Lists of 2013 - #11 - Best Blog Posts I've Written

Listography 2013 - #11 - Best Blog Posts I've Written

Well according to the stats on my blog, this Simple Woman post from December, 2008 has received the most view.  I'm not quite sure why!

And the next most viewed one, is this year's Pay It Forward post.  Interesting things, those stats!

But here are some of my favourites:

- the ones announcing our grandchildren -
 
     Meadow

     Helayna

     Silas

     Samuel

     Blake

     Maëlle

     Peyton

     Malachi

- the ones about our travel adventures -

     China

     Europe

     South America

     Africa

     New York City

- the ones about quadding trips with family

- and don't forget the weddings of our children!

I could go on and on!  It's been fun to step back and wander through the archives for a bit.  I found so many good memories and special thoughts tucked away.  So many of them would be lost and forgotten if I hadn't recorded them here - which one of the very best parts of blogging for me.

Good News But - -

The laptop has been rebuilt with a new hard drive, a new keyboard (some of the letter keys were chipping) and a new case (again, some chipping) and it's now back home!  Luckily I had backed up all the data and everything's reinstalled so we are good to go - hopefully for a very long time!

But today when I went to update the blog and post some pictures, I got a message saying that my site has exceeded the free storage space amount.  So off I went to Picasa Web Albums, where Blogger stores blog photos, and discovered that yes, indeed, I have used 1023 gb of the 1024 free gb allowed.  That equals 3773 - yes, three thousand seven hundred seventy-three pictures in the last 4 years!  And they are all saved in my web album which is great.  But due to the lack of space, I've had to purchase, for the grand sum of $5.00,  extra space of 20 Mb and it will take 24 hours to adjust my account.  So - - no pictures until later.

If it isn't one thing, it's something else!  Once again, I appreciate your consideration while I deal with technical difficulties :))

One Thousand Two Hundred

According to the counter on my blog posts, today marks 1-2-0-0 for me!  That's one thousand two hundred, 1000 + 200 + 0 + 0.  However you slice it or dice it, that's a lot of posting!!  What a record of my life!  I spent some time tonight searching back through the archives and here's a little reflecting on my blogging journey.

My very first entry  The Edmonton Oilers were playing great that year but they are in the absolute basement of the NHL this year.

About halfway through, I found this entry  - Happy Mother's Day.  I absolutely had forgotten that I ever wrote this!  I'm delighted I found it and so glad I first wrote it!!

Documenting changes that we've experienced.

Shared our excitement and ongoing joy at being grandparents.

Documented lots of wonderful travel trips - in Asia, to Europe, South America, and Africa.

I am absolutely amazed at how much I've recorded - events, feelings and things that would otherwise be lost but are now preserved.  And a totally unexpected but wonderful blessing to blogging has been the online community of friends that I've grown to know and love.  I've only met Jill and some Albertan scrapbooking friends in real life but I know that one day I'll be blessed to meet and spend time with more of you scattered around the world.

To celebrate today's milestone, I'm going to send a little gift to one of my readers.  I'd love to hear how you found my blog!  And my most heartfelt thanks for continuing to read and share my blogging journey!  Here's to another 1200 posts - maybe sometime in 2014!!!

Visiting Blogs

I thought you might enjoy some links to interesting places today.  November is nearly over and thoughts of Christmas are turning into action everywhere.  Enjoy these spots for new ideas, inspiration and help in celebrating Jesus this year.

Ann at Holy Experience never fails to share awesome spots to visit and Uncommon Grace is a wonderful spot to visit.  Today she shares children's book ideas for Christmas giving.

Christmas Change is a blog dedicated to changing the culture of commercialism and materialism that dominates our world and  this post on Santa Claus is so eloquent.  If you have small children and wonder about the place Santa should have in your celebrations, this is wonderful reading.

And yesterday Ann posted a link to a Bible Memory Stick that is a wonderful gift.  Her husband took his along in the tractor one night.    The Faith Comes From Hearing site also has a project for soldiers where they can receive the Military Bible Memory Stick  and another project where the Bible is sent to villages around the world, recorded in the native language and played on a solar charged player.  Awesome work in spreading the Good News!

Sew, Mama, Sew has daily ideas for gifts to make and excellent tutorials.   They even give nice things away sometimes :))

Maybe you are looking for ideas about making home decor items.  Bleubird made  this cute wreath that would be so cute to have!

Holiday card creating inspiration can always be found at the Hero Arts blog .  Little jeweled trees and hanging owls - so pretty on a card.  Everyone would appreciate getting something like that in the mail :))

There is so much goodness and so many inspiring bloggers out there.  Have fun exploring, creating and savouring this holiday season!  And celebrate Jesus this season!

