Although it may seem like a contradiction or oxymoron to say that I’m looking forward to looking back, it’s still true, nonetheless! Let me explain… When I was a teenager, I filled a few journals. I would scribble out all my heartaches & frustrations, all about my crushes, my hopes, dreams, and fears. In my mind’s eye, I saw myself as an undiscovered young writer along the lines of characters I adored such as Jo March, from Little Women, or John Boy Walton in his wire-rimmed glasses, scribbling away. I thought that maybe, just maybe, someday, my old journals would be discovered & fascinate the people of the future by my archaic thoughts & ideas?

When I grew older and tried to journal as an adult, I found it much harder to be consistent in writing every day. I haven’t finished a single journal, cover to cover, since high school… My hopes and dreams changed, of course; they shifted and grew into other aspirations over the years. I believe, because I cherished the hope of one day having my children come across my old journals in boxes up in the attic, I failed to find the right words. The perfectionist in me wanted those future, fabled children to read through my experiences & be inspired. In recent years, when I’ve sat down and started writing, because conceiving & pregnancy were so uncertain, I failed to find the words, again. Pouring out my heartache and grief only served to make me feel much worse about my circumstances and left me wallowing in the muck & mire of despair. Looking back on those pages, filled with bitterness, anger and pain made me so ashamed of myself…

Beginning A Cheerful Giver is a different story, all together! I’m eager to share more of my story & experiences. The possibility of laying bare the various mistakes, shortcomings & pitfalls of my past & personality to a potential audience of family, friends & perfect strangers in cyberspace, is both daunting & thrilling! If I’m able to comfort or encourage even one other person; or if I’m able to generate awareness for PCOS sufferers; if I can spare someone else the pain or heartache I’ve lived through, I will consider this blog a massive success!

Every time I log into my WordPress account, I learn something new! I tweak a page, or come up with a new draft… I’m constantly discovering how to share better through these social media tools. I’m so thankful for the ease of access & opportunity to share my testimony, the work of the Holy Spirit in my life, and the love of Jesus Christ! I can’t wait to begin blogging about the wonderful little country church I attend (West Caton Baptist), the Bible passages that I’m reading daily, and the incredible resources that encourage me.

These are the reasons I’m looking forward to looking back… I’m interested to see in six months, a year, five years (Lord willing) what will become of DoGoodDots & A Cheerful Giver? It will be neat to see all the changes that are sure to come as I learn more about blogging & having a charity mission. I certainly hope there will be loads of positive, personal growth… that the Light of Christ will grow ever brighter & stronger in me!

As I come up with new designs, and as opportunities to donate and give come around, I will share them all with you! Speaking of which, 3 projects coming up will be a piece for Aidan’s Avengers in the month of March (details to come), the Sayre Public Library Auction for the month of April, and Survivor’s Day to honor cancer survivors in June! Stay tuned! I’ll post as often as I’m able! I pray that you will know peace, and grace upon grace!