I can hardly believe it, but it's been five years to the date since I dipped my toe into this world of blogging and hit publish on my very first post! At the time, I had this stirring to start writing, regularly, around the same time we had a stirring to move cross-country from Wisconsin to Arizona. It felt like it could actually happen, and it also felt like I should be documenting it. The move was starting to get real, and I knew it would happen quickly if we decided to actually take the plunge, so I thought the best way to keep friends and family updated and stay sane might be to start a blog. 310 posts later, here we are!
Even though I feel like I'm just starting to connect with a larger audience, this space means so much to me. It's this special digital scrapbook of the past five years. It's been an excuse to write, sometimes more regularly than others, and push myself creatively in all sorts of ways. It's also grown alongside my philosophy of living life with adventurous intention. They've happened simultaneously, and one has fed the other. Since that first post on June 30, 2009, the LADDventures have continued. I've moved across the country, quit my teaching job to pursue writing full time, traveled to New York City and San Diego for writing conferences, started another blog, launched a podcast, and written a book, and it all begins with seeing myself as a writer here in this little corner of the internet first.
The blog started as a documentation of our jouney west, and followed us to Arizona, where it's just crazy to me that we will meet our kids! Now, I am so grateful for this space to share the process of adoption, and becoming a family of four.
In honor of my 5 year blog-iversary I have one request: I'd love for you to join my email list by subscribing to get all the latest blog posts right to your inbox. I promise I won't spam you or share your email address. It's just my way of knowing who's reading, keeping everyone updated, and creating a community here in this space.
Finally, I want to say thank you for reading! Thank you for your comments and encouragement, and for sharing my blog with others. It means more to me than you will ever know, and I am so thankful for all of you.