Caravan Sonnet... 6 Years Later and a New Website Design

Since I started writing on this little space in January 2013 (you can read my very first post HERE which just makes me smile), the world of blogging (or as I affectionately call it), "bloggy world" has changed significantly. At the time in 2013 many blogs that I followed and connected with were writing to share their personal lives with readers... a way to connect outside the world that we each lived in. Everyday stories mixed with tips and ideas about how to live fully abounded and it was a sweet time to join "bloggy world". In the midst of so many amazing bloggers and authors who were pouring their hearts out I felt immediately embraced into the "blogging club" and think back to precious friendships (that have sweetly continued) to this day. 

For me personally I started this blog as a way to reach out from beyond my bedridden existence at the time (due to illness) and as a simple way to keep friends, family, and loved ones informed of what was going on with my confusing health story (which ironically was only going to get more complicated in the months to come). When I started writing in January 2013 I did not know that I was dealing with Advanced Late Stage Lyme Disease, Skin Cancer, or a myriad of other health issues. 

In a twist of irony, I didn't even really write about my health issues on the blog (except for some very general terms) until March 25th, 2013- in very brief details. At the time I did so only because there was a rumor going around that I had Cancer and wasn't sharing my diagnosis out of concern for my former students. At that time I was still a full month away from my diagnosis of Skin Cancer and was not aware of that component of my health journey.

I recently spent some time re-reading back through those first few months of the blog. I remember beyond my words that I was writing the tears behind the scenes, the extreme daily pain that I was in, the intense stomach issues that left me spending any free time away from my bed on the bathroom floor, the lack of support from the medical community, the inability to walk without help, the questions, the confusion, the questions in my faith, the loss of friends and independence, the fear, the unknown, and a desperate yearning to reach out and to grab life despite all of these things. 

At the same time there was a beauty to that time period that is impossible to explain unless you have walked through a complete crisis in your life. The complete resoluteness of knowing what you believe, why you believe it, and knowing that despite all circumstantial evidence to the contrary your faith remains in tact. That you can say without hesitancy ... "and if not... he is still good". It is a coming to the end of yourself... the end of what you envision for your life to be and coming to a peace and acceptance of the ways and walls of God. 

This has been a road that I never would have asked to walk. Yes, there was and still are deep questions about the future with certain areas of my health and there is a deep sadness after "losing" so many precious years to Advanced Late Stage Lyme Disease. I put the word "losing" in parentheses because I have realized that while I used to think that I was losing my thirties (what some have called "the best years of your life") nothing is lost when it is in the hands of our all loving God. I think back to what I wrote in 2013 about learning to be faithful in this new assignment of sickness... and what I have learned is that God has been faithful despite all of my times of unfaithfulness. 

The story... I have learned is not about me... but is once again about Him. Some have asked what this looks like for this new season- and how my health is... and right now I am working on writing more about that ... but wanted to share a deep moment of gratitude for your support, your love, and the community that has been built over all of these years here at Caravan Sonnet. 

As this blog has changed and morphed into what it is now I remain so grateful for your love and blessing and support along the way. Over the course of these last six years I have grown as a person and a woman. It is not only in the outward areas of writing books, founding Twenty History Lane, and starting two shops (December Caravan and December Lane), but in the deeper aspects of life-by processing in this space through a variety of topics that include life, faith, and love.

I don't think that you can write in a space for six years and it not change you. Being sick and fighting for my life has taught me to go beyond the surface and to understand a persons story - their history and who they are and the journey that has brought them to the place in life where our lives are intersecting.

The same is true for this place on the blog- and how I share the travel aspect -the history and the story behind a place and a building- the stories here are significant too. In many ways it feels like the blog is coming into a new season in a deep full circle way. Some people say this type of blogging has gone away but I see every single day that it is very much alive in beautiful ways. 

Along with this has come a new season and change in the blog design (very overdue in some ways I am sure *smiles*). I thought it would be fun to take a look back for a minute... 

This picture above was from one of my earliest edition designs (actually it was its third approach at that point)... fun and creative design tabs at the top and creative fonts... bloggy world was just starting to change with these fun additions and I had purchased this design from a friend off of Etsy (she no longer sells designs) and I was so thrilled with it. *smiles* I purchased that design in 2013 and kept that design through 2014 in the summer when I purchased my next design off of Etsy... 

This one I really loved and it was a delightful design to grow and change with as the blog started to change. The girl that designed it was so sweet and helpful and although she doesn't do design work anymore I am grateful for her time and help. I kept this design for the next 4 and 1/2 years... 

And the design worked well... but moving into this new season with some exciting new changes coming up I knew it was time to make the change... and I am so grateful for Eve's work in designing this beautiful space and helping me to see the vision come to be. If you are looking for a gorgeous and professional design I can't recommend her shop enough. Eve has now designed both Twenty History Lane's website and made the custom changes for Caravan Sonnet. She is professional, extremely generous, and patient beyond words. She helps you create those custom websites that you dream of as an entrepreneur but that you can't necessarily afford. Without sacrificing quality she allows you to build the dream site you are wanting. I can't recommend working with her enough - you can find her shop HERE. 

As I move forward friends I just want to say thank you for following along, for joining this community, and for all of your love and support over these last six years. This community has been a huge blessing and built into my life in rich and deep ways. Thank you friends- I can't wait to continue this journey with you!