I started blogging after I had Brandon.  None of my friends had kids, I was kind of lonely as a parent and I thought there were people out there who just might listen to me.  It all started with Myspace blogging.  Then I saw my friend Emery had created a blog, Moms are for Everyone.  I loved it and I knew right away I had to start one too.  I didn't have many followers at first.  

My first really big follower was Patty.  Patty, my dear sweet Patty (A Day in My NYC).  She sent me a baby gift for Codi that I still have.  She sends cards, and emails, and I still read all of her old comments. She sends me bagels:

And hand knits me scarves for my birthday:

She sends me Christmas cards, and chocolate covered Oreos but most of all she sends me LOVE!  I met Patty.  It was the greatest moment. She was everything I knew she would be.  Loving, sweet, amazing, kind and, as good of a friend in person as she was online.

Slowly I developed friendships.  We became partners.  All of us women (and a few men) who knew nothing about each other but LOVED EACH OTHER.  

A great example would be today.  I went to my mail box and found a lovely gift from Sarah at Tunay Na Mahal.

I didn't ask for it.  She just knew I was hurting and sent it to me.  It made my day.  I had been having a rough day today after losing Sparky and this was the perfect pick me up, along with the quote that came with it,

"My little dog — a heartbeat at my feet." Our pets, hold our hearts in their little paws. We hold them in our hearts. Our Heartbeat at my Feet keychain reminds us of the unconditional love animals bring into our lives everyday. 

It warmed my whole heart. In fact I'm having, " heart beat at my feet" put on his gravestone now.

You see, I didn't start blogging to advertise.  I didn't start for give aways, and reviews and all of the stuff blogging is now, I started for friendships.  That is what blogging still is to me. 

I can't tell you how many times I've opened the mail box to find a card from Mathers (or a sweet treat) that hit the spot and made my day.

I love being able to go online and ask a parenting question.  Or vent about my husband.  Or tell you all that I'm bat shit crazy, losing my  mind and dear God if I don't get chocolate now someone will die.  

I still read Cakerwakers to this day.  When she went on break I bothered her to no end via email that I missed her, come back, I need you and your pictures of cupcakes and treats.

I met Jessa, who loves me because I'm just as crazy as her.  I love reading her blog.  I love our Facebook chats now.  I love the relationship we have built together and that there is someone in the world who understands my head, that I can trust to vent it to.

I've built relationships so strong that Laura felt comfortable telling me her story, to this day I cherish the day she told me, the moment she told me and in return I mailed her a card, some junk food and some love.  

Because that is what we do in this community.  We are there for each other.  We pick each other up when we fall.  We send virtual drinks, and hugs, and sometimes mail of chocolate when times are desperate.  

I hate what blogging is now.  I hate that it's about money.  That I get less readers because I don't do reviews, or I don't give away free things.  But I don't mind.  I'd rather have the few readers I have now that read me because they love me and we are virtual sisters, then have a bunch of readers who were only coming to my blog looking for something free.  

I love all of my readers.  My loyal readers.  The ones who checked on me when I took a break.  The ones who emailed me to find out if I was still alive, was I okay?  The ones who said just the right things when my dog died. 

I love this blog.  I love the family I've created through it.  There are so many of you I would like to mention, and maybe over the next few weeks I will do that, I will start to highlight some of my favorite bloggers, so all of you can meet some true friends too.

I want to thank all of you, for always being there for me.  For reading my blog and for always understanding.