Jan
26
Hi! I’m Marla, and this is my first day at my new blog. Thanks so much for coming over! (Unlike the time I invited 40+ women and children to my house before I realized they wouldn’t all fit in a million years, there’s room for everyone here!)
I’m going to be upfront from the get-go. It’s going on 3 a.m. in my neck of the woods. My hubby has been laboring most of the day to get this blog up and running (Thank you, Gabe! You’re A-MA-ZING!), and I’ve been working for the last 5 hours getting everything moved over from my old site (Thanks for the past 3 years, Xanga! It’s been a hoot!). Sooooo…if things seem a little loopy around here, we can blame it on that. (unless you’ve known me for awhile and know better)
Our pastor’s message at church this morning (well, yesterday morning now, I guess) was all about community. How we need each other. How we can’t do life on our own. How God Himself models community as our Three-in-One God. It was powerful stuff. And made me think of all of you. Some of you I’m thrilled to know in real life. Some of you have touched my life profoundly through our interaction on the internet. Some of you I haven’t met yet–but hope to soon!
I’m thankful for you. So thankful.
I want everyone to feel welcomed and at home here, so would you do me a favor and tell me just a little bit about YOU? Maybe your first name (if you’d like), your home state (or country), what you’re passionate about, where you blog (if you do), what your favorite color is, what you’d do with $50 if someone handed it to you today… Stuff like that. And if I know you (or know of you) in real life, share how we met!
I’ll start. I’m Marla. I live in Ohio. I blog right here. I’ve got an awesome hubby and three darling girlies. I’m passionate about Jesus and my family and writing and zoos. I love words and flowers. I like blue. And with $50? I’d buy Lettuce Wraps and Mongolian Ginger Chicken from Pei Wei and put the rest in our Zoo Fund. I go to bed too late, I lose my temper too often, and I can’t control my clutter. But I desperately want to follow Jesus, and He’s all about grace and forgiveness. My life isn’t without its struggles at the moment, but my goodness, my God is good.
How about you?? Leave a comment (as personal or impersonal as you’d like), and I’ll love you for life.
Thanks again for stopping by! Have an awesome day!
Hi, I’m Ellen from Ohio. We just moved from Cleveland to small-town living in Northwest Ohio. I’ve been following your blog for a a few months, though I rarely post a comment on it because I’m pretty shy. I don’t have a blog (yet) but have been contemplating starting one about the small town life from the perspective of a city girl. You know how some people follow soap operas or Survivor? Well my husband and I can’t live without the sherrif’s report in our small town newspaper – it’s an absolute riot. You’d have to see it to believe it. I kid you not…in last month’s paper someone called in reporting a be-headed squirel in their back yard! ????? Haha! Anyway, what to do with $50? My husband is studying for the CPA exams and I’d probably put the money towards the tests because they are exxxppeeensive!
Oh yeah, and I’m also a Cedarville graduate!
Greetings Marla, First of all your husband is amazing…I have never met him, but I see what he does for you and what he means to you…God is great! I am totally addicted to ready your blogs…sometimes I wait til the end of my week to read them all at once. It’s then a extra treat:0
Anyways…I went to highschool with you back in the days..and soooo enjoyed our friendship. We were sure goofy together and I will always remember you and feel a special bond. I have a absolutely amazing husband, Matt and 2 precious Boys-MItchell 4 & Miles 2, and one more to make “3″. Baby boy Mack is on the way in May. I enjoy your stories about “girls stuff”…I don’t know quite what that means in my house:) Ha!
We have been married for 5 years. We have amazing family on both sides…and that means the world to us! I love to RELAX…which is very hard for me to do, I am a on the run type of person, and when I do sit down, I fall asleep:) I love also my family, scrapbooking, being outdoors, and laughing til my belly hurts! My favorite color is hot pink today that is, I have many colors I love…depends on my mood. I live in Ohio and if I had $50.00 I would donate it to one of these poor family members that are being layed off due to mayor coleman’s misuse of spendings~~~God bless them all during this difficult time~~!
Hey Marla! I’m also new to your blog – meeting you through Bigmama’s blog. I don’t have a blog – I just conveniently lurk and then comment every now and then!! I’ve been married almost 21 years to my wonderful husband and we have 2 teenage daughters – believe me it’s crazy around here at times! I work full-time doing medical transcription from home so I feel like I work 24/7 some days, but reading blogs throughout the day gives me a brief break in the day and almost always makes me laugh and/or love Jesus even more! Outside of those things I like to walk/jog, love to read, watch movies with my hubby, laugh with my girls, and listen to music. My favorite color kinda changes…sometimes green, sometimes blue and sometimes even red, doesn’t make sense I know! I’m addicted to facebook, live in Georgia and probably would spend $50 towards a new pair of running shoes!!
Hi Marla! I am new to your blog, but found it through Big Mama’s website and I am so looking forward to reading your books – the blushing bride one, to be exact, as I am a going on 5 months newlywed!
I am passionate about my Jesus, my husband, my family, books, writing, decorating, and the best sport ever – SHOPPING! My favorite color is pink, favorite book is To Kill A Mockingbird, and I would probably spend $50 at Target or Ann Taylor Loft (at the sale rack).
I am Kelley, 25 years old, and a Southern belle from SC. Go Tigers!
I’m looking forward to keeping up with you on my blogroll! The site looks fabulous! Yay for awesome hubbies!
Hi Marla, my name is Cydney but my nickname is Lou and I have been called that all my 42 years so far. I have a wonderful 3 year old son, Colton, and my husband, Jeffrey, and I have been married for 14 years come Mar. 27. We live in a little community in the north east corner of Mississippi. If you gave me 50 bucks right now I can tell you I would splurge on a really good meal out because I am starving a the moment and food is all I am thinking about. I love Jesus too but I know I don’t really please Him most of the time. I am soooooo thankful that He still loves me anyway.
