Five Years of Blogging - And Counting

It was June 20, 2006 that I published my first blog post. At that time, I had at least 11 family members who were blogging as well. Kristen was encouraging me to blog, but I thought it was a foolish waste of time. Then she introduced me to Diane from Partners in Prayer for Our Prodigals, telling me I had to read her posts, we had so much in common. We soon became kindred spirits. We have actually MIRL (which I soon learned means Met In Real Life) on two different occasions.

So, here is my first post:

"I have entered blogland with fear and trembling. Feisty is sitting on my lap and Care Bear is here too. I don't have time to think or write, but just wanted you all to know that Kristen has launched me. There have been so many great messages in the last two days that I feel I need to do some explanations. I will do that as time goes on. I just wanted you to know I'm here. Just Call Me Grandma Dawn!"

Blogging soon became very important to me, much to the delight of those who knew of my original opinion. I seldom get more than one post done a week these days, but I used to average 3 per week. I never had a huge following of dozens of commenters, but I have made so many special friends. Dwight has become so accustomed to my quoting my blog friends that he even asks me how they're doing. I have also been privileged to meet 11 of these awesome women in person. Two of them have provided us with lodging when we've visited Kevin in Maine. What a blessing!

Blogging was so much fun back in those early days. We all seemed to have so much to say. There were lots of "memes" which were fun post prompts which went all over blogland, and helped us get acquainted with other. I didn't participate in those too often, but some still do on a regular basis.

There were contests,weekly themes which linked us to each other, and such things as "Christmas Home Tour" and "Home Town Tour." This is how many of us met each other. We've celebrated each others' "Bloggiversaries" with giveaways. We've celebrated 100, 200, 300, 400 posts, etc. I just finally reached my 600th post, which is far fewer than many friends have written in 5 years.

I often try to remember how I connected with each of my blog friends - if you remember how we first "met", please let me know.

Many of our friends have quit blogging, and I miss them very much. Facebook has taken the place of blogging for quite a few of my friends. I love Facebook, too, but the writing piece of blogging was so special. I am in awe of the writing of some of these women. I keep telling some of them that they need to publish.

We have shared good times, bad times, happy times, sad times with each other. Blogging buddies and many we didn't even know prayed the little preemie twins to a healthy delivery, and have enjoyed watching them grow up through my many pictures and stories. There are so many amazing prayer warriors out there in cyberspace!

Sometimes I get to the point where I can't think of anything to write about, and I consider being a blogging drop-out. Then I think of all of the friends I would miss so much, and I keep going.