A First

We left the heat and craziness of New York City behind and headed off on a little road trip this weekend.  Mel figured that her Dad might like to see some farmland so we headed  to Pennsylvania.    And it just so happens that I have a blogging friend who lives out that way - so it was a perfect excuse to contact Jill at MamaLoaf and stop by to say hello.

Google Maps said it was 166 miles - and should take 2.4 hours but it didn't account for Friday afternoon traffic and a 2 month old baby!!!  Let's just say that we got there a few hours later than we wanted to and Victor (her little boy) and her beloved chickens were already in bed.   It was marvelous to see her home (just like her pictures show), meet her husband and some of his family, and visit for a little bit.  I told her that we'd be back again - for a much longer visit next time.   It was my first experience with meeting a blogging friend in real life and it was even better than I imagined.  Thank you so much, Jill and Brian - see you soon, we pray!

And to copy the MasterCard ad of a few years ago:

1 tank of gas - $36.00

supper - $46.84

bridge tolls - $34.45

meeting Jill and Brian - priceless!!!!!!!

Ten on Tuesday - Blog-anniversary Edition

Happy three years of blogging to me!!  It's exactly 3 years ago that I wrote this very first post.  And the Edmonton Oilers haven't been in the hockey playoffs since - interesting!  And look who arrived just a few weeks after I started blogging!!   (It's hard to believe she's going to be three in just a few more weeks - oh, my goodness, time please slow down!!)  

Thanks for coming along on this amazing journey with me.  I appreciate every single one of you who stop by, even if you pass through silently :))  

1.  I am loving this set of dishes that Naomi, Jerry and Meadow gave me for my birthday.  

The pattern is Sefton Park by Pflatzgraf.

2.  It's a balmy - not!- +7 degrees C tonight!  We just cannot break through this cycle of cool, cool weather this spring.

3.  Still waiting for a call telling us that Melinda's on her way to the hospital.  Anytime now, little one - we're all waiting!!!

4.  My retirement gift from the local teacher's association was this engraved bell.  

5.  Asian Chicken Noodle Soup with Mushroom and Carrots was our supper tonight.  It's a light, veggie version of the classic - and takes way less time to make :))

6.  If you are thinking of doing some baking this week, you might want to try Tartest Lemon Tart over at Marie's blog, A Year From Oak Cottage.  It looks so delicious!

7.  I went to the first Farmer's Market of the season in our area and picked up some wonderful red peppers, English cucumbers ($5 for 8 - such a deal!), cherry tomatoes (used them in last night's pasta dish), eggplants and a peach mango pie.  I'll be going back :))  I love supporting local growers too.

8.  I picked up some Debbie Travis paint chips at Canadian Tire the other day and they have the best color inspiration ever!  Great combinations that I'll be using for scrapbooking ideas.  

9.  Here's another layout that I did about our time in Poland.  It talks about a local yard that had lots of grapes growing in it and is based on one of Cathy Zielske's sketches from the Design Your Life class.  

10.  If you want to read a wonderful Mother's Day letter, go back to Cathy's blog and read the letter written by her 13 year old daughter.  Warning:   bring tissues.  

Ten on Tuesday

1.  Lisa Day has started a marvelous new thing-to-do!  It's called The Creativity Project and it just means doing something creative every single day.  I think it's a marvelous idea - feel free to join in, even if you just do it for yourself.  Be sure to go over to Lisa's blog, check out her explanation and see what she's creating.  

2.  My Creativity Projects for March :  Day 1 - Cookies 'N Cream Cupcakes    

 Day 2 - Scrapbook layout "Beautiful Girls" (I'll take a picture and share it tomorrow)

3.  I found some beautiful old, old wedding pictures in a box at my mom's tonight.  I don't know the people (some distant cousins of my grandmother) but the black and white pictures are so amazing.  

4.  Roasted vegetables - potatoes, celery, onions, carrots, parsnips and mushrooms - baked with olive oil and herbs are SO delicious!

5.  We went to a presentation tonight about the work of our church and its partnership with the Lutheran Church in Colombia.  It's so good to hear how God works through us to help others with prayer, energy and gifts.

6.  In the last few days, I've had  emails from 5 different couples that were on our South American tour last year!  How good it was to hear from them - great big smiles over here :))

7.  You must go over to Bakerella and check out the recipe for Walnut Blondies with Maple Butter Sauce.  I found it yesterday when I was helping a student do online research for a cupcake recipe and 

I think I'm going to have to try making them.

8.  Remember daylight saving time begins in Canada - and other places too, I think - this coming weekend.  I'm really not looking forward to losing that hour of sleep.

