angie warren | the blog »

Melanie - Your friend is right, there are no rules. You are a brave and creative woman. I look up to you more than you may ever know. I’ve learned so much from your blog posts and our visits (even on FB and Instagram) that I feel like a stronger person as a result. Pour it all out here. Make sections if you want it compartmentalized. Maybe there’s a tab for creative stuff, one for musings, one for photos…There’s nothing that says they don’t all go together!
Love you friend! <3

Nikky - I’ve been fortunate enough to have a seat on this wild ride we call motherhood with you. Your friend is right. there are no rules. As we have found with rearing our kiddos what works for L doesn’t necessarily work for Jr. We have to find our own “rules”. Actually no- I tend to find rules (or make them) then end up breaking them. I made a huge decision in Dec in regards to my issues with weight – I have thought for the past two months that I am “happy” but as the weight is coming off I don’t see what others see :/ so I hear you on the feeling like you don’t know which direction you are headed – but what I’ve been so long winded to say is – no matter which way the wind blows you, you have friends, loved ones and “followers” who will be here to cheer you on, love you and even on occasion brag on you even if you decide to soar in circles for days

amie hansen - such a pleasure to read your words and be your honest self. thank you for sharing angie!

Danielle - I’m with you here. I’m starting to homeschool my kindergarten twin boys in the fall and trying to figure out how to organize my life. Thus far I’m managed two blogs and two loves like yourself: photography and writing. I have a part-time photography business and then also write articles for publication and just write for me on my blog. I feel a bit unfocused and fractured at times. How does this all fit together? Does it have to? What do I love best? Sometimes I feel like I’m not giving my best to either writing or photography because I feel split between the two. Should I choose one over the other? Can even functionally still do both AND homeschool at the same time?

Lots of prayer going on here because I want what God wants for me. And I know what he wants won’t be too much to handle and like you say, I’ll feel peace about it. I’ve appreciated you sharing your journey through all your recent life changes: business, motherhood, moving, unemployment, etc. It’s kinda nice to know others have similar struggles.

And the mason jars. Yeah, we love them!

Wilma - I have a friend who is always true to himself, in that very moment. Not true to what he thinks he should be, who he wants to be, just him, in that moment. It’s taken me by surprise at times, but I so admire him and wish I were more like him.

Even at about a year shy of 50 (see, you’re still quite young), I often catch myself figuring out how to project myself to the outside world. It’s tiring.

Be who you are, how you feel at that point in time. Then you’ll touch hearts, not just minds.

lauren - thanks for being so real and raw mama! your words are beautiful… rules or no rules — it’s all up to you! xo!

Maegan - I’m not sure if I’ve commented at all yet, but I’ve been reading your blog and have been especially interested recently. All those things you want to write about…I think they do go together because they are all part of you. I completely understand your hesitancy, but I think if you write about all of them in one place, people are going to read. And maybe someone who wants to read about hair bows or mason jars will end up reading something really meaningful to them about depression. I have so much I want to write and then I end up writing nothing because I can’t think of the words and what I do write doesn’t feel like my voice. You write so beautifully that you should put down whatever you have to say. I’m learning that once we really open up, the things we want and need come our way.

Michelle - i know this came to you as a jumble of thoughts, but i found it really poignant and beautiful. i found your blog last year and have been following ever since. at first it was your passion and skill to create your images in such a beautiful way that really drew me in. but since you have started sharing a little more (which is really brave), it brought something else to what your doing. substance. depth. some kind of connection. your work/expression of life is beautiful with it and beautiful without it. whatever you decide, know there’s more people connecting to your work on here than you probably realise. you have a beautiful family and your spirit shines through each one of your posts, i genuinely mean that.

Hannah Mayo - Oh Angie. I had tears in my eyes reading this. Because some of what you wrote, I easily could have written too. And because it is so comforting to be reminded that I am not the only one who feels like a hot mess at times (a lot of the time). I look up to you so much, you have no idea- and even more when you share from such a real place. What is it about the blogging/online world that makes us feel stuck sometimes? I too have struggled with the purpose of my blog, whether or not to have a separate one for business, what to post on each, what to post at all… and sometimes I have just not posted at all because I’m just unsure. And I wonder if it matters anyway- I could just journal for myself instead. But I’m always drawn back to sharing bits and pieces, for some reason. But I still don’t a have a really clear direction. I like neat little compartments too I think. I have no answers- just hugs from a few thousand miles away… and apparently a super long comment : )

tracey - Just be who you are. There doesn’t need to be any compartments. God is gracious enough to extend his creative spirit through you…to glorify himself. #77 from Irwin Greenberg’s 100 Words to Paint By: “If what you have to say is from your deepest feelings, you will find an audience that responds.”
Love God, and do what you do…the rest will come.
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