Another Big Announcement: What I’m Doing After I Move!

This is a fun post to write. My last post was therapeutic to write, but this post, this one is fun. And really, really exciting. With just a dash of oh-shoot-can-I-really-do-this?

Here it is, right here: After leave my current job and move, I am going to pursue full time blogging!

*Cue music*

*Cue cheering*

*Cue disco ball*

*Cue fireworks*

*Cue streamers*

*Cue me screaming*

I have wanted to write for a living for a really, really long time. When I was a little girl in first grade, I vividly remember Ms. Jones asking my class to write down instructions on how to tie a shoe. I immediately looked down at my bright white Keds (it must have been at the beginning of the school year if they were still white), untied the laces, and methodically retied them, wondering how I could capture a series of movements and actions on a piece of paper in words. I completed the assignment and remember Ms. Jones praising me on my clear instructions and colorful vocabulary. Even at the ripe age of five or six, I was truly fascinated with the idea that I could experience something, learn something, or discover something–and then write it down in a way that allowed another person to experience, learn, or discover the same thing too.

Clearly I couldn’t have communicated this in elementary school, but what I’ve grown to deeply love about writing is that words are like threads that tie people together, creating a beautiful web of ideas and encouragement and new information. This blog, and sharing my headspace through it, is one of my favorite-favorite-favorite pieces of my life-puzzle right now, and has been for several years, since its inception.

You see, shortly after I began this blog in college (which was originally called Blair Sunderland Blogs…Sunderland is my middle name!), I started dreaming about a day when I could blog full-time. Some of my passion for writing was being squelched through college essays and term papers and final exams, but this blog space was wide open and creative–exactly what I needed. I have nearly four years of journals with brief penned prayers, like “I don’t know how this would be possible, but I would love to write full time,” or “God, I pray that I would have the opportunity to work on my blog as a job at some point in my life,” or even specifically, “My goal is to be blogging full time by Taylor and Caleb’s wedding,” which just occurred in late May.

Turns out, the Lord answers prayers! (Who knew?! 😉 ) Also, it turns out that my timeline was only about two months off–not too shabby considering the fact that usually the chasm between when I think something should happen and when God sees fit to make it happen is usually abundantly more deep and wide than two measly months!

In case you care to know, here’s how I arrived at this amazing opportunity: Once Riley and I decided that I would move to Denton after we got married (the process of getting to this decision is outlined in detail in this post), we naturally began to discuss what I would do for work, which is a complicated discussion. I studied Business Marketing in school, worked in the corporate world and hated it (I was laid off as well, further fueling my aversion to the business world), then got a job directing the preschool ministry at a church, which I have loved but don’t see as a long-term career. So, what now?

It didn’t take Riley two minutes to suggest, “I think you should blog full time. You really could do it, and you’ve always wanted to. You should try!”

It didn’t take me two seconds to respond, “That would be AWESOME!”

…I had my doubts, and still do to a lesser degree, but I was (and am!) absolutely thrilled. Unlike a “normal job” (of which I would classify neither my corporate job nor my church job, but that’s beside the point), something as entrepreneurial as blogging doesn’t bring in a steady paycheck each month, but it does have the capacity to grow into a second income for my future family. Blogging doesn’t have the certainty of a 9-5 job, but it provides complete flexibility and creativity, two things that breathe life into my soul. And most importantly, choosing to blog full time isn’t safe, but God is teaching me to be brave, so I’m going to do it anyway, regardless of fear or doubt.

Because if God is going to give me the opportunity to do something that I’ve literally prayed to do for four years, I’m going to do it, dangit! The way this has played out has me repeating this verse: “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart,” Psalm 37:4. I’m continually amazed that the God of the universe even cares that I have this little pipe dream–let alone that He would orchestrate everything in my life to allow my dream to come true! So, so cool. I am honored to delight myself in Christ…and so humbled to see one tiny-but-huge desire come to fruition. Hey God! You are awesome!

So, after our wedding and honeymoon (which lands me in mid-August), I will begin to blog full time. I’m still working on exactly what that’ll look like, but you can most likely expect a new post daily every Monday through Friday, possibly a few e-books, and maybe even a couple of products that I’m still dreaming up!

Huge, heartfelt shoutout to my Riley, who has been nothing but supportive and my biggest fan through this whole scary-but-really-awesome answer to prayer. He tells me every few days, “I believe in you, Blair. You can do this.” Melt a girl’s heart, why don’t ya?

Here’s to new, crazy opportunities. Woohoo! 🙂

image 1 via lovethispic | image 2 via itemsbydesignbird