Yesterday, I received a lovely email from WordPress, which provided blogging statistics for the past year. The message included maps and charts to help me celebrate a year of writing. I love these messages, because they help me to understand what is important to those of you who click your way to this blog. I love writing for you, and I am so thankful for every comment, “like” and click. I have also made some wonderful friends through this site, which makes me grateful that the internet is making our world a bit smaller and cozier by connecting us through social media.
So, these stats are helpful to me as a writer. However, those aren’t the numbers I want to share with you today…because the number of “hits” I get is not what has made this year (or any year!) special and memorable. Below are the statistics that warm my heart and defined the year…
22 = years I’ve been married to Tom
2 = children in our family
3 = summer jobs held by those two children…which resulted in numerous life lessons about managing money, working with others, and setting goals
18 = years with Annie, who graduated from high school and voted in the presidential election)
16 = years with Bill, who performed in 5 shows, marched with the band and learned to drive this year
6 = trips to conferences and churches to teach about including kids with disabilities (which meant meeting–and learning from —so many of you!)
7 = relaxing days in Florida with Tom in February
306.7 = miles from our home to Calvin College, where Annie is attending
5 = my favorite posts on the blog this year:
Joy or Just Wait (that was your favorite, too)
To the Class of 2012: Don’t Forget Your Markers
I Saw Love at the Movie Theatre
Why The Jet Blue Incident Makes Me Blue (and determined)
My Children Aren’t Perfect (and I’m dancing with JOY)
1 = One GREAT GOD who loves me (and loves you, too.)
Happy New Year…and don’t forget to take data on what really matters.
Love,
Katie
PS One more statistic:
11 = the age of our most loyal and wonderful dog, Mitzie Alice Wetherbee, who wishes you a wonderful new year, from the bottom of her heart.