Encouraging Deep Roots

About a week ago I noticed that the amount of comments on my blog had increased. But they all had one thing in common. They all generated from readers in India and they all had links to different businesses.  Here's the thing. They were so well written, so beautifully encouraging and engaging with what I had posted. But I realized very quickly that they were more than likely generated by AI and they were spam. There were key phrases and words too similar in the 40 or so comments to be written by actual people. So I deleted them all as I only want to interact with real people who are reading my blog. And I also turned on comment moderation.  So if you leave me a comment, I will be able to read it before I post it. For my regular readers and commenters, I apologize. I had left the moderation off for years because it hadn't been an issue. However, now that we are in a world of AI and bots and all kinds of spammers, moderation is key! 

  When I started my website a few years ago I was trying to come up with a name that would encompass what I wanted to do. However, every name that I researched was already taken. At the time, my blog was called Hearts in Service but that domain was already taken. So after thinking about it I settled on "Words of Encouragement for a Discouraged World" which was part of one of my book titles. However, the problem with that particular name is that it was a mouthful to say and hard for people to remember when trying to search for it. It also sounded a bit grandiose to me!  The past few weeks I've been thinking, praying and evaluating things and have given my site a "tweak." When I reflected on what my desire in ministry really is, my heart is to see people put down roots in the truth of God's word and grow spiritually. And that's my desire for myself as well.  I'm thankful for this past month because as I've worked on staying focused and honing in on...

After a week of blogging on my website instead of here, I've discovered I don't like it! I lost the ability to have people leave comments and respond to them. I've seen my blog link on other's blogs disappear and I feel disconnected. So I've found out a way to have people who go to my website be directed here for the blog and then be able to go back to the website via one of the pages on my left sidebar. And those of you who come directly here to my blog can also check out the website the same way. Phew! I feel like I'm back home again and I'm sorry for all the confusion I may have caused. :-) And if you would be so kind as to leave a comment here I'll know that you found me again. 

Good morning my blog-world friends! I have been blogging since December 2017 and have met many wonderful people along the way. When I started my children were 8, 14 and 15. Now my eldest is 30! I've been feeling that it's time for a change. The internet has exploded the past few years and I am finding that blogging in this style isn't getting the same amount of readers or commentors that it used to get.  I love to write and do feel based on the feedback that I get, that I am helping women. So that isn't going to change, but I think blogger isn't quite the platform for me to use. So yesterday I did a thing....I built my own website and will start blogging there. If you are a long time reader, please, please, please come over there and bookmark that page and continue to read. I don't want to lose those faithful readers whom I consider friends. If you are brand new or stumble across this post, come and check it out. I did change the name to reflect what I feel my m...

At the moment, my house looks like an explosion happened. There is the normal mess and then added to that are bins of Christmas decorations, piles of fabric, piles of finished product waiting to be tagged, piles of baking supplies as Christmas cookies are being cranked out on a daily basis. There are piles of laundry waiting to be put away and piles of books waiting for me to crack them open. Chaos abounds! A regional shop messaged me last week and placed a custom order, but then also asked they could carry my items. So yesterday afternoon I took a drive there to deliver the order but then to check out the shop. It's really very cute and my items will fit well so I'll be making a delivery on Friday. I'm also prepping for a craft fair on Saturday. Our town has a huge Christmas event each year called, Christmas in Mexico. There is a tree lighting ceremony, a parade, and the shops and homes all decorate for Christmas. There are craft fairs in the school...

Three of my four books are shown here Thank you to everyone who commented to be entered into a drawing for a chance to win one my books, as well as other handmade items of my choosing.  I entered all the names into an online name generator and the winner is.... Melinda Lewis Congratulations, Melinda!  You can email me your address at terri.groh@aol.com and let me know which book you would like.  I'll get the package in the mail this week.   Enjoy!

On this eleventh day of Christmas, I felt like a new blog theme was in order. The last time I changed my blog, I lost a bunch of commenters because Blogger had updated everything and anyone who had an older computer was no longer able to leave a comment.  So I'm always leery about doing this but I felt it was time for a fresh look. To celebrate the occasion, and the eleventh day of Christmas, I decided to have a blog giveaway.  Just leave a comment here or on Facebook between today and Saturday, January 6th at 6 p.m. to be entered into the drawing.  I'll pull together one of my books of your choosing, as well as some other handmade goodies. If you cannot see my sidebar, click on the little lines to the left of the blog title and the sidebar information should show up.   Have a wonderful 11th day of Christmas!

I must apologize.  I had such a busy end of the week and weekend that I didn't even think about the blog drawing until last night.  I realize I was supposed to announce the winner of my drawing yesterday.  This morning I took all the names of people who commented here, as well as on Facebook, and added them to this online name drawing generator and the name that popped up was... Janice Armstrong Congratulations, Janice!  I'll be in touch with you so I can get this package in the mail to you. My weekend was wonderful!  I, along with my leadership team, have spent the past few months planning a district woman's retreat and it was a great time of fellowship, hearing from God and getting encouraged.  One of the purposes of these retreats is to hear from our International Workers who are on home assignment and see how we can better pray and support them.  It was wonderful hearing of their different ministries. I spent an extra day there at ...

It's been a long while since I've done a giveaway on the blog and I thought it was time.  One of the things that I've been doing this year on Facebook is coming up with one thankful thing each day.  I've gone through 267 of them and it helps to keep me focused on what God is doing in my life.   So in order to enter this giveaway, you need to comment either here or on Facebook under this post and tell me ONE thing you are thankful for as you comment.  See how easy that is?  The winner will receive one of my books of YOUR choice from my sidebar, as well as some autumn goodies! Leave a comment between now and Saturday, September 30 and I will draw a name and announce it on Monday, October 2nd.   Have a wonderful day!

