Amy J. Bennett

Extraordinary Faith for Everyday Life

Welcome to AmyJBennett.com

by

Welcome to the launch of my new blog home, AmyJBennett.com! I am so excited to have made this jump and so glad you are here! 

 

ajbwelcome

 

First, we have a little housekeeping for our new home.   Here are some things you’ll want to know:

  • Everything that was on Permission to Peruse should be moved over here.  All links pointing to amyjbennett.com should automatically forward to this site.
  • If you subscribe in email, you do not need to resubscribe but you will see a new title and a new look.
  • If you subscribe in RSS, you WILL need to resubscribe to http://feeds.feedblitz.com/amyjbennett.  I need to apologize because I thought it would be seamless for you but it’s not.
  • Like the new Facebook page.  I’m most nervous about this since it means I’m starting from scratch. I’ve added incentive (and celebration) for you to go to the page and like it. There is a new tab on the Facebook page that says Giveaway.  You have to like the page to see it.  Just click there, enter your email and you’ll be entered to win one of FIVE $5 Starbucks gift cards.  Share it with your friends—I’m sure you have a few that would like a free cup of coffee!

giveawaydirections

 

OK, housekeeping done!

 

 

I spent the last year or more wrestling with blogging. After 10 years, I laid it on the table with God and said here, do you want my time elsewhere now?  He’s handed it back to me every time I’ve asked.

Given that, in the last 9 months or so I’ve spent a lot of time with several different mentors of sorts which has all led to this leap. 

I now have a clear vision of why I’m blogging. 

While I have so much to learn, I finally believe that I am a writer.

I’m excited to continue creating community with you.

I feel like God is doing something new and has great plans. 

The name and design change are just an outer reflection of what has happened behind the scenes.

Here are some key inputs that have made a difference:

  • Blog critique by Christin Slade.  Christin did a great job giving feedback on how I could improve my design.
  • The Allume conference absolutely was key in helping me give myself permission to be who I was.
  • I joined Jeff Goins’ Tribe Writers group last year and learned so much about writing and building a tribe.
  • I reached out to Anne as a mentor and her input has been vital.
  • I completed 4 weeks of e-coaching with Holley Gerth and I can’t even begin to tell you how valuable the brand guide and growth plan we produced has been—actually, I do want to tell you about the growth plan this week.  Without doubt, her coaching was a turning point.  Her books You are Already Amazing and You’re Made for a God-sized Dream are also fantastic resources and would be great for someone who might not be able to do the e-coaching—God totally provided that opportunity for me.
  • After meeting with Holley, I formed a small Advisory Board of faithful, long-time readers who could come alongside me and help plan. What a difference this has made.
  • The many, many cups of coffee with friends, blog posts, podcasts and books I’ve consumed that I can’t even begin to list.

If there is one thing I have learned it’s that you can’t be a blogger on your own.  You have to have the courage to ask for help and be willing to learn from others.

 

My biggest hope is what has always been there but is now reflected in the new tagline—that we can share life together and grow alongside one another.  I want you to feel like the two of us are sitting down for coffee every day and whether we laugh or cry or just share silly stories that we’re encouraged by one another as friends. 

Thank you for showing up.

I think it’s time I reintroduce myself.  I’m Amy J. Bennett and the “J” is for Jo. 

 

Don’t forget to resubscribe and enter the giveaway on the Facebook page and I’d love to hear a hello in the comments today!  Please do let me know if you encounter any issues while you settle in.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Well Hello there! So proud of you friend and can’t wait to see how God speaks through amyjbennett.com. Praying for BIG things to come!

    • Oh thank you, Amanda. That is just exactly what I wanted. It feels good to be in new skin that feels very me-ish. I should say thank you for sharing your brand guide with me back at Allume…definitely pushed me to meeting with Holley.

    • Thanks for all your input! After I wrote that at the last minute it made me want to do “Jo” instead of just “J” in the name.

    • Thank you, Becky. I’m really glad too–so much angst but I’m glad I went for it now.

    • Aw, thank you, Mary! I actually referred to your site several times to get ideas. I love your site! But yes, new ones are fun!

  8. So excited for you!!! It looks lovely, but not even close to as lovely as your heart. Can’t wait to see what God has designed for this space.

    Your words echo what I’ve been thinking. I hardly have time to blog, so should I give it up. But, I enjoy it and then hear God whispering that He has a plan. Ah, so many ideas. So little time.

    Looking forward to great things.

    • Thanks for that encouragement!! Blogging is definitely time-consuming if you let it be–and I do often! Hope you stay with it and keep writing!

  10. Beautiful site! I liked your FB page, and I’m looking forward to following your posts. I’m visiting from UBP. As a first time visitor I don’t know what your old site looked like, but this one rocks! Blessings to you!!
    Deb recently posted…Laugh – It’s Good for YouMy Profile

  12. Hello! Following you from the blog party via Twitter now, and happy to be here. I think you’ll bring a fresh perception to our little world (we’re not particularly religious at this time, but I grew up religious and have interest in how others use it in their own lives!) Please stop by my page! Not sure if you’ll like it as I’m kind of jokey and by-the-seat-of-my-pants, but maybe you’ll be into it? http://www.parentwin.com/2013/04/ultimate-blog-party-2013.html Nice to meet you!
    parentwin recently posted…Moment of the Week – 137: Princess Fairy Dance PartyMy Profile

    • Hi, thanks for stopping by! I’ll check out your site…I’m always up for a laugh 🙂