A Year of Blogging

So today marks one year of blogging.  I started blogging as a way to focus on the positives of my days and hopefully have some fun with a creative outlet.  With Pierce being only 3 and newborn twins, I found myself completely overwhelmed and suffering from a hefty dose of postpartum depression (very common, especially after twins).  Blogging was a way to escape, just for a little while.  It became my outlet, and was a place to turn when even the refuge of running evaded me.  Those were some dark days, and it didn't help that we had an excessively wintry winter.  I was surprised, and touched by the support of other moms in the blogging community - moms who had faced the same darkness as I and were emailing me to say "I know.  Oh yes I know."  To those few blogging moms, I am so thankful (you know who you are!).  Thankfully,  April finally came around, the days grew longer, and we were able to get out of the house and enjoy the sun.  The depression lifted, but the blogging was here to stay.

What does year two hold for me in blogging land?  Well, I'm going to do the unthinkable.  The past year, I did not miss a single day of blogging.  Not one.  Is that overly Type A or what?  So you know what?  I'm going to slack off a bit.  I'm not going to worry about it if I miss a day, or even two.  I want to focus on improving the quality of my posts, so that might mean blogging less.  The other goal I have is to jump in on one of those writer-focused blog carnivals a time or two.  After all, blogging is about writing and about being creative, right?  I've been intimidated by those particular blog carnivals, to tell you the truth.  I used to be very creative with my writing, back in high school.  Then college rolled around and I feel like all those technical writing courses I had to take beat the creativity out of me.  It was all about getting to the point, being  less descriptive, and using less adjectives, not more.  As a result, I feel like I lost what I had in the ability to craft a story.  But I hope, a few times over this next year, to step out of my comfort zone and tell you a story that will leave you begging for more.  Well, even if it doesn't, be kind when you read it, would you?  ;-)  So here's to thinking outside the box more - not inside:

A huge thanks to my followers.  If you are a follower, I have tried to follow you back (assuming you have the link on your profile).  I appreciate all of your comments - the smiles, the suggestions, the support - you're awesome! 

And now, the winner of my holiday giveaway, according to Random.org, is Julie!  You can check out her blog HERE.  Thanks to all of you who entered.  Julie, if you haven't already, please email me your information so I can get it in the mail to you.