Big Blogging Blunder and An Announcement

I am writing this post the day after I realized that many of my already written blog posts are gone. GONE! I am writing this the day after because yesterday I was very upset. Not happy. Mad. Even today I am teetering on the verge of being mad again but I have just decided that "it is what it is" and it's time to move on.  Sadly.  I must move on and I refuse to allow what happened to ruin my day. 




I do not have a laptop (though I want one bad, lol) nor do I have an iPhone or iPad BUT I do have an iPod touch that I have had for a few months. I really like it. I can check my email, social media sites, browse the Internet, listen to music, take photos as well as many other wonderful things. One of my favorite features is the "notes" app. I use it often. I make grocery lists, Christmas lists, to-do lists and i also write blog posts using it.

I know to a lot of people that probably seems silly but my iPod is portable and with no lap top it helps me make the most of my idle time while waiting on my boys at their sports practices and such. I make lists of blog post ideas and I also actually type my blog posts. In fact prior to yesterday I had several lists of posts I wanted to write along with nearly 30 posts that were already written and only needed a few finishing touches.

So imagine my surprise and frustration when I opened my "notes" app while waiting to pick up my son from an after school activity and out of nearly 40 notes total only 4 appeared.  4.  And these 4 were ones that could have been deleted and I probably would have never known.  They were of little importance and from a few months back when I first got my iPod touch.  I googled this problem and apparently it has happened to a lot of people using apple devices so I caution you to beware if you also use the notes app that it could happen to you - it did to me.

I honestly felt like I got the wind knocked out of me.  I felt a little sick.  If you are a blogger you know that hours of thought, research and writing can go in to one single blog post and to think that I had so many just vanish.  I have been asked to be a contributor for two of my favorite blogs "The Purposeful Mom" and "A Heart For The Home" starting in October and I had several posts already written to be used for that as well as a list of other post ideas that I planned to write for them.  All gone. 

So although I felt like I was a little bit ahead in the blogging game and was about to get back to posting a little more regular since school has started I now am sort of back to square one.  Between losing so much of my material yesterday and the fact that when I switched the name of my blog from Jen's Journey to A Heart For My Home back in June and my blog numbers fell drastically (I assumed that most of my followers would come along with me but I was wrong) I felt like deleting my blog altogether.  My numbers have remained low since the switch with only about one third of my previous audience following me.  While I am not writing this blog to have a large following it does a blogger good to know that people are interested in what you have to say.  Receiving emails, comments on our posts and new followers is such an encouragement to a blogger.  When these things are absent, it makes us wander sometimes "what is the use?" or "why exactly am I doing this?".  I do have some brand new followers and to you I say welcome - I am so glad you are here.   And it's because of you that I will keep plugging along little by little.  It is my prayer that something I blog about will be an encouragement, inspiration or help to someone.  I also pray that God will be glorified through my writing. 

4 Bible Verses come to mind right now: 
The second half of Nehemiah 8:10 ... Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

The Second half of Psalm 30:5 ... Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.

James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.

My Prayer:

Lord Please give me strength, I definitley cried last night but am searching for my joy this morning.  This was a trial and situation that is an aggravation and I would rather have not faced but in the big scheme of life I know it is nothing and today I am counting it all joy.  Thank you Jesus for working patience in me.  Thank you for renewed Joy and now I am just gonna laugh - because sometimes that is all you can do.  In Jesus Name, Amen. 

My question to you is, have you ever experienced a blogging blunder like this? 

And also will you pray for me?  I am feeling a little discouraged right now

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 Click How I Found My "Notes" to read a follow up post.

23 comments:

  1. I'm so sorry this happened to you! I pray that you will be blessed and encouraged. Hang in there!

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  2. Jen,
    I've had notes disappear from my notepad app on my iphone - frustrating, but not devastating. Like this. I would be devastated... I am SO SORRY! Praying that the memory of those lost posts remains, that the time between the writing and the re-writing has forged the words and thoughts from good to better and from better to best. Praying that you stay as encouraged and (honestly...) upbeat as your tone in this post. Praying that you get a laptop in the near future! I know you don't want to hear that closing a door/opening a door thing... but, as long as you're in the hallway, there's nothing wrong with jotting down a little graffiti on the walls.... With love,
    Janet

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    1. Janet, thank you. Such a beautiful prayer. I am in agreement with you to have supernatural recollection of the posts and that the newly written ones will be even better.

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  3. Oh sweetie, I am so sorry! How upsetting! I also have tons of blog posts in draft (in blogger) and I know how upset and frustrated I would be if I lost those as well.

    I assume that there's no way to get it back again? I don't have one of those things and so when I'm out and get an idea, I write it on the back of a receipt or a napkin, lol!

    I don't understand how you lost so many followers by a name change? Did you change from blogger to wordpress or something? It seems to me that your followers would still have you in their feeds so I'm just trying to understand. I might be changing my own name soon, I think, and so I guess I'd better be prepared to lose people, lol! thanks for linking up today and yes, I will pray for you, my friend!

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    1. Nan, I too have many posts in my blogger draft folder. I wish now I had emailed the ones from my ipod to myself and that I had put them in my draft folder. No way that I can find. My ipod wasn't backed up to itunes. I also write stuff on paper too. I need to just carry a little notebook with me and put it ALL on paper. lol

      Name change - I am still with blogger. Created a new blog and did a transfer of all my posts thru blogger from the old blog name "Jen's Journey" to the new blog name "A Heart For My Home" then I put a re-direct code on Jen's Journey so that anytime someone clicks on a link from that blog it will take them from that link to my new blog.

