(Belated) Celebration/Giveaway Time-C'mon!

Alas, in the lifetime of my blog I have failed to recognize any milestones pertaining to this blog. There was no 100th, 200th, 300th etc post recognition. No, "Hey! This blog has been around for one. whole. year" type posts.

And this is not because I'm not a party girl. Because I am. Not.

It's because I am lame and have simply failed to keep track of these things. For some reason yesterday, or the day before I was sitting outside and it suddenly occurred to me that I should check when I first started my blog.

I finally got around to doing that today and lo and behold, it was during this very week, August 9th, two years ago when From Humble and Inauspicious Beginnings the Blog did Spring and it has been rambling good times ever since. We've had three different homes, and picked up some lovely friends along the way.

I feel a list stirring within my soul. Can't. Stop. It..

What I love about blogging

1.I love having my assorted memories in one spot.
I love reading my blog. I love reading my blog far more then you do. Not immediately mind you, at first I find most of my entries somewhat uninspired and boring. But when I randomly go back on them several months later (using that nifty little "you might like this" tool at the bottom of each post), I am positively entranced. Not by the genius of my writing but by the shortness of my memory. When I read what I have written I am stunned at how vividly I remember each event, and how completely I would have forgotten many of them if I had not written them down. It makes me truly mourn not having started a blog from the moment I had kids. My writings are scattered all over the internet for my first 8 years of motherhood, most of which I will probably never be able to find again and I wish most fervently that I'd put everything in a collection from the get-go. Oh well, better late then never. I love that people enjoy my blog, it is gratifying and fulfilling to share things that mean a lot to me with others who care. But mostly, I love that my blog encourages me to keep somewhat of a journal, with photos. I am a huge lover of journaling but it had fallen somewhat by the wayside until my narcissism was properly channeled. Excellent.

2. I love meeting new friends.
Let me tell you about John and Susan for instance.
Some time ago John made my day by writing an incredibly kind comment about one of my posts. Ever since he and his wife have been a regular cheering section. They write sweet and encouraging emails about my writing (John once mentioned that I reminded him and his wife of Erma Bombeck and since hers were some of the first books I ever read and loved as a child-yes, I was an exceedingly bizarre child, I also used to read pregnancy magazines voraciously), I was deeply touched and flattered, although I do know I can only dream. John and Susan are not really my "target audience" (although to be honest, my true target audience is technically the ever elusive members of my family, who are some of my least regular readers-they try, they really do...) and without this blog, our paths would have never ever crossed.

John stumbled upon Momedy accidentally, through a google search for his bank..true story, but since then we have discovered much in common. They live close to where Aaron and I lived when we were first married, they have close ties to the tiny community Aaron grew up in, and they are completely, totally awesome, inspiring, and happy people. Who live life with great gusto, joy and dedication to serving others. I want to be be like them when I grow up. We have exchanged packages of herbal tea (a mutual love) and I have even been recipient of some beautiful jewelery made by them. (I wore it yesterday, in fact).

Along with John and Susan are so many others friends I have met, and old friends I have re-connected with. Really precious and priceless gifts.

3. Blogging makes me think more about the experiences of life. As I sit down to write a post, I am forced to organize my thoughts and really re-live an experience. This is usually fun, sometimes sobering, but nearly always meaningful. Through presenting sometimes menial activities in writing, it is easier to distill them and to find the purpose of them in the big scheme of things. I really try to be real in my blog, I don't think there is much point in leaving a false record, or presenting a false or one dimensional view of myself, but I also don't have much interest in leaving the legacy of being a gigantic downer all the time. Blogging encourages me to find the good, positive and valuable when I can.

3. Blogging gives me the opportunity to serve. If I can help someone in the way that so many others have helped me, then my blog has a higher purpose. I think sharing our trials and triumphs honestly, is one of the greatest services we can offer each other in this life.

If I have discovered a way to make my life easier or better, if I can share some information or insight or even empathy that will,or has, made the path of someone else in any way smoother, then I am deeply gratified and grateful. My blog is a forum for me to be silly and sarcastic, but it is also a place where I get to share the things that mean the most to me, the things that bring me the greatest joy, peace and satisfaction, including my faith. I believe God has given us the gift of this technology along with the responsibility to not just to use it to better our lives, but also to serve each other.

The words of the hymn Lord, I will follow thee, "pause to help and lift another, finding strength along my way" come to my mind.

Lifting others is a great way to strengthen your own spiritual and emotional muscles. A refrain from another hymn often runs through my mind at night as I brush my teeth and reflect on the day, it is called "Have I done any good?" Have I done any good in the world today? Have I helped anyone in need? Have I cheered up the sad, and made someone feel glad? If not, I have failed indeed". Sometimes blogging allows me to feel as if I can say "yes" to some of those questions even when I have not been in the trenches of service.

4. Simple. I love to write. I love the creative outlet, I love creating a post, the photos that go with it, making the whole thing all pretty pretty. It's my space. I'm a girl. We're territorial nesters. One more spot in the world to decorate and fuss over. What is not to love?

5. Your comments, validation and ego stroking have nothing at all, whatsoever, nada, zilch, zero to do with my love of blogging. Er-hem.... But I suppose they don't hurt anything and it seems to make you happy so you guys just go ahead and keep that stuff up. I'll allow it. Because I'm generous like that. I'm a giver, and I'm only thinking about your needs here of course.

So! It appears to be customary to give stuff away at times like these, although for heavens sake wouldn't it be more appropriate for people to give stuff to me? GOSH! as Napoleon would say. But far it for me to be bucking trends or being an original or anything like that. And then of course there's the fact that I'm such a giver and all that..... so I suppose this all means that....... it's
GIVEAWAY TIME!!

(Yay!) No really, I have been looking for a reason to bestow gifts upon you, my beloveds. It's fun to do is it not? After approximately 3.2 seconds of sober reflection I decided that the giveaway will be a compilation of, "a few of my favourite things" previously mentioned on this blog and since this is not really the day of my blog's birth but the week thereof, let's spread the wealth over a few days shall we?

Today's giveaway is for: one of my favourite things in the bathroom. From Bath and Body Works' Aromatherapy line I give you: Optimism as featured in my blog here.

Now perhaps, if you are very good (and I know you will be) I will throw in a candle and a magazine so that you can have the full bubble bath experience. Because what is a bubble bath without a candle and a magazine? It's just a bubble-bath, that's what it is. Better then a sharp stick in the eye, to be sure. But it's not the way I prefer to do things.

How do you qualify to win this package of bubbly awesomeness? Elementary, my dear reader!

1. Just leave a comment!(Making sure you leave a way for me to contact you if you win)
   
2. If you are a follower, or decide to be from henceforth, tell me so by leaving another comment, and you double your chances of soaking by candlelight flipping the soggy pages of a mag.
   
3. If you wish to share the glorious news of my blog's anniversary on your own lovely blog by posting there and linking here, let me know about it for yet a third chance to win.
4. Facebook/Twitter announcements linking here gives you a 4th shot at the bubbly joy.

Now, just be sure to post a separate comment for everything you do as I will be using the random number fairies to determine who gets an extra shot of optimism.
Entries for today's prize will be accepted until midnight EST tomorrow, Thursday 13th. Stay tuned for more of my favourite things to giveaway all week long. Because when I celebrate, I really celebrate, even if it is only every couple of years or so.

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