Adventure Awaits turned three at the end of March, and I promised some kind of party, didn’t I? But I’ve arrived so late, even my wizard status can’t excuse my tardiness. Gandalf is ashamed of me. As they say, “better late than never,” so here we are! Help yourself to angel food cake and strawberries, because that’s what I just ate, and we’re going to happily live in the delusion that I can offer you a slice via the internet.
Blogging is a discipline I’m so glad I started. Sure, there are weeks (like this one) when getting a post up in time is a struggle. Life gets busy and sometimes I run out of inspiration. But I love sharing my heart here. Yet what I love even more is YOU. All of you who read, comment, and keep coming back–you’re the reason Adventure Awaits exists! I hope your own journey has been impacted, even in some small way, by mine. Because life is story, after all, and we’re all living epic tales of our own.
In the fashion of last year’s blogoversary, let’s kick off the party with some quick stats! Measuring growth is fun, right? It’s like penciling in your height on the pantry wall.
Stats
- 161 followers across Google Friend Connect and Bloglovin’ (It was closer to 140-150 at the time of my actual blogoversary, I think . . . which is about double what I had last year . . . Anyway, I’m so grateful for every single one of you!)
- 204 posts
- 216,678 pageviews
Top Ten Countries
Most of those pageviews come from . . .
- United States
- Russia
- Canada
- France
- Ukraine
- Germany
- United Kingdom
- Netherlands
- Australia
- Ireland
Search Results
-larryboy and the fib from outer space (what? why???)
-rooglewood press (makes sense)
-josiah dyck (oh, look, that’s my brother!)
-a girl who walk alone on the road (. . . this girl who walk alone needs to get better at grammar)
-allison tebo the reluctant godfather (why yes, I was part of her blog tour)
-adventure award wise counselor (ah, good times)
-five enchanted roses: a collection of . . . (it cuts off the end of the phrase, but I know which book that is, and it’s excellent)
-rooglewood press contest (not like I entered any of those, LOL)
-adventure awaits blog (very sensible search result)
-Tracey (oh, so we’re on first name basis now, Google and I?)
-summer book haul (always a good thing!)
Top Ten Most Popular Posts
1. Realm Makers 2017 Recap
2. Sunshine Blogger Award
3. Retellings – Love ‘Em or Hate ‘Em?
4. Beautiful Books – Writing Goals
5. Subplots and Storylines – November 2016
6. Book Review: Five Enchanted Roses
7. Subplots and Storylines – October 2016
8. Silmarillion Awards – Wisest Counselor Nominations
9. Why Fiction Matters
10. Problematic Opportunities and Opportunistic Problems
#MyFirstPostRevisited
Over half a year ago, the ever-creative Victoria Grace Howell @ Wanderer’s Pen tagged me to participate in #MyFirstPostRevisited. Thanks, Tori! I thought it’d be fun to incorporate this into my next blogoversary! The rules of the tag are as follows:
- No cheating. You must highlight your first post. Not your second post, not one you love… the first post only.
- Link back to the person who tagged you (thank them if you feel like it or, if not, curse them with a plague of ladybugs).
- Cut and paste your old post into a new post or reblog your own bad self. (Either way is fine, but NO editing.)
- Put the hashtag #MyFirstPostRevisited in your title.
- Tag five (5) other bloggers to take up this challenge.
- Notify your tags in the comment section of their blog (don’t just hope they notice a pingback somewhere in their spam).
- Feel free to cut and paste the badge to use in your post.
- Include “the rules” in your post.
- Completely silly rules that I’m making up as I type:
- Write your post while wolfing down your favorite dessert.
- Do 10 cartwheels after you hit “Publish.”
Well, I did just eat cake. But I’ll neglect that last rule, because if I attempted a cartwheel, I would break something. Like my head. Or a piece of furniture. Or my pride. Let’s have a look at my very first post from March 31, 2015!
Welcome!
Well met, fellow travelers!
