I have been writing here in this space for four years now.

Four years of writing and hitting “publish” once a week, every week.

Four years is a long time in the world of blogs. Not many make it this long.

To be honest, just last month I was afraid I would have to take a break.

This fourth baby has been, well, difficult.

This year of beginning to homeschool and being pregnant and then caring for an extra fussy newborn has threatened to sink me at times.

Since I couldn’t give back the baby (don’t worry…I didn’t really want to…mostly…except every once in a while at two in the morning…) or quit educating my child or let my house return to nature, it seemed as though my writing was the only thing I could let go.

Except that God wouldn’t allow me to let it go. There was always something in my heart that He wanted me to say.

Often it was pounded out in five minute spaces and published even though it didn’t feel polished or very well crafted. Yet every time I was obedient to hit that publish button, even when I felt the most inadequate, I heard back from someone about how those words were exactly what they needed to hear.

So I keep writing.

I keep writing and I keep publishing in this little space of mine.

Except it isn’t really mine, is it?

It belongs to God and has always belonged to God, so as long as He keeps asking me to write, even when I don’t have the time to perfectly craft each word to make it sing, I will continue to obey.

Someday I’ll have more time. Someday these little ones won’t be quite so dependent on me and I’ll be able to pursue those bigger writing dreams of mine.

Until then, I’ll be faithful in this season of my life. I’ll hold those tiny, sturdy, beautiful bodies extra close and then snatch a few minutes here and there to jot down what I have in my heart. I’ll enjoy this season of writing in between nursing and playing dollhouse and reading aloud.

I hope you’ll continue to read and be encouraged, even when the words don’t flow as well as they used to.

I’m grateful that God has chosen me to be their mommy and I’m grateful that God has chosen me to write in this space.

So here is where I live: trying my best to be faithful in all that God has given me.

I will end this year, as I have each year of blogging, with this:

Whatever the reason for my writing, here I am in this space.  I will continue to obey, even though it is hard and often causes my heart to feel fear.  I will write.  God will listen.  I pray He will continue to be pleased.