Caravan Sonnet turns 4 and a HUGE Blogiversary giveaway!

Happy Thursday friends! It is hard to believe that Saturday marked FOUR years of writing in this little space on the internet! What a blessing each of you have been as you have walked these years with me! I never could have dreamt all that the Lord had in store for me these past years and as I start my fourth year writing on the blog I am truly beyond humbled. 

I shared last year how I have set aside my Sundays as a time for prayer, reflection, and connecting more deeply with those whom the Lord has placed in front of me. Each Sunday I look forward to gathering with the body of Christ and then spending the day truly immersed in the present. Because I spend so much time on the internet due to my health issues, connecting with others, book projects, work projects, etc. these hours are preciously guarded and very special to me. 

But this Sunday I did something a bit different. I decided that in honor of Caravan Sonnet turning 4 I would read back through all of my old posts that I have written and shared in this space that holds so much of my heart. As I started at the beginning and read my very first post  and smiled deeply. The girl that wrote that post had no idea what the next months and years would bring and as I ponder the past I marvel at the Lord's intricate hand weaving a unique story. One that is different than I could have ever imagined. One that has seen a lot of pain and messiness and yet has fought to find a way to have joy in the midst of the difficult. One that never would have suspected that I would become an author, start speaking and sharing my story, travel and see so many beautiful things, start an Etsy shop, become the founder of Grace Engaged, and so many other things that are absolutely beautiful. 

I never could have imagined the lovely ways that this space would help me grow as I have processed through so much about myself, life, and God. Thank you so much for your sweet support, love, and prayers through the difficult days and your love and excitement through the milestones and joys of this journey. 

I receive so many different emails asking for "blogging advice". I am so humbled and while I don't think of myself as an expert I have shared in the past some thoughts and tips. If you are looking for blogging advice, please check out the posts below:

 Six Tips to Help Your Blog Make and Impact and a Difference in this World
 Six Ways to Stop the Comparison Game and Love Your Blog
 the 12 Unwritten and Important Etiquette Rules of Blogging
blogging advice: three years later
blogging advice: two years later
blogging advice: 1 year later
blogging advice from the nine month newbie
blogging advice from the six month newbie
 blogging advice from the three month newbie

But beyond the advice I want to share something that is deeply on my heart for this coming year with this blog and my personal life. There is a reason that I knew the word for the year was "rachat". The Lord is doing beautiful redemptive and restorative things in my health and in my life. I look forward to sharing more things and plans and goals for this year, but please know that I look forward to continuing to walk this beautiful journey of faith with each of you. 

I want to say thank you so much to each of you for taking the time to read, comment, and connect. I pray that you leave here encouraged to grow in your relationship with the Lord, that you are inspired to life fully and beautifully, and that you leave here inspired to the time to delight in the beauty of the days that the Lord has given. 

As a small thank you for being apart of this community I wanted to host a special giveaway of items that are dear to my heart for one lucky winner:

(1) ESV Interleaved Journaling Bible (Retails for $139)
(2) 1 Quarter of winner's choice of crate from The Novel Garden (Retails for $49.99-$109.00)
(3) Signed Copy of December Caravan (Retails for $13.99)
(4) "I am Thine" Wissmann Family CD (Retails for $12.00)
(5) $10 Giftcard to December Caravan Etsy Shop
(5) $5 Starbucks Giftcard

A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO CALLIE FROM THROUGH CLOUDED GLASS FOR WINNING!!! 

(GIVEAWAY CLOSED) This giveaway will be hosted here on the blog and on my IG page with ONE winner being picked. To receive entries to win enter through Rafflecopter below and head on over to my IG page to find out how you can earn additional entries! (Giveaway starts today and ends on Tuesday, January 31st- 11:59pm EST)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 Thank you again for living life with me this year! 
With lots of love,