Tina brought out the fun in blogging, while being one of the
major organisers and administrators of the incredible A-Z Challenge held in
April each year.
 |
| A Swedish Summer Fest |
She emailed, prior to my 2nd challenge in 2012,
asking if I’d be one of her “Minions” .. ie a helper for that year’s series …
from then on we developed a great friendship … with lots of rapport, ribald
stories and informative updates on life in general …
 |
| London, England to Stockholm, Sweden |
Tina’s Swedish roots – she was so proud to be Swedish and
have those origins … as we found out in many of her posts and particularly in her A-Z 2013 series on a Swedish
immigrant during her first year as an American.
I am linking over to her Z for Zomboni … there are some lovely happy
pictures of a young Tina.
 |
| Tina's instruction to the Klass: Learn Swedish |
For the 2012 Challenge – she taught Klass: Swedish How to … and as always Tina the teacher, the maths
whizz, crept out … thankfully her X post gave us a summary of the A-Z words she had tried to coax us into learning some Swedish!!
 |
| Tjorn - one of the many Swedish islands: No wonder she had lovely memories |
I know all of our thoughts will turn to her parents, and in
particular to her husband and her two sons whom she dearly, dearly loved … Tinadescribed her family under her tab Nickname-Translator … so you can check out all
her loved ones …
 |
| Five of the sunflowers I bought to brighten up my sitting room - remembering Tina |
Tina lived life and will be sorely missed by us all … she
was a driving force, with an inspirational twist that had lots of zest to it …
 |
| From Sedwick Studio: A Glass of Chardonnay via a blog perfect for Tina |
I add my sunflowers to all the sunny faces across this
blogosphere of ours …
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
60 comments:
A beautiful tribute to Tina who is looking down and smiling today at so many sunflowers. Thanks for teaching us a bit more about Tina. The sunflowers look wonderful in a vase on your desk.
Whilst I maybe didn't know Tina as well as some, I always enjoyed my interactions with her, her positivity and zest for life shone through. We will all miss her.
Oh Hilary, your sunflowers are beautiful and bursting with bright sunshine energy, just like Tina. And I like the painting as well, wine and yellow flowers-perfect.
Beautiful sunflowers to remember a beautiful person, Hilary. What a lot of lovely tributes I've seen today.
A lovely post, Hilary. I especially liked the way you linked to meaningful posts of hers. Thanks for helping me to know her better.
What a touching tribute to Tina. She was proud of her Swedish heritage.
Very nice, Hilary. The flowers in your home are outstanding.
Hilary, such a moving tribute to a lovely person. She touched so many lives in such a positive way.
It's heartwarming to see the blog love for Tina. She's clearly missed and our community is lesser for it. Lovely post. xo
I knew Tina for a few months but it is now that I am truly learning more about her. Your tribute is wonderful and so are the sunflowers you got. :) dragon hugs!
Wonderful tribute Hilary. You are so right, she was proud of her heritage. She was such a wonderful person.
Excellent tribute. I always enjoyed her Challenge posts about Sweden. And you were her favorite Minion.
That was awesome... thank you. I loved her Swedish background, for me... her and I cursed a lot like a good Swede would... lol.
Jeremy
Hi Hilary!! I really wish I'd known Tina...she sounds so inspiring.
I think it's wonderful that blogger friends everywhere have come together to celebrate their friend today. It is clear she was loved, and is missed.
Hilary, this was PERFECT. Exquisite. Love the flowers and love your tribute to Tina. So much love!!! <3
Love both the painting and the sunflowers!
Tina always spoke of you within our team with a lot of affection-- said she wouldn't survive as a cohost without you :).
I smile at each post that I see about her, and tear up a little.
I hope she's watching and likes what she sees.
She will be greatly missed. I don't think A to Z will ever be the same without her. Life is good, Tina. Life is Good.
Tina is enjoying this, I'm sure.
Beautifully done, Hilary. Your recollections of Tina and your flower image were perfect. I know she'd appreciate your mention of her Swedish roots.
I did not know Tina...or even hear of her until her passing. But she is certainly receiving some wonderful tributes across the blog world!
A beautiful tribute.
Oh, that was fun of you to link several of her posts. I had a good time perusing them. I am part Swedish and loved learning a bit more from Tina about the country of my heritage.
Wasn't it fun to learn about Tina's Swedish heritage? I remember enjoying her 'Swedish Language posts, her first years in America, and the year on AtoZ when she was my Co-host sponsor. I am so grateful for that time with her and of course you were there, too. Thanks for being a special part of my blogging world.
This is a wonderful tribute...well done.
Sue at CollectInTexas Gal
A travesty to die so young. I didn't have the pleasure of knowing her but I know she is mourned by many.
I never met Tina, but your post makes us feel that we've met her.
Hugs.
A lovely way to remember her.
