Do you know why I love my friends?
Because I’m one of those full-of-ideas, brainstorming types that’s always getting overly excited about way too many ideas, then coming face-to-face with the reality that I can’t follow through on half of 3% of them. And my friends? They know this about me, and they love me anyway! Yup, that’s why I love my friends.
At the beginning of this year I was full of ideas for this here blog and fun things you and I were gonna do together. Then the reality of mold poisoning smacked me in the face. Right now I’m on an hourly schedule of supplements, teas, and treatments to help my inflamed kidneys and address the brain fog, insomnia, and severe anxiety that continue to plague me even though the mold is gone. (The kids have bounced right back, but it takes adults longer, as a dear reader informed me the other day). So, life’s a little on hold right now, and I don’t have much energy for brainstorms OR following through.
Thankfully, what I’m sharing with you today was already mostly done last month, and when we finally moved back home and had access to our desktop, Jeremy and I were able to finish it up quite easily. And then Valentine’s Day came along, and I was in the mood to give something to ya’ll just to tell you how much I loved you, so Jeremy got this all ready for you to download:
This ebook is actually built from the talk I gave at Allume 2012. Many of you had expressed interest in hearing my talk, so I took edited the content from my notes and Jeremy formatted it into this beautiful little 24 page ebook just for you. In it I give you a glimpse of my first 5 years of blogging, and some of the beautiful and embarrassing lessons I learned about blogging for people instead of stats.
- if you are a blogger who has ever been discouraged by your stats,
- if you desire to make a difference with your blog no matter its size,
- if you are interested in practical ways to love your readers well,
…then you’re gonna love this book! I share lots of stories and Jeremy arranged the content in a very unique format, so it is just a delight to read! I hope you like it.
Happy Valentine’s Day! I love you, my readers, so much! xoxo
P.S. if you don’t subscribe to my monthlyish, personal newsletter yet, do that now! That’s how you can get your hands on “More Than Numbers”. If you are already a subscriber you’ll be getting an email with the download info shortly.
Hey! I just found your blog and I’m sad that this book doesn’t seem to be available anymore! Just my luck–late to the party! Oh well, I’ll hang out and see what else I can find!
Lana, good news! My husband fixed the links so you can once again download the book for free–check it out here :
http://trinaholden.com/more-than-numbers/
the book is too cute! Even if it was a lousy book it would have been great to read simply because of the cuteness factor.
But it was not lousy it was so honest and helpful!
Thanks for letting us see you and not just your polished front door or something.
I am busy setting up and figuring out my blog so it is a timely read as well. (it might or might not be my 4th blog in 5 or 6 years….but this time i’m doing it slow and good instead of fast and on an impulse )
Hi Trina! I just read your ebook, and I thought it was great. I love your writing style, and the message is spot on. It really spoke to me. I’m one of the smaller than the small bloggers, and I’ve recently been thinking about putting more energy into my blog. Your ebook has reminded me to keep my priorities straight at a time when I was tempted just to concentrate on growing my blog rather than focussing on the readers I already have. I love that you practise what you preach too. The reason I checked out your blog? You’re the only person who thanked me for ‘following’ them on Twitter and said you were pleased to ‘meet’ me. That really made my day, thank you!
Yay!! I’m super excited to read this. Just downloaded it :). Thanks!!
you’re so welcome, Annie!
This is a gorgeous book, Trina! Thank you so much for sharing your story and your insight. I have struggled with this, too. I never want it to be about the numbers, but it’s hard to always remember! I’m keeping my blogging mission statement in view to remind me each and every day.
Blessings to you!
Yeah! I love that you have a blog mission statement. That is key.
I {loved} this ebook, Trina! God’s been whispering the same things to my heart over the past few months. And suddenly, I’m more than okay with “only” 200 subscribers because – what if all those readers were in the same room? I’d be so nervous I couldn’t even squeak! Ha! But He’s allowed me into their lives, and given me the opportunity to be an instrument of His love, and that alone is enough to thrill me. Even if I never gain another reader. Thank you so much for sharing this!!
Trina, this is awesome! And I love the new header. Been too long since I’ve been by here. I didn’t even know you were sick. I am so, so sorry and will be praying for your recovery!
Thanks, Lisa! We’re on way to recovery, but appreciate all prayers!
I just started a blog so this is very timely. I really appreciate your advice and that you shared your personal story. It is encouraging to be reminded that there are no little people (or bloggers) from God’s perspective.
Oh, I also loved hearing that you started your blog with a different name. Sometimes I second-guess the title I gave mine even though I took months to come up with it. (Yes, I was held back by the absence of a title! Sad, huh?) It’ll give me a little more bravery and grace if I feel I need to change it in the future. I can just be like, “well Trina did it so it must be ok.” Lol! No pressure. I’m only kidding. 🙂
Jamie, I’ve met your beautiful mother, and now I get to meet you! Thanks for stopping by! And btw, the blog name actually changed twice, until I settled on ‘trinaholden.com’ just to make it easy for IRL people to find me. Congrats on starting your blogging journey!
Thanks, Trina. My mother is indeed beautiful and wise. She taught her children not only to read and write but to love it as well. I’ve been giving her the nudge to start blogging, too. We’ll see… 🙂
I do remember now your blog used to be All That Is Good, right? That’s around the time I bought Real Fast Food, a wonderful book, by the way!
I’m enjoying blogging so far. It’s a great way to share the journey with others.
I just read this and it totally confirmed what God has been convicting me of this week via a book study of Elyse Fitzpatrick’s Because He Loves Me. I found the book as I was following GraceFullMama and my tribe came out of the woodwork based on what I have been posting. My tribe = my dad, sister, aunt, and husband’s grandmother but 2 of them wrote me personal emails about what I’ve been posting re: the book and after reading your ebook, it further hit home that it’s about the specific people who read what I wrote…not how many. Thank you for being a vessel of God to confirm His teaching in a way I never would have anticipated!
Thank you. I didn’t make it to your session, but heard great things. Looking forward to reading this!
Just read through it, Trina. Very nicely done and the message is so good.
Thanks, Kateri!
I’ve been working on several new links and pages related to this. If you have any trouble or find any broken links please let me know by using the “help with an ebook purchase” option on the contact page. http://trinaholden.com/contact
praying for you, friend. His plan is always good. Even with all the unexpected twists and turn. Thank you for the ebook. Your Allume session was one of my favorites.
Thanks, Lizzie! I have a great praise report to share in that regard–a friend who is a naturopath stopped by my house yesterday! I hope to share the whole story on the blog soon…
Yay!! Can’t wait to read all about it!! Praise Him!!
I loved your talk at Allume… and I could use a refresher! Looking forward to reading you ebook! I signed up! 🙂
Yeah, Julie! I hope you enjoy!