Three years ago today, I was feeling bored and restless at the church and wrote a silly list of Christmas music I'd been hearing on the radio. And reverendmother: the blog was born.

Three years! I certainly wasn't an early adopter of this genre, but three years is a long time.

I posted a few times a month at first, mainly updates on C for the benefit of the family. Gradually, that number has grown, until this month for example, I made it a point to post daily (my writing group did not meet this month, so the daily posts were as disciplined as I was willing or able to be).

I can't remember who the first non-family member to comment was. I think it was Songbird, or Dickie Cronkite. Both of whom I've met, in addition to countless others who I consider real, in-the-flesh friends.

I feel blessed to have this outlet, this place to connect, to kvetch, to experiment, to wonder, to cuss, to rant, to be myself--or more specifically, to figure out exactly who that self is. Thank you all for your friendship, and for listening.

Before starting this blog, I hadn't written a poem in 20 years or more--and could count on one hand the number of times as an adult that I'd written something without needing to for school or work. Thanks to this medium for renewing an old, old interest of mine.

In comparison to other religious bloggers, and even other revgals, my readership is small. I told a friend the number and he said, "Well, that's a good-sized small congregation." I like that.

R is finishing my Christmas present--a new blog designed using WordPress at www.reverendmother.org. I'm especially excited that my entire blog history will be moved to the new space--comments too. (And I think that technological challenge actually excited R as well--well, more than going to the mall would have.) I've thought several times about moving blogs but didn't like the idea of abandoning this space and everything here--seemed akin to moving to a new house but leaving every shred of stuff behind.

Those of you who subscribe by e-mail, you'll still be able to do that. Bloglines readers will be able to read that way (as I understand).

I'll let you know when it happens.

Happy birthday to RM!