This Blog

Because this is a RARE sight:

 As I've mentioned a few times before, there are a handful of blogs that I read on a normal basis. I started reading these to get an "insider perspective" on adoption. But what happened is that over time I just grew accustomed to reading about these families and continued doing so on a normal basis. (Case in point: ALL of the families have successfully adopted, and I still go back for weekly updates).

I consider their posts like a "weekly newspaper". A version of the news. Their news. Their adorable, charming family life news - that they just so happen to share with the world. I will sip my coffee in the morning, or wine at night, and check in on these families that I've grown to know and love. It's truly one of my most favorite things - as in, I'd rather read blogs than watch TV.

I'm so obsessed with my "weekly-- sometimes --- daily blog checks" that I, in fact, sometimes get far too impatient and wonder why "so and so" hasn't posted in the past few days.  Then, I repeatedly check back over and over until YAY!!! A new post!!!

In the beginning of 2013, I read the book: A Year in High Heels. A super, fun book for women who love heels (duh) that inspires them to try a new thing every couple of weeks throughout the calendar year. Well low and behold, one of the inserts from February recommended starting a personal blog.

And that's when it happened.

March 5, 2013 - My first post.

I had no idea what I was doing, and really didn't have anything to say. Sparknotes version? I'm starting this blog to keep everyone up to date on the happenings of The Fennels- a very newly married couple (17 days to be exact). 

I could not have imagined the importance or influence my blog would eventually play in life. As time went on, I gained more readers, and eventually, almost everyone who knew me also knew about my blog. It would come up in friendly conversation: I love your blog! I read it all the time. You're such a good writer and so funny! And people I barely knew, who were friends with Matt, my mom, etc., would mention it to me in passing at work, family events, social gatherings, and so on. The two week window when I changed the URL, removed all links on my FB, and just stopped writing: I received multiple messages asking: WHERE ARE YOUR POSTS? (Do you know how flattering that is? Honestly)

I've had friends tell me that my blog inspired them to start their own - and that is such a huge compliment! Because as a writer, (shocker), I firmly believe that writing is one of the best practices and therapies out there. Writing got me through my darkest times, and I have this blog, a journal, and a fifteen-chapter unpublished novel (from 8 years ago) sitting on a flash drive to prove it.

This blog turned a hobby into a profession. Someone at work saw my writing, recommended I go for an opening, and just like magic, I became a paid, professional writer. Over the past three years, this blog has turned me into a better writer and I'm constantly thinking of what I'll include in my next posts (See: saved notes icon on iPhone for future topics/ideas). And poor Matt has had to pose in so many pictures because "I want to blog about this." and he hates, truly - detests - posing for pictures.

By no means has this blog become known as one of the "Most Popular " in cyberspace - you know, the ones with advertising and a daily readership of like, eleventy billion views. Where people just simply write about their family or share a recipe, then before they know it, are getting paid big bucks for a two inch advertisement space on their webpage. Don't get me wrong. I think that would be AWESOME, but also, highly unlikely.

To date: this website has been viewed 30,046 times with 190 posts. Making the average readership of each post about 158. Some posts with a super high amount of views like Coming out from the darkness (785 reads) and some with a troubling amount like SnowBowl (47 reads - with at least ten of them being ME).

Also, I am 110% cray cray obsessed with checking the amount of reads, likes, and comments, and I take it far too personally when posts aren't getting a lot of activity. Just ask Matt. I will constantly hit refresh for updates, then sit and wonder WHY people aren't reading, commenting on, or liking my post. Stop judging. I know, I need a life.
 
There will be spurts where I'm rocking it and the average is around 200 reads, then there are times when I wonder: What in the hell did I do to offend them? Where did everyone go?! due to my average readership plummeting down to 40-50.

And the theme of this blog has not been consistent over the years. I mean, it's not like every single post focuses on one main subject - ie: marriage, kids, work, DIY projects, cooking, traveling, or even pets. Its been solely based on what has been going on in our lives, and my brain, at that point in time.

Sometimes I like that my blog is that way - a snapshot or memory of past times, but other days, I think I need to focus on one single subject. Vegan cooking? Yeah right! I'd lose 90% of you in a matter of seconds. Our pets? Even that may get old. Traveling? Not rich enough. DIY? Hell no. It would be the next pinterestfail.com. Adoption? That is not happening anytime soon, if at all (See: future post). So, what is the main subject then? Me???!

I mean, how narcissistic can I be??!?!!

Answer: Really, really narcissistic.

Confession: I love going back to read my previous posts. And I constantly review the most recent to make sure there aren't any mistakes - so really, those 30,000 views should probably be closer to like, 15,000. HA!

