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Happy 3rd birthday to my blog. I can't believe it's been 3 years and I really can't believe how much I have changed. When I think back to my life 3 years ago it really feels like a completely different life. As many of you know I started blogging because my job was so boring and I had so much extra time. Within a few weeks I had discovered this whole community of fellow bloggers.

Today most of my close friends are people I have met through my blog. I have shared more on this blog then I have with most of my IRL friends and most of my IRL friends do not read my blog. So if you are one of my IRL friends please realize that you are special.

There have been 1,096 days in the last 3 years. This is my 1,296th post. I have shared my entire life on this blog. I have shared all the good times as well as my struggles. It has been a place for me to come for support when I have felt completely alone in this world. It has been a place where I have had the courage to be me and not worry what others think or say about me. I have learned that I am not alone in my struggles and there are people out there that genuinely care about me. I have also learned that it's OK that my definition of family is different then most people.

When thinking back to the last 3 years there are very obvious events that changed who I am as a person. Here's my top 10 list of events that changed my life in some way:

10. First Post
When I first created my blog it was named "Ex-Jehovah's Witness and Gay". It has been a year since I was disfellowshipped and had no contact with my family. I was really struggling with being disowned from my family and I wanted to help others that were going through the same thing. In my first post you can see that being gay and out was still so new to me. You can read the post HERE.

9. Trip to the Florida Keys
This really was a dream come true. Laura and I started planning this trip in August 2005 and were suppose to go in October 2005. Well, we ended up postponing the trip until April 2006 because of a Hurricane. It was the first time either of us had been to the Keys and immediately fell in love. I have traveled all over the world and Caribbean, but there is something special about the Keys. One of Laura's dreams was to see Hemingway's House and going to Margaritaville. I remembering being so proud that we were able to make her dream come true. While we were there we decided that in April 2007 we could come back and have a commitment ceremony. I thought my life was perfect. You can read about our trip HERE.

8. Kansas City Snowstorm
Is it any surprise that a snow event would be in my top 10? I feel like I go into hibernation during the summer and come back to life when fall hits. I expect this year my posts about snow will become my favorite as well. You can read this post HERE.

7. Prayers for Ben
This truly was one of the worst experiences of my life. In the middle of our bathroom remodel my cat Ben was let out by the workers. He was gone for an entire week and I really felt like I had lost a child. The worst part was not knowing where he was. One week later Laura and I were out on the back deck talking when I heard a small cry. I called his name and he meowed again. I realized he was under Lynilu's deck and I went running. Once I got to him I called his name and he came right out to me. Other then losing a little bit of weight he was just fine. You can read the post when he first went missing HERE. One good thing that came from that event was meeting Patti.

6. Camping and Birthdays
I love camping and celebrating my birthdays, so when those two happen in the same weekend you know life is good. I camped a lot as a child, but 2006 was the first time I went as an adult. It was a lot more work then I remembered, but still just as peaceful. 33 was a good birthday. You can read the post HERE.

5. Sophie Cat
When Laura and I got together she had a cat named Sophie. It was interesting having a house with 2 pets named Sophie. Sophie cat is not the typical house cat. Not only does she weight 22 pounds, but she has more attitude then anyone I have ever met. I think about Sophie cat a lot and wonder how she is doing. You can read about a day in the life of Sophie cat HERE.

4.Prayers
You can read the post that I wrote just seconds after my whole world turned upside down HERE. The break up took me by complete surprise and I felt like I had been knocked to the ground. The first two weeks I spent laying on the couch just staring out the window. It was as if I had been driving and someone threw the emergency break on and my entire world just stopped. It took a long time, but I finally found my smile again.

3. Jerry Springer/Cops Break-Up
Looking back I can laugh at this event, but at the time it was not funny at all. After just one week living with MG she told me it was not working and within a week I was back at my house. Here is the post I wrote when the break up became a mix between Cops and Jerry Springer. You can read about that lovely night HERE.

2.Brady
Here is the post when I put Brady down. It had not been a good fall and it ended with me losing one of my best friends. You can read the post HERE.

1. Taking Flight
On 7-7-07 I got my first tattoo. I wanted to get something that reflected who I was and since I love numbers I thought it was appropriate that I got it on 7-7-7- and include a 7 in the design. When I see my tattoo in the mirror I am reminded that just like a dragonfly I am strong and determined. You can read about me getting the tattoo HERE.


I would like to personally thank each of you for your support, advice, laughs and encouragement in the last 3 years. Knowing that I have so many people in my corner really does make the bad times not so bad. You guys rock and I heart each of you.