I entered all the names of the people who left comments both here and on the Facebook post into a computer generated random drawing.  The winner of my blog giveaway is.... Darby Windey Congratulations, Darby!  I'll be in touch with you.

Good morning!  It's been almost a year since I've done a blog give away so I thought that today would be a good day to go ahead and offer that.  I love writing and blogging and I so appreciate my blog readers.  I've gotten to know many of you throughout the years and I want to show my appreciation by giving you the chance to win! All you have to do is comment on this post to enter.  I will draw a name on Friday after 9 p.m. and announce the name on Saturday morning.  I will be putting together a "surprise" package full of handmade items. If you have trouble posting here, you can email me at terri.groh@aol.com or leave a message on my Facebook post (will be linking there too).  Have a great day!

Dan & I went out for a walk yesterday afternoon and it was so nice to be out in the woods.  It seems to be one of the few places I go that I can truly just relax.  As I walked, I was able to think about some things that have been on my mind lately. I'm not quite sure what to do about this blog.  It has always been a mixture of family, home life, and inspiration and encouragement but obviously, as my family has grown, there isn't much going on in our daily lives that is blog-worthy.  Also, my children are at that stage when they don't always want me talking about them so there has been less and less about them.  At this point, I've limited it mostly to a place where people can come and find encouragement in their walk with God.  I try to be transparent so readers please don't think I have it altogether.  However, I'm careful to not be a venue where I vent.  As a follower of Christ, I will consistently point you back to t...

I have been blogging for eight years and have enjoyed getting to know my readers.  I love doing these blog drawings periodically to show my appreciation for taking the time to read what I have to say. I put all the names in a basket and drew a name.  The winner of the drawing is... Linda Smith Linda, if you could email me your address to terri.groh@aol.com, I will get your package out in the mail.  I'm putting in one of my books (if you have one of them already let me know which one so I don't duplicate), some handmade goat's milk soap, homemade soy candle and some other goodies.  Let me know if some scents bother you so I can adjust what I send. Thank you all for participating. It makes it fun!

Good morning, my blogging friends!  It's a dreary day here in Central New York but I'm feeling some sunshine in my heart today and that is because of the Lord's love for me! It's been a while and I thought it was time to have a giveaway.  All you need to do is leave a comment here on the blog or under this post on Facebook and I will enter your name in the drawing.  You can leave a comment through Wednesday, February 3rd and then on Thursday, February 4th I'll draw a name.  It'll be a package of one of my books and other handmade goodies and anyone can enter (U.S. and overseas).  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the blog drawing!  I wish everyone could win and I did decide to pick two winners.  I entered all the names into an online app that randomly chose a name and I ended up with one person who commented on Facebook and one who commented here. The two winners are:   Lisa Church   Anonymous Email me your address at terri.groh@aol.com and I'll get your goodies in the mail. Thanks again for participating!

It's the end of summer and my favorite season will be upon us soon!  So to celebrate, I've decided to have a giveaway.  I'll be putting together a box of goodies to give to the winner.  I'll include some handmade soap, lip balm, salve and a few other surprises thrown in.  All you have to do is leave a comment either here or on Facebook.  Do this between now and Monday night.  On Tuesday I'll put the names in a basket and draw the winner. Thank you so much for being such faithful readers.  Have a blessed weekend!

A friend shared an article on Facebook yesterday and you can find it here.   This link triggered a discussion on why people continue to blog or have given it up or at least, greatly curtailed their blogging.  My initial response was yes, blogging does keep me from really focusing on working on my book writing.  But then as I thought about it, I don't think it's blogging but more of social media, such as Facebook that limits my time.  I spend a bit of time each day writing a blog post.  Once it's posted, the only other thing I do is come back and read comments as they come up.  Facebook, on the other hand, is unending and easier to spend tons of time there.  So if I want more time to write, the obvious thing to go would be Facebook. I do find that I have less time to read other's blogs and that is because I'm busier in my 3D life. :-)  So I find myself limiting my reading to those bloggers who actually respond to me or comment ...

I put all the names in a basket and drew one out this morning.  And the winner of the package of Christmas goodies is..... Kathi D Congratulations, Kathi!  Your package will be mailed out on Monday morning. Of course, because I have such a hard time not feeling bad for everyone who didn't win and I'm in the Christmas spirit, I decided to choose two more names.  They'll get something as well.  Those two are... Elizabeth D and Sandy Just email me your addresses at Groh5ofus@aol.com and I'll get these in the mail to you. Have a Merry Christmas!

I was invited by my friend, Lisa M. Buske, to take part in a blog hop. You can read Lisa's blog by clicking here .   I met Lisa at a couple of women's conferences and then we became friends online. She spoke to the women at our church in 2013 and I never would have thought that a year later I would attend the same church when my husband accepted the call as pastor of New Haven Community Alliance Church.  :-) Lisa M Buske, author and speaker since 2010, released her first book, Where's Heidi? One Sister's Journey , on the 19 th anniversary of her only sister’s kidnapping, April 3, 2014. Lisa’s only sister remains missing, more than twenty years missing, yet Lisa and her family have not given up hope. Lisa uses the gifts God’s given her to share encouragement and hope with her audiences, whether you read her blog and books, or hear her speak at one of your events. Lisa spends her days as a teacher’s assistant in a Kindergarten class and he...

And the winner of my blog drawing is...... Elizabeth D! I'll be sending out your package early next week.  Congratulations, Barbara!  I know you already have my first book, so you can just pass it on to whoever you think may benefit from it.   Thanks for participating everyone.