Dear Reader:
Something very special happened yesterday. The number of views hit a rather magical number: 100,000!
After the rain shower late yesterday afternoon I was walking around the front yard a little after eight and suddenly the sun broke through the earlier storm clouds as if to say good-night before the darkness descended.
The old oak tree in Luke and Chelsey’s home across the street lit up like a Christmas tree as the setting sun also set it ablaze with light. I took a picture of it and a few minutes later came in the house.
But something kept nagging at me or was it a lingering doubt…something I had forgotten to do perhaps? Finally I got up from the comfy lounge chair in the den and decided to add the beautiful picture of the oak tree to today’s post…when something caught my peripheral vision…the view count was at 99,999 at 9:39. You’ve got to be kidding me…I thought…so close!
My eyes were glued on the blog stats…as minutes ticked by (that felt like hours)… finally I decided if I quit staring something would happen…the ‘old waiting for the pot to boil trick‘(leave!)…I got involved in watching the HGTV Property Brothers do-over show and watched it till the end…by the time I got back to the computer room and clicked on again…it was 10:03 and the number staring back at me was….
*I half-expected confetti to fall from the ceiling but to tell you the truth just seeing those zeroes on top of zeroes made my day, made my night…made me so happy! I actually did my happy dance…and I am so glad there was no one here to record it. (I make Elaine’s dance in Seinfeld look good!)
In the big scheme of blog writing this number pales beside other mega-posts where numbers like this accrue in seconds and minutes. But for me, in my little world, it has accrued since November of 2014… since starting over from the earlier archives of the original Chapel of Hope stories.
So today I am going to pause and savor the moment. I am going to take time to reflect on how this important part of my life came to be and the significance of this moment on so many levels. Blogging has been a life-altering experience for me.
My pause includes taking time to thank you dear readers for your loyalty, encouragement, and love. It has been YOU, your presence, that has brought much meaning to my life. Thank you beyond measure.
Terry Hershey, in The Power of Pause, perhaps sums it up best:
“While waiting for perfect, we pass on ordinary. While waiting for better, we don’t give our best effort to good. While waiting for new and improved, we leach the joy right out of the old and reliable. We need to pause more often and notice the ordinary moment, for within it lies the morsels of hidden joy.”
Thank you readers for my hidden joy. Have a wonderful day filled with ordinary moments… and I will see you tomorrow.
Until tomorrow:
“Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh
ichaseferalcats
John Turner
Legally Ohm
Becky Dingle
Congratulations Becky!!! And THANK YOU for sharing your life, your loves, your insights and inspirations with us!! You make me HAPPY every day!! May God continue to bless you and your family! With my love and prayers, Mary
Mary! It is so wonderful to hear from you again…it has been a long time. Thanks for the congratulations….it is readers like you that make my day.just a little bit brighter..every day.
I’ve loved every blog and even though I don’t comment on each one I’m with you each and every day! Lots and lots of love and admiration,Honey
I love you Honey….so much! Thanks for always being there to walk with me on my journey through your calls, messages, unexpected gifts and love. I love you my friend.
100,000 !! Wow!!! and this was just since 2014. You make a difference in so many people’s lives. Thank you for touching mine and CONGRATULATIONS!
Thank you Jo and you and Colby make my life shine brighter!
Wow! Congrats to you! I love both quotes and they are so very true.
Thank you so much….that number just crept up on me….but what a wonderful affirmation for all the stories and all our lives.
And we love reading them all.
Thank you, Becky, for encouraging your readers on your journey of hope! Ann Suarez
Thank you Ann for your support and encouragement!
Thank you, Becky, for your commitment to all of us readers! I am sure that many of your faithful followers (myself included) “kick off” each morning with a cup of coffee and your always delightful–often thought provoking post! CONGRATULATIONS and keep those words flowing! Dee
God Bless you, Becky. I always look to your posts to lift my spirits. Since losing Neil and then my Mom all within 18 months, life is tough. Thank you for being such a positive, spiritual supporter. Nikki and I miss you bunches. ❤️
Judy…I was so saddened to hear of Neil’s passing…he was a warrior to the end and I always remember him faithfully coming to talk to my eighth graders each year when we studied the Vietnam War. Tommy always remembers Nikki fondly when he was chosen to be a helper with one of the special education teachers…he looked forward to spending time with Nikki. And of course I loved having you as my student teacher…you who taught me so much.I remember that was when you were diagnosed with some form of mono and bless your heart you could hardly put one foot in front of the other…yet you did. Amazing. How is Neil Jr. doing?