Category: blogging

my relationship with my blog

Could It Be We Agree?

Since when did it become impossible to discuss politics and religion? Why is it so difficult?

American flag of handprints
one nation, under God, indivisible

Last week I told you about Finding (Un)Common Ground, the new site I’ve launched with writer Lisen Stromberg. We’re publishing side-by-side opinion posts about controversial, potentially divisive topics. We’re not experts; we’re simply moms who would really like to be able to discuss issues with civility. We believe others would like to be able to do the same.

Lisen’s the West Coast liberal and I’m the Southern/Heartland conservative. As expected, we did not agree in our first round of posts last week concerning the terrorist attacks against our embassies in Libya, Egypt, and Yemen.

This week, however, in our second round of posts, something strange happened.

We agreed. Well, sort of.

We weren’t in perfect sync with each other on the responses from Google and the Obama administration regarding the film Innocence of Muslims. That showed up in the comments. But we did agree on one thing: the freedom of speech is a right that must be upheld.

Wow.

blue field of handprints on flag
with liberty and justice for all

I’d say a liberal and a conservative agreeing on the importance of the First Amendment is reason for hope in this brutal election season. It may be rare that Lisen and I agree on anything, but what a great place to begin.

I promise not to blog here every time we post something there. I’ll try to let you know when new posts are up so you can click over to read them if you want.

Yesterday Lisen and I were thrilled that BlogHer syndicated our story. Read both sides in An Uncommon Meeting Sparks Civil Dialogue, Launches New Site.

Is civil dialogue possible? We’re game give it a fighting chance.

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14 NIV

Keep Your Eyes Open, my love. By NeedtoBreathe. I know the fight is on the way when the sides have been chosen. 

Please visit the BlogHer post, share or comment if you like our concept, and have an uncommonly good weekend!

Posted on by Aimee 2

An Uncommon Meeting

Syndicated on BlogHer.com

This post was syndicated by BlogHer on 9.20.12 and featured in the BlogHer Conferences Newsletter on 10.3.12.

I wanted to eat my breakfast.

welcome to blogher '12
welcome to BlogHer ’12

“Okay, everyone,” said Lisa Stone from the stage. “It’s time for Speed Dating.”

Imagine a hotel convention room filled with thousands of women. Not just ordinary women. Blogger women.

That morning, I was late to the BlogHer conference welcome breakfast hosted by co-founders Elisa Camahort Page and Lisa Stone. I was hungry. I wanted to eat.

“Form two big circles around the outside of the room.”

“I hate ice breakers,” I said to myself as I inhaled scrambled eggs. “I hate speed dating.”

“There’s room over on this side. Let’s go, ladies!”

Then it occurred to me. “You bought the ticket. Now get up and speed date!”

I joined the outside circle that faced the inside circle. For the next 20 minutes, the circles moved around each other. And I met fabulous bloggers.

Bloggers who blog about food and family and carpet and cities. Bloggers with beautiful business cards and creative names. Bonbon Break. The Downtown Project. The Succulent Wife.

Our hostesses issued the one-minute warning, and my mind returned to the bacon abandoned on my plate. “Hang on, breakfast. I’m coming!”

I had time to meet one, last blogger.

A gorgeous, vibrant blonde from California introduced herself to me. “Hi, I’m Lisen Stromberg,” she said. “You look so familiar. Where have I seen you?”

“Hi, I’m Aimee Whetstine,” I said and shook hands with her. “I was syndicated on BlogHer this week. You may have seen my face there.”

“What was the article?” said Lisen.

I braced myself. “I wrote the Chick-fil-A post.”

lisen and aimee
Lisen and Aimee

Have you ever witnessed a cat and a dog face off for the first time?

We tried to make small talk about our blogs, but we kept coming back to the issue at hand. I couldn’t understand why civil unions weren’t enough. Lisen couldn’t understand why my church didn’t approve of gay marriage. Back and forth it went. Each of us holding our positions with dignity and without screaming.

