At the end of every year, I take a look at the statistics to see which blog posts seemed to resonate most with readers. I look at views and comments and re-posts – not so that I form my writing to the opinion of the masses, but it’s important to me to understand what’s important to you.
This year more than any other, the posts that were most significant to me were also those that were the most read, discussed and shared. I really love that. Here they are:
#7 The Days that Almost Break Us. A day that includes taxes, ALS and long division can be difficult to manage.
#6 God With Us Written just 15 days ago in response to the shootings in Connecticut, this one was a labor of love.
#5 The Year I Discovered that Costco does not Sell Husbands. It’s a post that finds the unlikely connection between marriage and reading glasses.
#4 A Letter to 1985. A letter to my 19-year-old-self. I cried all the way through writing this one.
#3 Dear Grandbaby: The Thing about Marriage. This one was written while we were waiting on my grandson, Grey, to make his way into our world. Now he’s here and I forgot what life was like without him…but I still love this post.
#2 Aftermath. Wow – this post surprised me. I wrote it on a whim one morning before work because I was soooo tired of election drama. It turned out to be the most-read post on my blog in a 24-hour period ever. I think we were all tired of election drama.
#1 New, Sad, Hard, Difficult, Beautiful Country. This post will forever and ever live close to my heart. I wrote it in a Starbucks in Washington DC as tears rolled down my face and into my oatmeal. This is also the post that introduced me to so many of my now-friends in the ALS community. I still mean every word.
Thank you so much for allowing me a little space inside your busy life this year. In a world overflowing with words, thank you so much for taking the time to read some of mine. Please know that while I can’t respond to every comment, I do read every single one (sometimes twice!) and every single word of encouragement and hope and love means so much to me.
Later this week: a little sneak peek into what’s ahead for the blog, the book and Team Stern in 2013 . I hope you’ll stick with us for the ride.
Deep love,
Bo
Love you friend!
You inspire us all….looking forward to seing what 2013 brings and having you along with us to keep us grounded with your words
Bo, thank you for sharing your journey with us all through your writing. You and Steve are an amazing testimony to God’s gift of peace, strength and courage in the midst of “the battlefield”. Instead of becoming defeated by your battlefield you have become “dangerous”!
keep going girl- we are with you all the way
Bo, I’ve just read through all your most-read posts from this past year. Philip just came in and wondered why I was sitting here with my iPhone…with tears streaming down my face.
It’s the beauty of the grace on your life that really gets me. And the raw genuineness of who God is in you. And the precious comments and grace-filled responses to such a wide audience. I loved the comments back-and-forth from the Catholic priest and the abortion-survivor and the Obama-voters and fellow ALS country-folk. All welcome and loved in your little corner of the blogosphere. I love all the pictures and your awesome family and your boldness to write and speak with such eloquence and spunk.
I miss you . . . and eagerly anticipate joining you this year in another country that’s yours and soon will be mine: Grandma-land!!!!
Love you!
Ann
I Can’t even begin to tell you what an encouragement you are to me. When I can’t sleep …this is where I come.
Thank you so much
Thank you so much Jacquelyn – that’s so encouraging to me.