I can’t quite believe that my blog is turning one.
On 16 December last year I wrote a very short introductory post and sent it out there in to the ether. I was surprised to find people commented!
I wrote my first real post the following day. Last Friday marked the one year anniversary of the events at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown and it was this tragedy that was in part responsible for me finally starting to write. Life was put in to stark perspective that day, and I realised just how lucky I was. I didn’t want to waste another minute procrastinating. I had always intended to document our new life and adventures, and it was about time I started.
What an amazing year it has been!
I had no idea when I started writing my on-line diary (as I thought of it then) that there was this incredible community out there just waiting for me to join. My initial intention was to write a journal. One that we could look back on in the future, and one that friends and family could read to keep up with our adventures – so that I didn’t have to write endless emails!
But, it has become so much more than that, and I love it!
It has been an incredible journey. I discovered other blogs; I discovered linkys!
I have been encouraged to write about the present, remember the past and look to the future.
I have been inspired to make memories, not just record them.
My blog has developed from one that simply narrated our activities to one that considers our experiences and what they mean for us as a family. I have written about identity, motherhood, friendship and childhood. I have crafted and baked and experimented. I have captured the ordinary along with the extraordinary.
I have made some wonderful friends. I have found a friendly, supportive, funny and talented community of bloggers that I am very proud to part of. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has read, commented and supported me over the last year. The positive and thoughtful comments mean the world to me, as do the chats on twitter!
I would love to mention everyone who has inspired me, but I am terrified that I would forget someone! Special mention has to go to the wonderful Fiona at Coombemill though, whose fabulous Country Kids linky has completely changed the way I view outdoor time with the kids – without fail, whatever the weather, we get outside and we have made some wonderful memories.
My most viewed post remains one that I wrote to mark the birthday of a beautiful star in the sky, Matilda Mae. The next, my very first messy play post, inspired by Matilda Mae’s mother.
My easy apple pie has proved rather popular too – it would seem more people have my approach to baking than I thought! And, my seven year old has entertained you all with his persuasive letters, this one being the most popular!
My proudest moment was being short listed in a small writing competition, with this post on the Juggle of Modern Motherhood.
Over the year I have discovered a real love of writing, and of photography. I have had so much fun, trying different styles and exploring different subjects. I feel that I am now finding my own voice.
I can’t wait to see what the next year brings… And I hope that you will stay with me as I continue on this wonderful adventure with my family.
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Happy Birthday to you! I started to read your blog because I was nosy to see what it was like to live in America but it’s your writing that has kept me as a reader!
Thank you, that’s really lovely x
Happy blog birthday! I always enjoy reading your blog and I really appreciate your frequent visits to mine. Here’s to the next year!
Thank you – I really enjoy your blog too xx
Happy bloggerversary! To be honest I thought you’d been blogging longer than a year.
Oh, thank you!
Happy bloggerversary!! I’ve only discovered your blog properly a couple of months back but I thought you’d been blogging a lot longer. It’s always a good read! x
Thank you very much xx
Happy bloggy birthday Sara. I’m sure you’ve been a huge inspiration to many as I know you have me. Looking forward to following this coming year. Love E xx
Thank you so much E, that’s a really lovely comment. I’m looking forward to the next year too :)
Congratulations! Keep it going, I enjoy reading your posts :)
Thank you so much! I will :)
Happy birthday to your blog! Lovely to read about your journey, and you know I’ll be here reading, commenting and tweeting with you this coming year :-)
Thank you Jocelyn, that means a lot xx
Happy Anniversary to you and your blog! I’ve enjoyed reading and look forward to reading many more great posts over the next year :)
Thank you Iona xx
I’ve loved following your blog and all your Country Kids antics. A great year in blogging and happy Blog Anniversary
Thank you very much Fiona x
Happy bloggiversary honey, and thank you for your lovely bit of cyber space. It’s great to be along for the journey ;-) #MagicMoments
Oh thank you, that’s lovely :)
awww masssive congratulations honey on your blog birthday xx
thanks for linking up with #MagicMoments
Thanks Jaime x And, thanks for hosting your lovely linky xx
Many happy returns to your blog!!! *throws confetti* xx
Thanks Debs!
Happy blog birthday! I love your blog and always enjoy coming over and reading it, so here is to any more years of blogging, memories and fun! xx
Thank you so much Orli xx
Happy blog birthday, you have every reason to be proud of it!xx
Linking in from #Magic Moments.xx
Thank you very much xx
Congratulations – I love reading your blog :)
Thank you Mary x
Happy Blog Birthday Sara! Yeah – this gives me a chance to thank you. I found your blog i think through a linky (country kids?) and immediately related to many of your posts as I also had just moved from UK to US (although I’m a dual national). But it was through blogs like yours, and your support whether in social media or comments, that I’ve discovered a wonderful world of bloggers and Mums & Moms. So thank you.
Thank you Kriss! And, thank you too for always stopping by and reading, the support means such a lot – it is a wonderful group of people isn’t it :)
A very happy blogversary to you!
Thank you :)
Ah lovely, happy birthday to your blog and here’s to many more years to come xx
Thank you very much!
All the best to you for the year ahead, I hope your blog gets bigger and bigger! I technically started blogging on the same day as you, but will celebrate my blogiversary in January when I registered my domain name!
Oh, thank you! How funny that we started on the same day :)
Awwww Happy Blog-versary :)… x
Thank you!
Happy Blog -versary! Scary how quick time goes x
Thank you x It is a bit scary, isn’t it?!
Happy blog birthday :)
Thank you x
Happy blog anniversary! I feel the same as you, my blog has brought me so much… ;) xx
Thank you – it’s wonderful, isn’t it?
Oh how wonderful! I never realised the community that I would enter into when I started blogging either, it really is incredible. Here’s to another great year of blogging for you!
Popping over from #MagicMoments
Thank you x It’s wonderful fun isn’t it?
Happy blog birthday – I always keep an eye out for your posts as I enjoy reading them!
Oh, thank you, that’s really nice to hear xx
Happy blogaversary. I feel quite emotional reading this. Edspires amazing strength every day inspires so many of us xxx
popping over from PoCoLo xxx
Thank you x The blogging community is wonderful, and there are some truly inspirational people xx
Happy Bloggerversary lovely lady :) Thank you so much for supporting PoCoLo this year x
Thank you :) And, my pleasure xx