MY 1ST BLOGIVERSARY

I just celebrated my first blogiversary! I can't believe an entire year has passed. Thanks to my awesome friendo Alanna for sharing the blogiversary celebration idea. You can read Alanna's post here, who was inspired by her friend Kass.

I created my blog in the midst of the most difficult period of my life. I felt scared, isolated and overwhelmed as I suffered in terrible pain each day. I overcame my fear of entering the blogosphere and decided to share my story. I reluctantly reached out to the world to discuss the personal topic of my health. I didn't know if anyone would ever read my words. I was unaware of how many other women were blogging about their lives with endometriosis and other chronic illnesses.

I never could have guessed the blessings I would receive from writing my blog. I have met wonderful friendos. We share our triumphs and tribulations as we navigate our complicated journeys with an incurable disease. My friendos help me remain positive, humorous and hopeful. I am inspired by their support and understanding. 

A whole year has come and gone filled with varying emotions, circumstances and issues. I can look back on it now with a new perspective. My posts, like a rear view mirror, reflect a year's worth of my reality: the pain, miracles, despair and elation. My blog helped me realize I want to write a book, a memoir, about my life with endo.

A year later, I haven't run out of topics or ideas. What a lovely surprise. I'm excited to see what the next year will bring!

If only I could figure out how to share cupcakes on my blog...

IT'S A MAJOR AWARD

Fun news! My lovely friendo Jenny at Jendometriosis awarded me the "I Love this Blog Award." Thank you Jenny! I am so honored and excited.

I am as giddy as the dad in A Christmas Story. "It's a major award!"

Here's how it works:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award

2. Share 7 things about yourself

3. Award up to 15 blogs that are deserving

4. Contact those bloggers and let them know about the award

Seven random things about me:

1. Everyone in my immediate family has a first name that starts with the letter J. (We did it before the Duggars & there are way less of us).

2. Euchre is my favorite game. (I have euchred my cousin's loaners TWICE. I work it into our conversations as often as possible).

3. If I'm in my car, you can bet I am singing. (Sometimes my pointer finger is flying around too). Music makes my soul shout.

4. I overuse exclamation points!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5. I constantly have lyrics running through my mind and can turn any moment into a song. (I particularly like to incorporate my dog into songs: Black dog singing in the dead of night; Tyson in the Sky with Diamonds; Tyson's just a dog in the world etc.).

6. I wish I could hang out with the Muppets and rock out with Electric Mayhem.

7. I read my son every word of every Harry Potter book. (And he listened and enjoyed every word!). We dressed up for the local Harry Potter festivals and waited in line at midnight to receive our copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It was an unforgettable moment of pure magic.

I would like to share the love with the following extraordinary bloggers. Drum roll please.

My "I Love this Blog Awards" go to:

Alanna my fave frogger of The Chipper Writer

Amanda over at The Patch

Caf from Rellacafa

Endochick from Endometriosis: the Silent Life Sentence

The lovely ladies from Bitter Orange and Brown

I would have also chosen Jeanne from Chronic Healing, but Jenny beat me too it. :) And I would have picked Jenny too. I love her blog.

Each of you are inspiring writers and I adore your witty, insightful and informative blogs. You rock!

Thanks again Jenny! You made my day. What a fun way to spread the blog love and support other bloggers.

LET LOVE RULE

Love, Love, Love

I'm still smiling, basking in the hope & inspiration of Love Beats Hate.  As I read the posts & comments, I hear the harmony of our voices, telling the universal story of love.  


I emphatically agree with the participant who tweeted, "I see #lovebeatshate as a movement more than an event."  And we aren't the only ones.  I anticipate Love Beats Hate evolving beyond a one-day event. (It already has!).


Here's a link to the list of Love Beats Hate bloggers.  Or you can find the collection here.     


You can join the conversation on twitter and facebook & share your thoughts about the movement.  Together, we can continue to make a positive impact & share the love.


Thanks Friendos!

LOVE PREVAILS

Love Beats Hate

Dear Friendos,

Thank you for visiting & supporting the Love Beats Hate blogging event today!   My sincere gratitude to Jeanne & Diana for their hard work organizing the event.  Thank you to all of the participating bloggers & everyone who helped spread the love. You rock.

I've been thinking for days about the power of love in anticipation for today's post.  I recalled an organization I discovered a few years ago while researching for my thesis on mother loss.  The nonprofit organization Mommy's Light Lives On was started by Mary Murphy, a mother facing terminal cancer, who wanted to help her son prepare for life without her.  Together, they decided he would continue a family tradition each year in her memory--baking Christmas cookies.  Mary knew continuing this fun tradition would comfort her son in her absence.  She was inspired to share this idea with other bereaved families & started the Mommy's Light Lives On Fund in October 1997.  Sadly, Mary passed away two & a half months later.

