Happy Birthday Sweet Repeats!

Happy Anniversary Sweet Repeats!

You are officially one year old!!

It's hard to believe that a year and a day has passed when I first wrote this. At that time, I was lamenting an event that was very dramatic for me and my kids, and really my whole family as when one hurts, we all hurt. We had just moved into this house (August 1st of 2006), not by choice but it's availiability and reasonableness saved us from being homeless or being in a home we couldn't afford to be in after the fire.

My computer was damaged almost beyond repair but I was able to turn it on and after the second time, I decided to quick as I could put all my pictures on disc and I'm so glad I did. No sooner did I finish putting it all on the discs and it died completely. I am soooo glad because I am terrible about printing pictures and the digital images of the kids for the last 7 or 8 years were 90 % stored on it. The only pictures of all the artwork I did previous to our "move" were saved as well, unfortunately the real ones were not. That's the topic of my first post, how far I've come since those first few days, first few weeks of last summer and early fall, thanks to my family, friends, this blog, and all my new friends.

The first blog I ever read was Selena's, Apron Thrift Girl, and then I poked through her comments and clicked on one link after another as she always had tons of comments, and from there I found Rebecca's blog, Thrifty Goodness. As you all probably know, Rebecca and I became fast friends and through our mutual friendship budded our Sweet Goodness Swap "business". Over this last year, we have held 3 really big swaps and have "met" well over 150 of the most talented bloggers in the world! This month we are hosting the Holiday Sister Swap, which is fashioned on the premiss of getting to know another Blog Sister, share some fun during the holidays, and remembering eachother with a few random acts of kindness during the swap.

Besides the "swapping" business, I've shared some Holiday cooking of mine (or goody making), a few crafts I've made, and dished a lot about the troubles I've had with a certain someone (who still will not leave me be), tooted my thrift horn, bragged on the kids, and embarked on a new side hobby that I hope to someday make into a career. I've been motivated by your comments, inspired by your creations, and comforted by your words. I hope I've been a good blog friend back and did the same for you, as I know that part of the success of a blog, is the interaction between the writer and the reader (although you should always write from the heart and because you want to , not because it's an obligation). I think the main reason I have enjoyed this so much, is the sense of community I have gotten out of blogging, because my own real life world can seem a little sheltered and small at times from being so far from my family. I appreciate all of the new friends I have made, and the old friends I have been able to stay in touch with through this journal.

For that and more, I thank you for being a part of this journey.

It takes a leap of faith to write on a blog, to join in a swap, to challenge yourself into creating or learning something new, to open up and give insight to who you are not just on a blog, but face to face with the rest of the world. Take that leap, where ever you are, and go towards that which may be unfamiliar no matter what "that" is!

Life is all about the journey.

Happy Blogoversary, Sweet Repeats!!

True to the tradition of "blog milestones", I am going to give back a little something to one of my commenters from now until Saturday evening at 11:59 pm, so please delurk and make my day and leave me a message and tell me what you like about reading blogs, reading Sweet Repeats, and what leap you want to take soon!

What will you win?? I'm going to give away one of the two collages above, my newest in my collections. The top one is about 8x10, and the bottom one is about 5 x 7; I really really love both of these (not that I don't love all of my work like a proud Mamma), but both of these seem to speak to me for some reason. The winner can pick whichever one, then the other will go on Etsy.

Also--I am going to include a collage pack that you can can use to create your own masterpiece. Whether you want to give painting and collage a try, or you already do and would love more supplies--this give away will inspire you to CREATE!! PLUS, I am throwing in MISC items just because this is a special milestone for me in a lot of ways...and I want to share gratitude with you :)

Remember, make a comment from now until midnight on Saturday for your chance to win!!

Hugs,

Lucy