You know how you look at your kid or your brother’s kid or your dog or even your car, and you think, “How is it that you are this old already? Where has the time gone?”
And then all the happy memories come flooding back because when we get into reminisce mode, we can only recall the joyful, sweet, darling moments and suddenly, everything about our recollections seem to only be perfect.
This is where I am right now. I’m remembering this:
And this:
And this:
And this:
And this:
So many memories. So many hours sitting at this keyboard. So many ideas, challenges, learning curves, flops, and successes.
4,450+ posts. 1,000+ recipes. 124,600+ comments. Thousands and thousands of new friends. Joy beyond measure.
My dear friends,
HeavenlyHomemakers.com is turning 10 years old November 1.
It started with this: My very first blog post. It is so pitiful that I’m giggling at what blogging used to be and how little I knew back in the day. But every adventure starts somewhere. Mine started with a thumbnail picture and a few hesitant words all while I was saying, “Wait. What does this button do?”
My faithful friend Charlene patiently and lovingly taught me everything she could about starting a blog after God gave her the vision and she said to me, “Laura, you know a lot of stuff. You should put it out there for people on a blog.”
Of course I eagerly followed her divinely inspired declaration with, “Oh. What’s a blog?”
But the rest is history.
God opened big doors that day, helping me to discover my love of writing and gifting me with the opportunity to share my love of food and family.
My kids ranged in ages from 2-9 back then.
They loved it that I wanted to share all their fun pictures and daily activities with you.
You’ve watched my boys grow up. You’ve stuck with me as I’ve navigated these waters of parenting boys turning into men.
You celebrated with me when God helped my youngest finally defeat his chronic eczema.
You were there the day my oldest caught up to me and we stood nose-to-nose.
You were there the day his much taller self left for Ecuador.
And the day he graduated from high school.
You’ve walked with me through some of my most challenging days, and many of my flops.
You’ve been my cheerleaders, my sounding board, the ones who have handed me virtual tissues and offered me smiles and hugs. You’ve laughed with me, encouraged me, hung out with me, shared your knowledge with me, and held me accountable.
You’ve met up with me and taught me to love coffee.
How great is our God that He created this wonderful community back in November 2007? While I sure didn’t know what a blog was then, God did. He knew what we all needed and he created it, right here. He’s such a neat, fun, good God. Aren’t we blessed to be so loved by Him?
So here we are, coming up on November 2017.
Mostly, I want to say, “Thank you!!” Thank you, God. Thank you, Readers. Ten years is a long time to stick around, but I’ll venture to say, “We ain’t seen nothin’ yet!”
What might the next ten years bring in this blogging world? Only God knows, but as long as He gives the green light, I’ll be right here with you.
We’re celebrating this ten year blogging victory with something many of you have been requesting for quite some time. I started this project two years ago, eagerly asking for your input as your vote mattered most in this. The timing couldn’t be more perfect as we hit the 10th birthday of HeavenlyHomemakers.com.
It’s here!!!
It’s a real book, IN PRINT, and you can order it from Amazon right away! It shares the best posts and most popular recipes from 2007 to now. It’s big – 161 pages. It’s chapters share the Best of Times I wrote about:
- Parenting
- Homemaking
- Food
- Homeschooling
- Surrender
- Marriage
- Life and of course…
- Chickens
Obviously there had to be a chapter about God being bigger than a free range chicken, how I fended off mean roosters, how I blackened the chicken on our grill, and well, as it all came together it just seemed obvious that we needed a Chicken Chapter.
I can’t wait for this book to be in all of our hands!!!!
There’s more celebration to come in November as we hit the 10 year mark here at Heavenly Homemakers. Watch for the book launch on November 1, a Nutrimill giveaway, and some super secret fun announcements! While we’re waiting for the big day, I’d love to hear:
How long have you been a Heavenly Homemakers reader?
Whether long or short, I hope you all know how much you mean to me. Your part of my journey is a gift, and I love you for making this site what it is. God is good, all the time.
Andrea says
Hi Laura!
CONGRATULATIONS on TEN YEARS! I know I have followed you for at least 9 of those years. It has been a great joy to see your simple, down home recipes, spiritual posts, your friendly-humble personality, your love for you family shining, and everything in between. You started doing gluten free posts right about the time I was diagnosed with severe gluten intolerance. In so many ways, I can see why and how the Lord had this blog in the plans for you. You’ve ministered and been such a great example to many. I love the book idea!
