good afternoon, good evening, and good night

Hi friends :) Yep, it's really me!

I know it's been a very long time since I've written a post. So many of you have been so lovely to get in touch with me to say hello remind me I had a blog, and I appreciate every one of you :) I actually wrote 2 recent posts that I'm very sorry to say, only a few people saw. The first one had to do with how we shouldn't have to feel guilty or wait for legitimate excuses to enjoy doing the things that matter to us, including making time for ourselves. My thoughts on the matter came to me as I sat here with my painful, elevated, newly-broken ankle. In essence, ironically, my life just came to a crashing halt and I've found myself with quite a bit of free time. The one I wrote last night took me a long time, and every word came straight from my heart. It was about finding the silver lining in everything we're thrown in life. Including broken ankles, which, for a variety of reasons, has been the most harsh and humiliating trial I've encountered yet. My post was truly brilliant, if I do say so myself. Then I clicked "publish" and the entire post disappeared - photos and all :( I was so distraught, I deleted my previous post out of some self-destructive/denial combination I can't explain, and closed my laptop. In 4 years on Blogger I've never lost a post! Wouldn't you know, it happened on my very last post.

You did read that correctly, my friends. It was a hard decision to make but one that probably should have been made a year ago. Every new project I completed, everything I created, refinished, or built, I even made tutorials so I could share them with you here. Personal stories or thoughts were written over and over in my mind for when I posted them. Photos, information, and just fun things I wanted to share, kept piling up on my shoulders until I finally decided it was best to let that burden go. "To everything there is a season", and it's time for me to move on - I'm not even sure of all the details myself. My photograph portfolio is probably my biggest project right now. I've been trying to put it together for years, and I'm actually making a dent in it. In the meantime, you can follow me on Instagram if you'd like - and pretty much everywhere, if you search for Megan or Megi Walker.  

Those are just the logistics though. Most importantly I'd like to say THANK YOU WITH ALL MY HEART to all of you who stuck with me for years, or even for a little while. Who not only showed up but READ everything, who took the time to make comments, who appreciated my tutorials, who contacted me for all kinds of reasons, and extended their hand in friendship...... many of whom I am to this day life-long friends with. Particularly in the first 3 years of my blog, it truly had a wonderful, friendly, creative, fun vibe! We were a great little community, and all of you made that possible! I can't even tell you how much that meant to me. I love you, I appreciate you, I will always be grateful for you, and I wish the best for you. It was a great ride :) And that's the last thought I'd like to leave you with: though the destination may be important......... ALWAYS ENJOY THE RIDE!!!

With Love,

Megan xoxo

gratitude

Yesterday a dear friend - and dear person - was responsible for the loveliest gesture.

Her kindness touched me to my very core, and truly meant the world to me.

~ Thank you with all my heart ~

A pink rose just for her because I know she loves them :)

xoxo

giving thanks... friends

*Shell*

~

I can't even imagine life without the love of dear friends,

and I have been blessed beyond measure in that regard.

I am eternally grateful to each and every one -

from some of you loyal readers whom I have never met,

to online friends and bloggers I've come to know,

to friends who have come and gone throughout the years,

and even those I have recently become friends with -

Each and every one of you have touched my life.

~

This post is dedicated to my nearest and dearest friends,

starting with my cousin and friend Shell, above, 

and continuing in chronological order.

Some friends' photos are not present -

Hallie, Sandee, Mindi, Holly, Ruth, Dawn, LeAnn, Lisa, 

Jennie, Julie, Cheryl, Maria, J'Nette, Anna, Bev, ... 

a pretty endless list actually, and I apologize.

But you know who you are, and you know you have my love.

xoxoxoxo

*Annie*

9th grade - still in touch with

*Lauren, Renee, Liz & John*

9th grade again - still in touch with

*Tracy (center) and Susan*

9th grade once more - still in touch with

*Lucy, Lauren, and Van*

*Lauren*

(yep, the same Lauren as above)

 *Karen*

*Karen*

*Cheryl*

 *Susie, Marilyn and Leslie (LeAnn is missing)*

*Wendy* 

 *Diana*

*Joan*

*Jamie*

*Rochelle*

*Wendy*

*Shauna*

*Kim*

*Tami and Chris*

*Shannon*

*Traci*

*Vanessa, Rebecca, Robin, Kerrie, and Meghan*

the greatest young women on earth -

and I'm proud to call them my friends :)

~

I could go on and on about my friends and how I love them.

They have touched and blessed my life more than I can say.

Not a day goes by where I don't give thanks for them.

I consider friends one of the greatest gifts in life :)

xoxoxoxo

friends are the family you choose

Oh people... I would be remiss if I didn't shout out a very heartfelt thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to my dear friends who made me feel so special on my birthday. You know the saying "friends are the family you choose for yourself"... well, that's how I feel. Not a day goes by when I don't pause to give thanks for such precious friends.

Since we were crammed into Davy's truck driving across the desert on my birthday (not really the kind of birthday activity you look forward to) my friends really brought a smile to my face when I reached home. There were gifts at my door, gifts snuck into the house, cards everywhere, something like 60 Facebook wishes, e-mails, blog comments, messages on our answering machine... you name it. Even Davy's girlfriend and best friend Val & Liam had decorated the white board with a sweet message :) And it didn't stop there. Gorgeous, yummy bundt cakes, delectable pumpkin bread, candy, cocoa, several friends chose awesome ceramics that are so ME it was just uncanny... and the sweetest sentiments in cards you could imagine. You friends... you have blessed my life so much. I just want you to know that, and to know how much I love and appreciate you  ❤