I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Writers thrive on the love and support they get from their readers. I know I do. The hardest part about writing a post for me is hitting the “publish” button. Each time I do it, I’m putting my voice and my life experiences out there for everyone to see. Sometimes it’s to make you think and other times to make you laugh, but mostly to let you know that you aren’t alone. So, it means the world to me when you comment or tell me that something I wrote was meaningful to you. I thank you for that on this 25th day of the blog challenge.

(What blog challenge, you say? Keep reading to learn more).

There is a particular group of readers who have inspired me this month. They are fellow bloggers taking part in the Ultimate Blog Challenge (UBC). For those of you that don’t know, UBC is a Facebook group of writers that are posting along with me for 31 days in January. The feedback they offer is priceless. It builds up my confidence as a writer to hear from them because I think they are all better writers than me. Not that it’s a competition. I’m just proud to be a member of this online community.

Picking a favorite blog in this group is like picking a favorite child. It’s impossible. But, if you’d like to give a little blog love to some UBC members, here are a few you can check out.

One thousand and two – This blog-written by Lily- is so much like me. I feel like if we ever met, we would have a lot to discuss. Her recent take on the topic of loneliness was so brave. It is an issue that I often think about in my own life but haven’t had the guts to share-yet. Thank you, Lily, for being so open and honest with your words.

Doggone Healthy Choices – We’ve had our dog, Chloe, for almost four years now, but I never had a dog growing up. Pamela’s blog is a fantastic resource for dog owners. I never feel like “I should have known that…” when reading her posts. She is all about helping us have healthy relationships with our dogs and taking good care of them.

Carrie Ann Trip – I learned quite a lot about the Christian faith from this blog. What strikes me is that even though I am a Jew, there are values that transcend all religions. Carrie Ann uses both scripture and real-life examples perfectly in order to illustrate her thoughts, and it has been a joy to read.

Cerebrations – Roy is a body of knowledge on a variety of topics. From tax advice to pop culture, you will surely find something here to your liking. His writing is a fantastic combination of sweet, salty and substantive. He also helps me be a better writer and find my way into the Twitter universe.

Lady In Read Writes – I love book blogs, and Vidya’s blog is always a wonderful place to find support for my book-buying habit. I never feel guilty about adding to my shelves because I know somewhere out there she is doing the same. I also had no idea what a review of a picture book would sound like. The thought process that goes into her reviews of these books are fascinating to me. Her non-book related posts also make me smile.

To the bloggers I didn’t list here, please know that I am cheering you on as well. From the business advice to the travel blogs, you have opened up new worlds to me. I am always looking forward to reading your next post.

In the words of Sylvia Path, “Everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.”

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Recently, a co-worker once asked me what I do to alleviate stress in my life. Some people go for a run to achieve a Zen-like state. Others will meditate or do yoga. I told him that for me, working on a good jigsaw puzzle has always brought me some peace in this crazy life.

I’ve written about jigsaw puzzles before, but I thought I’d give you a visual so you can see how much our family enjoys them. Everyone from my parents to my kids gets involved. Some of them think they are funny and try to sneak a piece in their pocket. This is so they can be sure to put the one to put the last piece in. Sometimes at the end of a puzzle, we wind up with several missing pieces.

Andrew got a little frustrated.Our most recent puzzle masterpiece is a general store. There was so much to look at, which made this puzzle a lot of fun to do. We could easily break it down into sections to tackle. There are several old-fashioned signs, flower beds and baskets of fruit to piece together.

First and foremost, we do the border first. I know others who like to do the middle and work their way out to the end. Our family doesn’t understand this logic but to each his own.

As you can see, we are missing a border piece at the top. This became a constant source of frustration. But after taking the time to go through the pile, piece by piece, we decided to proceed without it. We do have lives, you know!

This picture was taken after the first day. We get a lot done when we work together.

Over the next few days, we each find some time to put together a few pieces until it is complete. Jenna was particularly happy to find that missing border piece.

Jenna works on the green and white awnings in the puzzle.

Ta-Da!

We typically keep the finished puzzle on the dining room table for a week or so before taking it apart and starting a new one. One may wonder what’s the point of putting together a puzzle that you are just going to undo eventually. To this, I say it is the journey that makes it so enjoyable. You have to imagine the engaging conversations, the no-screen time rules, and the laughter that takes place around our dining room table. Jigsaw puzzles bring me joy, a sense of accomplishment, and, yes, those awesome moments of Zen.

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As I walked into the room, I could feel a mix of excitement and tension in the air. I looked down at my packet and briefly scanned the room. I walked briskly to my seat while simultaneously taking long and deep breaths to try and relax.

After what seemed like forever, the announcements began. I looked down at my card and up at the big screen to make sure I checked off all the boxes. Now, it is just a waiting game. I know my number will be called soon enough.

With each word spoken by our fearless leader, my heart begins to beat out of my chest. I await that elated feeling that will inevitably wash over me soon.

It’s just a matter of time. I must be patient.

And then, I heard it from across the room, and my heart sank.

BINGO! 🙂

Ten games. Zero wins, but had a blast! Thanks, ladies!

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