I suppose introductions are in order. My name is Tracey Dyck, and at the moment, all the clever ways I planned to succinctly introduce myself have scurried out the back window and left me with a blank page. So let’s start with the basics, in no particular order.
I am:
-19 years of age
And now for some random facts.
I feed on words. The smell of spring is hope to me. My bookshelves are congested. I have awesome parents and three awesome younger siblings. I live in the Prairies. I read and write pretty widely, but fantasy is my homeland. I write because I need to, and because I hope that someone else needs me to. New notebooks call to me. I take pictures of shadows. I sketch. I am a slayer of evil dragons and a friend of good ones. I am an introvert. My space is organized chaos. I love the colors of the Caribbean, of watermelon, and of new leaves. Please take me to Narnia because I left my heart there. I love children. Dark chocolate trumps milk or white. Captain America is, without a doubt, my favorite Marvel superhero. Apparently my personality type is the same as Batman’s, though I fail to see many similarities. I laugh easily and cry easily. I am a paradox because a sunny optimist and a cynic coexist in my brain. I adore humor. I am a girl of strong convictions. Jesus is the difference in my life; He is my anchor, my shield, my fortress.
Now, what should you expect on this blog? Good question. Even I’m not entirely sure. But I think you’ll find a mix of the big and the small, the important and trivial. A blend of life and faith and anything story-related. I aim to post about once a week, but that schedule may change as I settle into it and find out what works.
Life truly is a grand adventure! I sincerely hope that this place will be a rest stop where you can brush off the dust of your travels, warm your hands by the fire, and find stories in the coals. I hope that this is an armory where you can sharpen your blade, shine your armor, and stock your quiver. Here is where our quests intersect. Let’s swap tales, remind ourselves of the light, and look for the story the Author is weaving in each of our lives. To the wanderers, the wayfarers, the voyagers—I bid you welcome!
Surprisingly, that actually wasn’t as cringey as I expected. I still hope this place is a rest stop for questers on their journey, I’m still looking for the heart I left in Narnia, and my bookshelves are more congested than ever!
Happy blogoversary, dear Tracey! (And your first post wasn’t cringey at all <3)
Thank you, Faith! (You flatter me, dear. <3)
Happy blogoversary, Tracey! Can’t wait for that vlog, and here's to many more blog posts!
Thanks so much, Nicole! Glad to have you along for the ride!
Happy blogoversary, Tracey! Your first post was lovely, as are all of them. Keep them coming, please.
Thank you, Mrs. D! <3 You're always an encouragement. Not to worry, I have no plans to stop. 🙂
That is an AWESOME first post! Happy blog birthday, Tracey!
Awww, thank you, Lila! <3
Happy blogversary!!! Your first post is really good!
Thanks, Skye! You're so sweet. <3
Happy (late) Blogoversary!!! I think it's NEVER too late to celebrate. Celebrating things is the best. And we should definitely, definitely be celebrating this utterly gorgeous, fun, fantastically frabjous blog. So…
HAPPY BLOGOVERSARY!!!!!!!!! *shoot Gandalf fireworks and brings out a Hobbit-sized cake*
It's been such a joy reading this blog from the first post on. AND DAT FIRST POST. O___O #FIRSTPOSTGOALS It's so beautiful and YOU. And I absolutely feel like Adventure Awaits is accomplishing what you set it out to do. I ALWAYS coming away from your posts feeling refreshed, encouraged, and inspired. You have a gift. <3
Can't wait for the vlog! And many, many more years of Adventure Awaits to come! ^_^
Thanks, Christine! I hope it's never too late to reply to comments, either, because woooow. Realm Makers sucked up half of July for me. XD
You're such a sweetheart, though–thank you!!! *devours Hobbit-sized cake*
It's been a joy to have YOU along for the ride since the very beginning! Oh dear, I'm going to get teary-eyed… <333
Thank you again, Christine!
