It’s the night before Christmas Eve. Throughout this season, I have been reflecting on how different my life is this year than last: I am living in a new home, a new state; I started a new job with a new team; I am writing this new blog.

Looking for ideas for this before-Christmas post, I clicked over to the other blog to read what I posted last year. What I discovered is that even though things are different this year, they are also very much the same.

Let’s take a look together:

I have a new favorite place to write. It’s an odd place, not the most comfortable spot in the house. I’ve adopted this spot, though, because my youngest daughter is learning how to fall asleep on her own. As long as I am sitting nearby, she will lie quietly in her bed and eventually go to sleep.

So, here I sit, on the hardwood floor, leaned against the wall outside my daughters’ bedroom, and use the stolen minutes to catch up on my work.

Christmas 2010 and I still sit outside my daughters’ bedroom while they fall asleep. Our hallway is carpeted here, and bedtime finds me leaning against the wall, working, with my netbook on my lap.

Tonight I am thinking about this blog’s readers. About a month ago, I made a special request asking you to introduce yourselves. Your responses delighted me. Many of you wrote to tell me about yourselves: where you live, what you do, your hopes and dreams for the future. You are from all over the world, literally. It thrills me to think that these words can reach to England, to India, to Canada, and across the United States.

I am thrilled — again — to know that my words here are being read around the world. Since this blog began on December 7, less than three weeks ago, Weaving Influence has had visitors from 17 countries. I know that Tanmay is reading in India, Tammy in Albania, Thabo in South Africa, Gwyn and Sonia in Canada, Marion in France, Monica in Mexico, Senen in the Phillipines.

There are others, as well. Friends across America whose names I know, other friends I haven’t met.

If you’re reading and I don’t know your name yet, I hope I will soon. Introduce yourself in the comments here, if you’d like.

It’s an awesome honor to type these words here, as I sit in front of my fireplace, and to know that they will reach you where you are. Thank you for the privilege of sharing community here together.

As 2009 comes to a close, I am grateful for each of you, and excited for what the New Year will hold for you. My hope is that we will grow in community here, and that each of you will grow as individuals and leaders. I hope that you will use your gifts for the benefit of others, and that my words here will encourage you wherever you are.

I wish you happiness and joy during this holiday season.

As 2010 comes to a close, I am overwhelmed with gratefulness for each of you. You have been incredibly supportive and encouraging during this time of transition in my life. I wish you every joy and blessing in your lives this Christmas and in the New Year.

The words in italics (above) were originally posted at Mountain State University LeaderTalk and are reprinted here by permission.