Wednesday, November 7, 2012

A Grand Celebration!

1,000 posts!

*EDITED: I've extended the deadline for accepting comments
till midnight on Wednesday, Nov. 7th. I'm down for the count
with a terrible cold and a crazy list of things to try and get done.
I need the break :) You need the extra time to enter!


It's finally here. How crazy is this? I know, I know, I can hardly believe it myself. And I'm so excited that you've come along for the fun! Happy 1,000th posts to me. And to YOU!

Yes, you.

If you've been reading here for any length of time in recent weeks, you'll know that this post marks the celebration of YOU, my faithful readers! Today is the day YOU get to enter the big celebratory give-away for one of  three great prizes in honor of my 1,000th post. Remember, this whole celebration is about YOU! This is my way to thank YOU for coming around, again and again. Really, I can't say it enough - I am so excited and thrilled to be able to give YOU something special for being part of The Gang's little corner of the blogosphere.

To refresh your memory, here's a quick run down of the goodies I get to bestow upon three of you lucky readers...





and.....


Wild Olive


So here's how this works.  You have an opportunity to win any one of these three treasures and it's really simple!

Here's What You Can Do to Enter:
  1. You can earn one entry by leaving a comment here telling me how you came to be a reader here or by sharing your favorite things about "The Gang's All Here!" that keeps you coming back. (That helps ME by giving me good ideas for topics on which to write. Gotta keep it interesting for you all, since you've been so loyal to keep coming back!)
  2. You can earn another entry by sharing about our Wild Olive Tees fundraising OR Holiday Open House event with your friends on Facebook. Come back here and share the Facebook link in a comment. Sharing about both is greatly appreciated, but it still only counts for one entry. Thanks!
  3. You can earn another possible entry by sharing about our Wild Olive Tees fundraising OR our Holiday Open House event with your friends on your own blog. Again, sharing about both is super sweet of you to do, but it still only counts for one entry. Please come back here and share the link to the specific blog post (as opposed to your general blog url) in a comment.
  4. You can earn yet another entry by sharing about The Gang, my recipes, our adoption journey, our parenting conversations, or even a particular post that you loved on your blog (these can be additional and unrelated to our fundraising efforts). Please come back here and share the link to the specific post in a comment.
  5. I'm sorry to be the heavy, but comments on the Facebook link (via Networked Blogs) will not count. The only comments that will count will be the ones entered as comments below, here at this post. My Facebook readers will have to "click through" and comment with either a google or blogger account, etc.
So that gives you a potential of FOUR ENTRIES to this give-away. That's four chances to win any one of these three awesome gifts. I'm certain you will love any one of them.

Here's What I Will Do With The Entries:
  1. No comments will be accepted after 8 a.m. on Wednesday, November 7th. *EDITED: I've extended the deadline for accepting comments till midnight on Wednesday, Nov. 7th. I caught a bad head cold and have a MONSTER list of things to try and get done before Friday a.m. I've not figured out how to close comments yet, but I will watch the time stamps on my emails....
  2. The winners will be announced Thursday, November 8th - as long as the pending Nor'Easter doesn't interrupt power again. (Yes, sigh. It's true. Another storm is headed our way Wednesday.)
  3. In the interest of fairness, I will use random.org to pull each winner's comment by number.
  4. The first winner drawn will be given the Mary Kay certificate. The second winner will receive The  Sparrow Fund's necklace and earring set. The third winner drawn will receive the Wild Olive tees gift certificate.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me via email before you enter. (My contact info is in the sidebar to the left.)

So go. Share. Comment.
Have a ball.

And Thank YOU, again.
For coming back and reading
for the last 1,000 posts.

Here's to 1,000 more!!!!!



31 comments:

Krazy Klingers said...

I keep comin' back bc you guys are just too stinkin' lovable not to :)

Trish said...

Well, I started coming because all the gals at Christ Community said I had to once I started blogging. :)

And I stay not only because I love hearing about what is happening with your family, but because you also have lots of great insights on life and faith and raising a family.

Congrats on 1000 posts!!

Kelley said...

Come for your insight on adoption. Love your blog!

Unknown said...

Girl, what brought me here was when we met at the special needs informational night at LH. We were both there just trying to discern God's leading for our families. Amazing to look back and see how He's led us both!

Unknown said...

I'll keep sharing - but here's one link for ya'
http://www.facebook.com/TheSparrowFund/posts/487891004589627

Aus said...

Only 5 comments? Hummm...whats.up.with.that?

