2005
Seven years ago today I started a blog.
I looked like this.
Like many I didn't know what a blog was. My friend Kristi, French Word a Day, told me about blogging and dared me to tell my stories.
I accepted her dare: Write daily for a year.
And I did. I poured my thoughts, my prayers, my questions… I was soul searching, and blogging helped me find a new way to express myself.
2006
The first year I rarely put photos of myself or of my family on the blog. Though a number of you started to ask to see "who" was behind the blog. So I put my photo up and wrote, "I am the the one who does not like her photo taken. Though I love dares, and I like to please others, and I am a easily led."
I added photos of myself and my family.
I dyed my hair.
I got a better camera.
I kept blogging daily.
2007
As the days rolled into months and months into years I met many of you, wonderful opportunities came to me… Jenny Doh asked me to be part of Somerset magazine, my photos were asked to be used in magazines, readers invited me to their homes. I felt the world as a community, it felt good and I kept on writing everyday no matter if I was sick, bored, tired, angry, happy, faraway, or had nothing to say.
2008
On the eve of my 50th birthday my Father went into the hospital. I flew home. I stayed by his bedside everyday for three months.
Though I wrote everyday without fail. I dedicated this feat to my father who while in the hospital would say…"Did you write your blog today?" And when I would shake my head no, not yet… he would swoosh me with his hand to go sit down and do it. And if I said I had he would SMILE and ask what did I write about? AND I would point to him.
It was a hard year.
My dad died.
I cried often.
Your prayers, good thoughts, comments become holy communion, I felt encouraged, loved, cared for and gathered strength, and blogged everyday because you were next to me.
I wrote of death, dying, grief… but mostly of learning to accept pain and see beauty in all things.
2009
Our Children started to spread their wings… an empty nest stared at me… so,
My French husband and I jumped on our motorcycle and rode…
through Italy, Austria, Prague, Budapest, Croatia and back home to France.
We met wonderful people.
Stayed with strangers who became friends.
It was a year of grace, healing and newness.
We remolded our bathroom, and I posted photos of myself taking a bath.
Daring, and blogging.
2010
Five years later:
I took my passion for the brocante and put it online.
Created a business from having the brocante bug.
Went to Round Top, meet other bloggers affected with the brocante bug.
And kept on blogging….and brocanting.
2011
Blogged about Matchmaking.
Blogged while traveling through Thailand, Hong Kong and China.
Blogged with an injured foot.
Blogged after my ladder broke and I shattered my wrist from the fall.
2012
Today marks seven years of blogging everyday no matter what and I hope I can do it again and again.
When I started blogging my daughter Chelsea was fifteen and my son Sacha was twelve.
Their love, their encouragement, their genuine goodness and faith in have kept me going.
French Husband understanding and trust in me has propelled me to fly. My family in Willows runs through my blood… I write because of them for us which means you.
Thank you the many of you who have encouraged, appreciated and woven your comments and emails into my heart. YOU are a gift and I am thankful to give back to you what you have given to me.
What does the future hold? I don't know but I trust it will be good.
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