Ella's First Birthday!

Cannot believe that Ella and my blog are turning one year old.  It was April 26, 2015, that my first post went up.  And it really did feel like I was having a baby!  Goodness, labor and delivery took forever.  Ask Meredith.  It was her encouragement and unflagging support that made me believe I could have a blog.  By the time we got to Saturday, 4/26, I am sure that somewhere out in blogland, Mere was shouting, "Ella, you can do this.  Just shut up and push!"

For others more tech savvy than I, learning to use Blogger was probably quite easy.  I stressed over this and even searched for a book called Blogger for Dummies.  There wasn't a current one at the time .  That made me worry.  If Blogger was so simple that there wasn't even a Dummies Book, heaven help me.



I did finally find an old book with some basics, but it was a bit out of date.  It still felt like a security blanket.  In the end, it was better

to find the latest information with Google.  Sam was a lot of support, too.  I really don't think it would have happened without him.  Mere's advice was "...just play with it.  You'll get to know it better."  Basically, I left the whole design just about as plain as it could be and forged ahead.  I have often wanted to make it prettier, like Katie T's.  Maybe someday.



I knew I wanted to be Ella.  It was my grandmother's name, and she was such a good lady.  An angel, who made angel food cakes and smelled like lily of the valley.  As a young girl I often wished that I had been named for her.  In many of my childhood make-believe games, Ella was who I wanted to be. 

The "..Ever After" part came because it felt like a fairy tale was coming true for me.  

           Once upon a time, there was a girl and then a woman 
                           who held a secret for so long... 

Well, you know the story.  So, once I had Blogger ready and a name chosen, I set to work on a first post - an introduction of sorts.  Have never liked that first post, but I left it there to remind myself that I could always improve.  Both Meredith and PK were set to send some readers my way.  Mere told me that PK was sort of the "queen bee" in this corner of blogdom, and it was very helpful to have her mention my blog.  She did, and this year I have come to discover she is the sweetest queen bee you could know.  Finally I pressed the magic orange button that says, "Publish."  And my blog was born.

A year later, I love the writing very much; it's been a long time since I have had a reason to write.  Now, there have been over 70 posts!  Visiting other blogs and commenting gets me thinking and talking to Sam about ttwd and the life we have chosen. 


                    And friends - for them I am most thankful.


Of all the good advice dear Meredith has generously given this last year, the piece that has been most important to me was simple and very powerful.  She said, "Stay honest, and be true to yourself."  It has been at the front of my mind in every post, comment, and email for these 12 months.  If Ella wrote it, it's the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God.

                          Thanks to all the readers and friends 
                     who bring me so much joy and fulfillment.


                                         I love you guys!!