day.  It is up to us how we spend it.  

Blogging, like many hobbies, is time consuming.  It's not uncommon for me to spend five hours (not always consecutively, of course) between clicking "new post" to "publish".  I'm a perfectionist, and while my posts are clearly far from perfect, I strive to share things in a way that will be most enjoyable to my readers and for my own family when we return to read it in the years to come.

I'm thankful that the time and preparation required for this beloved hobby of mine has stirred the desire to prioritize my life and be a good steward of the time I'm given.  After all, no one wants to look back with regret over the way they've spent their fleeting days upon this Earth.  At times this has meant taking a much needed hiatus.  I am thankful for the freedom to do so and am grateful for the faithful readers who always greet my return with a warm welcome!

A VOICE

If you know me in real life, you know I have a voice, sometimes a loud one at that. Ha!  I'm not shy.  I love to chat with people.  I'm the kinda girl who sometimes gets to know the people sitting beside me on a Disney bus and doesn't shy away from chatting with a fellow shopper about what a great bargain we're both scoring.  So, choosing this may seem interesting to a few of you.  Yet, I feel that Chatting Over Chocolate has given me a voice, in a way that matters.  Here I feel free to share what's on my heart.  This blog allows me the means of bringing encouragement to a weary reader who's walking through a difficult day.  It allows me a fun outlet to bring a "Disney fix" to a fellow fan of pixie dust who is awaiting their next trip back to the magic.  Best of all, this space affords me the opportunity to proclaim what I believe to be the most important thing that can ever be shared, the Gospel.  I am grateful for this place where I have the freedom to share as my heart desires and for each of you who cares to meet me here!

APPRECIATING THE LITTLE THINGS

I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that the blogging series, Five Loves on Friday, has transformed the way I view everyday life.  Over these past five years there have been plenty of weeks when it took work to find a handful of loves, yet doing so has caused me to look for the beauty in the midst of even the most brutal of days.  

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." 

- Philippians 4:8 

 I continually pray that God will give me a grateful heart.  I think the Five Loves on Friday blog series has been a means through which that has been cultivated.  Combing through the details of life in preparation for Five Loves posts has trained my mind to seek out things worthy of praise.  What a blessing that is in the every day, nitty gritty of life!

MOMENTS CAPTURED

I am incredibly grateful for all that this corner of the web holds for my family!  This place is a treasure trove of memories for me!  I look back and cry tears of joy over seeing how life has played out!  When I reread some posts, I rejoice over the incredible kindness and unshakable faithfulness of my God.  Other posts bring back laughter and joy from some of the best moments of this decade in my family's every day life.  I'm overwhelmed by what this space means to me and all the memories it holds.  

Here are a handful of favorites I came across while scrolling through old posts today ...

The First Ever Trip Report Tuesday Blog Post

Day 1 of our 17-day WDW trip in 2013

The Beautiful Story of God's Goodness Found in a Blood Stained Ring

Rereading this post from 5 years ago flooded my eyes with tears and my heart with thankfulness!

Little One Earns her Black Belt! // May 2014

This one includes a video that makes me laugh and cry happy tears!  I am still so very proud of all the hard work and dedication it took for Little One to achieve this big goal at such a young age!

Five Loves on Friday // Anniversary Edition 

From 17th Anniversary in 2015

Five Loves on Friday // Special Guest Post Written by my Daughter

The post that my oldest daughter contributed to the blog!  It just happens to feature a great day with dear friends, Little One making it into the newspaper, and Princess' first time driving in heavy traffic (with her mama in the car)!

The Trip Report that covers the day I met my best blogging friend in person! // Trip Report:  A day of Disney History in Los Angeles  
What a day to remember and a reason to be thankful that I began this blog!

T H A N K   Y O U

Thank you, yes YOU, reading these words at this very minute.  Thank you for being here!  Thank you for taking time away from your busy life to sit and read this post and every post you've read, whether this is your second or you've been here since the second post I published.  Sure, I could capture my family's memories here in a silent space with no one around to see it.  I could pour out my heart and publish it for myself alone to read, but let me tell you, it wouldn't be nearly as much fun!  I try not to pay much attention to numbers, but this one makes my heart skip a beat... 4,308.  That is the number of comments that have been published here in the past five years!  Over 4,000 times I have received a sweet message from one of you that completely made my day!  I delight in each one that comes my way!  Before I started Chatting Over Chocolate I actively read several blogs and never left a single comment on any of them.  My thought was, "This blogger doesn't know me.  What do they care what I have to say about their post?"  IF you're reading this today and you've never left a comment, please know that I would always love to hear from you in my comments section!  To those who have commented once or twice, or do on a regular basis, you make blogging such great fun!  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being part of this on going, five year chat.  This place wouldn't be the same without you!

Do you have a favorite blog post or series that I've shared here at Chatting Over Chocolate?  Is there something you have enjoyed here and  would like to see more of?  If you're a new reader or an old friend, I'd love to hear from you on this special day!  

Join me in the adventures to come!

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