Monday, October 31, 2016

Giving Thanks for Family and Friends

by Terri


It’s hard for me to believe it is about to be November! And I’m sure you’ll agree with me that, as always, the year has just flown by. So, yes, ready or not, November is upon us.

It has become a tradition here at FOL to focus on GRATITUDE during the month of November. This year, we want to give thanks for our families and our friends, those near and far, those we see often and those friends that, like most of you reading this, we have only met on the internet.  


The women you see writing here on FOL are more than just collaborative bloggers. Over the years we have become true friends. 


Since this blog began in 2012, we have made it a point to gather together each year to solidify those friendships. We choose a place for a retreat and we spend quality time together talking, laughing, taking photos, sharing techy info, making future plans for the blog, etc. These relationships are important to us and we make time for them whenever we can. 



 

As you can tell by looking at these retreat photos, we can’t all attend every time and some of the faces you see above are no longer writing for the blog but as we are known to say, “Once an FOL sister, always an FOL sister.” 

I am so grateful for these women and for the friendships we have built. So for the month of November, I would like to invite all of you to post photos and stories about the friends and family you are grateful for and why. 

And I would like to leave you with this quote.  When I read it, I thought of all of our wonderful readers who we have yet to meet. 

"There are no strangers here; only friends you haven't yet met." William Butler Yeats

I hope you will join me in giving thanks for not only our families and friends close by but also for those friends we have yet to meet. Let's make November a month of gratitude.




6 comments:

Carol said...

My favorite month -because we share the love! Before the most important message gets lost in the hustle of the holidays, the practice of pausing in November to consider all we have been given, is a tradition that does us all good. So grateful to have found this group of women who appreciate beauty - in the people around us as well as in the landscape!

kelly said...

these photos bring back such wonderful memories. i too am grateful for this wonderful community...kindreds with whom i am proud to share this journey. xoxoxo

Unknown said...

What a beautiful group of beautiful women. I appreciate all you do. I don't always comment or participate but I am one of those "friends" never met!! Thankful for Focusing on Life!

CarolHart said...

I know who took that picture of all of you in the frame at Shutter Sisters Oasis! So grateful to have met you all and have had the opportunity to collaborate with you. Happy Fall!

Dotti said...

These photos bring back such warm and fuzzy memories! I'd like to go back and do every single one of them again. The women I have met as well as those whom I haven't met are all such dear friends and that includes the readers of this blog. There is something very uplifting about meeting an internet friend in real life. It's like you've been friends all your lives as the bonds have already been forged by sharing photos and thoughts. Yes, I think November is my favorite month, too. It focuses us on what's important in life and there is nothing more important than family and friends. I can't wait to see all the gratitude photos and stories as they emerge this month.

Focusing on Life said...

There are some really happy faces in these photos. Such special times for all of you. I am grateful that I know all of you and for the parts of your lives that you've shared here! I am grateful to be part of such an amazing group of women!

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