There was another blogger waiting to speak to Lisen. As I said goodbye and turned to go, I looked down at Lisen’s business card in my hand.

The moment of truth fell like the sunlight through clouds.

“You know,” I said as I turned back to face her. “We should do something together. We should write about this.”

Lisen’s eyes met mine. Was she thinking the same thing?

“Yes, we should,” she said.

“It would be good for my readers,” I said, “and for yours too, I think.”

“Yes, it would.” she said.

Today Lisen and I set out to create a forum of civil dialogue about the issues that matter. We’re launching a neutral, shared website called Finding (Un)Common Ground.

We’ll regularly post our views on hot topics and invite you to dialogue and share your thoughts. All comments and perspectives are welcomed, provided they are expressed within the bounds of civility.

Today we’re posting about the events this week in Libya and Egypt. I hope you’ll visit, share, and comment.

Civil discourse must be achieved if we are to find understanding and solutions within the issues that divide us and our country.

Please join the dialogue at Finding (Un)Common Ground.

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord:
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.” Isaiah 1:18 ESV

Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. You say tom-ay-to, I say tom-ah-to…

You are invited to read
Finding (Un)Common Ground.
Follow us on Twitter @uncommonground1
and on Facebook, too!

Posted on by Aimee 5

Ghost in the Machine

This past Monday was the first time I’ve cried over technology.

stone woman's face KC Plaza
stone woman’s face, Kansas City Plaza

Don’t know exactly what happened, but for a short time my blog site went down, refusing to show anything but post titles. If it hadn’t been for Bluehost, it might still be down.

Nick the Bluehost tech guy and I ruled out the GoDaddy hacking debacle. We suspect it had to do with a WordPress update. But who really knows what technology is capable of these days? The more we worked on it, the worse it got.

Alas, I’m a ghost in the machine.

If you’re of a certain generation, you’ll remember The Police album Ghost in the Machine. If you’re younger, I’m sorry you missed it. Just kidding. The Police were Sting’s former band.

My new best friend Nick restored my blog from a copy saved the day before. All I lost was what I’d written Monday and, for a few tense moments, my sanity.

What does that mean, ghost in the machine?

Are we merely spirits outfitted in flesh and wandering haphazardly through the mechanics of this world? In my heart I know despite what Madonna says, the material world doesn’t matter. It’s going, going, and someday will be gone.

But I live in the here and now. I breathe the physical. As much as my soul is me, so is my body me. And so is my work, my family, my home, and country, all part of the material world I inhabit. The time and space. The machine.

When the machine’s broken, it’s desperately hard to remember the machine isn’t all there is.

Times Square blur
Times Square blur

What poor creatures we are, living with one foot in the decaying world of trolls, cancer, and terrorism, while the other stretches for a world yet to be made new.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 NIV

You knew this was coming: Spirits in the Material World by The Police.

Ever feel like a ghost in the machine?

 

Posted on by Aimee 8

Want to See All My Flubs? Subscribe!

This morning, I accidentally hit publish rather than save.

Subscribers got a preview of a post in the works for later this week. The draft was up on the site for about 52 minutes before I realized the mistake and pulled it.

This is the second time this has happened in my 19 months of blogging. Misspells and grammatical errors, however, usually average one per post. Yes, I proofread, but mistakes sometimes escape me before I publish, catch, and correct.

If you want to see the inner workings of the blog and catch the flubs before I do, you really should subscribe via email or RSS feed.

Now back to the draft at hand. Good day!

Posted on by Aimee 8

Jedi vs. Bot

A bot got me.

R2D2
this is not the droid you’re looking for…

Clarification: A bot got my email accounts. Had to change them all. Like untying a great big, password-protected, social media knot.

“I’m too old to learn all this,” I said to the tech support guy. He’s probably 15. Wunderkind.

I suppose it’s good for the old Gen X girl to gain cyber survival skills. May start a new club. Blog Scouts. Or Web Life. Or Jedi Warriors.

