Well, the votes are in, and it would appear that CPSM has ended up in the top spot. It was pretty darn close, and I was on the very edge of my seat until the last minute (which seemed to last a lifetime!). I’ve got a whole host of feelings swirling around in my brain and in my heart over this whole thing. It might take a bit to get it all down. Meanwhile there’s a lot of messages and emails to field – and a promised article for a Pagan magazine that’s due today (and it’s not quite finished).
So I will just start with a big ol’ heaping shovelful (a spoonful just didn’t sound like enough) of gratitude. Gratitude to everyone who spent time and energy casting votes, writing letters of support, who defended the Pagan faith (and me personally) through this whole thing that should have just been a blog popularity contest, but that developed into something so much more than that.
I’d also like to extend a little apology. An apology to those bloggers who had nothing to do with this whole mess – some of which might not even have known that there was a mess going on – and probably would have had their blogs in the top 25 if it hadn’t have happened. I’m sure they are disappointed.
All in all, there are 12 Pagan blogs in the top 25. Twelve!! That’s amazing. It’s a show of the strength and unity of the Pagan community and it’s supporters. If we can get together like this for a blog popularity contest? Think of what we could do with something really, really important.
I’ll have more on this later. Still letting everything sink in and thinking big thoughts. =)
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I'm not a pagan – I'm an recovering-Catholic agnostic – but I voted for you, and encouraged all of my friends to do so. It made me sick to see the judgmental, holier-than-thou people voting against you.
Congratulations, Mrs. B! You totally deserve the top spot!
Congratulations!!!! You deserved it!I was sorry to see the whole other mess happen. Enjoy the win!
Congratulations Mrs.B!I'm no Pagan, but the whole thing disgusted me from start to finish. I hate to see such vitriol aimed at people who are doing nothing but living their lives. The main reason I started voting for you, and did so every day, was to 'stick one up' at the haters.As an Atheist I do not share your views on faith, and yes you do have faith and it is nothing at all to do with Satan or anything 'evil'. What I do share is a desire for everyone of all faiths and none to realise that underneath it all we are all the same.Enjoy your moment Mrs.B, I've come to love your blog over the last couple of weeks. Long may you continue blogging!
Congratulations!! I knew you would win even before all the ugliness. I think you are an awesome person and completely deserving of winning the contest. Enjoy your victory! ^_^
Congratulations! What wonderful news.I don't know about the ugliness but can only imagine. I'm sorry that you had to be part of something like that.YAY! Mrs.B!
Thank you for making us all proud! Not just for being #1, but for handling all of the hoopla with such grace. You represented!
Hey, you're in my #1 top faith blog spot.
Woot! Long Live Mrs. B!!
Oh, and Congrats. A well-deserved congrats!
That's wonderful! XD I know we should be accepting of everyone buuuut….suck it rude Christian mom bloggers! XD I'm so happy for you, Mrs.B!
Well done and congrats!!!Its amazing what can happen when passion comes out and Im very glad all those Pagan blogs made it into the 25.Im grateful for a community who may not know each other personally but still stands together and unites! And Im glad we have ladies like you MrsB who know how to be respectful and still "fight" for whats right.
Congratulations! Deb
Congratulations.
Your No. 1 finish is well-earned.
Congrats! I knew you'd make it! And I'm not at all suprised you're #1.As far as the mess, people are stupid, but at least it provides an opportunity to sprinkle a little wisdom (and maybe a touch of mayhem) out there.
Congratulations to you on the win!And also to those others who made it in to the top 25!
Hooray!
Congratulations, you are one of my favorite blogs to read overall. So I'm definitely happy to see you in the top spot.
Congratulations! I'm so happy to see you won. I believe this is a great step forward in getting us out there and education others about who we really are and not what some would have others believe about us. Thank you!
Congratulations Mrs. B! I am proud that Pagans stood up to be counted as a valid choice in Faith. I am linking this on my blog to spread the word of your win.
Congratulations Mrs. B. you definitely deserved this for showing others the depth of your faith by behaving in an honorable manner even in the face of dishonorable behavior.
The one thing that comes to mind besides how "over the moon fantastic" your win is and congratulations, is that the fear that drove the ugliness that happened is real."They" fear anyone not like themselves. "They" are afraid to open heart and eye and recognize that "we" are capable of true faith, love, honor, respect, loyalty and support each other with more fervor than they hoped possible. And "they" will just chalk this up to some evil plan but we know the truth because we aren't afraid.Not only did you represent us in a classy way, so did all of us who voted to show "them" we are here, you can't ignore us and we are real human beings with hearts and minds just like you. I know at least some of "them" got that and that is happy. Small victories…..big smiles…..The Olde Bagg
Congratulations Mrs. B. I voted for you daily and asked my friends to read your blog, which has – as I said before – some good thoughts in it. Keep up the good work
Flags, Flax, and Fodder,Trystn
So well deserved, and thank you so much for bringing paganism to the wider community.you are an amazing person, and you have made the Goddess smile widely today, I'm sure!
Yay! (And a sigh of thanks that it's over…;))
Congratulations! This is a stunning accomplishment, of benefit to the entire Pagan community. You handled the challenge with grace and class.
