The new year is a time when many people make “New Year’s Resolutions,” but I quit doing that a long time ago. For me, that term has become synonymous with “January goal,” because not many of them make it past the end of the month. They’ve become a bit of a joke, don’t you think? However, My husband and I are big believers in goal-setting. I actually take goals pretty seriously, so I make them carefully.
Looking Back
Homeschooling was a huge goal! I believed that God asked me to homeschool our kids, and that helped me to be committed to the very end. When our daughter graduated high school and that goal was met, I found myself thinking, “Now what?” Homeschooling had been all-consuming for fourteen years, so suddenly it was like I had a blank slate in front of me and I wondered how I’d fill it.
When I started blogging back in May, I chose the name “Mid-Life Blogger” because it seemed to perfectly describe where I was, and what I thought I’d be writing about. I spend some time looking back, sharing my experiences and memories. I also look forward to what the future might hold. As this year comes to an end I’m thinking back over my first seven months of blogging. I’ve learned a lot of new things and had new experiences. I learned that there’s a lot more to blogging than I’d ever imagined. In fact, writing may be the least of it. I’ve learned terminology, the technical aspect of putting a blog together and publishing posts, a little coding, how frustrating “algorithms” can be, and made a bunch of new blogging friends.
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Highlights from 2016
I’ve published about sixty posts so far. If you found my blog recently, then I invite you to explore my past posts by skimming the categories or archives. Here are some highlights from this past year.
I had the pleasure of interviewing David Hunt, the co-writer of the movie, Greater, for Greater Inspiration ~ An Interview with David Hunt.
I also got to interview my neighbor and friend, Bob Brumley, twice, for Albert Brumley’s Memory Valley and “I’ll Fly Away” in Greater Role.
BBQ Station, our family restaurant, was featured in a three-page magazine article as a result of the post I wrote about them.
Warnings from a Retired Homeschool Mom was my #1 homeschooling post, and my first “viral.” 
The Well-Armed Woman published my post about their organization in their national newsletter.
Looking Forward
I’ve set a goal to improve my photography skills this next year, and my husband helped by giving me a DSLR camera for Christmas. I’m learning how to use it and hope I’ll be able to add better pictures to my posts. I found a free online course that looks like a fun way to learn. If you’re also interested, it’s at http://ayearwithmycamera.com/. The course is free, but there’s an optional workbook that you can order from Amazon that goes with it. Be sure to let me know if you join, too. We can learn together.
In general, I plan to continue to learn and improve my blog. I like exploring and look forward to seeing where Mid-Life Blogger takes me, and what new people I meet. I have some fun ideas for the coming year, so be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on anything.
I wish you health and happiness in 2017!
Comments
I’m glad you started blogging, so we could meet!
Author
Thanks! Me, too!
Agreed!
I’m glad I met you this year! As another retired homeschool mom, I really appreciate knowing that someone else is going through the same sense of “exploring what’s next” in life.
I love to see everyone reflect on the past year, it is so fun to see all the accomplishments of everyone!
Author
True! I hope I have more this year.
Wow! So inspiring to see all the ways that you have made a difference with blogging! Great job Michelle!! Can’t wait to see what this year brings for you. Do you have any big plans you can share with your fans?
Author
Fans?! That’s funny! You’re too kind. Besides photography, I have some ideas for posts but prefer to keep them a surprise. I know I’ll learn a lot, but I think that even I will be surprised at what all that entails.
You have had a great year and are well on track for making 2017 just as great!
Author
Thank you, Kim!
That is so awesome you want to expand your knowledge of photography 🙂 You take lovely photos
Author
Thank you! I appreciate that. I’ve been just using my iphone – it’s always handy and takes pretty good pictures, but since starting to blog I’d like to be able to get more creative with it, and take sharper ones.
I feel the same way about goals vs. resolutions. Here is to a new year of attainable goals!
Author
Here! Here!