Pea of Sweetness

Making Changes – Revisiting Purpose

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My Word for 2015 is Purpose. I wrote about how I really need to find purpose this year with both my life and blog. My health issues flaring up have definitely added some unexpected challenges. I have even less time now to work on my blogs and less time with my family – who still remains to be my priority. The house is a mess and we still have many unpacked boxes. I feel like my purpose of being better organized is an unattainable dream at the moment, but I’m praying and hopeful my health will start to improve again soon. 
I decided to no longer take medication that was really making me feel awful – tired, depressed, etc. That will make a big difference I’m sure, but right now I’m dealing with muscle and pain problems. I just keep reminding myself I’ll get through it like I always do, but I do need to take it easy so I can recover more easily! Oh the life of having a chronic condition!

Word for 2015 Purpose

 

So I need to make some changes, and my husband and I have been in prayer about it as well. After I initially wrote my purpose for Pea of Sweetness is to really narrow down my niche, the changes I’ve decided must be made will probably be a little surprising. Let me first explain that I don’t think narrowing down my niche to just homeschooling, homemaking, and parenting was something I was doing to pursue purpose. I think I was doing it because I want to grow my blog and connect with others. I often felt shunned in those areas because Pea of Sweetness was being viewed as a “review and giveaway blog.” I cringe just writing those words because that perception has held me back. 
I can’t provide as much content right now as others because of my health, but I do want to offer more content and, yes, balance out the number of reviews. Here is what I don’t want, though – I don’t want to make changes because of comparisons or others’ opinions. That being said, as my readers I absolutely care what you feel and love your feedback. That’s not what I was going on. I was making changes based on my own insecurities, and I’m not OK with that.
So, new changes are coming. In order to continue to grow Pea of Sweetness and really (finally) get Sweetness Sisters Media off the ground, which is a project to which I definitely feel called because I like love helping other bloggers as well as start our gaming blog, which is going to be a combined effort with my husband and something we’re really excited about, I have to cut down on some things. So, I will be selling Deals of Sweetness. 
I went back and forth on this idea because then where will I post the other things I love that I moved over there to narrow my niche here? You have probably guessed – I’m bringing it back here. Natural health and Eco-friendly living are part of my lifestyle (an important part), and Pea of Sweetness is a lifestyle blog – MY lifestyle, and I’m at peace with the idea of representing all of my lifestyle on here because this is my blog. 
After much prayer I do feel this is the best answer. I won’t be doing the number of reviews and giveaways that I do on Deals of Sweetness and will definitely be selective, but this will definitely help me manage my time better and devote more to Pea of Sweetness, which hopefully will mean more content, too! It may not fit in a neat little box – not just a homeschool blog, or just a Christian blog, or just an Eco-friendly blog, but guess what? I don’t fit in a nice little box either! And so, Pea of Sweetness will be a lifestyle blog – my lifestyle. 
If people want to label it as a “review and giveaway blog” because they don’t understand living with a chronic condition or having special needs children and a disabled husband and how that affects my ability to write, so be it. The only thing that matters is that I’m walking in God’s purpose, and I think even the reviews and giveaways have a purpose because they help people! This is me. Sharing my lifestyle – all of it – is my purpose. 
To make the changes smoothly, I will revamp my menu bar so categories are easy to find, so you can always find exactly what you’re looking for. I do have a drop down menu in my side bar as well. I think I may even update my look and tag line to celebrate the changes! If you’ve been a loyal reader, you may not see it as change but just going back to how things were. Regardless, I hope to bless you with all that I share.

