Sunday, May 2, 2010

May 3rd Mega Post...Reflections

This is a reflection on who I met and what I enjoyed most about the A-Z Challenge issued by Arlee Bird over @tossing it out for the month of April.  Arlee is the reason all this has happened, and I am forever changed because of meeting him.





The list of writers, poets, and photographers listed below are in no way in order of favorites, as everyone I have met in this challenge is a favorite of mine.  I am only listing a few, but please know that I am thankful  for each and every one of you that participated in the challenge issued from Arlee @tossing it out!



Let's take for instance Yvonne @Welcome To My World of Poetry.  She has a remarkable way of writing poetry and pulling you in. She is a wonderful commentor who never fails to make me feel like I did a good job on my piece for the day.  I have enjoyed her posts ever so much, and feel like I made a new friend in her as well. Yvonne, you are a peach.

Of course I have to talk about Gregg @Gospel Driven Disciples.  This has been such a sweet reunion of families, I can't even begin to tell you how sweet it is.  Gregg and his wife are old "Best Friends" to my parents and their children and my brother and I grew up together, for awhile anyway.  We were a tight knit group, who did everything together it seemed. Us kids played all sorts of games together, went skating in the cul-de-sac, the girls and I made mud pies and pretended to cook wonderful food under the Walnut tree, we even hunted for blue belly lizards together. God used this challenge to bring us back together again, and I am forever grateful!   Gregg is a wonderful writer with a wealth of knowledge that astounds me every time I read something he has written. Gregg, so glad to know you all over again.

Rae over @Porch Ponderings with Rae always has a sweet comment to make on my blog post, she is a wonderful writer herself i,f I may say so.  She certainly has a witty way of writing, that is for sure, as I have enjoyed reading many of her posts. Rae, I am so happy to have met you.

Leo over @Symphony is a wonderful poet who I am better off for knowing. I cannot wait to read more of his stuff in the future. Leo, glad to have met you.

The Alliterative Allomorph is wonderful at alliteration, and that is the understatement of the year.  She can just turn a phrase like no one else, and I have enjoyed her posts very much.  She is someone I can see myself returning to on a more regular basis, as what she writes is very interesting indeed.  Happy to have met you.

Ron @The Old Geezer Blog is such a sweetie.  He has been a wonderful cheerleader for this challenge, and has worked hard to read and comment often.  Wonderfully glad to have met you Ron.

Over at Bry's place @trying to reason, I have found some hilarious posting going on.  She has done a wonderful job and is a joy to read as well. So very happy to have met you Bry.

Fifi @Fifi's Flowers has posted some absolutely lovely pictures from Paris.  She is a wonderful blogger and I do so enjoy her Virual tour of Paris she has been doing this month of April.  Such beautiful and exquisite paintings she has shared as well as some very wonderful looking photos of food and settings.  I have so enjoyed living vicariously through your wonderful posts of Paris.

Bud @B-e-ing Transformed is a wonderful friend.  He is so honest and open in his writing, and I so enjoy that.  He is a sweetie and has read and commented on many of my posts and I thank him for that! Bud so glad to have you as a friend and a brother.

Wanda @The Watered Soul is a sweetie and I feel I made another good friend in her. I have so enjoyed the comments she has made and also reading her wonderful posts. So very glad to have met you Wanda.

The writings and reviews over at Alex J. Cavanaugh's place are over the top great.  Alex is a wonderful writer as well as someone who makes an awesome effort to comment on my humble blog. Thanks Alex, I am glad to have made your acquaintence.

Ellie over at Ella's Edge is just as sweet as can be.  She has such a wonderful blog, you just have to go see for yourself.  Ellie, thanks so much for all the commenting and encouraging you did on my blog posts, it has been so nice getting to know you.

I have to say that one of my favorite finds has been Ruby over @Blabbin' Grammy.  She is such a sweetie, who has so much to share.  Her stories of days gone by are wonderfully detailed and take you right to the place and time she is talking about.  Reading her posts is like sitting at her kitchen table having a muffin and a wonderful visit with her.  It feels like I found another Grandma in her, and I will definitely be keeping in touch. Ruby, you are a breath of fresh air and I am so glad to call you a friend.

I have met so many wonderful people and for that I am grateful.  Arlee probably had no idea how big this challenge would grow to be, but I am forever in his debt because of it. The people I have met are all wonderful and I feel like because of this challenge, I have a much bigger circle of friends to share life with. I also feel I have become a better writer as well. I have a larger group of blogs to follow and comment on, but that is a good thing, for I say you can never have too many friends, now enemies...that is something entirely different. I have made no enemies here, just wonderful friends and I thank you for enriching my life even more.