Maintaining Mary's vision, Mommy's Light has continued to grow over the years.  Their mission statement (taken from their website) is:
"Mommy's Light brings joy and comfort to children and teens by helping them keep alive traditions and simple pleasures they shared with their mothers.  To support young people in adapting to their mothers' illnesses or deaths, Mommy's Light's key initiatives include: (1) free Tradition Fulfillment Services to eligible children and teens; and (2) the development and distribution of education and outreach materials targeting grieving children and the adults who are likely to interact with them." 


Mommy's Light volunteers meet with the children & families to discuss their fondest traditions.  They pay attention to the details of the memories in order to recreate their custom in the most meaningful way.  Traditional fulfillment services keep memories alive & provide comfort & support to children as they grieve.  They provide a way for bereaved children to feel close to their mothers & continue important family activities in their absence.  It opens the dialog for children to talk about their moms & the feelings they are experiencing.  You can click here to read some of the beautiful traditions facilitated by Mommy's Light.

The outreach materials are another invaluable service to families.  There is a silence that tends to surround children who have lost their mother.  The adults in their lives are also grieving a tremendous loss.  It is important to know how to talk & interact with bereaved children to help them process their grief and learn to live with their loss.

I understand the impact of mother loss; my mom died when I was five years old.  I vividly remember the silence & loneliness that accompanied my loss.  I quickly realized how uncomfortable my situation made others.  No one knew what to say or do, so usually they said & did nothing.  I'm not complaining.  It wasn't that they didn't care.  They avoided the topic to protect me.  And I seemed fine on the outside.  I learned to deal with my grief & pain in silence.  So I can imagine the comfort the tradition fulfillment service & outreach education would have brought to me & my family.

 My Momma & Me

I am so inspired by the love left behind by Mary Murphy.  She created a legacy of love, not only for her son, but for numerous other grieving children & families.

This is an amazing example of how communities, both in-person & online, can offer support & love to those in need.  When I was a child, I wasn't able to search for online communities & information to help me deal with losing my mom.  Instead, I drifted alone.  Thanks to organizations like Mommy's Light, children do not have to feel isolated in their grief.  They can learn how to celebrate their mother's love & keep her close to their hearts.

Visit their website for more information.  If you know a child who has experienced mother loss, they can provide you with ways to offer your support.  If you'd like to learn more about mother loss, I also encourage you to visit Hope Edelman's website.  Hope inspired my thesis & has done incredible research on motherless daughters.  I highly recommend her books & articles.  I found comfort & healing through the pages of her books.  She shares her story & the stories of other motherless daughters, normalizing the feelings & grief bereaved children of all ages experience.  Hope also serves on Mommy's Light's Advisory Board.   Click here to read a letter from Hope to Mommy's Light, describing why she supports their organization. 

Please visit the other blogs taking part in this event today!  Click here for a list of participating bloggers.  I hope Love Beats Hate has brightened your day & inspired you to share the love.

The truth is, love does beat hate.  Love prevails.  Not even death can stop love.

With Love,
Your Friendo Jenn

"A new command I give you:  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another."  John 13:34

Hate doesn't stand a chance against love.

UPCOMING EVENT - LOVE BEATS HATE

Hey Friendos!

I'm honored to be taking part in a blogging event on November 17th called Love Beats Hate.  The event is being organized by fellow bloggers Jeanne & Diana Lee.  Visit her blog post, with more information about the event, here.

Love Beats Hate

If you would like your blog to be a part of the event, you can register on Jeanne's site (at the bottom of the post, linked above).  Or you can participate by reading the blog posts on November 17.  We would also greatly appreciate your help spreading the word about the event.  We have registered the hashtag #lovebeatshate on twitter, so you can find all the tweets.

Here's another link with more information about the event.

Let's all gather together & focus our positive energy on the power of love & supporting marginalized populations.  It's going to be an empowering event!  Thank you for any support you can give.

LINK #4 - TOP 28 ENDO BLOGS!

Hey Friend-o-mine,

I am so excited to share the following link with you! I'm ecstatic to learn of other women blogging about their endo experiences. It is a great tool to connect us all, no matter where we live.

Click here for a link to networkedblogs.com Top 28 Blogs in Endometriosis.

This is going to provide me countless hours of research. I can't wait to jump in!

Goodnight y'all.