Isn’t this a beautiful sight? Ben decided last week that he likes keeping the drinking fountain clean since EVERY single person that comes in our house sticks their face down in there.
Oh my, when I saw him cleaning it yet again this morning I thought I heard angels singing.
Just moments ago, Ben clicked onto this blog and complained, “You need to write something, mom.”
An unexpected benefit of blogging has been my boys interest in what I have to say.
Did you catch the enormity of that statement? For a few minutes a day I have their undivided attention as they read my perspective on our lives. Occasionally they complain about facts skipped over and details omitted, but the general response is laughter and, “that was good.” More than anything they love the comments and often jostle each other away from the computer screen to gain a better view.
When I started this blog one year ago today, my intention was simply to create a journal: a record of our days, a central place to collect stories and photos. I invited exactly one reader- my dad- and firmly refused when he asked me to share the link with others.
But as the weeks passed my inhibitions diminished. One day my sister commented that she would read my blog if only it were public.
I pressed the magic button.
A whole new world opened.
As quickly as I shared my blog address I found that many of my friends were veterans of the blogging world. Soon I was reading about their hopes, their fears, their crafts and vacations and day at the park. On the other side of the country I’ve watched my friend’s babies grow and felt our friendships deepen.
My first profound blog experience was Darren and Sarah. Bless them for sharing sweet little Jack’s life and death in their blog. I may have acquired an invitation anyway, but the partaking was so much easier when it didn’t require an email or a phone call. Little Jack’s short life influenced countless people simply because it was public.
I share a back fence with my neighbor Ashli, but we didn’t start sharing our hearts until we read each other’s blogs. We dropped all pretensions and became best friends. Ha! And I gained a baby Grace out of that relationship.
As the months went by I linked blogs with several acquaintances and reunited with high school and college pals. It’s amazing the closeness I feel to friends when I read a bit about their life every week.
And then the new friends poured in. I am going to make a terrible confession: on my thirtieth birthday I had the thought, “I really have enough friends right now. If I make too many more I won’t be able to keep up with them all.”
Can you believe I thought that for even a moment???!! Looking back on the last decade I see that most of the profound friendships of my life were made since that day.
Blogging has brought me new friends; people that I was MEANT to know; women whom I wouldn’t have found any other way. Every person who has commented on this blog(and many who have not) has enriched my life and changed my perspective just a wee bit.
I agree that there are good reasons for going private. Nearly every week I am tempted to go in and change the settings. For me it isn’t fear of a stalker(wouldn’t they pick on someone famous?) but simply that I can’t believe I am telling all my silly stuff to everyone who may stumble upon this page.
But I stay public because I know more friendships, more stories, more crazy wild experiences will come to me through each of you. So please forgive me my faults and foibles, my silly ramblings and grumpy days and endless photofests. Ignore me when I’m crazy but embrace me when I’m down. I need you, my friends. Thanks for reading.
Shannon
Happy blogiversary! I’m glad you decided to go public with it all.
And I love that you have a drinking fountain in your house!
Chelle
I need you, too.
xo
jess
oh the friendships of blogging. what would i do in boring old rexburg without my “friends” that i get to check in on every day? thanks for staying public!
Mama
Michelle, we all need each other! I am so glad to have you!
Melinda
Well, My Mom and Brenda both say there isn’t a better friend in the whole world than you Michelle. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you and hope to become better friends as our posts and photo sessions continue.
Blue
I think you know how glad I am that I found you, but just in case you don’t…thanks for blogging.
You’re right, it’s really weird to have people know all that I put on my blog. One of my favorite books is Ender’s Game…and in the sequel “Speaker For the Dead” Ender has a role that I’ve always thought was cool. When someone dies, he (in an almost omniscient manner) tells their story…all of it. The good, bad, public, private. Even the “bad guys” have some redeeming points. For me, blogging is kind of like that. A place to be honest and real, and to try and have the whole, real story encapsulated in one spot. It’s so freeing to have this virtual space to document my life, one post at a time. And to be daily inspired by my blogging friends too. Which is one thing you always do for me. ♥
Kim
Happy Blogiversary, Michelle! I’m glad that you’re public and I’m glad that you found me…
That drinking fountain is the coolest thing ever! My kids would LOVE to have one in our house!
Katie
I am glad that you are a ‘blogger’- I have loved getting to know you and your darling family better… I can’t wait to read more.
ashli
i hope you know grateful i am for a friend like you! thanks to this big world wide web i found a best friend in my own backyard!
Christie
However did you get a drinking fountain in your HOUSE? I would love that. So, so cool.
Happy blogiversary, too.
Shannon&Eli
perfectly said..i am glad you are public!
Denise
You changed the title! But, here I am, back like a glutton…commenting. I’m glad you’re puclic too. It’s connected us and we were surely overdue for this friendship. So, here’s to blogging!
StubbyDog
I love your blog and am so glad you shared it with all of us!
Oh, and another tearful moment as I revisited baby Jack and his loving parents. So, so close to home with my own baby Jack born just 9 days earlier. My heart grieves for all babies and families who lose someone, but for obvious reasons that one just cuts a little bit deeper.
Kelly
Michelle….I found you blogging and I’m here checking on you and your family every day. You should know that YOU are my inspiration for blogging about my clan every day. Blogging helps me see things more clearly. I pay attention to the small things that happen in the lives of my children and I find that I am a more patient person knowing how fast they grow. I believe it goes by even quicker when you’re really paying attention!
Thank you for being public and inspiring me to stop and smell the roses!
xo, Kelly in Maine 🙂
Jan Russell
I love your blog. It’s like a wonderful picture book for grown-ups! And props to Ben for his cleaning efforts!
Linkous
Michelle– Thank you so much for starting and sharing your blog with us! Through your example Kit and I and our 2 precious angels now have some pretty amazingly, magical memories preserved for generations to come. So Thank you once again for your example, friendship and constant desire to share the special things and moments in your life with all of us! We love you!
P.s. I got a starter, basic bid on a ” Flour House”. We will call you!
By the way we had a small battle in our home over the last baguette, soooooo good. yummy!
Elizabeth
Aunt Michelle,
I agree with my mom that I probably wouldn’t read your blog if it was still private. And while I understand that you’re busy I agree with Ben about blogging more. I look forward to every new post! I also think that my cousins could blog more on their blog.
Lizzy
Kristen
so many reasons i want my private blog to not be private…i love making new friends and reading about strangers lives…i found you from kit and kevin.