Your husband is so sweet…..
I just saw your blog from another…and can’t remember which one it was now. Oh well. I think Angie Smith’s…
Intrigued by your adventure. Sounds great! Have fun. At which zoo will they all start to seem the same?
I am married, have three boys, and love Jesus….
am trying to live a life to make him smile~
Hi, I’m Amy. I live in Dallas.
I’m passionate about becoming closer to God. I’m much better at that head knowledge thing than the heart thing, but I’m learning. I thank God frequently for allowing me to be a work in progress. I know that I am making strides because I get giddy when He wakes me early (even earlier than my alarm), just so that we can spend time together in the quiet of my house before the chaos starts. I am loving Him more and more everyday and learning to be more comfortable with my emotions. I am a Women’s Ministry coordinator at my church, and I adore ministering to women. I feel blessed to be able to give of myself in service to God in a way that I find so enjoyable. I am constantly on the lookout for where God is inviting me to join Him at work. If you look hard enough, you will find Him in the strangest places, looking for you.
I am an avid blog reader but not a blog writer. Does it count if I am an avid Facebook user? I think that is as close as I will get, as I am trying so hard to set healthy computer boundaries while I am raising three kids. I enjoy reading so many wonderful blogs written by inspiring Christian women. Thanks for your words of wisdom (and reality)!
I used to love blue, but I am beginning to love the color red. I think that is a side effect of me learning to lose my shyness a bit.
If someone gave me $50, I would likely put it towards paying down debt. Sometimes, we have to be practical ….
(By the way, I love the new look of your blog, and I’m looking forward to being able to keep up with your posts easier at your new location. Yippee for blog readers!)
Hi Marla,
My name is Kelly Wassner. I live in Indianapolis, IN with my husband Jon and a cat named Maddie. Jon wrote a travel guide to America’s Best Zoos and you met him first at Indianapolis Zoo. I’ve haven’t gotten to meet you yet, but I can’t wait when we come to Columbus sometime this spring or summer! You also persuaded me to start a blog (which I try to update, but need to get more in the habit!)
I teach first grade and love, love, love it! If I had $50 I would probably go spend it at a teacher store and buy some cool experiments to do with my class.
I just met your blog thanks to your book “Expecting.” I can’t wait to get my hands on it!
I am Donita. I live in sunny Arizona with my husband and two boys (3yo and 3 mo). I love my family, I love to study God’s word, I love to read and I love the desert. I have a little blog because Stephanie at Metropolitan Mama, ironically she made the previous blog comment, persuaded me. Indeed, I love to write about what God is doing and what I observe, but I find that “publishing” something in the blog-world is too labor-intensive…pondering, writing, re-writing, debating, starting over. I’ll blame my perfectionist tendancies, but I think it’s really just because blogging isn’t my thing. We’ll see what the future holds!
Hi, I’m Stephanie. I live in sunny Arizona and I blog at Metropolitan Mama. I love God, my handsome husband, my active and adorable two-year-old, and the little baby girl that I haven’t yet met (she’s due in March). If I had $50, I would save it (I’m just the super saver type)…
Hi- I’m Joyce and live in a little village about 15 miles outside of central London. We’ve been here almost 6 years, came from Annapolis MD. I am new to blogging-just started mine in fact. I’d love some visitors : ) I became interested in blogland when I started reading the LPM blog..one click leads to another and next thing you know you have your own blog. I have two sweet daughters who are both now living in the US, attending the same university, one a junior and one a freshman so this is my first year as an ‘empty nester’
Living abroad has been an adventure. God has taught me so much in the past few years as we’ve settled ‘on the far side of the sea’. We’re really at home here in England but expect to move back to the US this year.
I love to read, cook, travel…I love bible study and have hosted a women’s group in my home for the past four years, mostly doing Beth Moore studies with a few others mixed in along the way.
My favorite color is yellow-like the sun-I miss the sun. If someone gave me $50 I’d buy books, they are my weakness (well, one of them anyway)
I like the design of your new blog…Cheers, Joyce
Great site, Marla (good job, Gabe)! I’m following over from Xanga… been thinking about switching from xanga myself lately, but we shall see. My own blogging is inconsistent enough as is… never seem to have a problem reading other people’s blogs though.
I live in Ohio, my favorite color is blue, and I just bought two copies of Expecting for my friends. One just found out she’s pregnant last week (so SO excited for her!) and the other hopes to start trying as soon as her hubby gets health insurance (hopefully by the end of February). If someone gave me $50, I would add it to our home projects fund – can’t wait to give the bathroom and kitchen a much needed face lift!
Hi Marla –
I enjoy keeping up with you and your adorable family. I found you BEFORE I even realized you were related to one of my best friends. I almost got to meet you in person at a Women of Faith conference. And even though you only live a little over an hour away – I’ve given up on ever meeting you in real life. I think we’re destined to be blog buddies. Actually you blog, I read and it’s all good. I would love to blog more but I don’t have enough hours in the day (I suppose you know that feeling.) What would I do with $50 – I’d use it as a scholarship and send a girl to the purity conference at Beulah Beach. I’m so excited Jess is going to be there with us! This is my fifth conference in Ohio. It’s been awesome to watch these young women learning to live a lifestyle of purity. My color currently – I would have to say is orange. I’m sitting here staring at my creamy pumpkin wall and burnt sienna accent wall thinking I’m VERY content with my humble abode. I think I just wrote more here than I’ve blogged in a year. hehe!