Thank you letter

Dear Readers,

I wanted to take this moment to just say a big thank you. I’m a big one for thank you letters and cards! I think nothing beats receiving a thank you card in the post. It really shows that the person has taken the time. If I could I would send you all individual thank you cards but that would be a little bit tricky and plus the Jersey post isn’t the most reliable ; -) . Therefore, I hope that you will accept this post as my way of thanks.

I started this blog in January 2016 and now in April this blog has seen me through what was a challenging start to the New Year. This blog has really been there for me; for when I felt alone, for that time I struggled to digest gut wrenching news from back home and on those days when I just missed my old life.

Starting again has been an adventure but it also hasn’t been easy. From when I had to pack up our worldly belongings and I worried about whether we were doing the right thing. Uprooting the girls and taking them away from their family. Leaving the house I loved and where I brought Youngest home as a newborn baby. Closing the door on the play room where Oldest and I sat at the table as I helped her learn to write. Driving away from our little house, watching the Yorkshire moors in my rear view mirror gradually disappear from view. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I might not be Yorkshire born and bred but I have always thought of Yorkshire as home.

Some days it still continues to feel a little hard and on those days I have to fight every urge to pack up the car and get back on the ferry to England. The days where I miss family, friends and my career. On those days it helps to focus on the blog. It feels cathartic to write, to escape from the challenges of the day. My blog can help me process all of my thoughts. It helps me make sense of everything

It helps me be me.

On those less than brilliant days your comments have really helped. To know that someone has taken the time to read what I have written and then left a comment, it means so much to me.

On those days when I was feeling like I had no confidence you made me feel better about myself. I questioned whether I had done the right thing walking away from my career, you reassured me that I had. I divulged how hard I sometimes found being a stay-at-home Mum and you made me laugh with your very own similar tales. Then there was the time I ranted about gender stereotypes and you all loudly agreed.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. For forgiving the times my posts have drifted without purpose or for the times I have just had to get stuff off my chest. Thank you for ignoring those embarrassing typos or those times I have forgotten to use a comma. Thank you for encouraging me to chase my dreams and for showing me that I can blog. For encouraging me to write those posts that I was so scared to write and the ones that made me nervous to press publish. The very posts that are now some of my most popular ones and continue to be read again and again.

Thank you for continuing to surprise me everyday. Every time you read, comment, like and share my blog and of course those of you that took the time to nominate me in the blogging awards, thank you, it really was the icing on the cake.

 

It really means the world to me. You guys rock!

Emma xxx

Ps who would you like to say thank you to?