Congrats! you definitely deserve the top spot! maybe this contest has done some good, in educating others about pagan faiths and in showing everyone how to be a little more tolerant and loving. I hope so at least! and congrats to those other pagan bloggers that also got a top 25 spot. I'm glad this contest has served a greater purpose than popularity.
Congrats Mrs. B! I'm so happy to see that you've one and that we had some many pagan mom's in the top 25! I found quite a few great blogs through thise contest (despite the ugliness) and I'm grateful.
woohoo! congrats Mrs. B!way to go pagan mommies! we rock!!
Congrats Mrs. B! you most certainly handled the situation with a grace and true courtesy that I attempt to emulate every day. Not once, that I saw, did you ever sink to the snarky depths of certain other bloggers, so how can such a show of tolerance ever be misconstrued as evil? you are the epitome of class and love for your fellow human, and quite a few people could take a lesson from you! )0(
Dear Mrs. B-First congratulations. This is a very much deserved victory for you. I want you to know you had support from all over the Internet. And many of us are doing the happy dance in your honor.Also, I'd like to commend you for the class and restraint you showed when some of the so-called "Christian" moms threw vitriol and hate towards you and other Pagan moms. Never once did you sink to their level. You are a class act.And finally, I just think you have a really great blog; it's quite charming.
Congrats Mrs B! So wonderful to see a Pagan blog in the top spot & all the supporters to go with it. You worked hard for this,and totally deserve it.
Congratulations, Mrs. B! I posted links to vote for you several times on facebook and talked to many of my friends (both pagan and not) about your blog and why I thought they should vote for you, as well as the negative comments and feedback you were getting as a pagan woman. My friends voted for you several times, and I voted for you daily. I'm so pleased to see you at the top!
I'm so happy for you!! Congratulations a hundred times over!
Congratulations, very well deserved. Very proud of the pagan community! Huggs
Well done and deserved!And as others have stated, you handled all this with class. A wonderful example for other pagans to follow and learn from.
congratulations!!! I voted every day after learning about the contest! I Looooove it! Crazy how some of the 'Christian' moms questioned whether witches and pagans should even be considered! How very unchrist-like!
loved the syrup recipe can't have enough things to do with lavender. I have recently found a lavender farm here in virginia and can't wait to visit. The lavender syrup was a wonderful addition to the sweet tea and sparkling wine with dinner last night. Congrats on the top spot in the faith blog. I discovered your blog due to a post by Dorothy Morrison on Facebook. I am now hooked thanks.
I am sooo happy for you! I of course voted for every pagan blog in that contest after all that mess as many people did. I had goosebumps when i found out you won. Congragulations and thank you for raising a voice that was well heard! Be blessed!
Congrats! I voted for you and am so glad you got top blog!
For awhile now you have been a front-and-center representative of the Pagan Mommy community, and we couldn't ask for a better one! If this drives readers to your blog, they are headed in the right direction.
You are a kind, compassionate, open minded/hearted woman. I'm so glad you got the top spot!
Congrats! I hated to see this fun contest turn ugly, and while not everyone had a change of heart, there were some people who did (on both sides of the fence). It was a good change of heart and I was happy to be a part of it (even if it was only from the sidelines). Thank you for being you! That's what makes your blog so wonderful and deserving of this top spot. Brightest Blessings!~Ava
If it saddened me to see the nastiness flare up in this contest, I could imagine how it felt to the organizers. From their description, I kept thinking that they were hoping for a friendly, coming together of diverse spiritual corners, connected in their love for their children. .something universal to so many of us. But instead, they got. .well, we all know, so no need to waste more energies.But I, along with all of your long time followers, and new friends, continued to be SO proud of you. .you always took the High Road, and showed by action, not just words, how your faith and spiritual guidance works for you, to be a compassionate human being. And THAT, my dear, is why you not only won this contest, but rightfully earned it!Don't let the tarnish dull this accolade for you! Your long dedication to your Practice, and your willingness to share with everyone has brought you to this point. Savor it to the max!
Rock on beautiful mamaB! <3
I sure hope this helped people realize how much we need to do to extend peace and compassion to one another and to remember that, sadly, religious intolerance is still alive and well. And congrats to you!
Yay! Congratulations for winning the top spot! I'm also happy to see 12 other pagan blogs make it to the top 25. It shows a strong presence and support. Thank you for continuing to write your wonderful blog.
Congrats!
Mrs. B,I know that everyone seems to be congratulating you right now, but instead of doing that, I would like to thank you. I would like to point out that none of the Christian blogs have even mentioned the closing of the polls. You not only mentioned them, you thanked everyone. Then you went beyond that and did something that shocked me, and that is something that is very difficult to do. You apologized.The fact that you apologized to everyone that could have been in the Top 25 before the drama broke out was completely touching. I have said it before, and I say it again: The Goddess is truly within you and everything that you are a part of.I would also like to say that you have accomplished much more than you realize just by being in this competition, let alone winning it. You have helped show many people that we are not the evil, devil-worshiping monsters that so many believe, but normal people like they are.You have helped open the eyes of people, whether they realize it at the moment or not. One of the Christian bloggers contacted my friend when all of the drama broke out and began talking to her about our Path and asking questions. You have sparked a curiosity within her, and I am sure so many others. I honestly believe that you may have been that final push that some people needed to hear the Goddess calling out to them.You truly are a gift from Her own hands.Blessed Be.
