Celebrating 100 Posts!

Today is my 100th blog post! To celebrate, I'm going to offer a giveaway. I will be giving away a $20 Amazon gift card. I will randomly select one winner, from everyone who posts a comment on this post between now and the time my next blog posts on Wednesday (17th) at 6:00 a.m. The winner will be announced on my blog on Friday. Winner must provide your email address to receive gift card, which will be awarded via email.

When I started blogging, it was because I heard it would help you get published. Well, I have had one article sold since I've started blogging. But what I've come to realize is, that it is the practice of writing regularly that will get me published. (i.e. practice makes perfect). It's not the blog, it's the regular writing - and the accountability of you guys!

But the most special thing I've received from blogging is the unexpected joy of making so many new friends! First I met Bonita, who commented on my 3rd post, and has been visiting ever since. We even had the opportunity to meet in person in North Carolina, chat and pray together.

I have a new friend all the way in Australia in His Princess. Who'd have thought this little Virginia gal would get to know someone in another country. And I even learned that our seasons are opposite (who knew?).

I've "chatted" with published authors too, like Rebecca Ingram Powell, Lysa TerKeurst, and most recently Karen Hossink. All this networking can't be bad for an aspiring author like me. The chance to chat with other writers is a blessing. Plus Rebecca has become a good friend, who in addition to blogging, I also email.

I've also had changes in my relationship with my personal, local friends since blogging.

My friend, Sue J., is a still water running deep kind of gal. Our outings tend to be alot of me talking and Sue J listening. Not that she ever seems to mind really. But often, after we're together I realize she said something and I just ran right over it, and I'll call her back to discuss. When she blogs, I'm able to really hear her in a way I don't when we're together. I can't interrupt, and I hear her entire message. It's great. I feel like I'm getting to know her better. (and I can still COMMENT at the end!)

My friend, Mrs. P., is such a sweet friend, and has always told me how I have inspired her spiritual life. I invited her to join my bible study many years ago, and we learned together. She says I taught her. But now, through her blog, I am learning so much! She is such a wonderful witness of Christ and I am the student now and she is the teacher.

My friend, Truth4 the Journey and I have been friends for 14 years! She is my longest (not OLDest) friendship, but we'd starting growing apart. She was busy raising and home schooling 6 children, and I had two of my own. Our get togethers started getting further and further apart, until I feared that we'd soon just be sending Christmas cards to each year. And then we started blogging. And commenting, and emailing, and calling and even went away together to She Speaks. This crazy blog thing rekindled our friendship!

My sister, ADHD, we of course kept in touch. But we can both get wrapped up in our own worlds and could go awhile without chatting. Now we "talk" nearly every day through our blogs and are finding out things about each other we never knew before. And a sweet sweet comment by "Irritable Mother" (Karen Hossink) showed me something I hadn't seen before. She said our blogs showed how we "love each other." Well I pictured tough-gal firefighter ADHD gagging at this remark. She is more likely to punch me in the arm than hug me. (I got all the lovey genes in our family. Also the brains & good looks, KIDDING!) But Karen's comment touched us both and even got an endearing comment out of "I am a Rock, I am Island" ADHD. Love ya ADHD!

I have 1 zillion of you guys I could also link too, but I fear this blog is already getting too long. But your daily encouragement and comments mean the world to me! So many of you visit and just build me up. So now it's my turn. I wish I could give each of you a gift card, but alas, as mentioned this blog hasn't turned me into a published author so I'm just a stay home mom on a budget. So leave me a comment on this post, and I'll draw ONE winner.

(One chance per person. Multiple comments do not increase your chance of winning. This means you, ADHD).

Happy Blog Day to me! Happy Blog Day to me! Happy 100th Blog Posting. Happy Blog Day to Me!

Deuteronomy 12:7 -- There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you.

Psalm 40:16 -- But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "The LORD be exalted!"

Psalm 104:34 -- May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD.