When I started blogging as Raising Arrows back in December of 2005, blogging was exactly what the word BLOG infers…a WEB LOG, or daily online journal. Over the years, my site has changed and grown, but it wasn’t until I became PURPOSEFUL that my blog began to really reach people.
Ty and I sat down one evening and “talked blog.” We prayed about what the Lord would have us do with my little corner of cyberspace. We moved forward in faith and invested time and money into being more purposeful with Raising Arrows.
That was nearly 2 years ago. And I have never stop learning and growing and asking the Lord for direction. He has more than once shut doors I wanted open and turned my heart in directions I hadn’t intended to go. He has blessed me with a husband who is both supportive and a voice of reason and balance.
Over the years, I have seen the amazing benefits of connecting with other bloggers and learning from them. I’ve also seen the benefits of investing in my mission here at Raising Arrows.
Yes, investing.
Now I’ll have you know I am one of those notoriously frugal homeschoolers. I don’t like to spend money for anything I think I can get for free. However, I have seen first hand where you get what you pay for and where a little front end investment can reap great rewards.
That is why I want to invite you to join me at the 2:1 Conference in Washington D.C. April 27-29, 2012.
This conference is the premier blogging conference for homeschool bloggers looking to extend their reach for Christ!
From now until December 31 2:1 Conference tickets are on sale for only $199.
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I just heard a couple of my “frugal homeschooling” readers gasp, but hear me out for a moment…
1. If you have a story (and everyone does) and the Lord is calling you to tell that story, you want to do your very best for Him. This is an investment in the Kingdom.
2. At conferences you connect with other bloggers in a way you can never manage online. You will have opportunities to pick the brains of other bloggers (myself included), learn how to optimize your site, and form relationships that can lead to wonderful blogging.
3. The Lord might be leading you to a place where your blog makes an income. I know in some circles this is a taboo subject, but I also know that I have seen many homeschooling families who have had husbands lose jobs, go into full-time (unpaid) ministry, or pass away and the rest of the family must find a way to survive. Blogging can be that way to survive. It can also be a way to supplement an income, pay for homeschooling materials, and raise your level of giving.
4. No blog is too insignificant to make an impact for the Kingdom. You may think your blog is nothing and you don’t have any use for a blogging conference, but I beg to differ. If you are faithfully blogging for the Lord, then there is no reason why you shouldn’t expand your readership and shine a light in the dark!
I often think about the Duggar family and how God brought them into the limelight. They were just living their lives for the Lord and what looked like a stumbling block (Jim Bob losing the election) turned out to be an opportunity of a life time…one only the Lord could have orchestrated!
What if the Duggars hadn’t taken that opportunity?
God took one family’s willingness to be used and grow and teach to reach hundreds of thousands of people.
That’s how I see blogging.
An opportunity to be used, to be grown, and to turn all of that back around and offer it to God as a sacrifice.
Won’t you join me at 2:1 this Spring?
Click here to learn more!
and remember, the $199 sale ends Dec 31!
I also want to encourage you that there are companies out there who are willing to sponsor bloggers to conferences. You may get a lot of NO’s before you get a YES, but don’t give up! There have been times I’ve taken that leap of faith and had the Lord bring the funding to me almost immediately afterwards!
And watch the #2to1Conf hashtag and the #hsbloggers hashtag on Twitter for more information and ideas! I’d love to connect with you there!
Ok, you got me thinking about this! My blog is so miniscule compared to yours and the other women presenting…I’m just worried I’ll be in over my head since I don’t really know too much about blogging big time!
Nicole,
I would love to see you there! And remember, we ALL started somewhere. I feel miniscule next to a lot of other bloggers, but I’ve also learned so much from them!
I would like to be in a place to be even blogging faithfully, but that’s not yet. I’m working on it.
Once again: so well said Amy. I’m glad to hear that you’re speaking and really appreciated the point you made about blogs making money. You are an encouragement to many.
But you also make a very valid point: If God uses my little sad blog to encourage or spur on ONE person than it is worth my time:) Thank you.
Oh, Kathy! Not a “sad” blog at all!
