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First of all, I want to say thank you to Neo for his encomium; it was wonderful and characteristic of him to remember the day, and to say such kind things.
It is, indeed, two years since AATW opened its gates, and back then I could not have imagined I would still be doing the blog, or that anyone would be reading it, let alone that a dozen people would be writing posts here; there’s all sorts of other things I couldn’t have imagined back then. Surveying that time reminds me how little one cane see even into one’s own future – as well as what a good thing that it. If I had, by some accident, been able to foresee what would happen, I am sure I should have lost courage and given up.
i don’t want to sound like Oscar night, but I want to thank Chalcedon and Geoffrey for their many posts, as well as my other contributors. I have to thank my dearest friend Neo, for his posts, his comments and his constant friendship, as well as my dear friend Servus Fidelis, who has been here almost from the start. David Monier-Williams, to whom we owe some wonderful homilies, has been here from the start, as has Bruvver Eccles and Frere Rabit, who helped me, as did others, when I most needed it; to them and the ‘gallant click’, my thanks.I know that some find Bosco and quivideruntoculi, strong meat, but I think they represent important voices in Christianity which need to be heard. Of course, being me, I find what Rob and Nicholas write, more nourishing, but it is easy, and would be very easy indeed for me, simply to run a blog where there is no friction; but that would not represent anything save a solipsism located outside the messy and broken world we inhabit.
AATW now has nearly 600 followers and 180k views for its 1180 posts, with nearly 50k comments, and that is why it continues, because of you and all the other readers.
My own life has changed in so many ways, and is about to change again as I return to teaching. Across time my own contribution here has become less, and I can’t see it increasing again any time soon, but there are others who have more than made up for that. Some of my fellow Anglicans, Struans and Malcolm, have had other calls on their time, but their posts are still read every day, and their contribution to AATW continues to be appreciated. We’re very fortunate to have Carl’s cartoons, which add something very special to the mix here.
The comments boxes here have always been something special, and no one who reads them can but be struck by the quality of some of the comments. This place exists to encourage dialogue, and unlike some dioceses and newspapers, genuinely believes in allowing Christians of all churches (and none) a space where they can speak as they find. This can be uncomfortable for those who need the security of having their own narrow view reflected back to them, as well as for those of us who like to go on a lot about love and peace; but that’s the real world, and even a blog has to live in it from time to time.
So my thanks are to all of you who read and write here – and I am proud to be the Chatelaine of this Watchtower.
NEO said:
I would only add that you have more than earned an “Oscar Night” for yourself, dearest friend.
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JessicaHof said:
Thank you, dearest friend – now back on line! 🙂 xx
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NEO said:
Yay! Lots of comments for you on mine as well, dearest friend 🙂 xx
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JessicaHof said:
I will check in 🙂 xx
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NEO said:
Good plan 🙂 xx
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JessicaHof said:
You are all so kind 🙂 xx
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NEO said:
I think I speak for all of us when I say, “Only the best for the best!” 🙂 xx
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bruvvereccles said:
Hooray!
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JessicaHof said:
Thank you darling eccles xx
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njb4725 said:
Deus te benedicat, Castellana! Gratias tibi ago propter verba tua de sermone mea.
😛
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JessicaHof said:
Thank you 🙂 xx
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Servus Fidelis said:
Hear, Hear!
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JessicaHof said:
Thank you, dear friend, your contribution here is a major one 🙂 xx
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Frere Rabit said:
Well done, Jessica. Of course, some headbangers on the luvvly Internet will carry on thinking you are the Rabit, so I can bask in your glowing success.
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JessicaHof said:
oh bless, do give my complete disdain to whatever phil. Is calling himself this week; grateful as I am for the compliment, I is not the rabit, only you is the rabit:) xx
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theophiletos said:
Congratulations on your anniversary! I, among many others, are grateful that you found this way to serve the Lord.
You’ve mentioned “returning to teaching” a couple times now. Out of personal curiosity, what do you teach?
May the Lord bless you joyously in your continued service!
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JessicaHof said:
Thank you so much :). As a primary school teacher, the answer is most things :).
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chalcedon451 said:
Very many congratulations Jess x
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Jim Kane said:
Jessica and Company
Have been busy the past several weeks so my reading of your posts has fallen back some. However, the thoughtfulness of the posts here are always a welcome sight and thought among the pithiness elsewhere on the net. I thank you.
And Jess, God speed in your teaching!
Blessings
Jim
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JessicaHof said:
Thank you so much, Jim – much appreciated 🙂 xx
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David B. Monier-Williams said:
Congratulations! I wish you many more years of your wonderful blog.
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JessicaHof said:
Thank you David – as one who has been here from the very start, that means a lot to me 🙂 xx
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St Bosco said:
I too wish to give my congats good sister. It has been a pleasure knowing you and everyone else.
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bruvvereccles said:
It’s always been a pleasure bein your bruvver, Bosco my dere. We is grateful to Jessica for givin you an assylum in de Watchtower.
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JessicaHof said:
Thank you, dear Bosco – I hope you are well and not too over-worked. 🙂 xx
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St Bosco said:
I promise My special protection and the greatest graces to all who shall recite the Rosary.
The soul which recommends itself to Me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish
I shall deliver from purgatory, those who have been devoted to the Rosary.
10. The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.
11. You shall obtain all you ask of Me by the recitation of the Rosary
Ah yes, thank you Mary. All we have to do is repeat the rosary over and over again and we are promised salvation. We don’t have to ask Jesus for salvation. Just say the rosary. Hey, how easy is that? And its even easier if you have one of my JP II Penance Kits. Free gift with each kit orderd.
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St Bosco said:
Documents leaked to journalists over several months allege corruption in the Church’s vast financial dealings with Italian business including infrastructure contracts awarded at inflated prices.
In one example, the Vatican was said to have paid 550,000 euros for a traditional nativity scene in St Peter’s Square, thought to be at least double its real value.
Italian newspapers, quoting other whistle blowers in the Vatican, said the arrested butler was merely a scapegoat doing the bidding of more powerful figures, punished because the Church did not dare implicate cardinals behind the leaks.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/29/vatican-leaks-scandal-is-brutal-attack-on-pope-holy-see-says_n_1553352.html
Our one true universal holy pure and white apostolic catholic universal church that Christ founded can do no wrong. These are just lies of the Devil
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Rob said:
Glad to be a part of this community and thank you for the opportunity. I have been busy lately and my wife Mary has had some and issues currently being sorted out in UK, so I have contributed little but have kept up with the post.
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JessicaHof said:
Thank you Rob, it is lovely to have you as part of this community, and I hope your wife is able to sort out the issues 🙂 xx Jess
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Jack Curtis said:
A place erudite, thoughtful and generally charitable is much too good to good to give up; long may it wave!
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