Happy First Birthday Blog!

Today is the official one year birthday of MormonSoprano.com!

Like every doting parent, I am throwing a little virtual “birthday party”, and walking down memory lane.

In October of 2007 I started receiving a recurring thought that I needed to “build a blog”. This was a bizarre idea because I didn’t have a clue what a blog was! OK, I had heard the term (after all, I don’t live in a cave) – but I was completely unfamiliar with it. I did not read them, and I certainly hadn’t the slightest idea how to make one. But, nonetheless, the Powers That Be kept up with the nagging feeling.

I ventured cautiously online into ‘Blogger Land’ a.k.a. ‘The Bloggernacle’, and from approx Oct. 25-Nov 1 2007 I attempted to build a blog using a major free provider. As my meager skills improved, I found the  ‘other service’ lacking. Therefore, despite my tremendous amount of time (and frustration) creating Bloggy A, I realized I had to move. That was when I discovered WordPress. Bloggy B was built, I transferred my posts, purchased my own domain name… and the rest, as they say, is history.

On November 3rd, 2007 with a click of my mouse, the blog MormonSoprano officially came “ALIVE”. In retrospect, it was a little anticlimactic compared to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein or, for that matter, the dramatic entrance of my youngest child (who decided she preferred the hospital elevator to a birthing room). However, my adventure into the Bloggernacle had begun! The day prior to this blog’s birth this author’s official acceptance letter into The Mormon Tabernacle Choir arrived. So, overall, you could call it a very “momentous week”.

It has been an amazing year. I have learned something new every day (in regards to blogging, singing, and life in general). I have also learned how much I do not know.

On December 15, 2007 one of our apostles Elder M. Russell Ballard gave a talk at BYU Hawaii entitled JOIN THE CONVERSATION. This would profoundly influence the LDS community, and impact the blog world forever. It also revitalized me personally, and gave me encouragement.

I discovered that blogs are like children. They have a life and mind of their own. There are always surprises. The creative process of raising my  ‘blog baby’, has been a great joy for me. It has offered:

1. More Self-awareness: My personal faith has been strengthened as I have studied and put my thoughts into words.

2. New Friends: There are some really cool people ‘out there’ in the world! Finding a comment waiting for me when I log in is like Christmas morning! (hint hint).

3. Global Perspective: The virtual blogging community is a vibrant place. The power of creation is alive and well! Our modern age is miraculous and mind-boggling! Being a “Blogger” has expanded my world view. Many other bloggers have touched my soul deeply and helped me climb to another level of understanding.

Unfortunately, just like anything else, there is a dark side to the blog world. There are those who use the power of their keyboards to stir up anger, hatred, bigotry, fear, distrust and wage a war of words. The mission of this site is to remain a haven of peace. From my viewpoint, the internet and the Blog world has untapped potential to unify our world if we let it!

Milestones: Over the past year, there have been over 34,000 visits to MormonSoprano. We have been spotlighted by The Mormon Times, in Emily Jenson’s “Bloggernacle Back Bench“, and Mormon Aggregators such as Nothing Waveringhave given their stamp of approval. Readers have chosen to share links and the Feed on their own blogs. WOW! MoSop sends out a very BIG thank you for this kind response.

Year Two looks promising! Take a moment to subscribe now,  for confidential email alerts. I look forward to your visits, and reading your comments! (hint hint)

Hey, I just noticed that this is officially POST #100!

Please be sure to grab a slice of virtual birthday cake on your way out. It’s on the house!  🙂