Thanking My Fellow Bloggers

I began taking blogging seriously about a year ago and as I look back...I am SO thankful for all the bloggers who have inspired me, taught me, listened to me,and cheered with me.

Stephanie of Teaching in Room 6 came up with a splendid idea to start "a thankful for blogging linky party".  I knew that I needed to join in because my "cup overfloweth".

My first encounter with blogging came with Teaching Blog Addict and then I quickly found Jen Runde of Runde's Room.  I was hooked!  Late one night as I poured over all that was happening at TBA, I saw them announce a virtual conference around blogging.  That's where I encountered Charity of Teaching Blog Traffic School.  I honestly wasn't sure if I should take the video course, I was nervous about all the changes that would happen in my life (I really didn't know how awesome it was going to be).  I signed up for the course and then emailed Charity about Facebook.  I had never had a Facebook account before, but Charity was so kind to me in my hesitation and then I joined.  The teachers I met were just absolutely amazing and so sweet!  I truly saw the benefit of Facebook and TBTS.  It's there that some of my most influential bloggers came into my life.

Enter A Modern Teacher:

One day I was just blog hopping around and landed on April McNair's blog A Modern Teacher.  I fell in love with the clean lines of her blog and the amazing ideas she shared.  I read her "about" page and it said that she was looking for another blogger to collaborate with.  I emailed her right away!  Both of us are at home with our children right now and are using blogging to stay connected with the teaching world.  Our friendship has grown mountains!  I am so thankful that I can pick up the phone and call April to flip out or to celebrate with her.

Then Came Laura Candler:

Another late, late evening (I found that when you love blogging....you are up late at night)-Laura Candler had posted that she was looking for a new assistant to help her with her blog.  She wanted someone not currently working, but had a knowledge of blogging.  My heart began to pound!  I knew that I needed to apply for that job. 

Laura hired me to help her and I am thankful that I have been given this opportunity!  She has helped me grow as a blogger and learn some tricks of the trade.  I do things that I never thought I would do and have learned stuff about downloading links that most people never really understand!  Laura is a wonderful mentor to have.

Blogging with Amy and Smart Creative Women:

Just in the last few months I found Blogging with Amy and Monica Lee of Smart Creative Women.  I bought Amy's book Tell Your Time and enjoyed her analogies of time management.  I have really taken the reigns of my blog and life because of Amy's book.

Monica inspired me to do more with videos.  I have watched countless of her videos and have felt inspired.  She makes it seem comfortable and easy. Videos is something I would have never done a year ago!

Thankful for This Blog Right Now...

I recently have been introduced to Becky at This Reading Mama.  She is a former teacher and tutor now turned homeschooler!  She and I did a little video chat the other day and I learned that if she and I lived closer...we would be great friends.  Becky is so much fun and a very creative teacher.  Right now I am loving her post, "Word Study...Way More than Phonics" .  She has great stuff over there!

I am thankful for blogging and having friends in such diverse places!