FIVE years {and almost 1000 posts!}

Saturday, January 7th marked my 5th anniversary of blogging (first post here).  And while it might seem silly to some of you to even mention it, I am feeling quite nostalgic.  You see, I started this little blog just a month before we were referred our precious little Katie Ru.  Our ONLY intent back then was to keep family and friends updated while Dave and Will traveled to China.  Honestly, no one read 3 peanuts in the early days.  I never, ever imagined that so many people would come here every day.    I also never imagined that I would make such incredible friends.  And I have.  I have fabulous "real life" friends who I cherish dearly--- But I have also made some very special friends through the blog.  Some of them I talk to several times a week!  I see some of them on a regular basis.  We have talked, prayed together, vacationed together, cried together and laughed a lot.  They are my prayer warriors.  They are my girls.  They have become some of my best friends in the world.  And I truly love them.  Who would've thought?!  Not me.

I have also made some very special bloggy friends who I will likely never meet but who bring me such joy through their comments and or posts. Of course, this blog has connected me to the most amazing people in the adoption community and that has been such a blessing! However, 3 peanuts has also connected me to amazing interior designers who take the time to say hello and comment graciously.  I have heard from young single women who look to our family for things they want in the future.  I have connected with talented women who cook and sew and do photography and I learn from ALL of you.  I have met people "virtually" that I would have never been blessed to meet otherwise.  And for that I am so grateful.

I have been blessed to learn that this little old blog has opened others hearts to adoption as well.  A few people over the years have reached out to me to tell me so. How humbling is that? Another reader has reached out to me to tell me that this post and this one  (about Harry's prayer table) started a journey for her and her family to go back to church!  She has stayed in touch with me and really credits my little Harry with helping them trust the Lord again.  How incredible is that?!

One sweet reader has e-mailed me to tell me how much a supplement  that I posted about helped her ailing grandmother.  

God has used this blog and used our family in ways that I would have never expected and I take no credit for at all. We are humbled to think that we might have helped others along the way because we are a very average family doing the best we can to get along (just like everyone else out in blogland).

So, I wanted to take a moment to THANK YOU....all of you who have read for 5 years or just a few days.  Thank you for stopping by.  Thank you for your kind comments and encouragement.  There are days when it is really hard being a stay at home Mama to 3 peanuts.  You know, we don't get a lot of kudos.  But this blog has made it all a bit more bearable. I feel like I have a network of other women out there who have my back so to speak.  So thank you. I am going to be around for a lot longer.

I would love if you would leave me a comment telling me something about YOU.  I know from my stats that I have a lot of readers who never comment (and that is fine) but I would love to get to know more of you.  Also, if you have any questions, leave them in the comments and I will answer them later this week (maybe in my 1000th post.)

"Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary."

Margaret Cousins

{P.S. This is my 991st post too (some are saved in draft as they are private).  So, I am almost at 1000!!}

Apparently, it is another special anniversary. We adopted our schnoodle, Scout 5 years ago this week too!! Look how little she was!  We love you Scout!