I have some fun news, friends. Like God-sized dream, hugenormous, fun news.
And of course it starts with a story.
Nearly five years ago, I sat in a cold, empty office building with a heart that matched. My husband and I lived hundreds of miles away from our family & friends, the baby we so badly wanted wasn’t coming, and life was a little bit sad for me. I logged onto this new thing called a Twitter party, and immediately felt connected to something larger than myself. I was able to talk about Christ with other women – new friends! – as this website, www.incourage.me, hosted an online party. After that hour was up, I skipped back to our sweet little house on the prairie, heart full and mind racing.
(in)courage has meant so very much to me over these last four years. After that Twitter party, I visited the site daily, left comments, and followed them on all their social platforms. The day they followed me back, I honest to Pete did a happy dance on my orange linoleum kitchen floor. Eventually I submitted a guest post, and participated in their online book club. (in)courage held an un-conference, and I co-hosted here in MN. It opened the door to new friendships and a deeper, wider connection to the (in)courage community. Then they began these cool online community groups, and I co-led one with an old friend until a new friend asked if I’d like more of a leadership role with the community groups. I became actual (in)courage staff!
A couple months ago, (in)courage posted that they were doing something they’d never done before – opening their beach house doors for new contributors to the site. I gulped and prayed and submitted my application and prayed… and the (in)courage team felt God was saying yes. To me. Joining a powerhouse team of absolutely incredible writers. Lisa-Jo sent me an email with the yes, and when I got it I yippeed and cried and danced and my little Boy said, ‘mommygirl ok?’ =)
I’m still feeling all those things, and I also feel small and humbled, and terrified and nauseous, and proud of the journey that’s led me here, and for the first time in a lifetime of words I feel like a writer. Not because my words will join the chorus at (in)courage, but because the pieces are finally coming together in a heart that needed mending. This space of mine, right here, is where I continue to find my voice, and one of the best parts of this space is hearing you. YOU come, and you share your voice and stories and words, and I am better because of it. Now we get to do the very thing we do over my fence, the thing where we share our stories, over at a beach house too.
I am a writer, and you can now find me writing at (in)courage.
– Anna {girl with blog}
If you’re here for the first time… welcome.
You are so welcome at this little fence of mine.
Could we please keep connecting? Find me on:
twitter
instagram
facebook
pinterest
I can’t wait to hear your story.
Yippeeeee!! I can FINALLY breathe out the secret!! I’m SO proud of you and your willingness to just bring up the messy and truthful parts of life that everyone thinks need to be hidden away. I love how you’ve led me to {in}courage and shown me the beauty there. So grateful and blessed to call you ‘friend’.
Thank you, dear Kate. So grateful you’re part of my story.
Anna! I have happy tears for you this morning! This is the best Monday morning surprise!
Thank you, Vicki!! Can’t even say how I appreciate your excitement in celebrating with me!!
And now you have me crying. You ARE a writer, and your words bless me 🙂 Grateful to serve these amazing women alongside you!
LOVE you, dear friend. Thank you for being such encouragement to me (and so many others). Grateful to have (in)courage as one of our common threads!!
Congratulations, Anna!
Thank you, Pattie!
Congratulations Anna!
Small, humbled, terrified, and nauseous? Oh good, then it’s not just me. So glad to be on this team with you. I remember hating twitter when it I first started. I felt is was a necessary evil because that’s what bloggers did and it was awful. I would just tweet out into the cosmos and nothing. I got a few egg people followers whose handles were random letters and numbers but it wasn’t until I connected with this community and five minute Friday that I started to find my people. I’m so glad you’re one of them and that we’re not doing this alone. And now I love Twitter. Who knew?
Girl, you have ALWAYS been an amazing writer! Everytime I stop by here I am blown over by peace, connection, and real-ism!! I am so excited for you!
I’ve been feeling nervous and nauseous today, too. And twinges of guilty for the limited spots open others wanted, and then and grateful and overwhelmed. So glad it’s not just me. I can’t wait to read your story and get to know your heart Anna! I love you already :).