My Word for 2015: Purpose

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My word for 2014 was Refine, and I think it was rather fitting. It was definitely a year of testing and trials, and the fire was HOT! I will be posting my 2014 wrap-up hopefully in the next couple of days, but I ask that you bear with me because we still have a lot of settling to do from our big move. The refining process isn’t always easy, but I really feel like I am going into 2015 with purpose – or at least a desire to seek purpose!
Word for 2015 Purpose
Definition of Purpose from Dictionary.com (in this case I’ll be focusing on the noun):
[pur-puh s] noun
1. the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.
2. an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal.
3. determination; resoluteness.
4. the subject in hand; the point at issue.
5. practical result, effect, or advantage:
“to act to good purpose.”
Of course, for me purpose also means God’s purpose – His purpose for me as well as Pea of Sweetness as I pray to reach others for Him.

Purpose as it applies to myself for 2015

Everything our family went through last year caused confusion in the midst of it, but like many trials, they refine. Trials have a purpose. The trials we endured definitely had a purpose as I really got to consider everything – consider my purpose. My heart was unsettled. I was working more online and doing less around my home. When I looked back on it I realized I was veering from my purpose – my family. Of course, my health is important as well because as I struggled more than ever with my chronic health issues and depression, which made it even more difficult to care for my family and home. I love blogging. I love that I had an opportunity to help financially support our family during a hard time, but my heart wasn’t in it because my purpose is here first: caring for and educating our children, caring for my husband, taking care of our home, and above all, honoring God in all I do – which starts with focusing on my purpose.
He has blessed me with amazing opportunities to reach others, and I will do so while also making sure I don’t stray from His purpose for our family. I have children to guide to live for Him, and that means I have to be present in so many ways – also ensuring we’re getting involved in fellowship and ministry.

Purpose as it applies to Pea of Sweetness

Over the last year I worked to hone in on a focus on Pea of Sweetness. I felt like I had gotten so caught up in “other stuff” like the reviews and giveaways that I was losing the purpose for Pea of Sweetness. It has changed a lot over the past few years as it started as more of an eco-friendly living and even business type blog. Since then, though, I have prayed a lot and really want to focus Pea of Sweetness on my tagline: My Journey to Proverbs 31. This, of course, fits with my personal purpose, and Pea of Sweetness is a way to share it. My main focuses will be homemaking, homeschooling, Faith, family, and special needs. This is what I’ve been working on over the past year, but it was still easy to get caught up in things to keep good relationships with sponsors. In connection with my purpose to focus on my family, I have realized sometimes I just need to say no. If it doesn’t fit with my purpose and takes too much time from my personal purpose, it’s time to say no.
I’m not saying no to eco-friendly living, of course. It’s part of our life, and it will always be sprinkled in, but my eco-friendly focus continues to migrate (and even more so) to Deals of Sweetness. I’ve decided I’m no longer going to make exceptions beyond those to which I committed before the move (I’m working on catching up!). For eco-friendly living, health and fitness, beauty, etc. and broader reviews and giveaways, I would love to have you join me over there.
I will still offer reviews and giveaways on Pea of Sweetness, and am thrilled to be a member of so many great organizations and groups, but these will stay within my topics of purpose.
It’s been a hard process, and my traffic waxed and waned due to the changes, and it made me question my decision, but it has never been more clear. I have a purpose for Pea of Sweetness. God has a purpose for Pea of Sweetness. I pray it will grow, but most of all, I pray I stick to my purpose and look to God for guidance. Although I get self conscious and worry about low traffic, I know if I stick to my purpose – His purpose – everything will fall into place. I can’t teeter on indecisiveness anymore, and I won’t accept defeat. It’s my purpose to reach more people, to grow, to share more of His love with you.

Pursuing my Purpose

2014 may not have been the year I expected, but the refining process was so very necessary. It is ultimately a blessing as it helped me see what is truly important. I know 2015 is going to be a year full of blessings. It is my heart to share my purpose with YOU and pray you are blessed!

Word for 2015

What is your word for 2015? Please share by linking up below! If you didn’t blog about it, I’d still love to hear about it in the comments! If you have a link-up as well, please be sure to include {Linky} in your entry when you link up! I can’t wait to connect and reconnect with you!