Jennifer Groft

I’ve been nominated for the Liebster Award! This is a little recognition/link up that is passed on to bloggers getting started who don’t already have a large following.

Thank you to Melissa at Fresh Faith Bites for nominating me!

My interview with Melissa:

Why and how long ago did you start blogging? I started blogging before I even knew blogging was a thing. Way back when, in about 1998 or so I had a geocities site where I wrote and just added new pages to, or new information at the top of pages. Just me and my HTML, using Netscape Composer to put it all together. I think I discovered that I could use a standard set up and put up my first WordPress blog in 2003 or 2004. I started out to keep family up to date on things going on in my family, but soon found that I really liked writing.

What one word sums up the heart of your blog and why? Companionship. I have struggled for so many years thinking that I was alone – that I was the only one who felt like I didn’t know what I was doing. Once I built up a little bravery, or really – got sick of feeling alone in this – I started to speak out about how I felt and found that many other women felt the same way. Being able to read a post that lets you know you are not alone, that someone else is there with you in the trenches, even if you can’t see them, is so heartening. It strengthens us and normalizes what we are doing. I hope that by my honesty in my struggles, someone else may find a little bit of hope. I hear it from time to time. People will contact me, usually privately, and thank me for putting their own feelings into words. That is what keeps me going.

Is there something you learned late in your blog journey that you wished you knew before? I am starting to learn a little more about promotion and using social media to get my blog to a wider audience. I wish I had been taking advantage of these things already.

What is your favorite past time other than blogging? Reading. I love to read, I love to collect books. My living room is a constant mess because my kids are following in my footsteps and dragging out books all the time. I love non-fiction, biographies, and fantasy fiction.

How many hours per week do you dedicate to your blog? This varies widely. Some weeks I might spend 10 hours on it, then not touch it for the next week. I’d say on a normal week I spend about 3-4 hours on it.

What category of blog posts do you enjoy the most? Oh, I have no idea! Categorizing is something I usually do in hindsight after writing the post.

Where does your blog inspiration come from? Life, but then really who’s doesn’t? I love finding the grace and sanctity in the nonsense and repetition of normal life. My blog is named for the Israelites who were told to march around Jericho over and over. It seemed like something that could not win a battle with a large city like Jericho.  But they followed God’s plan. They marched, they were ridiculed, and by this simple repetition they won the victory. God gives each one of us little cities to walk around. Sometimes what He asks doesn’t make sense from our current vantage point.

What post have you written are you most proud of? Antiphons and Music in Mass. This one came somewhat from my own feelings, but very much because of things people confided in me regarding changes in the mass and the music in our diocese. I postponed this one for a long time, but finally dug in and really did some soul searching and research. This post changed in tone as I wrote it. The end product was as much a surprise to me as to those who read it.

Is there any post that you have been planning to do, but kept postponing for a while now? I have had a post brewing in my head about using Philippians 4:8 as a family media policy. But I can’t get my head all the way around it. In the mean time it is making for some interesting discussions with my kids.

What is your favorite aspect of blogging? The blog comments and the people who contact me to talk to me about what I wrote or to thank me for a piece. They keep me going!

Which recipe, project or idea on my blog would you be most likely to try yourself? Your Homemade Berry Sorbet looks yummy!

I would hereby like to nominate the following bloggers for their excellent work:

1. Annette @ Nettie’s World

2. Alisha @

3. Laura @ Roses for Mommy

4 Cristina @ Unshopping and Unraveling

 

The Liebster Rules

I know, it feels a little like a chain letter, but it is a fun little, easy blog post. Link up, add to your blog roll, and just have fun with it.

Ok, in order to accept your award, there are a few things you need to do and guidelines to follow:

Link back to the person/blog that nominated you and give a little thank you shout out.
Answer 10 questions given to you by the person that nominated you.

My Questions:

1. How long have you been blogging?

2. What made you start blogging?

3. What advice would you give someone just starting their own blog?

4. Salty or Sweet?

5. What are you reading now?

6. What is your favorite quote from your current read?

7. Tell a little about your family.

8. Do you have a favorite TV or Netflix series? What and why?

9. Are you an evening or morning person?

10. What is for dinner tonight?

After completing these questions you must nominate a few bloggers with under 200 followers, and give them 10 questions of your choice.

Let your nominees know that they have been nominated and provide a link to your post for them so that they can learn about the nomination.