God bless you, friend. (internet friend. :-) )
Andrea L.
Amanda says
Just popping in to comment, because apparently I’ve been enjoying your blog from (almost) the beginning. My son turns 10 this month, and I started the blog-reading thing a few months after he was born. Thanks for all the wisdom, encouragement, and good ideas you’ve been putting out all this time! In a world of extremes (“eh, whatever, don’t worry about it,” vs, “are you seriously not fermenting your own kefir?”), you’ve helped me make sane, forward progress and get back on the wagon when I fall off. Plus, watching your boys grow up gives me some vaguely-panicky perspective on time with my kiddos :) Congratulations on the book!
emcknits says
I only found you a couple of years ago but I love to read your blog. I love the simple recipes that make it easy for me to change (to no milk) because they don’t have tons of things. They are also so easy to make in just a few minutes. If I need a recipe for something, I come here first. I also love that you are showing God in your life. Most of the other blogs I read are about knitting and not by Christians. Your blog is refreshing. Thank you so much.
Ashley Smith says
Ahhh! This is great! I found you through the York News Times and read your article aloud to Lee and literally laughed so hard I cried. That was maybe 8-9 years ago? I remember most of the pictures you shared in this post! And cake boys were epic for our crew when they were little! Thanks for all the laughs and permission to eat an occasional dorito. May God give you many more!
Tami Lewis says
I have enjoyed your blog for about 9 years. I love It!
Congratulations on your milestone!!
To many more!!
Kim Kelly says
I’ve been following you for about 2-1/2 years now. How I survived the kitchen before that I don’t know! I am so grateful that God “brought you into my life” when He did. I’ve already shared with you that you brought the joy back into cooking for me and I am so very grateful. I love that EVERY time I cook one of your recipes… it is delicious! My normal comment is, “well, of course it’s good, it’s a Laura recipe.” My family knows you by your first name as if we are close friends. It cracks me up! Maybe SOME day we’ll get to meet and make it true! You are truly the only blog I read as I actually can’t stand reading blogs. God helped me to see the need for yours though and I am glad. Yay for 10 years and so looking forward to whatever He allows you in the time to come. Congratulations!!
K Ann Guinn says
Congratulations and blessings!
I really don’t know exactly how long I’ve been reading your blog, but I DO know that it’s the first blog I ever subscribed to, and one of the only ones I’ve kept with and read most of your posts! I wasn’t here quite 10 years ago, but it’s been quite awhile.
The thing I’ve always loved about your blog, Laura, is your honesty mixed in with grace. Your ideas on healthy eating are so similar to mine; trying to do the best we can without guilt or stressing when things aren’t perfect, and knowing that an important part of being healthy is our attitude and what’s going on in our hearts.
Thanks for sharing with us over the years, both practical recipes and tips and godly encouragement and wisdom. May there be many more. :)
Jo says
I honestly don’t even remember how I found your blog, but I’ve been following you the past year or so. Thanks for sharing your stories and recipes! May God continue to bless and direct you. :)
Liz says
I wish I could tell you how long I have been a reader. I know it’s not been 10 years but it has been quite some time. Congrats on reading 10 years.
Jen J says
How exciting! I came across your blog 8 1/2 years ago, shortly after we moved to Nebraska. I knew no one in our town and had a 5 month old. You were my friend and mom mentor when I had none. Reading your posts was a lifesaver. You have helped give balance to healthy eating. It has been a joy to read your posts, try recipes and finally meet at a basketball game. I was so excited and tried to be calm and cool. You have walked a journey with our family over the web and God has truly blessed us through your blog.
Lisa says
How fun! I really enjoyed this post. It almost made me a little teary. I’ve been a faithful reader since almost the beginning. I think I started reading in 2008. How time flies…
Suzi says
I’ve been a reader for a few years now. And while I’m old enough to be your mother I love your grace, humor and pragmatic approach. To me you represent the best of mid-America. Thank you and please continue your joyful writing.
Julia says
Congratulations on 10 years! That’s amazing. I’ve been reading your blog since at least 2009. You were the first blog I ever read and one of the few I still follow. May God grant you many more years of blogging success.
