Milestones, Miracles, and Memories
My top ten hits of 2024.
One year ago, I labeled the 12 months before me as “the year of creative investigation.” I tried to forecast reader response to new content based on engagement from years prior and stories that seemed to be on trend with other writers. What I learned without doubt is that no one should place bets on my predictions! Topics I thought would resonate often fell flat while other content stirred engagement.
With this year in the shadow of 2025, it’s easier to provide a round up of the pieces that kept readers reading and me writing rather than predict what will hit the jackpot in 2025. Let’s dive in!
1. Is it Cruel to Abandon a Pet was my most talked about Substack story. What’s your opinion on the matter?
2. The Real Dogs of the Quad Press – Meet Blu. I smile every time I read this story or scan the photos of my eternally wiggly neighbor dog, Blu. I wish everyone could harness just a bit of her happiness.
3. Paws for Healing resonated with many parents raising teens or remembering that difficult period of their own life. Having a dog in one’s life made that struggle a little less traumatic for many.
4. A Love Story for the World’s Best Dog had readers reflecting on their soul dog – whether still present in their lives or but a guiding spirit in their heart.
5. Not Much Happened but One Small Miracle had many readers cheering on foster can Snickers when he finally felt safe enough to leave the carrier to seek attention from me.
6. The Best Parenting Advice from a Non-Parent had readers nodding along with my friend’s sage advice about raising toddlers.
7. Two Lives Changed: The Mutual Benefits of Dog Fostering was my “pawsome” leap into the podcast world as a guest on the award winning Soul Touched by Dogs Podcast.
8. PetStack. I smile just thinking about all the delightful pet photos shared by readers and the stories of deep connections to their pets.
9. My favorite photos of my 2024 foster pets.
10. The one Photo I printed and framed I labeled “Moonset at Sunrise.” It was taken after 7:00 am CDT at The Nature Conservancy’s Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in Pawhuska, OK (U.S.). A small crowd was watching a herd of bison behind me while the moon was reflecting the sun’s early glow.
11. Number 11 is like the extra donut in a “baker’s dozen.” While the after photo is the “money” shot, the before photo fuels my heart. It is the embodiment of family togetherness. Behold our gingerbread fairy garden.
May 2025 be filled with peace and bring you joy.
Warm regards, Cindy
Your support would mean the world to me. Please share my writing with a friend!