9.  What are you most looking forward to  this spring?  For me it's the growing things - grass, trees, plants, flowers - I can hardly wait to see all of them again.

10.  The winner of my blog giveaway is Susan (Penless Writer) from Arizona!  Thank you to all of you who commented - and who continue to bless me with your presence, your thoughtfulness and your caring.  Love you!!

Hoarfrost on the branches - but I think leaves would look better :))

900!!

I just realized that my last post was #900!!  That's kind of amazing!  I've found 900 different times that I had something to write about and put out there to share.  Now I have a record of those thoughts and I can go back and read them whenever I want.   Such good stuff on this amazing internet.  Ten years ago who would have thought this was possible?!

So in honour of this milestone in my blogging life, I have a giveaway to share with someone.  How about some chocolate, some scrapbooking treats, a good book and lots of color to celebrate?  Leave me a comment and I'll pick a winner on Monday night (March 2nd).  

Happy Weekend!

Things to Check Out

Since I can't seem to come up with any coherent thoughts of my own today, I thought I'd link you to a few favourite sites.  Have fun exploring!

Publishing a book with a year's worth of blog posts is an idea that Melinda and I have had and Bloggled is a place where you can archive and publish your blog.

For Christmas, Heather gave me a beautiful handmade necklace from Lisa Leonard.  I love wearing it and everything Lisa makes is just lovely.

It's less than 2 months until Darrin and Kelsey's wedding and their day will be captured by this photographer.

Looking for some inspiration for meal planning and new recipes?  Sandra has a wealth of information and is so creative in the kitchen.

The Inspired Scrapper is a Canadian site for showcasing talent in the scrapbooking world.  Heather's lucky enough to be one of the contributors.  

801!!

This marks the 801st post on my blog!! Wow!!
And to use Karen Russell's idea:

2 years

800 posts

trips to China - Taiwan - Hong Kong, Europe, and Brazil-Argentina

2218 views

20 - 30 visits daily

regular visits from Poland, England, and Australia (thanks, guys!)

surprising visits from Brazil, India, Indonesia and Hawaii (thanks for finding me!)

Thank-you to Melinda and Heather for encouraging me to start. Originally I did it so that as a family we'd know more about the day to day happenings, thoughts and pictures each of us had. It's still about that but it's definitely grown to be so much more.

I never dreamt back in May of 2006, when I first started, that I would grow to enjoy this so much and develop such an amazing number of friendships with other bloggers. I am constantly amazed at the wisdom, encouragement, inspiration and faith that is shared by these online friends. I have so much to learn from their writing and living.

This online journal has become a great place for me to document life, travel and family events. One of my goals is to someday collect all of my posts into a book. I wish I had something like that from my grandmothers so maybe one day it will be enjoyed by our grandchildren. They'll definitely see enough of themselves in the book :))

Here's my very first post and here's the first picture I posted. And here are the first posts of our granddaughters, Meadow and Helayna! It was amazing to look back!

Thank you to all of you who come by to see what's up. I am so, so grateful for your encouragement and your interest. Sometimes I wonder if I really have anything to share but life is really about the small, seemingly unimportant moments that blend together to make a lifetime, isn't it? Remember I'd love to know you were here so please, please click on 'comments' and leave me a little message! I found a few questions from my blog-iversary that still need to be answered so watch for that later this week.

I hope your week is a reflection of God's love!

Friends and Phones

Telephones are absolutely amazing and computers even more so!! Let me explain.

The phone rang this morning and the call display showed a private call. Our neighbor's calls show up this way so I answered, thinking it would be David. (Is that coincidence, L?!!!)

It was a female voice asking for Crystal.
I said it was me and she said "This is Linds."
Blank - my mind is absolutely blank. I don't know a Linds, I'm thinking so I said "I need more information than that."
And the reply is "This is Linds - from blogging."
And my heart raced and I was immediately ecstatic!! Linds - oh, LInds!!!!
Of course, I know you - even though we've never spoken in person - even though you live in England!
But I know your thoughts, and your dreams, and your heartaches, and your home, and your garden, and your job, and your textile arts, and your friends, and your children and - I KNOW YOU and now we've spoken too!!!!!!!

We talked for nearly an hour, our words sometimes tumbling over the other's, so eager to share so much. She found my number via the internet (thank you, computer technology) and dialed and made my day so very, very happy. I cannot wait until we meet in person someday and can spend hours together. We are kindred spirits and friends of the heart.

Thank you, my friend, for finding my number and for dialing and for chatting up a storm with me. It was marvelous! And I look forward to many more calls. I am amazed and I am blessed!