Blog Anniversary

First of all let me start off by thanking all of you who commented on my last post. How exciting!! It has been so fun getting to know all of you just a bit better. Several of the comments have been from people who read my blog but don't regularly comment. So it has been great getting to know them as well. From the looks of things I think I will be adding lots of new blogs onto my blog roll. I love to read new blogs and will be adding them over the next several days. Look for me to start making comments on your blog as well. This was fun, maybe I will do something else like this in the future.

I don't know what really made me go back and read my first post, but for some reason I did that this afternoon. Guess what I saw...? That one year ago today on June 15, 2007 I posted for the very first time. So today makes it my one year blogging anniversary!!! Wow, I can hardly believe it. Time sure does fly when you are having fun. Well, I wouldn't call the last year fun, but you know what I mean. For the people who have not been with me from the beginning here is the link to my first post. http://taleoftwocoins.blogspot.com/2008/06/post-number-1-introduction.html In this post I basically tell a little about our life, some about me, some about Shawn and a little about trying to get pregnant. It was a simple little post. I had two comments on that post and I sure was excited that I received those two comments! Those two comments came from two great blogging friends that I met on WebMd when we were all trying to get pregnant. Jayme http://thewonderfulworldofjayme.blogspot.com/ and Christina http://insidethemindofchristinah.blogspot.com/ thanks for the comments guys! Shawn used to tease me saying that we were such boring people that nobody would even want to read about our life let alone leave a comment. A few days later I received five comments on my post. I remember it was the first thing I told him when he walked through the door. I think Shawn would get a kick out of the fact that I get comments on my blog all the time now.

I now have 197 people who are signed up saying that they 'follow' my blog everyday. I have no idea how many people read my blog that are not signed up. Usually once a post I get a comment from a new reader. It still amazes me that people want to read about my life, especially now, it's not all happy anymore. My counter says that since January 19 that 88, 812 people have visited my blog. Again...this blows my mind. Who would have thought? Not me, that is for sure. When I started this blog on June 15 it was just a way to get things off of my chest so to speak. I really expected nothing out of it. I just started The Tale of Two Coins for something fun. However, as I wrote that post that night while sitting on the couch with Shawn I had no idea how drastically my life was going to change in only two months and three days.

On August 18 after I got home from the hospital I called another friend, Nicole that I met on the WebMD message board. I called her and told her about Shawn and asked her if she would do my posts for the next few days till I got back to blogging. Thanks Nicole! Since then my blog and my life have changed in drastic ways. Both are going in directions I would have never dreamt of. I am no longer married...I am a 31 year old widow. I am no longer pregnant...my baby is in Heaven. I am no longer "ShawnandJenny"...I'm Jenny who is finding myself and putting my life back together and looking forward to a new future, even though it's scary as hell.

My blog has also changed directions as well. I would have NEVER EVER thought that my blog would be helping people. I get emails several times a week from people thanking me. Thanking me for what you ask? Well people who read my blog have written me and thanked me for 'saving' their marriage. GASP!! They have told me by reading my blog and reading about what has happened to me has helped them learn to appreciate their marriage and not take things for granted. People also tell me that they love their husbands more and take the time to tell them that everyday since reading my blog. I have also gotten several emails from friends or family members of other recent widows asking that I reach out and 'help' them as well. I don't know if I should be giving advice to anyone, however I have enjoyed getting to know these other widows as well. I have also received emails from people thanking me for informing them about heart attacks. Two people have told me that because of my blog and knowing that Shawn died of a sudden heart attack they urged their husbands to go to the doctor and have their hearts checked out. Each had a heart condition that they did not know about and after going to the Dr were scheduled for surgery that saved their life. Wow!! I've said since the beginning that through my pain I want to be able to help others. Three of my best friends Jennie, Megan, and Lora say taking care of people is what I do best. Well, I guess if my reading my blog saved another person's husband well then that is just wonderful.

Within the last year my blog has come to mean so much more to me than just spewing about my day. It has been my journal of sorts, a place of comfort for me. A place for me to come to and write my thoughts, emotions, questions and feelings down. Many times when I write my posts I will cry, writing gets my feelings out which in turn makes me cry. Which if you ask my friend Sarah http://sarahschieber.blogspot.com/ she will say is a good thing. (I hate the crying part that comes with grief) Through this blog I have met and become friends with so many great people. It still amazes me the amount of support that I have received from my readers. You guys all rock!! Many people tell me that they think about me and pray for me everyday. A few of my readers have even told me that I have been added to their prayer chains at their church. Again...Wow! I would like to thank each and everyone of you for reading my blog and helping me through this time.

I don't know what The Tale of Two Coins will look like in the next year. Much like I don't know what I will 'look' like in the next year. Only time will tell and only God knows. One thing I know for sure. I will keep writing, this blog will be kept going. I imagine that I will still talk about Shawn, the life we had, the emotions I feel, and all that comes with grief. I however would also like to think that as time goes and as I figure more of 'me' out my blog will reflect that as I begin to share that with you. Like my header says, "I will share stories and unanswered questions. I will release feelings and emotions. It won't all be sad, there will be happy too!" I hope as time does go on there will be more happy than anything else...I could use a little happiness in my life. Only time will tell and only God knows.

Thank you to all of my readers! You have been great and your support, prayers, and encouragement is appreciated more than you know!!

Here is to another year of The Tale of Two Coins!!