Thank you so much for entering the contest and your never-ending grace through out it all. I'm so glad you won and no one deserves it more than you!
I only just found your blog, via a "Vote for this blog" post on Facebook, and I am thrilled to have found you. I am even more thrilled, and moved, that as a pagan blogger, you landed in the top spot of a Faith Blogs contest. I have subscribed and will be a loyal follower. As a pagan soccer mom, I totally connect
Congratulations and thank you. The dignity, grace, and humor with which you handled this situation are exactly the tools we need in all aspects of the world. This give me renewed hope that love and acceptance and compassion will win out over bigotry and hatred.
I voted for you too, and I'm glad you were able to get through the sometimes nasty comments situation with class. I don't understand why people feel the need to bash other people about their spiritual beliefs, as if doing so is going to help in some way! It doesn't help, and it's actually counter to Jewish religion to do so (not sure about Christianity, but I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to bash people as a Christian either). I too read all kinds of blogs, and can appreciate parts of different religions even if I don't completely subscribe to them. It's a shame so many can't do that with ours but some can and that gives me hope. Goddess bless!
Congratulations and thank you for having such class and grace under pressure. You've set a great example for folks of any religion, or none at all, for how to deal with bigotry without resorting to returning the fear and hate.You also have my thanks for being the catalyst which made those who fear what is different to seek to understand what they fear, thereby coming to understand their fellow human beings just a little bit better.Keep up the great work! I've been enjoying reading your blog and hope you continue with it. Brightest Blessings to you and yours.
I'm a progressive (on the edge of not recognized as a Christian by fundamentalists) Christian and I voted for you!!! I think it's awesome to draw attention to the fact that Christianity does not own the patent on Faith. I am sorry, that there ever was "a mess" over it. I'd never seen your blog before the brouhaha and now I'm a subscriber!!!Debra Masters
A win for Diversity and Manners! My coven voted for you daily.
Congratulations Mrs. B! I am so happy for you and proud of our community! I had to chuckle a little as I pondered your win. We in the Pagan community are much like any other family. We disagree and sometimes judge one another for various things…but a the end of the day we rally behind our own! Sometimes the Pagan community can get a little snippy over different ways of being Pagan but we when it counts we come together! Sort that whole idea of "I can talk about my family – but by god nobody else can!". We came together beautifully as a community to support you and I hope the next time there's some disagreements over Pagan practices and beliefs we look back on this time of adversity and remember how we raised each other up! You inspired us all to be better and love each other! Bravo!!!! *claps hands wildly*
Congratulations…and thank you for your example of true, forgiving, gracious holiness and dedication to your beautiful faith…and as a Christian clergywoman I apologize on behalf of the Christians who brought disgrace on the name of Jesus and our faith by their ignorance and cruelty. Blessed be!
Congratulations! It's exciting I'm sure to win. Not exactly the blog contest any of us were expecting but nevertheless I think most of us learned a few things and in the end it's nice to discover new blogs.
Thanks for being so gracious and open throughout this!
Congratulations in being in the top spot! This is truly an incredible outcome for all pagans and I can think of nobody better than you to lead the way. You continued to hold your head high and proceeded with dignity. You make a witch proud! Blessings to you and your family.
I think it was unfortunate what happened but it's nice that everyone was able to vote for the pagan blogs to show that pagan moms have faith. We are living the same lives as mothers and honoring our faith and raising our children. I think you do a wonderful job of representing that and showing also that we live our faith.
Congratulations! You were incredibly gracious throughout the contest. I'm very glad that a mixture of Christians and Pagans were in the top 25. In future years, I hope Jewish and Muslim and other minority faith bloggers are represented too.
Congratulations Mrs. B! You were the essence of calm and grace during that whole fiasco; you handled it very admirably.I only came across your blog recently, but you (and a few other Pagan blogs) have inspired me to chronicle my own journey on my new-found Pagan path.Thank you for showing the world (or at least, the interwebz) how religious/faith-based conflict should be handled.Enjoy your win,Andrea
Congrats Mrs. B! I have always loved your blog and I think you deserve the recognition for a job well done. I was unaware of the mess that went on but I am glad to see that so many came together of different backgrounds to defend the freedom of religion. Looking forward to many more years of awesome articles from you.Blessed Be!
Congrats Mrs. B. I'm glad to see tolerance and interfaith cooperation winning the day for Moms everywhere.Thank you for such a wonderful blog, it's been my pleasure to read it over the last several moons.
Congrats to you Mrs B. and to all the rest of the pagan bloggers! I have been out of the loop and dealing with my own mundane "mess" so had no idea any of this was going on. Although maybe if I had been keeping up with my blog I would have had a chance of making the list? Well this is YOUR moment here. I'll whine about a possible missed opportunity back on my blog.