"Larryboy and the fib from outer space" – Ha! I didn't know you were such a part of the veggie tales fandom 😛
Your first blogpost was lovely! My current blog is my…3rd blog? I'd really dread going back to see how my 14 year-old self started things…*cringes at the thought*
Haha, I am a HUGE VeggieTales fan, but I don't think I've ever really posted about them… XD
Thanks, Meaghan! Wow, three blogs? That's impressive. But I don't know if I'd want to look back at what my young self might've written either. 😛
Ha, nice first post. I can understand with the cartwheels. I broke a drywall wall doing a cartwheel once. I’m not too bad at them really, but I need a good bit of flat space, which is hard to come by in the immediate vicinity of my home, with the exception of the asphalt in front of my grandparents’ house right up the hill from my own abode. Keep up the God-chasin’!
Thank you! Ouch, that sounds somewhat painful. A wide lawn seems to be the best place for such antics–lots of space and soft grass. Although a driveway might work too. 😛
Happy bloggerversery Tracy!!:D *throws confetti*
Your first post is awesome!! (Not cringey at all!) Larryboy and the fib from outerspace.. a very weird way to find this blog.. XDDD
Eeek, thank you, Sarah! *frolics in the confetti*
You're very sweet. <3 Haha, I mean, I love Larryboy, but I doubt I've ever written much about him here…
Wow, three years! That is great! Congrats. Also, I loved reading your first post. It was great! I love "congested bookshelf." That is the perfect metaphor for every book lover's life.
Thank you, Abbey! It doesn't feel that long. ^_^ Those congested bookshelves, man… maybe someone needs to medicate them with a decongestant? Except that could mean losing books, and heaven forbid THAT. XD
Congratulations on three years of blogging! Viva Adventure Awaits!
Heh, I think many of the views on Realm Makers 2017 Recap come from me. It makes me eager and ready for Realm Makers 2018!
It's good to look back on your first post. You introduce yourself well! I'm not just talking about the information, but more about the way you give it. Your writing voice was and is poetic, friendly, and encouraging.
Awww, thank you, sweet Blue! <3
Speaking of Realm Makers, it was SO great to finally meet you! I hope to put up a recap of RM 2018 in the near future! 😉
What a lovely compliment–thank you again! *hugs*
Happy blogoversary! I hope you have many more years of blogging down the road!
Thank you, Sarah! I always enjoy reading your comments! <3
Happy blogoversary! I remember that first post oh so long ago! I'm so glad you could incorporate the tag into your celebration. Here's to many more! *toasts flagon of favorite drink like a hobbit *
Awww, do you? Thanks for being here right from day one! <3 Flagons of favorite drinks sounds like the perfect way to celebrate.
Happy blogiversary, Tracey!! Wow, I'm quite impressed with your first post! I feel like I would cringe so hard if I looked at mine. XD
Thank you, Maddie! <333 I'm honestly *surprised* that the first post wasn't very cringe-worthy. Now, some of the subsequent early posts…those would be. XD
"Gandalf is ashamed of me." =D
Oh my word, your first post is so darn PRETTY and poetic! Guess you've just always been a genius. . .
I think I found your blog through a Silmarillion Awards link-up? I'd never heard of the Silm awards before that, but I'm super glad I checked them out. =)
-Hanna
takingmytime.rothfuss.us
I have done a dishonor to my fellow wizards. -_- XD
Gahhh, you're so SWEET, Hanna! Not much genius-ness here, just lots of writing and writing and more writing. Practice, y'know. 😉
Really? That's cool to know! The SilmAwards are still fairly new–later this year will be its third running. *suddenly realizes it's about as old as this blog* Huh. I guess as far as fast-paced internet life goes, it's been around a while. XD Anyway, I'm so glad you've found this little corner! Your comments always make me smile. <3
Happy blogoversary, Tracey!
Man, what a gorgeous first post! I'd say it was prophetic, too. *nods* Thank you for sharing so many beautiful thoughts and writings with us over the years!
Wow, Megan, thank you! <3 I'm so thankful to have you along for the ride! You've been around a long time.