Oops. That last one’s taken. My mistake, Mr. Lucas.

If you would like to contact me for any reason, the new address is:

aimee(at)everydayepistle(dot)com

Ideas, encouragement, and freelance opportunities are especially welcome.

May the ex nihilo creative power of God be with you as you navigate His universe this week.

C3PO
neither is this…

By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. Hebrews 11:3 NLT

Enjoy the Star Wars theme song composed by John Williams.

I took the photos of R2D2 and C3PO at the Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination exhibit developed by Boston’s Museum of Science. Disclaimer: I’m not being compensated to promote this exhibit, but I highly recommend you see it if it comes to your town.

Posted on by Aimee 2

Field Trip to Visit a Baseball Blogger

Jeff White, Cardinals Blogger
Jeff White

My friend Jeff White asked me if I’d guest post about baseball to help celebrate the first birthday of his St. Louis Cardinals blog Born Bleeding.

Wasn’t sure how that would go.

I enjoy baseball, however I’m not a diehard fan like Jeff. He writes his passion for baseball, and I’m proud of him for it. Plus his wife is the dearest person on earth and one of my favorite friends. I was honored to accept the challenge.

Well, I wrote the post and I loved it! It may be one of my favorites.

Please visit Jeff to wish him a happy blog birthday, share your baseball memories, and read my post:

Baseball America

baseball close up
Click to go to Born Bleeding and read Baseball America.
Posted on by Aimee 4

Dishwasher Detergent, Ham Sammies, and Everything in Between

Clearly I’ve been writing about the wrong topics.

top shelf cascade
top shelf cascade

Our newish dishwasher is an epic fail at cleaning dishes. We suspect the hard water of Wichita is the culprit.

A few nights ago, I did what any modern woman does to solve domestic issues. I posted our problem on Facebook to see if anyone had suggestions.

More than 50 comments later, I had a nice list of options to try including Cascade, Lemi Shine, and vinegar.

MORE THAN 50 COMMENTS?!

My new friend Pam, a mother of six who’s blogged for five years at It’s Time for More Coffee, could relate. She commented:

“Some days I realize I’m blogging all wrong as well. My number one post is still about Dr. Scholl’s Orthotics. Really? I blog about a lot. I bare my soul. What gets people’s attention? Shoe inserts.”

move over and lemi shine
move over and lemi shine

No wonder those product review bloggers do so well. Not only do they get free samples, lucrative sponsorships, and hoards of followers, but they also get invited to the coolest brand parties at the blogging conferences. Swag a-plenty.

Cooking blogs are another thing all together. My friend Leah’s recipe for Hawaiian Rolls Ham Sammies went viral. When she disclosed to me the number of page views her blog Beyer Beware received as a result, I experienced a momentary loss of consciousness.

I came to with my mind racing. Maybe everyday epistle needs a food feature.

Holy meatballs. Angel food cake. Consecrated cherries in the year of jubilee.

I mean, who wants to read about the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb when there’s cookie dough brownie fudge cake balls to be made? Why ponder where God intersects with contentious societal issues when bacon wrapped grilled scallops with sweet ginger glaze are calling?

Hunk of Meat Mondays, Beyer Beware

Leah’s Ham Sammies is a yummy, simple recipe with straightforward ingredients. And Leah consistently produces delicious content like this.

Every week, persecuted, hypoglycemic carnivores like me visit her for Hunk of Meat Mondays. What’s not to like?

That’s all well and good, but it still doesn’t explain the enthusiastic response to my dishwasher detergent question. Maybe no explanation is needed. Maybe the comment stream accomplished its higher task of restoring my faith in humanity.

It reminded me there are good people out there who want to help. Who want to speak. Who have useful information to share.

