Blog vs Email Updates

I was in a hurry when I emailed folks about converting to a blog, so there may have been some confusion and a possible email glitch. Let me try to clarify.

Emailing updates worked great to a point. I got to a place where I had to spend more time on managing the email list than reflecting and sharing our journey. It’s a great problem to have because that means so many folks are praying, but on the advice of and with help from several techno-savvy friends, I decided to use the blog as means of communicating updates instead of emails.

The upside to this plan is that nobody has to worry about retyping what I send out so that they can send it to friends. Everyone can just pass along this blog link to their prayer circles, small groups, friends, and family. It also allows there to be one place with the most current and accurate information.

I expect to post here once a day, typically late in the evening like when I used to send out the prayer updates. I’ll also post photos here from time to time. This blog has a link that can notify folks via email every morning if I’ve updated the blog.

A down side to the blog that I didn’t see coming was the sudden halt to encouraging emails and notes that we’d get after sending out an email update. Those notes were so meaningful to us in part because of the words and thoughts conveyed, but also because it helped us know that we were not alone, that we were not sharing our thoughts, struggles, and joys with an empty vacuum, but rather to a vast network of people who care about and love on us.

While the blog may feel less personal, believe me I pour just as much vulnerability and authenticity into it as I did those emails. However, it feels like sharing with a black hole at times.

One of the neat things about this blog is that you have the opportunity to share in the journey. At the bottom of my posts, there’s a link to add comments. A couple of folks have left notes of encouragement there, which is awesome and really appreciated! And because everyone can see the notes, I suspect that they will indirectly encourage the rest of y’all reading and praying. Feel free to also post about your experiences or stories there too about how God is working in you through this.

Like I said in one of the previous updates, this whole ordeal is about God working in each of us, teaching us to trust him, to depend on him, to communicate well in the midst of intense emotion, to engage fear and anxiety, to process anger and despair. Whatever may come with Peyton, good or bad, our God is still the sovereign. He reigns over all, and that we cannot forget while we walk this road.