Tracie says
Congratulations! What an amazing gift you have been to your readers! Thank you for sharing your life with us! I’m not sure when I found your blog, maybe 2011, or 2010. I’m standing next to you in the first of the “coffee talk” photos (striped shirt) My daughter drew you a picture of our messy house!;)
Faith Dossett says
Congratulations, Laura!! Ten years is indeed a milestone, and I’ve been reading you for almost the entire time — I discovered your blog around the first of 2008. I loved the fact that you wrote about REAL life — your boys and husband, cooking, school, God, housekeeping — At the beginning of 2008, I was helping my former daughter-in-law with her two sons (my grandsons), and their ages hit a couple of your boys’ ages. It was good to be able to read about your wins, your losses, what worked, what didn’t in the world of raising boys at that time. My time to raise a boy (their father) was in the 1970’s – 80’s, so I was a little rusty. I purchased your cookbook several years ago and treasure it. I subscribe to Simple Meals, and I check your blog every day. Keep up your good work! I’m here for the long haul!
M. Baysinger says
Wow! Congrats!! I had to look back in my email folder marked HeavHome and find my first email from you that I saved there….. 2011 !! I think I read many of your posts before then, but that is when I started saving them. It has been WONDERFUL to know you and I *feel* like our kids have grown up together and that we are Mom-friends (even though I know you don’t know me!) In 2011, my kiddos were ages 9,9,11,13,14 and I related to so much of your life, and I was so thankful to have found you and that you were willing to share the good and the challenging, both. Thank you for 10 amazing years! Can’t wait for your book — so exciting!!! :-) Monique
Rebekah Walden says
Congratulations Laura!!!Will this book have most of your recipes? I find myself going to your recipes all the time and this would sure cut down on the amount of time I spend on my phone looking them up. God bless you.
Linda says
Congratulations on 10 years!! I will turn 50 that day! I enjoy your blog :-)
Angel says
Congratulations Laura! I have been reading since 2010. You inspired me to cook more from scratch when I was on such a tight budget I could hardly breathe ($60.00 a week for 6 people). I love everything you write, I have bought nearly every ebook and currently subscribe to Simple Meals. I hope that you have many more blogging years in the future, Lord willing and the creek don’t rise!
Birdie says
Congratulations Laura! I have enjoyed every one of your emails and have been blessed by your sweet encouragement to love, bake, and have courage, 8-) I look forward to you book,
De'Etta says
I had to think back to the assignment when a friend told me about Heavenly Homemakers….and it has to have been 9 or 10 years, though I don’t think I’ve ever commented. Congrats on 10 years.
Cassie Jowers says
I know it has been over five years since I found your blog. I use your quote about God being bigger than an organic chicken at least once a month. Used it just last week, in fact. Can’t wait to see the book!
Jen says
Congratulations, Laura! My son was born in January 2008, and I found your blog later that year. It was early enough that I went back to the beginning and read everything you had posted. I remember sharing my joy in your comment section at finding a local source of raw milk back then. We still drink it to this day. I own a grain mill because of your encouragement. The letter to the husbands didn’t hurt either. :)
Now I have two sons, who will soon be 7 and 10 years old! They have greatly benefited from all the real food information and recipes I’ve read over the years on your blog! There are many, many of your recipes that we regularly enjoy. My favorite is the Alfredo Sauce. I usually serve fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp scampi, and a green salad or vegetable. My husband raves (every time) how much better it is than even a 5 star restaurant would serve. That pasta/sauce is comfort food at it finest! I always think of you when I make it due to the sheer amount of butter used for the shrimp and sauce, and of course, cream too. YUM!!!
I’m excited to see what the next 10 years bring for your blog!
Stephanie says
I came across your blog a little over 5 years ago when I was looking for a good homemade apple pie filling recipe :) I started browsing through other blog posts and just loved everything I read…you had me seriously convinced that I needed to buy a nutramill…still waiting for that day to come! I had just had my second baby and have since had two more! You introduced me to the ebundles, which I have bought a few! Just really thankful for a mom just a little older and a lot wiser than me who walks with Jesus and shares about the journey along the way! ??
Melinda Johnson says
Hi, Laura! I’ve been around for most of your blog life! I think I started reading the blog when you are going through all the changes to figure out what would help one of your son’s health issues, i.e. you tried gluten free, dairy free, etc. I remember you lovingly showing off what’s in your pantry and all those 5 gallon buckets of stuff, plus your extra freezers. I remember the blender explosion. I think it’s been probably 7 or 8 years. Plus, you introduced me to Lilla Rose and now Paula is my upline! You are still one of my favorite bloggers! Your writing is hilarious, and real, and varied, and I love it! Keep it up! Can’t wait to see all those boys graduate and all the next steps after that! Congrats on 10 years!