Oh my goodness, guys. I am so BEYOND ecstatic to have the brilliant Kate on the blog today! Kate is one of my blogger besties, and I'm constantly in awe of her creative talents. She is one of the most creative people that I have ever met. Follow her blog- you will be BLOWN AWAY. She's a world changer, guys. When I first read this poem, I honestly couldn't even handle it. I read it at least four times, and I'm still not over just how awesome it is. Thank you SO much, Kate, for posting! So honored to have you here. ♥

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painting,

drawing,

dancing,

writing,

singing,

strumming the strings of a guitar. 

it's not just paint on a page, 

words on a screen,

movements on a stage 

or across the living room floor,

it's creation. it's a continuation,

of a rhythm

a beat, 

a song, 

written, composed by

our Creator,

our Papa,

the star breather.

a paintbrush stroke on a page,

meaningless? or merely the next verse

in the song

that started with

"let there be light"?

a step in ballet shoes,

a twisting of joyous bare feet,

empty, hollow? 

or

an echo of

"The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands."

clay between palms,

brainstorming sessions at one AM,

songs, 

music,

jamming with friends,

when we're asked what it is that we "do"

it seems so often as though we disregard these things,

for the ones that 'pay the bills'.

we disregard them as "hobbies"

when actually, we are treading on sacred ground

every time we open our mouths in song,

move our feet in dance,

lift our hands to create.

Every time we find our souls reaching out to the world through our fingertips,

through our talents,

through our dreams,

we find ourselves becoming more and more

like our Papa.

using the hands He created,

to create.

hobby?

no.

sacred act.

divine dance.

blessed,

gifted,

needed in this world.

so when they ask "what do you do?"

don't be afraid to tell them:

"I dance.

I sing.

I draw.

I act.

I capture images.

I write stories.

I laugh and jam with friends.

I watch stars,

and clouds,

and feel the air between my fingers 

on long car rides.

I create.

Just like our Papa."

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FOLLOW KATE!

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Don't run off without leaving Kate some love down in the comments! ♥

Why I Blog- Hannah @ Grace In Everything

GUYS!! I am so beyond thrilled to welcome the lovely Hannah of Grace In Everything to the blog today!  Hannah is such a beautiful soul, and her posts always brighten my day. If you're not following her, then I'm honestly not quite sure what you're doing with your life. ; ) Kidding, of course, but seriously- GO FOLLOW THIS GEM! After you've read her lovely guest post, that is. I asked Hannah to share why she blogs, and naturally she came up with the most eloquent response of all time. Take it away, Hannah! 

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“Oh, so you blog?” a non-blogger asks. “What’s that, like an online diary?”

“Um, not really,” I reply. “It’s more like this online community sharing life together across state and national boundaries. It’s more like self-discovery to the upmost. It’s more like an outlet to use what God’s given me to help others. It’s more like a lifestyle. It’s more like grace in everything.”

“Okay, cool,” they reply, but they don’t understand. Few people do.

For blogging is more than a diary, although I have stolen diary entries to use as blog posts. Blogging is more than preaching at people, although I have done a few of those as well. Blogging is more than tutorials, photography, poetry, or book reviews.

Blogging is sharing your life with others.

And that, my friends who I will probably never meet, is why I blog.

I had another blog before Grace in Everything, one called Perfectly His. And I liked it. I posted good posts, deep and theological. I had many of them, but I didn’t love it. It wasn’t a lifestyle.

Why?

Because I didn’t read other blogs.

I didn’t share my life with others and in turn let them share their life with me. I just threw up words and left them there for the cold internet to welcome them.

With Grace in Everything, though, I did something different. One day I simply decided that I didn’t want to do this alone, and so I made one of the best decisions of my life: I started reading other blogs.

Something exciting then happened, I made blogging buddies! I saw glimpses into other girls’ lives and found encouragement there. From comments and posts, we became this odd sort of community that kept me coming back for more. Suddenly, it didn’t just matter to me what I posted and read, it mattered to the community.

Very soon I discovered that the lifestyle of blogging takes work. To make it meaningful, I had to put in the hours, the pictures, the late nights and frustrating afternoons. But the more I put into it, the more I loved it and couldn’t imagine giving it up. Those around me didn’t understand this, though. They thought that I should re-prioritize blogging. They didn’t understand why I blog.

I blog for the satisfaction of being a part of something bigger than just me. I blog for the people, because I find that God gave me a skill with words and vision, and He is using this skill to bless others.

I blog because I enjoy it. Putting the words together, figuring out new strategies, answering comments, reading other bloggers’ words. These things feel like a different world, a world where space doesn’t matter so much. Where words take on a beautiful meaning. Where it is acceptable to use ALL CAPS, italicized, and bold words.

I blog because that’s how God teaches me. I discovered that when making blogging a lifestyle, I welcomed God’s grace into more arears of my life. The theme of my blog rooted itself into my life, and God taught me so much more through my own words than He probably taught to anyone else. I’m now always looking for a blog post, a glimpse of God’s grace in the everythings of life. Blogging makes me so much more aware of my soul and how this world expresses God’s grace.

