Blogiversary!

Today is my one year blogiversary! I can't believe that one short year ago I began blogging, time passes so quickly. So much has changed, so much has stayed the same. I have nothing particular to blog about today, I just wanted to let you all know how truly blessed I've been and much richer my life is thanks to the friends I've met blogging this past year as well as the friends who I've known for ages that now keep up with my life via my blog!I once heard it said that friendship doubles your joy and divides your sorrow. How true. In the past year, whenever I was happy, you all celebrated with me and more than doubled my joy. During the difficult months surrounding my Dad's death, you all comforted me in ways you will never know. Without the support from all my friends, those who blog and those who do not, my grief would have been unbearable. There is no way I can ever repay you all for your kind and comforting words, your prayers, and your support. Without being too dramatic, I think it's fair to say my life is better because I blog.Blogging lets me vent feelings that shouldn't be bottled up inside me. Your comments and feedback often open my eyes to the many different ways to handle feelings and situations. Blogging has been a cross between therapy and a tea party! I can "let it all out" and then step back and see things from other people's frame of reference.I'm not the most original thinker, and your posts have given me lots of new ideas. I jokingly commented to someone the other day that I hadn't had an original idea since Nixon was president. I now have a "to do" list that I'll never complete even if I live to be 100! The only list longer than the "to do" list is the "I gotta have that plant in my garden" list. Seriously, my garden is so small, I know I'll never try half of the plants I've discovered through blogging. The good thing is, I can come and visit those plants in your gardens, and I don't have to worry about watering, fertilizing, or weeding them!Because of blogging, my house is dirtier, my pile of dirty laundry is larger, and I've almost abandoned keeping up with the world news. Those aren't necessarily bad things, either. I've found that life is still happy even if the house isn't spotless. No matter how large the laundry pile is, we usually still have something clean to wear. And there's a lot less stress in my life when I don't worry about all the current events the media harp on (past week is a great example).I haven't been keeping you up to date the past month or so. Sorry, I WILL do better. I've been busy, lots going on, projects in progress. I'll get back in the swing of things and get you all caught up with my life soon. In the meantime, enjoy your summer, and thanks for sharing your lives with me this past year.