There’s an ornament hanging on my tree, a frosted glass ball with blue and silver beads and leaves draped over it around the top. I received it from “Zinny,” whom I’ve never met. At the same time, “annef,” whom I’ve also never met, has hanging on her tree this ornament, which I sent to her from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. We participated in an ornament exchange over at an online discussion forum I visit, so there’s a spiritual circle of giving and good cheer out there that overlays what can be seen. There are surely others out there—big, invisible circles floating out there like bubbles.

(Incidentally, my daughter’s best, most un-self-conscious exclamation of joy is “Bubble!” She says it without thinking, whether bubbles are actually present or not, because one of her earliest sources of delight were bubbles. So bubbles=anything good. Works for me.)

Those discussion boards are also where I recently bumped into a college acquaintance. And just last night I ran into a fellow Presbyterian pastor, also recently ordained, also married to a computer geek, and named, aptly enough, “revmom.” We also discovered we have one degree of separation, linked by my husband’s stepmother, of all people. Life is full of surprises.

Reverendmother: The Blog is almost a year old. I started it to entertain myself and post anecdotes about little she-who-is, for the benefit of her small but adoring public. I’m not sure how I would define what it’s evolved into, but as Kenny puts it, “I certainly enjoy [this journal] so it has already done its job.” I’ve appreciated the people who stop by, and though we may never meet face-to-face, it cheers me that y’all are out there in the world. If Real Live Preacher is a bustling yet comfy megabookstore, maybe here's a little secluded book-nook shop.

I like blogging because it doesn’t involve a rigid deadline, but there’s a little more accountability in it than a personal journal (which I also keep). The blog tugs at my sleeve every few days—would you give me a cookie please? And if I don’t have time, it’s OK.

So, Bubbles to all of you!