Who knows where blogging will take us (wait a minute, God knows). But for now let us thank each other for the privilege of being a part of God’s kingdom here in the internet world, which isn’t as cold as I once thought. Let us embrace the work because we know that it leads to love. Let us keep our eyes open because then we will see more clearly the grace in everything.

Thank you so, so much Grace for this opportunity to share with your blog my thoughts. Thank you for the reminder to myself why I blog. Grace, you have it down! I have never met another blogger more consistent with commenting and posting than you! Your blog always inspires me, makes me laugh, and sets an example for all blogs what a blogging community should look like! Here’s to my blogging twin, Grace!

And to all of my blogging friends, even if we haven’t met yet, thank you. And grace be with you,

Princess Hannah

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FOLLOW HANNAH!

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Don't run off without leaving Hannah some love down in the comments!! ♥

Why I Blog- Aaliyah @ Growing In His Image

Oh my goodness guys, I am SO EXCITED! Today, my FABULOUS friend, Aaliyah, is guest posting! She is the absolute coolest person ever, and I'm so beyond thrilled to have her posting here today! She blogs over at Growing In His Image, and if you don't follow her, I will personally chase you down and pelt you with grapes. You don't want to be pelted with grapes. SO GO FOLLOW HER!! That is, after you read her post, of course! I asked Aaliyah to share why she blogs, and her response was amazing. ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Hello, followers of the lovely Grace Anne!! I am so excited to help celebrate Totally Graced's second birthday! Blogversaries are so exciting. <3 EEP! This post is short and sweet but these are the three most important reasons of why I do what I do even when it's hard. Without further adieu, let's get into the post!

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The topic Grace asked me to write about is Why I Blog. 
At first, I didn't think much about it other than it was a very fitting topic for a blogaversary. But while I was thinking about what I would write it really got me thinking....

Why do I blog..?

When I began my blogging journey I was an eleven-year-old who just wanted to copy everything her big sister did. She had just started a blog and so naturally I thought it was a STELLAR idea. I never knew what an amazing journey it would be. My blog is now four years old. HOW?!?! I don't think I've ever stuck with something for so long in my life, haha! 

I'm going to tell you up front that blogging is by no means easy. Blogging takes time. I know a huge audience isn't important (unless it's your literal job but ya know), but if you want people to read your posts you have to take the time to write a good post. And then there's pictures that have to be edited, blog design, comments to answer, formatting, yadayadayada. Don't get me wrong, it's a blast. But it takes time and effort. Unless you pride yourself in being a crappy blogger. BUT I'M GETTING OFF SUBJECT. *laughing emojis* Sometimes I don't feel inspired. At all. Sometimes I just really don't have the time. Or sometimes I do have the time but I just don't feel like writing. Soooo why do I do it..? Why do I keep up with it..? Here's some reasons. 

The People

Through blogging, I have met so many people that I wouldn't have known otherwise. One of my best blogger friends is from South Africa. I live in Kentucky. There's no way our friendship could have happened if we weren't bloggers. I have friends from California, the Carolina's, Vermont, Missouri, Indiana, Tennessee, EVERYWHERE. It blows my mind that if I hadn't started a blog that I wouldn't have known these people exist. And these people are amazing people. They BLOW MY MIND. I love them. 

And also even the people that I'm not good friends with but they just read my blog. Their sweet comments and support keep me going. If I didn't have these lovely followers constantly giving me amazing feedback I don't think I would have kept blogging for as long as I have. The blogging community is literally one of the best things ever, I think <3

HAVING A PLACE TO SHARE MY WRITING/THOUGHTS

I love this. I love being able to share what's on my heart to so many people. And most of the time they are going through the same things. I love being able to inspire people, encourage them, and shine a light. And to be able to share my writing as well. To pull out my journals and copy it and share. Or, what I do 99% of the time, just write a poem on the spot. 

JESUS

Oh, Jesus. Blogging gives me a platform like nothing else. I can reach anyone in the world. ISN'T THAT FANTASTIC?!?!?!?!?!? I can share Jesus with everyone who comes across this blog. I have the ability to spread hope. 
And I can also share my struggles. I can tell people, "Hey, look! I'm here too. It's hard and I'm trying to be hopeful but I really don't see it from here." I can get encouragement. I can let people know that it isn't just them. And then sharing about coming out of those struggles and seeing His marvelous light in a completely profound and new way and sharing that too. 


These and so many more reasons are why I blog. The need to write. The need to share. The need to give hope in the darkness. And also to share my extreme love for buffalo dip BUT YA KNOW. ;)


Thank you, Grace Anne, for this wonderful opportunity. I enjoyed it!! MUCH LOVE FOR YOU!! :'''')
-aaliyah xx

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FOLLOW AALIYAH!!

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Don't run off without leaving Aaliyah some love down in the comments!! ♥