      I probably didn't do it right but I am not techno savvy and did it the best way that I could figure out. I am sure there is a better way so that you can actually keep your followers. I think the way I did it - you had to sign back up to follow me on the new blog name, it didn't just transfer people over.

      If you have any suggestions as to how to remedy that I would appreciate it. :)

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  4. Okay, YES I've had posts just vanish! I've cried those same tears so I'm sending you some love and hugs!! *huggggggggggggggggggggg*

    Second, I've used notes and LOVE it, but I now realize I need to back those up and email them to myself now. I will try to learn from what happened to you, because I too use the notes app for blogging ideas, lists, etc.

    Third, I'm SO sorry about the losing of followers. This is what I 'fear' myself, I've been praying about a move to wordpress, and I've JUST started fixing up my blog on blogger. I'm so nervous, and I have mostly pushed this aside. And then I read your post, this one. Once again, I'm asking Him, does this mean I make the move?!


    I also get the having the feeling of wondering if what I write is reaching people. Sometimes it gets lonely on my blog, with no one commenting. I'm still trying to figure out how to make a good statement/question at the end.


    Anyways, all of that to say, I UNDERSTAND!!!! And I'm a new follower! ;-)

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    1. Peggy, I am sorry that you have also lost posts. I pryaed about switching my name and I have also prayed that those readers who were getting something from my blog would follow so I just have to trust that the ones that are here, are supposed to be and the ones who aren't - well I guess tney aren't. lol The numbers shouldn't matter and to some extent they don't but on the other hand they do. Thank you for understanding and I will pray for you to make the right decision concerning your blog and the move to Word Press. Thanks for following me and I am glad to know I am not the only one that uses the "notes" app to do this kind of thing. I will still continue to use it BUT I will immediatley email it to myself so I have a back up.

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    2. Hey, I made the jump!! I'm on wordpress now. :D I didn't lose anyone, though it was all God's doing. It's hard sometimes to take the leaps He asks us to do, but keeping in mind that HE is the firm foundation we step onto, it helps.
      :-)

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  5. Your post made me catch my breath. It could happen to any of us. I'm so sorry. But I do hear determination in your words, and it encourages many of us to pick ourselves up by our bootstraps and move on. I pray you find that balance and peace you need when it comes to your blog. You have a beautiful place here! Praying things really come together for you in the near future.

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    1. Thank you Linda, I appreciate your encouragement.

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  6. I am so sorry to hear about your problem. Do you know a computer tech that maybe could help you find your notes in there "somewhere"?
    I followed you over from your previous blog. I enjoy your posts so I'm glad you didn't quit!
    Linda

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    1. Thank you for your sweet words and encouragement. I am glad you followed me. :)

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  7. Oh I understand this so well!! I have a lot of posts that I had posted that are just not there. I don't know how many, maybe 100 or so. They just up and vanished like yours did. I will pray for you and hope that you will feel encouraged. All these things happen to strengthen us in the Lord and rely on Him instead of ourselves. This is the first time I am stopping by and I am glad that I did!!

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    1. Oh Judith I am so sorry this happened to you. You lost more than I did. I am glad you stopped by as well, I am happy to have you.

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  8. Hi Jen! I am coming over from Raising Mighty Arrows.

    Yikes. I would have a panic attack, I think. I have not had this problem before, but like you have heard, I do use the blogger drafts. I also save my posts on my desk top computer. (When I think of it. Not really consistent there.)

    I hope you remember most of your topics? So inspiring that you can go to Scripture for help. That is the real test of faith.

    So happy to meet you today, even in these sad circumstances. I hope to see you again!
    Ceil

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    1. Ceil, it is very nice to meet you too. I hope you will stick around. I think I did have a panic attack. lol

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  9. Oh my! That's awful! I've been there. I can so relate. Lost a whole book because of it. It tore me apart for weeks, but way to go clinging to the word. That's about all you can do in times like this. That and pray. If you need a shoulder or e-mail to vent on, I'm there for you friend. Phew!

    Dear Jesus, I pray for Jen right now and that you would give her a sense of peace...a calm that only comes from you. Take the anger and frustration away and replace it with a perseverance and a renewed vigor that only you can give. Give her the time she needs to recover and the words to say as she tries to put the pieces back together the best she can. And, give her lots of people around her who can give her *hugs* and encouragement to keep on pressing on. In Jesus name, Amen.

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    1. Kathy, thank you for such a beautiful prayer and encouragement. I really appreciate that greatly. I am so sorry that you lost a whole book, that I can not even imagine. Wow. Thank you for being a friend.

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  10. I have had that happen to me. It. is. terrible. I feel your pain. I will never use the notes app on my iphone for anything of any real importance again.

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    1. Sarah, I am sorry that you too have had this happen. I had absolutley no idea that it could happen. I am still using notes just because it is so stinkin convenient but I am emailing myself the notes too so they are not just in one place.

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  11. Yikes, that would have brought me to tears. It's not always the easiest thing to see the good in something that just seems bad. You have a wonderful attitude and I know the Lord will reward it. I'm excited for your new journey over at The Purposeful Mom!!

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    1. Kasey, it did bring me to tears. And not the sad kind of tears, the mad I don't like to go there kind of tears. Ugh. But hey whats done is done. I am excited about the Purposeful Mom too.

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You can email me anytime at aheartformyhome(at)gmail(dot)com with comments, questions, suggestions for posts, etc..