Welcome to the blogosphere. From dishwasher detergent to Ham Sammies and everything in between, we have a lot in common, you and I. And what a wonderful place to discuss it.

mega value finish
time to finish

Go to work in the morning and stick to it until evening without watching the clock. You never know from moment to moment how your work will turn out in the end. Ecclesiastes 11:6 The Message

Are You Washed in the Blood? Alan Jackson at the Ryman.

Have a great weekend!

Posted on by Aimee 10

House Rules

This blog is like my house, and it’s time to set the House Rules.

house rules, here comes the fun
here comes the fun

You’re invited to visit. I hope you come by often and bring friends with you. We throw a mini party here with every post. All guests are welcomed to comment, regardless of their viewpoints.

Last week, some comments on my first syndicated BlogHer post got a little rowdy. The BlogHer community manager chose to delete several of them because they violated the BlogHer community guidelines.

In the meantime, I held all comments in moderation on everyday epistle to prevent a similar fiasco here.

While this protected my site from trolls, in a way it also punished legitimate readers who faithfully and respectfully express their views here. Those readers will be happy to know I’ve lifted the stricter comment approvals.

But I still want this to be a safe place to agree to disagree.

Following BlogHer’s example and friends’ suggestions, I’ve written community guidelines for this site. They’re available in the top menu under House Rules.

Ten things you should know:

1. There will be a diverse group of guests in my house.
All sorts of people read this blog. I want everyone to feel free to respectfully comment if they choose to dialogue.

2. There will be discussion about many different topics, including some you may consider controversial.
This is my place to write what matters to me without editor or client changes. God and country are important to me; those topics will appear in the mix of posts.

3. Sometimes there will be disagreement.
It’s unrealistic to believe we’ll all agree about everything. This isn’t Parrot Island. We have to engage in civil discourse concerning matters of disagreement if we ever hope to reach solutions for the challenges we face. Go ahead and state your case, just mind your manners as well.

4. There will be civility and grace.
If you can’t play nice and respect the intrinsic value of the humans involved, you need to go elsewhere.

house rules, do not block
do not block

5. There will be no profanity.
This is a blog, not a bar. Think of another word to use or expect your comment to be deleted.

6. There will be no bullying.
That means no personal attacks, mudslinging, name-calling, direct threats, implied threats, stalking, harassing, posting of personal information that doesn’t belong to you or has nothing to do with the topic being discussed, libel, defamation, blatant misrepresentation of another person or group, violations of privacy, or links to profane or pornographic material.

7. There will be no spam whatsoever.

8. I determine what is unacceptable here, and I’m not limited by the House Rules.
As the sole owner, content creator, and community manager of this blog, I reserve the right to change the House Rules and to remove unacceptable comments at any time and without notice.

9. A word to trolls.
If you are a troll, you may comment if you abide by the House Rules. Otherwise, your comment will be deleted. And if you send me hateful tweets, I will block you so I do not receive your messages.

house rules, olive & kickin
olive & kickin, as seen in Asheville, NC

10. Don’t like the rules?
Find another site with different rules.

Some of you may think this is harsh, self-aggrandizing overkill. Does a small, personal blog really need community guidelines?

I wish you were right. But last week’s experience prompted Momma Bear to law down the law.

This is my house. I will not allow it to be destroyed by abusive comments or overrun by trolls. Play by the rules or exit the party.

But let all who take refuge in You be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread Your protection over them,
that those who love Your name may rejoice in You. Psalm 5:11 NIV

The only Overkill here is by Men at Work from 1983, a very good year.

Have you ever been afraid to express your opinion?
What impact did that experience have on you?

Posted on by Aimee 8

Challenge: It’s a Good Thing

My what a difference a week makes.

blogher nametag
my name tag

First syndicated post, first blogging conference, first trip to New York City in almost 20 years, first opportunity to meet several online blogger friends in real life, first time seeing THE Martha Stewart speak live and in person.

My brain is full to overflowing. 

I can quit or press on. Give up or give it my all. Be afraid or be brave. Cave to other people’s ideas of who I should be or reaffirm who I am and continue to be that person. Keep writing in series of lists—my favorite literary rhythm—or learn to break it up a bit.

