This is the time of year for reflection. I have been doing this for a few weeks now, thus my lack of posts. It was November when I last shared my thoughts with you.
Why the pause?
Honestly, I’m discouraged about the blogging world. We have been doing this since 2008 and it has been a joy. The friends we have made around the world is one part. But those of you who have shared your stories with us and even asked for help and hope is what we love most.
Many blogs have moved their websites to Substack where it is easier to connect with like-minded people. I’ve tried this, and even started our own Substack, but it is confusing and I can’t seem to find the help I need to navigate yet another platform.
Others have started podcasts, which isn’t my forte at all! I’m a writer, not a public speaker.
But the main reason I’m discouraged is another new wave of technology—bots who access our blog posts for content they can reuse. I know this is happening because I will get one hit on hundreds of posts. There are no comments. It’s like my blog has become an outpost for lonely robots wandering Cyberspace. This is not helping marriages thrive, which is our purpose in blogging.
In 2026 the Lord is leading me to begin writing in earnest again. It may or may not include writing here, that is up to the Lord to decide. I wanted to let you know why the absence.
We are also starting a marriage community group in our home in January. We are going through the book, I Still Do, by Dave Harvey. We highly recommend it! We haven’t led a small group since 2020. We are excited to connect face-to-face with couples in our church as we seek to learn and grow.
Anyway, that’s where we are right now. We appreciate your prayers, and if we can pray for you, please let us know in the comments. This alone will prove you aren’t a lonely robot. ❤️
Happy New Year!
The Romantic Vineyard 
Glad you have taken time to reflect and wait on God for His direction for you and this blog. Time & technology has certain changed things and it can be discouraging at times to try and navigate it all. We trust you will hear from God and follow His leading. Glad you’re going to have a marriage group in your home again.
Randy was recently diagnosed with Mesothelioma in his left lung, along with a couple other lesser issues so we’ve had lots of dr appt’s and test and he just had his 2nd chemo/immunotherapy treatment the day after Christmas. God has kept us in His supernatural peace and joy in this challenging season and we have so many friends and family praying for us. We know God’s got us and it’s another season of growing stronger in our marriage.
Blessings to you and Tom as you continue to encourage marriages and follow God’s leading in your lives.
Blessed by you in 2025 and wishing you God’s great blessings in 2026.
Randy & Vickie
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I am discouraged by the substack world and I don’t want it. My blog began in 2010 and it was very regular until this year. It’s a strange world we live in. I have read your blog for years.
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Your comment is anonymous. Can I ask who this is? And thank you for reading our blog. We are grateful.
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I have noticed your absence, of course. I’m asking those questions too. I get far more responses and interaction on my Facebook page yet I’m hesitant to give up blogging as it’s more reflective and detailed but people don’t necessarily take the time to read as many posts (I think), including me. I have gotten huge responses to my silly, fun reels. It may be that’s the future for me. We’ll see. We’ll talk in January.
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I’m not even doing videos. It’s just not my thing.
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