Jan 16, 2015

year one // this blog

One year ago today on January 16, 2014, Sweeter Gets the Journey came into existence.
It was one of those cold and dark winter evenings when Daisy and i sat together in a room lit only by the blue light of a computer screen.  I'd had the distant thought of blogging for a while and was researching different platforms. On the spur of the moment, made this blog.  I did not anticipate many readers, just a quiet place to call my own.

Here's to my first year. 
They say that the blog has died and gaining readers is hard.  i may have 'only' 100 followers instead of 1000. But that's not the point. The things I've learned and knowledge I've gained over this past year can't be put into words. When i clicked publish on this site, i had no idea what to expect. But then my followers and page views began to rise and i said 'wow' every time i logged on. And sometimes squealed aloud at the kind comments that were left.  I was interviewed/featured. I read blogs. I read emails. I followed people. I was amazed at all of the super talented and wonderful folks out there.  Even more so, i was amazed at the talented and wonderful folks because they were actually reading what wrote. My self esteem for me as a person, writing and photography grew as a result of the appreciation of my work.

Thank you for all you've done for me.
My gratitude cannot properly be expressed.  The amount of friends, good things said and help you guys have bestowed upon me is such a blessing.
There will be more changes and different things happening around here, so stay tuned.  May God bless you as we roll into another great year.

^ my favorite posts of 2014 ^

40 comments:

Susanne R said...

reading your post was very touching... i only discovered your blog a few months ago and i was so stunned with the amount of honesty, warmth and love put into every single post! and your photos and your music, oh my. so glad you started to blog! ☼

Faye Caroline said...

I love your new layout :) Congrats on your first year of blogging! I'm so glad we found each others blogs as yours is always such a joy to read, I find your photographs inspiring and your writing poetic. I can relate to this post a lot as well because my blog is also a secret in 'real life' for all of the exact same reasons ;)
Here's to another year, and many more! xxx

Rachael said...

Well done reaching your first blog birthday - I hope there is many more to come. I've been blogging over five years, and apart from my husband and a couple of friends, I don't really share my blog with those close to me. I don't know why, probably for many of the reasons you mentioned!

Eve said...

Happy birthday, Sweeter Gets the Journey! Abigail, your blog is such a calming beautiful place to visit. I love your photos, words, everything. By the way your new design looks so gorgeous! It's simple yet elegant. :) Lovely post!

Lana said...

I too love the new layout, and thank you for such a lovely blog. Can't wait to see what the new year brings. :)

Shady Del Knight said...

Congratulations on the completion of your first year of blogging, dear Abigail! As I read your first anniversary post, I nodded in recognition, because I went through the same process when I started my blog. It is not unusual that you wanted to keep your blog a secret from those close to you in the "real world" for fear of being judged. I feel the same way. I relish the thought of my blog being a well kept secret, a private "club" that just happens to be open to the public. I don't go out of my way to discuss my blog with family members, relatives or friends. It is not a Facebook or Twitter page. I am not into "likes" and "tweets." I give more and I expect more. It is the same with you.


I have had the pleasure of following Sweeter Gets The Journey for the better part of its lifespan and continue to be amazed by the extent of your talent and depth of your soul. I feel blessed to have you as one of my best friends. Week in and week out you and I bridge the generation gap and celebrate all that we have in common. We also learn new things from each other and we grow. I can't imagine my world without you and Daisy in it. Thank you very much for accepting me and welcoming me into your circle. We, your faithful followers, owe you a debt of gratitude for being who and what you are, a fine young woman, an asset to the blogging community and a gift to the world. Once again, my sincere congratulations on completing a full year of blogging, dear Abigail, and for doing it in such fine fashion!

Hannah Batchelder said...

Congrats on the first year! You have been a wonderful blogger, and 100 followers is a great number! I know your blog will continue to grow, and I'm so glad you have joined the blogosphere. :) Also, I'm not sure of it yet, but I'm thinking of starting one this summer. If I do, would you be game to some collaborations? :)

Toi said...

That last picture of Daisy makes me laugh. She looks like she's about to fall asleep!
Congrats on your year. I'm so glad I found your little corner of the internet. Your writing, music, pictures and videos make me happy!

Brigid said...

I can't believe you've only been blogging for a year Abigail! It seems like much longer. :) I always enjoy your photography, and the different angles you capture pictures from. Oh, and I remember when we girls first hit 100. That was a monumental day! Here's to another year of blogging, and you can trust we'll all be here to support you through it. :)

charlotterigby said...

Yay, such an awesome story! Totally get the whole not blog bragging thing, feels like people would expect a lot from you!

Jessica Cangiano said...

Sweet Abigail, your blog and photography have been immensely bright spots in my online life over the course of the past year. Thank you for the warmth, soul, beauty and inspiration that you and all that you share here are filled with and impart to all of your reader's lives.

Here's to a stellar second year and countless more to come!

♥ Jessica

Amy said...

Congrats on one year of blogging! I totally understand about not telling one, I always have the weird feeling of two different words when someone I know in real life sees my blog ♥
Have a great weekend!
Amy xx

Perfect Imperfections

Dakota said...

Congratulations on your blog's anniversary! Yours has been one of my favorite new discoveries this year. You have such an original voice, and I love your photographs, and the way they capture golden light and open spaces.

I tried to keep my blog a secret, too, though my family quickly found out about it through Googling my name (learned a lesson about using my last name!)... it was awfully embarrassing, although everyone's been supportive so far :)



Dakota //Sweetheart of the Rodeo

Sarah said...

