Blogging Birthday One Year Old

On Tuesday, Sept. 11 I will celebrate one year of blogging, Seeking Authentic Voice, will be a year old. To commemorate this I am offering a photo montage of the year, some of my favorite images attached to posts.


Just a beautiful picture. I've used it a couple of times.



Hands praying. I love the openness of these praying hands.


This image of the Lion is just hilarious.


I was not the one called. Time stopped.


My image of hope, the chrysalis of transformation.


Hanging from a cliff, just a little anxiety in my life.


Love this photo of a baby covered in chocolate, reminds me of my daughter (now 19) on her first birthday. She looked a lot like this.


Last Spring, on a warm Sunday afternoon, the barn where my daughter works caught on fire. She happened to be there, and along with one other person, saved all the horses.


I turned 50 years old...


The consecration of Katharine Jefforts Schori, the first woman Presiding Bishop in the Anglican Communion. I watched this on webcam on Nov. 4. On Nov. 5 I came down with the first symptoms of my major illness (a fractured tooth that was pulled and then abscessed...).

My first post, on 9/11/2006, reflected on my son. He was home for lunch with a group of his friends, freshmen in High School. We talked about their memories of Sept. 11, 2001, when they were in fourth grade, and how life has changed in the subsequent years.

A year ago I was reading Parker Palmer's book, "A Hidden Wholeness."

A year ago I had just found out that I was the runner up for a great job, Dean of a Cathedral. I really wanted the job, it was (is) a great congregation interested in art and social justice. I was really sad to be the second choice, to not be the one called...

A year ago I had just buried my colleague, the deacon of our parish. He died from prostate cancer after a long summer of being in the hospital. I spent many hours in that hospital last summer. And then again, ironically, the same hospital when I got sick....

A year ago I had yet to get sick and spend 11 days in the hospital. I had not yet faced 9 weeks of antibiotic therapy. Nine weeks of IV, most of which I had to self administer from a pic-line in my right arm. All of this to clear up a face and mouth infection that landed me in the hospital.

And during this time I was still trying to discern if I was staying at small church or entering more searches and considering a call elsewhere.

A year later. I'm beginning to think I may stay at small church. I don't know yet, but we have some BIG plans, BHAG plans! It seems to be the best decision for my family, for me, and for the parish. But who would have thought? Of course, it remains to be seen if we can afford to keep me...But, I think, if this is of God, it will all work out. Don't you think?

A year later and I am coming out of one the darkest periods of my life. Much of the darkness directly related to Sept. 11, 2001. The events of that day so deeply impacted the economy that the company my husband had worked for for 17 years, closed, went out of business in the Spring of 2002. My husband has spent the last five years trying to rebuild a career. It has not been pretty. But, things may be getting a little better. Slowly.

So. Here's to blogging. This blog, and the friends I have made from this blog, has, have, been my source of hope, my comfort, a source of humor, and companionship. It's been amazing!

I thank Songbird who stopped by my blog everyday for the first nine months, always leaving a word of support. Along the way many others have joined her, and I am grateful to each of you.

A true blessing in a challenging year.