I am sending out a BIG Thankyou to all who participated in this Challenge not just to the ones named above...THANKYOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY EVER LOVIN' PEA PICKIN' HEART!  Take a minute and give yourselves a well deserved round of applause, you certainly deserve it.

“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I should do and With the help of God, I will do." ~Everette Hale

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18 comments:

Natasha said...

Thank you for this post. Even after the challenge is done, I recommendations to visit a few more blogs!

Hope you are better soon.

~ Rayna

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Thank you Shannon for the glowing mention which I did not expect.
I have enjoyed reading your posts and hope to continue in the future. This challenge has been good for so many people myself included.

Take care.
Yvonne.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Thanks, Shannon! And I'm sure Arlee had no idea how big this would grow, either. We owe him a big thanks.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

You did an outstanding job with the challenge, Shannon!

Gregg Metcalf said...

Thank you and Lord bless you for your wonderful words Shannon. I too am glad God used this to bring us back together.

Didn't expect a mention in your summary but thank you. I shall check in everyday and read your blog. I won't always comment on the musical ones but I love to check in each day.

Trust Him! He is worthy to be treasured as our greatest treasure and always delight in Him!

Lisa said...

This challenge has been an amazing adventure, hasn't it?! It's been great getting to know you and I will continue to follow along.

Blessings to you!

Jessica Bell said...

Shannon, it was great to have met you too! I'm so glad we have all got in touch with each other. It's been wonderful. My thoughts go out to you. You are a strong and marvelous woman! xx

unnamed lad said...

hi Shannon. i went into this thinking it was going to be a cinch because writing is easy for me. what i didn't expect was to find myself getting indirectly involved with others. that took me by surprise, really! i thank God for introducing me to other sisters and brothers that i believe He wanted me to meet. thank you for your prayers and encouraging remarks here and in my blog. "we" have a long ways to go yet....

Beth said...

Great wrap up Shannon! It has been challenging but wonderful! :)

Raquel Byrnes said...

What a sweet tribute to the challenge. Great job on finishing!

Stephen T. McCarthy said...

SHANNON ~
I just wanted to say thanks for the encouragement you provided me with during the Challenge and that it has been a pleasure having met you. So, I'll go ahead and say it:

Thanks for the encouragement you provided me with during the Challenge. It has been a pleasure having met you.

;o)
(You know me...)

~ "Lonesome Dogg" McMe

Linda said...

You mentioned some folks that I did not get to know on the challenge and now want to connect. Thank you for such a complete list. You did great!

Arlee Bird said...

Shannon as I read your post I first got a sort of a chill that turned into a thrill of gladness that washed over my entire being. Reading your accounts of those bloggers, I was in total agreement, and there are so many more that I know it's difficult to name them all in one post. Thank you for the extremely kind words. And thank you for being such an important part of this Challenge.

Lee
Tossing It Out

Anonymous said...

What a lovely post and congrats on finishing the challenge. :o))

Debra Harris-Johnson said...

Shannon you are a jewel. Even when I couldn't comment I visited you just because you have such a beautiful blog and soul to match. Looking forward to lots more visits.

Kathleen T. Jaeger said...

Shannon, congrats on completing the Challenge. Thanks for becoming one of my followers and commenting on my blog! I appreciated your kind encouragement.

Hats off to you!
Kathleen

Grammy said...

Shannon,
Thank you for those sweet words and sentiments! I enjoy writing so very much and I feel like I am sharing memories of my life and times that some may not ever have heard about (historically, I mean) I am the lone sibling left in my family and many of the stories I relate have not been heard by anyone that is left. I am so pleased to have made so many new friends, you included. I have ead your blogs before, but now I am going to have a connection through follower that I can come and not have to click on your name in the comments to find you. Thank you for the shout out in your evaluation, too.
Best regards to you, my friend.
Ruby

Ella said...

Shannon, I feel like we have just
begun to get to know each other! You
are one of the most generous souls, I've met. Always, taking time to drop a note!!! Everyone brought so much to the challenge; it truly was amazing!!! I am so pleased you and Gregg found each other again, that in itself is truly a miracle!
I will continue to visit you and see how you are doing! You have a quiet strength, courage and determination, that I find admirable!!!~ Congrats on being able to cross the finish line~
(((hugs)))

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