I’ve been challenged in more ways than I could have imagined a week ago. In the words of THE Martha, it’s a good thing.

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:5 NIV

Aaron Shust sang the perfect rallying song on the radio as I drove home from the airport yesterday: My Savior, My God.

How have you been challenged lately?
Will it defeat you or inspire you?

Posted on by Aimee 4

Go for Broke?

Write your heart out. Go for broke. Ursula K. Le Guin

Ann Taylor sign
Ann’s here

There are days I’m tempted to quit writing and go to work at Ann Taylor.

You may have expected me to say J Crew instead of Ann Taylor. Well, J Crew has yet to respond to my request to open a store in Wichita. Better get with the program, Jenna Lyons. Ann’s here and she’s vying to be my go-to store.

Ann Taylor. Pretty clothes. Sweet discount. Sleek space. Well-defined career opportunities.

I can hear the imaginary trolls of Nightmare on Aimee Street. “Yes!” they say. “It’s about time she got a real job.”

Why are they still hanging around anyway? Be gone, oh ye of little faith!

Back to Ann. I could work while the child is in school. Cook fine dinners from Pinterest recipes in the evenings. Sleep normal hours instead of waking up in the middle of the night to plink plink plink away at the keyboard until I’m cross-eyed.

I wouldn’t wonder where this is going, what’s the plan, how will I get there. Wouldn’t need to take a stand on controversial food, social, and cultural issues or dread negative comments. Wouldn’t fear people hating me and my blog because there would be no blog. There would only be Ann.

Ann is a possibility. She hangs like a life jacket on the back wall of my brain.

Until I remember the rush of writing and publishing and facilitating a dialogue. It’s like a throwing a mini party with every post. I can’t get that with Ann.

I can have a pleasant career, a steady paycheck, and very nice clothes with Ann. No shame in that, but it’s not my passion. I can sell dresses with cheerfulness and take joy in the new arrivals each season. But it’s not the thing that makes me sing.

no parking no waiting
no parking no waiting

There’s a little stream of stories inside me that hasn’t run dry yet.

God provides. God provides.

What if I just write until it does?

Shall we go for broke, you and I?

What do you say?

And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? Matthew 6:30 NLT

Rush for a Change of Atmosphere by Big Audio Dynamite. For M.

Will you go for broke?

Posted on by Aimee 5

Public Service Announcement

Hi, everyone.

In the past few days, I’ve received some hate tweets, in addition to lots of unsavory comments on the BlogHer site.

It’s important to me to protect the forum of discussion on everyday epistle so people of all views are able to respectfully comment here. In order to do that, all comments will be held in moderation until approved.

Thanks for reading. Please continue to pray God will work in this and in our country as He sees fit. It is my hope we can continue the tradition of the rule of law and the First Amendment, agreeing to disagree with civility and respect for each other.

Posted on by Aimee 10

BlogHer Syndicates Chikin Post

You are the best readers in the world.

clematis
clematis

You displayed grace (and some of you restraint!) for last Thursday’s post about Chick-fil-A. Whether you agreed or disagreed with me, you kept it dignified. We want everyone to feel welcomed and respected here regardless of their views.

Today I’m excited to share with you that my post about Chick-fil-A is being syndicated on BlogHer.

According to their website, BlogHer reaches 40 million women each month. I’m honored, thrilled, and terrified to be published there as a syndicated writer.

Please go to BlogHer to see the post and consider leaving a comment. Whether you agree or disagree the issue at hand, I know you’ll comment with dignity and respect.

Syndicated on BlogHer.com

Whether you’ve been here since the beginning or since last week, you are an encouragement to me, and I am thankful for you!

My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live Him. You’re deeply rooted in Him. You’re well constructed upon Him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you’ve been taught. School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7 The Message

The Proof of Your Love by For King & Country.

Start living it. Now go see the post on BlogHer!

Posted on by Aimee 8