Today is a day for celebration!
Three years ago to the day, on January 10, 2008, this blog took root and revealed its first small blossom in the form of its inaugural post.
To celebrate, I’m including links to three posts: that initial post, the final post of that same month (in which I extrapolate on having a larger family) and a link to the blog of one of my newest North Dakota blogger buddies, Katie Pinke, who mentioned my children’s book, P is for Peace Garden: A North Dakota Alphabet, in one of her recent posts. I can think of no better way to celebrate than with the kind thoughts of another blog-mom who loves children’s literature. After all, it was because of that book that I named my blog Peace Garden Mama. Sidenote: Katie and I found one another through Twitter, where she Tweets as “katpinke” and I as “peacegardenmama.” I never ceased to be amazed at how we find one another through modern-day connecting methods.
The posts:
How Does Your Garden Grow? (Jan. 10, 2008)
A Vase Full (Jan. 30, 2008)
3 Prairie Dwelling ‘Must Have’ Children’s Books (Jan. 4, 2011)
This post wouldn’t be complete, however, without one more celebratory paragraph or two.
It’s become an annual tradition among a group of friends and I to break up the winter blues by having an “Ugly Sweater Party.” I honestly don’t know which of us came up with the idea, though I know it was borrowed. There are similar parties going on all over the country, and should your local thrift store or closet turn up empty, you can browse an online Ugly Sweater Store. For inspiration, listen to this Ugly Sweater Rap on YouTube.
Well, this weekend it was time, again, to gather and sport our finest Ugly Sweaters. Thanks to an announcement Wednesday on Facebook that I had yet to track down my ugliest sweater, and to a friend’s response that she had the perfect sweater, I entered the party with great hopes of a win. Much to my delight, I was proclaimed this year’s winner. (Note: Not only did the sweater come with Christmas tree, gifts and bows, but with small jingle bells that actually jingled — I know I got some extra points for that!)
I was honored with a trophy:
As well as “Purdy,” a commemorative, rotating wooden treasure bestowed upon the winner each year:
Note: Purdy was named by the 18-month-old son of our first year’s winner. When Christine brought her prize home, her young son was taken with it and kept pointing to it saying, “Purdy! Purdy!”
And here we all are wearing our lovely sweaters.
After playing Bunco and gobbling down some treats, we talked about all the crazy styles we’ve embraced through the years and enjoyed some hearty laughs at the memories.
And isn’t that what life is all about — finding the golden moments, the excuses to share a memory and a laugh, to revel in being alive together?
Q4U: What celebrations have you partaken in recently?
Happy Blogversary! You are a light in the world, out here! Thanks be to God!
The sweaters and photos make me smile – what a great thing and a great group of friends.
What celebrations?? Hmmm,let me see. It was on a small scale, but quite a time. My step-daughter and I went to get something to eat on Friday. We often do this as Mark works late, so Erica and I might head to Panera for some soup and salad.
This past Friday she had me laughing so hard at various things; she is an excellent storyteller. Then the conversation turned more serious and she recounted how important I am to her and how grateful she is to have me in her life.
I am blessed to have the life I have and I will remember the first Friday in January of 2011 and that meal… a time of great laughter and tender joy.
Happy blogiversary! You sure rocked the Christmas sweater- is it a little pathetic of me if I get somewhat nostalgic just seeing those sweaters? I remember a time when I would have bought one for a gift for someone and they would have been delighted to receive it and wear it 🙂 Oh my, I am aging myself as I type.
Congrats on the win! No celebrations as of yet, but will be some on the horizon soon…
Three years, wow! Congrats! (I’d have believed longer…you are so good at it!)
Thank you for all the wisdom and faith and humor and heart and you’ve shared on this blog. I am so grateful for it!
And girl, you totally rocked that ugly sweater. It was definitely the ugliest — in the most glorious way. Looks like a super fun night!
Thanks Gals!
Fran, what a beautiful story. Thank you SO much for sharing it. It started my day right.
Vicky, well, can I confess that I, too, might have worn that sweater myself? And maybe still would if given the right event (Christmas party). 🙂 Without apology! 🙂
Christina, thanks for your nice sentiments. I love the “in the most glorious way” part of your compliment about ugly sweater. 🙂
I didn’t have anything that fantastic in my closet…at least not right now…I’ve done some purging. But, hey, I’m all about colorful clothes and themed sweaters. I never claimed to have great fashion sense. Glad you won. You look cute and happy.
Happy Blogaversary! You’re an inspiration on the web.
Haha, thanks Mary. A friend wrote me today to tell me that she seriously had that exact same sweater and just got rid of it like a year ago, so now I’m red with embarrassment I used it for my ugly sweater! That said, since red is my favorite color, I did have a lot of fun wearing it and didn’t feel ugly at all. I noticed the winners tend to be of the more gaudy variety so I was going for gaudy this year, and it worked!
Way to go! Congrats! Three years!! Looks like a fun get together.
I get to go tomorrow and have lunch with about ten of my cousins! Happy New Year!
Congrats on 3 years of blogging! We started our blogs within a month of each other on the prairie. Thank you also for the mention of my blog post. I love children’s literature and your writing. Isn’t social media awesome that we connected on Twitter? I love it. Happy Friday!
Katie
http://pinkepost.blogspot.com