Congratulations on your first year of blogging! Yours was one of the first blogs I started following and I am so glad I did! You write such wonderful words and can really tell a story in a single photograph. I like the idea of having a secret blog, I feel a little weird sometimes about people I know, reading mine. But I've never been good at keeping secrets!

Lyssa said...

Congratulations on your one-year blogaversary, my friend! I've been so happy to get to know you online :-) And as I keep saying, someday we need to actually hang out in person. You have a beautiful, gentle, creative soul. I look forward to reading your words and seeing your gorgeous pictures over the course of the next year! Even more, I am excited to see where God leads you, both in your personal life and in your musical endeavors. Many blessings, dear heart!

Amia said...

Congratulations on your on year Abigail! I have adored your blog since the first time I saw it, and think of you as one of my dear blogfriends! Your photography is always wonderful and I love seeing you and Daisy go on adventures :) I also love that your blog is secret, mine was also secret for a very long time, and I think I liked it better that way, because it's a space all your own. I look forward to seeing more posts from you in the future :)

Amia

Lucy said...

Congratulations on reaching one year of blogging, Abigail! It was been a true joy reading your blog and watching yours posts and incredible photography evolve. You have a real talent with expressing yourself so beautifully and eloquently and it is a real pleasure to read your words. I am the same with my blog. In the beginning it was secret. It is nice to be able to have your own space and express yourself without the worry of judgement or pressure from others. The freedom can be so relieving and a nice breath of fresh air from 'real life'.
Again, congratulations and I can't wait to see what you have in store for 2015!


(Love the new layout, too!)

Wild Hearts + Green Tea said...

What an honest and wonderful post - the photographs on your blog are stunning and I really get the calm and peaceful feel here! Big congrats on one year, that's awesome :)

MegBird said...

I for one am thrilled I found your blog. I'm always excited to read what you have to say and see what you've created. I realize not everyone is going to have 100,000 followers (not that you don't deserve that many), but I believe that sincere expression is always going to be something people can connect with.

Abigail said...

i'm glad i did, too. even more glad you said that. thank you.

Abigail said...

thank you so much, i do enjoy your blog so much!! so cool to find others that blog in secret, too.

Abigail said...

i find that to be a reoccurring theme, it's either a secret or just a few know. i don't understand why it's so hard to talk about it or whatever it is. five years! that's awesome. like, really. i can't even think about blogging for five years, that seriously almost scares me! you rock.

Abigail said...

aw, thank you so much, Eve. that means so much.

Abigail said...

haha, thank YOU. i can't wait either. who know's what will happen!

Abigail said...

wow, what a thing to say. how sweet of you! i've so enjoyed following each other since a few weeks into blogging last year. i've learned so much each week from your wonderful music posts and i enjoy your blogging point of view of followers being friends. wonderful!

Abigail said...

i know right? some might not think it's anything to shake a stick at but personally i'm over the moon. YES PLEASE DO start a blog, oh my goodness that'd be so cool. and i just might :)

Abigail said...

yeah... i think she was sneezing or pouting or something...such a sinker. but we love her anyway. thank you so much for your kind words! i appreciate your appreciation.

Abigail said...

it does kinda seem like longer, you're right. but at the same time if feels like it's just flown by. thank you so much, Brigid. i'm such a big fan of you gals, so your kind words always mean a ton. :)

Abigail said...

haha, thanks. it's just nice to kinda be quiet about some things. it's not for everyone but i'm surprised at the folks that agree and/or blog in secret too!

Abigail said...

agh, Jessica, YOUR blog and comments have been such bright spots this year in my life, too. thank you so much for all you do, taking the time for each of us and for being such a sweetie.

Abigail said...

that's actually what i've been hearing a lot, the strangeness of talking or 'real life' mixed with the blog. and thank you! i'm so excited about the year ahead.

Abigail said...

thank you so much, Dakota, like you don't even know. your's has been a blog i've followed for a few years now, before i even started blogging. how sweet of you! and yes, i can imagine the embarrassment, but glad to know everything worked out :)

Abigail said...

yay, thank you! your's was one of the first i started reading, too. i've fallen i love with your cats and photos and projects. here's to another year.

Abigail said...

thank you much, Lyssa! it's been a lot of fun to swap stories and have that musical connection. everything you wrote about me warms my heart that someone would think such nice things about me, and i can say the very same about you.

Abigail said...

ah, thank you, Amia! i do enjoy your blog and consider you a blogfriend as well. i've been finding that many others' blogs have been secrets, too. apparently it's not that uncommon!

Abigail said...

thank you ever so much, Lucy! i just love your blog and i can't belive that someone so 'high up' likes mine too. i'm totally thankful for your kind words and encouragement.

Abigail said...

thank you so much! what you wrote really means a lot, and i can't wait for another year.

Abigail said...

agree, totally. that was one of the things that first struck me when i started blogging and finding blogs. ok, like why don't all these wonderful blogs (yours included) have so many followers that it's through the roof? but thanks, personally i'm over the moon at 100, and thrilled i found YOUR blog.

Hannah Batchelder said...

Oh yaaay, haha! You're so sweet, thank you. :) And yay for 100 followers too! It's worth being over the moon for. :)

Bethany Carson said...

Congratulations on 1 year of blogging, Abigail! Love the last photo of Daisy!

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