Thanks so much for the visit.
The non-fiction publisher who contacted me produces a great deal of stuff that is lacking in any feeling, just making money and jumped on the new curriculum band wagon. There are some good school publishers that are educators, but the one who contacted me was not one of them.
Excellent tribute post. I like how you linked to so many posts that give us a better view of who Tina was. She was fun.
Lee
Tossing It Out
Hilary, I knew you'd have something special... this is PERFECT!
A wonderful tribute delivered in true Hilary-style!
Se was a driving force, indeed. And will be sorely missed. Wonderful tribute, Hilary.
I am only learning to know Tina now, through this tribute. Prayers to her family, and her blogger friends.
Great tribute.
Well done.
Thank you,
Heather
Hilary, you are such a good friend (as I am learning now too) and your sunflowers are so full of joy as you help celebrate Tina's life. What a lovely post.
Tina was a force connecting so many and supporting many, many newcomers. I will always remember how welcome she made me during my first Challenge. And her emails are treasures I will savor for years to come.
Hilary - great tribute to a great woman. Thank you for the happy memories!
I never participated in this A-Z Challenge. When I started reading your post I thought : Oh no, another Blogger died !
I didn't know Tina, but have enjoyed your commemoration of her in this post, and with those beautiful sunflowers.
So sad. This is the down side of making so many lovely friends through blogging. Take care, Hilary x
What a wonderful tribute to Tina, who I didn't know, but wish I had. I imagine she would have loved the sunflowers.
i am sorry for the loss of your friend!
Such a tragic loss to you personally Hilary. I am glad you got to know her so well in such a brief time.
I always wondered who had the courage to start the A-Z challenge, which is such an intensive blogging event:~)
From what you shared the links, it's obvious Tina was a brave woman.
I wish I had known her, Hilary. What I do know is she inspired you and many others. From reading about the names she gave her family, I KNOW I would enjoyed her sense of humor:~)
It is so true that we become connected to the people we meet through blogging. This was a touching tribute to your friend and I imagine as you said she will be greatly missed.
I remember her stories about her family, her boys, her health stuggles, and her Swedish background but especially her enthusiasm for blogging and connecting with people from everywhere. When we were exhausted from the challenge, Tina was right there urging us to go on a blogging road trip and doing more. Her spirit will be missed.
This is a great remembrance of Tina. May you find comfort in writing this.
loved your Tina tribute :)
loved your Tina tribute :)
I think this is a lovely tribute to Tina. Her legacy will live on through her family and friends. She touched the lives of so many. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and memories.
Blessings,
Karen
It's so lovely of you to honour her memory - as countless others have said- a great tribute! I'm sorry for your loss Hilary x
Gosh I have read so many blogs over the years and never rain into Tina. I did read a couple of blogs about here and her sunflowers. She seemed like a wonderful gal! I am so sorry.
I loved your post. Going to go and check out her A to Z themes now. Thanks for the links!
Beautiful tribute post, Hilary. You were lucky to get to interact with her more; I wish I'd had the chance to know her better. (And I missed the bloghop; I was traveling all day Monday.) Thanks for the links; lovely posts :)
Hi everyone .. sorry I haven't been here to say thank you to you all ... I'm sure Tina's family will be amazed at all our blogs, and thoughts about her ... such a sad loss.
She's definitely someone who will not be forgotten .. thanks for your posts - I'll be over to visit soon ..
Cheers Hilary
So glad you were one of those close to her. I know why because I really have come to appreciate both of you over the last two years... Lovely flowers for a lovely woman from a lovely woman!
Aw Hil. I feel as though I missed out not knowing Tina. It seems to me that she was equally blessed for having had you as a friend. What a beautiful tribute. Beautiful sunflowers. Hugs to you and prayers to Tina's family. xoxo
This was a great tribute to Tina! I wish I had known her as well as you did.
I really enjoyed your lovely tribute to Tina. I'll have to check out some of her favorite posts on your list. She was very lucky to have you for a minion. Sorry I got here so late.
Julie
Lovely photos. I enjoyed how you mixed in information about Tina, plus Sweden. She was definitely proud of her Swedish heritage.
Hi Lisa, Robyn, Chrys, Julie and Shannon - really appreciate your comments for Tina - she was a special lady ...
She spends a lot of time in my blogging life now ... I'm constantly nattering to her - things I knew we'd have similar thoughts on ...
I really feel for her family ... I reach out to them too ... Hilary
I missed this the first time you posted it...and I'm so glad for Deja Vu so I can read it now. My heart still aches when I think of Tina. She was a special blogger...and a special person. Thank you for re-sharing this!
Hi DL - thanks so much for coming over to comment - I didn't think that you had - but I've just now checked my comment moderation section ...
Tina was amazing and as you say a special person ... glad you've come across to visit - thank you ... cheers HIlary
Post a Comment