Life's a Journey, the Anniversary Edition

One year ago today I started my blog. Having a place to share my experiences has made the journey easier.  I've had incredibly sad things happen, (the blog began with the deaths of my mom and my brother, and covers my dad's heart attacks, and I also had a painful stomach illness that stretched on for months without a diagnosis) and incredibly wonderful things happen--trips to Turkey and El Salvador, seeing Molly off to college, my new teaching partner, and three graduations (Molly from high school, Brenna from Cal Poly, and Kelly with a master's degree from UCSD.)

One of my favorite things about the blog is the flag counter at the side. I love it that people read my blog, but it's especially fun to know people in 33 different countries have read it. Most of these flags represent friends who have gone to these counries or live in them. I feel lucky to have such great friends all over the world. I get such joy when a new flag is added, like when Brenna went to Costa Rica last week. Sometimes I don't know who added the flag-like my newest visitor from Korea a couple of days ago. (I love it when I find out.)

I love it when people tell me they've read the blog, and I hope it helps my family and friends understand me better or at least keep in touch. Maybe it will even help a stranger on a similar journey. Even if no one reads it, it's a place for me to sort out my thoughts and work things through. It reminds me that life's good and that I have treasured friends. Life's a journey, and mine's a good one.