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Wednesday, January 01, 2014

Happy Birthday to Us!

Flickr Creative Commons Photo by Will Clayton

On January 1 of every year, we celebrate our Blog Birthday! As you can tell from our blog's name, we never really expected to blog for so long--we were planning on blogging "A YEAR OF READING." But today, we celebrate A Year of Reading's 8th Birthday and we love our blog more and more each day!

Birthday Celebrations are an opportunity to give back, we think.

This year, we are celebrating in a different way. Last year, we committed to paying things forward because we so love being part of this blogging community. This year, we are going to pay it forward in a different way.

Franki received a gift from Tammy and Clare for Christmas. The gift was a donation to Birthday Wishes, a nonprofit that we didn't really know much about. But the more we read about the nonprofit, the more we loved the cause. We loved the fact that a gift of a donation, in Franki's name was given. So we thought about how we could embrace that feeling on our blog in 2014. Here is what we decided:

Every month, on (or close to) the first of the month, we'll be be donating $25 to a nonprofit that benefits children or literacy or something we care about. We'll donate the $25 as a way to pay things forward. We'll tell you a little about the charity and why we chose it.  But this donation will also be a way to honor those people we feel privileged to know in the blogging community--some who has really made a difference for one of us in the past month.  The donation will be made in that person's honor.

So, to kick things off, we are going to donate $25 to Birthday Wishes in honor of Kevin Hodgson. Kevin has always inspired us with his blog. His energy is contagious and his teaching and writing inspire us every day. But we picked him this month, because he's been such a tireless #nerdlution cheerleader for all of us trying out this 50 day challenge. He's written songs, poems and more to support others as they meet their goals. If you don't know Kevin's blog, you'll want to!

20 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:12 AM

    Love it! Take a look at this organization. Your $25 could go really far towards education in developing countries. Happy New Year!http://donate.worldvision.org/OA_HTML/xxwv2ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?section=10372&item=2598035

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  2. Happy New Year! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this idea!! What an amazing way to help others and honor the amazing friendships and people who make a difference in our lives every day! I really do want to borrow this idea and do this with my fourth graders. Thanks to you and Mary Lee for all you do for me and for so many people across the country and world! Our world is better and we all have learned a lot because of you two....and may have spent a few extra dollars on a book or two because of you as well. :)

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  3. Love it, girls. Paying it forward is so important, and I love you've chosen to do it this way.

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  4. Love, love, love this idea! Happy blog birthday to you all and can't wait to see what 2014 brings.

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  5. Oh, this is so wonderful - what a great idea! Eight years is amazing! Happy Blog Birthday! I'm so glad you're both still going strong. I love reading your blog and hope for at least eight more years. :-)

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  6. Happy Blog Birthday!! Wonderful idea of paying it forward :). Thank you for all you do.

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  7. Franki and Mary Lee
    I am completely blown away and honored for the mention and humbled by the charitable donation to be given on behalf of, well, me.
    :)
    I'm tempted to write a funny acceptance speech but I think I will just let that idea go.
    Instead, I want to say what an honor it is to be part of all of these networks and communities and I gather as much energy from you two and others as I do giving it out. And if I can make someone chuckle and/or think along the way, even better.
    Sincerely,
    Kevin

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  8. Happy happy blog birthday to two inspirers, two givers, two who make this blogworld so much brighter and more kind and more fun! What a beautiful thing to do. 'Honored to know you and to raise my glass to you both and to another year of A Year of Reading! xo, a.

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  9. Congrats on your blog birthday and agree with honoring Dogtrax for his inspirational posts and cheerleading in #nerdlution ! Happy Blogging!

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  10. Happy blogday! Here's to many more... and a hat tip to your wonderful way of paying it forward!

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  11. Happy blog birthday! You both inspire us all! Great way to pay it forward. Love reading everything you two write. Happy New Year to you both.

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  12. Love what you are doing! And happy Blog Birthday! The kidlitosphere would not be the same without you!

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  13. Thanks for all the good stuff you have posted the last year!

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  14. What a fabulous idea!

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  15. Happy Blog Birthday and Happy New Year! A wonderful & generous idea.

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  16. Happy birthday, Franki & Mary Lee. Your blog is a constant inspiration, and now this idea raises new possibilities for all of us in 2014. Yes, you're right, Kevin continues to offer so much in his posts! It's a great beginning to the year.

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  17. Three cheers for Kevin and your blog's birthday. I love the idea of paying forward. You continue to inspire me and spread the love through your writing and cheering.

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  18. We love this!! It is such a great organization and what a wonderful idea for your blog! Thank you!
    Clare and Tammy

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  19. A belated happy birthday! Here's hoping there are many more to come!

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  20. A follow up
    https://vine.co/v/hYQd1XLwH9A/
    Kevin

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