I think you already know full why I keep coming back - it's because ya'll are our friends - even tho we've never met. You guys have the right "heart" - we met as our family joined the extended family of folks that have adopted internationally - but we became friends because you guys just "get it". (And I love some of the recipies - even if I did dang near need surgery after thin slicing apples for that cake thing!!)

hugs - congrats on reaching 1K - and yeah - I'll be around for another K or two!

aus and co.

BumbersBumblings said...

Met you through Philly Area moms through adoption group! Congrats on 1000 posts! Hoping to win something fun!!

heidi @ ggip said...

I am not sure how I can to be a blog reader? Do you remember. It obviously was back when I had a blog! I have since hidden all my posts. I'm thinking it must have been through a meme or something. I know that for a long time we didn't realize that we lived closeby. :) Happy 1000 posts!

heidi @ ggip said...

I shared your Holiday Open house on FB. Thanks for the reminder to do so!

Terri Fisher said...

I "met" you through the Philly Adoption group on FB, and have enjoyed following your story ever since! We share a common heart for adoption, among other things! Congratulations on your 1000th post!

VikingClanEnMass said...

I love to read b/c you're my "Sis" and it keeps me up on what the family happenings are!

Amy said...

You got me hocked with adoption stuff.

Unknown said...

I love reading about your family! I miss Bridge Community Church!!

Our family said...

I found your blog thru another adoption blog but honestly don't know which one. I have enjoyed reading your blog as my heart loves the Lord Jesus and bleeds for the orphan. Mom of 8 - 4 of whom were adopted from China. Paperchasing baby boy #9.

Our family said...

Just did a cute little post about your wild olive fundraiser on my blog cause i love those tees and i love to support families who adopt!
http://www.lillymakesfive.blogspot.com/2012/11/supporting-adopting-families-is-easy.html

dedm said...

I can't really remember how I found your blog, but I think it's because you were a fellow LH family. I enjoy reading when I can find the time to sit and read blogs. (: Love you positive attitude!

Dana E.

Alison said...

Online yardsales is what brought me to your blog! I enjoy seeing your posts and reading what it's like to be raising a large family!

VikingClanEnMass said...

I shared the holiday open house on my Facebook page. Happy Shopping, peeps!

Terri & Gary said...

I found it through our common groups and have enjoyed your organizational approaches, including the chore charts!


Thanks!

Unknown said...

I love keeping up with you, one of my first friends at Messiah. I enjoy supporting your adoption and praying for your new little one.

Unknown said...

Shared on facebook! http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/ElizabethAnneStapleton

Jenn said...

I met you through the Philly Moms Adoption site. I came to the brunch at your home and you were just so inspiring as you spoke to us that day. It has been really neat seeing how God has been working in your current adoption. You have given me inspiration through times we have gone through that have been similar (I haven't shared this with you yet but I will!) Congratulations on your 1000th post!!

Promises said...

I have known you for years and once we call started to blog - how ever many years ago - I have always enjoyed reading your blog. I enjoy hearing an update about what is going on in your life and in your head! You are fun and have great ideas! :)

Natalie and Jim said...

I am going to single-handedly take responsibility for getting you to start blogging because I knew you were a natural at sharing, informing, challenging, and encouraging through writing. And 1000 posts later...I'd say I was pretty much right. CONGRATS my friend.

Cindi Campbell said...

This is short because it's the 3rd time ;) We met in real life getting our little darling's in China! Congrats on your 1000 post and new daughter~that I can't wait to see !!

jen said...

I found you through the Philly Mom's Adoption group on FB - then I found out we are neighbors - then I found out my sister used to work for your uncle - in Syracuse NY. Small world!!!

Emily said...

I started reading your blog when a lot of CCC moms started blogging. I keep coming back because you have such wisdom when it comes to parenting .... And I just love you and your family!

Emily said...

I'm not sure how to get the Facebook link from my phone, but I did share your fundraiser on my Facebook.

Joy said...

I came here because I was searching for blogs of people adopting from China. Seeing you in China with Lil. empress motivated me to get my SN checklist in the LH.

Allie, Katie and Harper's Mom said...

Hi Tracy, thank you for doing this and i pray that all the funds your needing are raised. Praise God for all he's doing in your adoption, i met you through the group i Moderate on FB... I also wanted to thank you again for helping us to bring home Harper Skye!!!

Love,

Sindy

Amy, Jeff, LM, SC, & Ashton said...

we first met at CHOP, and I loved your family's outlook! I was fortunate to re-connect with you in a different way, as fellow mom's, and have been ever since blessed. this is not an entry, just a CONGRATS on 1k posts (i seriously do not know how you find the time! can I hire you to keep mine updated? :)).... and a huge THANK YOU for being who you are -- a positive, inspiring woman who gives those of us blessed to be in your light many reasons to keep life positive and faith based! can't wait to meet the next Gang member!