One THOUSAND Three Hundred Steps~Give Away

Today is the one thousand three hundred and first time I have clicked on "New Post" on this blog. I use to wonder how people wrote an entire book about something that was three or four hundred pages long. Well, now I know. The answer is one day at a time. One thought at a time, one key stroke...slow and easy just like the tortoise as he plods along on his journey. I started this blog near Christmas of 2007 and so for the last three years I have posted nearly everyday.

The reason I started blogging was that I challenged some young adults in a Family History class I was teaching to try something new and add one aspect of family history of their choice, into their lives routinely. I chose blogging as my challenge and the rest is history. So many wonderful things have happened to me because of it. For one thing, I discovered I really can do something that I would have thought absolutely impossible three years ago! I have learned that believing is seeing, not the other way around.

Our Grandson Ross climbing~Follow Your Dreams!

Writing as a discipline has helped me to grow and know myself and my thoughts better than anything else I have ever done. It has helped me work through various situations and challenges just by organizing my thoughts and feelings. It has put some structure to that endless sea of thoughts swimming in my head, like a school of fish circling aimlessly in a big tank. It has become a favorite way to creatively pass time and to keep my mind alert and excited about the wonders of God's universe and all the beauty in living life.

It has given me gratitude and a keener awareness of how wonderful our life really is and how many blessings we enjoy continually, even in hard times. It has shown me how much fun we have in black and white. The mind can get foggy on those things and I envision myself reading all these wonderful adventures and reliving them when I am really old and all else fails.

It has helped me communicate with our children and grandchildren in a fun way. It is something they can choose to read or not... on their own time schedule. When I post on my blog I still feel like they are seeing my heart and that they can hear my voice whenever they want to. As I have said before, it is like I have left the backdoor open and the light on at home whenever they want to visit. I will never stop being their mom even if they are long gone from the old homestead. I have seen some moms kind of turn that off when the nest is empty...I am not one of them. My family stays in my mind and heart continually.

Blogging has taught me that one day at a time I can accomplish what I need and want to accomplish, if I just keep at it. I am learning to apply that to other aspects of my life with more confidence. And to know that, life is time...no matter how you spend it, God willing, you are going to be one year older on your birthday. By small and simple things great things are brought to pass.

Baby Steps, Just Keep Going,
Keeping it Up, Never Giving Up!

The surgeons I used to work for would say this, if asked how they could go to school until they were 30? "I knew I was going to be 30 regardless, so why not spend time making my future better and in the long run, easier...by getting a great education."

Spending time today engaging in a concerted effort to improve tomorrow makes sense to me. Applying that concept to all my goals has improved my life one day at a time in many areas. Who knew blogging could create that kind of change in person? Accounting for your life through writing is therapeutic. It makes you emotionally more healthy and centered, especially if you get real and share your true thoughts and feelings. If you don't want to do that in an open blog, do it in a private one.

You will be surprise at the bouquet planted
one seed at a time!

Blogging has also been so wonderful in terms of the fellowship with each of you. I have learned with you, cried with you, laughed with you and learned to love you through your posts, pictures and comments. Your kind words of encouragement and appreciation for some of the posts I have done have buoyed me up and made me keeping coming back for more. You have let me know you have found value in stopping by and that has meant so much to me.

My counter tells me I have had thousands of visits from over 64 countries. (Really?) Most of you remain anonymous to me. So this is what I was thinking....I am going to have a give away to commemorate 1301 posts and I want to meet more of you.

If you become "a Follower"I will enter your name into the drawing. To become a Follower go to my actual blog if you are on a reader. On the sidebar at the very top you will find the Followers gadget. Just click on Follow and follow the prompts. Easy. Then leave a comment saying that you are a follower. If you are already following, just let me know that in a comment as well.

Next Wednesday I'll choose a winner. I have no idea what the give away is yet but now I have a whole week to search for something awesome to say thank you for your friendship and support! I am so grateful for all of you! No matter where you live in the world your prize will be mailed next week. Good luck! And thank you all again for the lovely time it has been these past few years. And if you are just jumping on board for the first time, that is great too!