What a great sounding conference. I’m sure you’ll do a wonderful job speaking. And Washington D.C. What a rich city. I pray this conference will be a encouragement to many.
Thank you, Naomi! I appreciate the prayers!
I’m so glad that you’ve posted on this subject, because I want to grow my blog for His glory. I have a story. I want to help others. I shall be praying about the conference. If I could find a sponsor, then I know my husband would totally give me his blessing in regards to the conference!
Thank you, Shannon. It’s a subject I am very passionate about, but don’t talk about much. People blog for a lot of different reasons, but if you are Christian, your #1 reason had better be for God! Blessings to you, Shannon…would love to see you there!
Do you have to be a homeschooling mom to take advantage of this conference? I have a devotional site for moms that I had to give up for the last year but will be restarting soon. Would it benefit me? My kids go to a private school…
Alicia – YES! It would definitely benefit you. There is a homeschooling track and a blogging track. You are able to mix and match from both or stick to just one track, so it would be perfect for you!
I wish I could
We made a decision months ago that if I still had a blog this Christmas we would start investing in it. I have a blog (though I have not posted much lately due to some crazy life happening), but I don’t see investing for a while.
I understand completely, Debra. I recently told another blogger that if God doesn’t have you there right now, that is ok and not to feel guilty or worry about what others are doing. Follow the Lord’s leading.
I was just reading about this conference and then saw you post show up on facebook. I would love to attend this and see God move in my life and my blog. I have been so blessed as a new blogger to receive such encouragement from other women like you. It is so easy to feel like you are the only one in this world who seeks to raise your children in the truth. I have been so blessed to meet so many wonderful women! It has amazed me that anyone wants to read about my everyday mess and failures as I seek to raise my children for Him. I hope to see you there and pray that God will provide the funds to make it possible.
Thank you!
Mary
We do find such encouragement from each other…just knowing we aren’t alone. Would love to see you there, Mary!
I started a blog months ago. However, I haven’t blogged…in months. I always have lots to say on FB. I used to keep a livejournal that I update multiple times a day, but it was just random stuff. Now that I’m a stay-at-home mom w/ a 3rd baby on the way, planning to homeschool and we are barely scraping by, I would love to supplement our income by blogging, but I don’t feel like I have enough important things to say or the time to say it in an organized and sponsor-worthy manner. I have strong opinions on motherhood, fatherhood, parenting, homeschooling, church, etc…but I don’t feel like I have anything to put out there that isn’t already out there. How do you really get into this? Being that I will be 8 months pregnant at the time of the conference, I don’t see that I could pull that off
Donna,
Congratulations on your newest little one! When I first started writing, I started by praying and asking the Lord to guide me. I clearly felt He was leading me to write about what He was teaching me in my own life. So, that’s what I did. And it seemed to resonate with others.
OOO, I need to check my calendar. I would LOVE to go. I must make a plan!
Would love to see you there, Sue!
Just the extra little encouragement and push I needed. As of right now, I am planning on going. I know I could learn so much for those who will be speaking!
Wonderful!
Wonderful, Amy!
I just took my “leap of faith” and wrote a blog post looking for sponsorship for 2:1. I went to another conference, but my hubby was my sponsor; it ended up being quite expensive for us. Lesson learned, no more conferences for this momma unless I can get full sponsorship. Thank you for being so inspiring!
Good luck on getting a sponsorship, Jamerrill! It would be great to get a chance to meet!
I saw that! Praying for you, Jamerrill!
I am so glad that I found your blog in 2011 and this is a great wrap-up of your success during the year. It is also perfect for me to be able to go back and see how YOU DID IT. Being purposeful is essential to success and for me, the first two years were willy-nilly. Coming up on the 3 year blogging anniversary, I can say that I am learning a lot from other bloggers about how to do this thing the RIGHT way.
It’s a learning curve for sure!
Thanks for sharing about this conference. I know $199 may be expensive for some, but it is a great price compared to some of the seminars I’ve attended in the past few years. Will be praying about this one. Would love to meet some of you in person.