Bonus: This blog has become (like stated above  - near the title) "an online scrapbook of our beautiful little world". It is the perfect place to store our pictures and memories. And there are times when I write things -- not for you, my dear reader -- but for me (and just hope you like it). There are so many little things that I don't want to forget five years from now. Like the creepy piano man in New Orleans, or walking ~ten miles around Central Park, or how Pappy had a recent obsession with chasing fireflies in the summer of 2015.

I oftentimes question whether I should do more frequent posts (one every couple of days) or spread them out (one every couple of weeks). I worry that my frequent posts on FB become annoying - or if people are straight dumbfounded that I actually believe they would be interested in reading about my new pair of flats. But then, in blogging fashion, I come up with an idea and immediately want to share it.

#narcissist

The sad truth is if I don't post the link on FB, then I don't think any one, except Matt and I (because I force him to), would read it. And while I write this for fun and as a place to keep memories, I want YOU to like reading it, too.

Which is why I'm writing you...  I'm trying to better myself and this blog.


Should I focus on a specific topic? If so, what topic do you like reading the most on www.thefennels.com? Do you appreciate the posts on Facebook linking to my blog? Or do you just type in the URL and find the FB post a waste of space? Would you rather read a post every couple of days, or every couple of weeks? Are there any readers that are not friends with me on FB who read this blog on a normal basis? If so, how did you find it? Google? Blogspot? A tagged friend on FB?

Please, pretty please, with coffee and wine on top - let me know. Comment, message, whatevs!!

I want you to be like this crazy lady (cough, cough.... me):

"I'm so obsessed that I, in fact, get far too impatient and wonder why they haven't posted in the past few days.  Then, I repeatedly check back over and over until YAY!!! A new post!!!"

Dream big, right?

A couple writing updates before I scoot:

1) Since starting my job as a corporate communications writer, I've really struggled with writing at my desk during the 8-5 work day. Call it writers block, or procrastination. I'm most creative in the evenings, when everything else has slowed down. My brain is no longer running a million miles a minute, and I'm no longer thinking about laundry, appointments, groceries, what to make for dinner, or what bills are due when. It quiet. And I have a glass of wine in hand. I mean, really! you guys! It's 2:03 AM right meow.

Because of this, I will brainstorm throughout the work day and then complete my stories at home. I'm trying to work on this, and hopefully in time, I'll be able write while sitting in my cube at work. Although, I DO love the wine part at home.

Oh, and I talk to myself when I write, so that would probably be annoying to my cube neighbors.

2) I wrote a story about a remarkable fourteen year old boy who is dying of cancer about a week or so ago. His mom works at my company and has received an immense amount of support from the company, as a whole, and her coworkers. This boy, after learning his cancer was incurable, decided to enjoy his last few remaining months on Earth doing the things he loves most. Radiation and chemo could have potentially extended his life, but that would have kept him in a hospital bed without family or friends.

Instead, he has chosen to be needle and medicine free. He attended the senior high school prom, took the prom queen out on a date, met his favorite NFL football player, and spent countless hours on his four wheeler, swimming, hunting, and vacationing.

I was in tears when speaking to his mother about their story, courage, and strength - and I believe that I will remember him forever. He reminded me of such an important life lesson. Of what is most important: family, faith, and happiness. It was an honor to share his story, and it will likely be one of the most important pieces I'll ever write.

Two days ago, the CEO of American Family stopped me and said that it was one of the best articles he had ever read on our company website. WOWZERS.

 3) Still in the really early stages, but I am taking my passion to new passions! Tonight, I spoke with the President of Adopt Me! (where Pappy and Wally were adopted from), and I will be working on writing grant requests for their rescue! YAY! I am so happy to be a part of this wonderful group - they are doing BIG things over there. BTW, over 500 dogs were adopted in their first year. That is AMAZING!

4) My cherished journal. The one I started a week after our first visit to the Fertility Clinic. My heart and soul, and every uncensored, raw emotion I experienced throughout the treacherous first year of infertility:

 
It is now my hope to one day have it published. When battling infertility, you feel just so alone, and like the only person suffering through it. The reality is that there are millions of people who are experiencing the exact same things.

I want my journal to help them through their darkest times. Just like it did for me.

I will slowly be reading through it, editing, and making minor changes before submitting it to an agency.  I imagine it will take awhile. A long while. And chances are slim it will even be purchased by a publishing agency. Even so, it is a huge dream of mine, and I will at least try.


That's all for now, folks!! Don't forget to let me know how/what you prefer reading on this blog. If anything at all. ;)

Really, it's all just mumble jumble.