Time Marches On!

Wow! A whole year has passed since I became a "blogger" and started this blog. The first blog post that I did was March 2, 2008. It was very short--just the introduction after setting it up. The intent at that time was to chronicle our trip to Ireland last spring break. I never thought that it would continue and that I would enjoy it so much.

During the trip to Ireland, I wrote every day about what we did and saw and what being in Ireland meant to me personally. I had forgotten how much I like to write until I started blogging. It "reawakened my love for writing" which is what I have on the sidebar of my blog. When we got back, I wanted to continue the blog, but wasn't sure what I would write about......... However, there has been so much to write about over this past year and the writing has come easy.

I have written about family events, our wonderful pets, things that have happened at school and at home, about friends and colleagues, and about the loss of loved ones. I have reminisced of loved ones gone, hoping that by this writing, "those we love will never really be gone as long as their stories are told." I have written about funny times, sad times, and ordinary times. And for my Aunt Teresa, I am doing a birthday post for all of her brothers' and sisters' children.

During this year long journey, I have reconnected with old friends, made new blogger friends, heard from some very distant relatives in Ireland who I am hoping to meet in the near future. We would not have connected if it hadn't been for this blog.

One of my good friends from Douglas, Susie of Arabia, has an incredible blog. Susie and her family moved to Saudi Arabia a little over a year ago. She has been writing about this experience with her blog being a way for her to share with others. She has become "blogging" friends with some of the bloggers that I follow. In one of her posts, she wrote about several blogs that she follows, one of which is mine. Susie has been up for several blogger awards. I am proud of her!

Carol, known as Velvet Brick is the person who suggested that I start blogging and then helped me set the blog up and still answers questions when I am not sure how to do something on my blog. Carol and Susie have become friends. I got an email yesterday from Susie and she told me to give Carol a hug from her because of the loss of her dad this past week.

My friend, Martha, started her blog in order to keep everyone posted on her fight against breast cancer. Her incredible courage and outlook shows each time she posts. So many people are able to be a part of her courageous journey. I admire her so much.

And Meags writes about her life as a mother of five children, which includes two sets of twins. I have to laugh at her posts, while at the same time feel the poignancy of what she shares.

I love to read the comments that are left on the blog. They encourage me to keep writing. Now, I just have to do a post explaining how to leave a comment for all of my wonderful cousins "who haven't figured out how to write a comment!!" I know that they read the blog because they tell me that they do!

I hope that this blog has brought a smile to your face at times, or made you think about something that is happening in our society. I hope that you have learned something about someone you didn't know or that you have remembered someone you hadn't thought about in awhile. I hope you have enjoyed the music and songs that I have put on to try and match what I wrote about. My blog writing has been so meaningful for me. I hope that it has brought you some enjoyment, too.

I look forward to continuing to blog. Technology is such an incredible tool to keep us connected in so many ways. I found a great quote about blogging which is so true, "A blog is merely a tool that lets you do anything from change the world to share your shopping list." I think I am some where in between changing the world and sharing my shopping list--probably closer to the shopping list than changing the world!!!

THANKS FOR SHARING THIS PAST YEAR WITH ME!!!