One Year

Today marks the first anniversary of my blog. That's a blogiversary, I guess. It actually snuck up on me. I can't believe it's been a year already! I have mulled over many ideas for this post including writing a really creative poem about blogging, a post in which all the words I write form the number "1", and a word post using all my blogging friends' names, blog titles and snippets of highlights from the year.


Instead, I have a real-life story that surpasses any of those.

On the morning of July 29, 2006, I created my blog but hadn't yet posted. I didn't know if I'd ever post much at all, and I certainly had no creative direction or ideas about the kind of blog I'd eventually try to create. I also had no idea that I'd meet such wonderful blogging friends along the way, and read amazing, funny and touching stories to boot.

Instead, that same day, I was googling the name of a bicyclist who had been brutally murdered on a bike trail in this area a few days prior. What little information I'd heard lead me to think she might be a member of our church. I learned she wasn't, but she was a very active in the homeschooling community here and was beloved by many homeschoolers, including several at our church. That google search lead me to Meredith, a homeschooling mom of three and a member of the same church we attend.

I was interested in her blog and in homeschooling. We've never considered it as an option for our children but I have nothing against homeschoolers. I am a firm believer that whatever works for your family is what's best. But, then I came across a post Meredith had written a year earlier (so two years ago now) about hearing of a fellow church member who was going back to work part-time and putting her child in daycare. Meredith was mad...she was outraged. So, I commented on her blog, simply asking why a mother putting a child in daycare made her so angry. And her response is the first comment on the first post of my blog.

Though our beliefs about working moms vs. stay at home/homeschool moms were on opposite sides of the fence, I kept reading Meredith's blog. I read because she writes so well about the Bible and her journey with the Lord and about her faith and her children and her family. I read because we had so much in common. I read because I really liked her.

Now, today...exactly one year later. Meredith and I met in Sunday School... in real life. Our husbands were there, too, and we all met. I thought I noticed her across the room last week, and I emailed her saying I was certain it was her but I got sidetracked and I didn't get a chance to say hello. She emailed me back saying she'd be there again today. She said she'd read my blog now and then and that she's really had a change of heart regarding judging others who choose not to homeschool and stay at home with their children. She told me she has been convicted about loving people for who they are. "You have blessed me," she said.

And, I feel the same about her.

The lesson in Sunday School today was This is the day that the Lord has made. Not tomorrow or yesterday, but this day. We are to rejoice in this day. Too many of us fear tomorrow and have guilt about yesterday.

And then our class leader asked us to turn to John 15:11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

And I read further to John 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

Isn't it fitting, this verse on this day?

Last year Meredith and I were two women, two wives, two mothers, seemingly on different sides of an issue. But today, this day, we met.

Purely and simply we met. Two women, two wives, two mothers, who love the Lord and have been blessed by one another. Sitting not in judgment of the other's choices, but in praise of our journey.

And I feel the same about all of you. My blogging friends bless me more than I can say. I think about you when I'm writing and I look forwarding to visiting all of you each week. You make me laugh and think and give thanks and even shed a tear now and then.

But more than anything else, you make me realize how much we all share. We're moms, wives, step-moms, daughters, sisters, grandmothers, friends, and neighbors.

You bless me. Each and every one of you. Really, and truly, you do.

This anniversary is a celebration of you.

I couldn't possibly ask for more.