So, what do you think?

I’ve been eagerly anticipating this day since March when I secured a place in the queue for Darcy’s services at Graphically Designing. Not only has she created this beautiful new look, but she has transferred me from Blogger to WordPress. WordPress is a blogging platform that gives all of us some really cool perks.

• Replies to Comments – WordPress allows us to have a conversation. You can leave a comment, or reply to someone else’s comment. And I can reply too.
• CommentLuv – Now everyone who comments can sign in to CommentLuv, which automatically links to your most recent blog post.  And that means all of us can drop by and visit each other that much more easily! I look forward to visiting each of you more often now.
• Categories – See that box labeled “Categories” in the left sidebar? If you click it, you will see an alphabetical listing of the topics covered in posts here.  So if you want to read posts on depression or faith or about my daughter Elli, you can find them by clicking that category. WordPress will bring up every post with that label.
• Search – Just below the Categories box is a search box. Let’s say you want to read the post featured as one of Blogher’s Voices of the Week in June and highlighted by ThetaMom as the winner of her blog celebration. Just type in “ThetaMom” and click “search.” Wah-lah – the winning post appears!
• Less Clutter – WordPress allows me to show my archives (all posts by month) on a separate page, rather than in a long list down my sidebar. It provides that slick Categories drop-down menu instead of a long list (though if you prefer the “cloud” format, scroll to the bottom. My “Categories Cloud” is at the bottom of the page.

Take a look around, grab a new Joy In This Journey button for your blog, and leave me a comment with what you like most about the new design and/or the new platform.

Everyone who comments by Saturday at 8pm will be entered to win one of three iTunes gift cards or one of two prize packs from Miss Selby’s Soaps, my very first blog advertiser! I will publish a post about her fabulous homemade all-natural products on Thursday, once all the bugs are worked out of the new design and transfer to WordPress. Please bear with us for the next day or two while we make sure all the links and images work.