This post marks my one thousandth blog post. I’ve written 1,000 posts! Is that crazy?
1,000 posts.
5,563 comments.
4,000+ visitors a day {yesterday hit 5,000! thank you pinterest}.
3 URL’s.
6 blog makeovers.
4 different blog titles.
8.20.07 … my first post titled australia {on my iweb blog!} and here I am today … over four years later … writing my one thousandth post!
I’d also like to take a minute to give a shout out to the 246 posts {yeah, I counted them} I wrote while owner of Broadway Paper. And I may have had to wipe away a few tears after reading this post. And this one. It literally seems like an eternity ago.
Anyway. Back to the present post. Have you heard? It’s number one thousand!!
In other related {celebratory} news … today’s my birthday!!!
I knew this {1,000th} post would coincide with my birthday and I’ve thought long and hard about what I could do to celebrate here with you. I think what I’ve decided on will bless big! At least that’s my prayer!
The girls and I won’t be doing our RACK’ed activity this year … pretty much cuz we won’t be here through Christmas, but also because I’m trying hard to focus my {physical and emotional} energy on the girls and our family.
What we’re doing instead are small blessings throughout the season. We’ve rung Salvation Army bells {people can never resist the kids!}; Operation Christmas Child; we’ll be donating many of the girls toys; the girls are each sponsoring a new Compassion child; I’m doing some anonymous giving; and we’ll be packing and donating lunches to an organization our church is involved in. Basically just keeping an eye open for where we can help out.
There’s one other thing I wanted to do this year to bless others, but I just couldn’t get it together … mostly, I wasn’t sure how to get it together. Someone emailed us at MODsquad last year, sharing how they put an ad on Craigslist. The ad was something to the effect of asking for someone’s need and then filling it. I couldn’t find the email anywhere and my obsessive mind got all caught up in the specifics/logistics and well … I just haven’t put it out there.
But! What I did decide for this grand celebration of mine? I’d like to bless three people this Christmas season. It could be you or someone you know. Someone that is really in need. That can’t afford to buy their children gifts, food, electricity bills. A real need.
Do you know someone? Is it you? Please leave a comment, or if it’s too personal, contact me through an email or the contact link at the top of the page.
The girls and I will go through all the requests {names will remain anonymous to them} and we’ll pick three needs that we’d like to help fill. One thousand is the lucky number, because that’s how much we’ll be spending per need! I won’t be sending cash/check … so please make it something tangible … I can call the electric company, or I can send gift cards, etc.
Make sure to have your requests to me by next week Wednesday, December 7th. I won’t be announcing any “winners,” but I’ll contact you via email {please be sure to leave a working email address}. If I email you and don’t hear back by Friday, December 9, we’ll choose another recipient.
I love blessing others and I’m looking forward to this giving project!
Thank you dear readers … I love connecting with you … I’m encouraged by your kind words, your support and your open hearts. You’ve blessed me here in more ways than you know!
Dear Tracie: What a true Angel you are. There is great joy in doing ‘Angel work’ in disguise. My prayer is that this will be your most ‘special day’, ever. Be blessed, in His precious name. I am so very proud of you, and your family.
Hey congrats on the 1,000! and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Hope the day is good to you.
Best of luck with the giving project, I’m sure there are many deserving recipients out there at the moment.
Just clicked over to have a look at the ‘Australia’ post and had to laugh – it’s raining in Melbourne today too :)
I haven’t ever commented but I wanted to wish you Happy Birthday and say congratulations on 1000 posts! You bless so many of us every time you post. I love following your blog and thank you for sharing so much of your heart. Wishing you many blessings, peace, and joy through this Christmas season.
Happy Birthday!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! And congratulations on the 1,000 post, what a nice way to celebrate.
Congratulations! Happy Birthday! It has been a blessing to read your posts. What a journey you have shared with us from post 1 through 1000. And, I know your many readers/friends will be able to pass on numerous names of families in need. Peace and joy to you and your precious girls!
Happy Birthday Tracie! What a wonderful way to celebrate!!!!
happy birthday :) i love you!
and here you go again, making me all teary eyes. when God made you, He crafted the most beautiful heart. truly. i love the way you give… that you are called, and you follow through. and your heart just reaches out and creates more beauty. in your girls, in your neighborhood, and beyond.
1,000 posts? wowwww!!!!
i will have to track back and read those that you’ve linked to.
your writing touches my heart.
did i say it already?
i love you.
happy birthday, dear friend!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! Hope your day is fabulous!!! Congrats on your 1000th post! Wow!! That is amazing but then you are AMAZING my friend!!! Big hugs to you on your big day!! xoxo!!!
Happy Birthday again Tracie! You are one of the kindest people in this world and what you are doing is just amazing. No it is AMAZING!! Cangratualtions on your 1000th post! that is so awesome :)
Happy Birthday to you! Hope you have an amazing day with the girls! I love this idea and congrats on your 1000th post! So amazing!
Happy Birthday to my Beautiful Friend!!!! Congrats on your 1000th post and wishing you only happiness on this blessed day, for it was the day you were born!!!!!!!! You and the girls are such angels, I know that people will be blessed this year with your thoughtfulness! You guys are awesome! Happy Birthday!!!!!
Happy Birthday! My daughter inspires me daily to strive to be a better person, and I follow her blogs. She has shared your blogs with me also and I’m so thankful she has as you also inspire me. Thank you for being the kind person you are! <3
Happy Birthday dear friend!! I hope you have a day filled with as much joy and as many blessings as you bring to everyone around you. The best is yet to come! Cheers!
Happy Birthday and happy 1000!!!! Oh girl, you are such a blessing. I have tears rolling down.
Praying God blesses and blesses you.
Happy Birthday Tracie! Celebrate your 1000th post…but most importantly…celebrate YOUR day…you so deserve it and we’ve all been blessed by what you bring to this world!!!
Happiest of birthdays to you Tracie. AND…congratulations on your 1,000th post! Your blog is inspiring, informative, compassionate, loving and a joy to read. Thank you for sharing your love with all of us.
Happy Birthday Tracie and congratulations of your 1,000th blog posting. Wishing and knowing that your special day will be filled with joy, laughter, love, and happiness. Your strong faith and generous spirit are truly a gift and I thank you for sharing that gift with us.
1st things 1st… HaPpY bIrThDaY tO yOuUuUuU! :). I’m going to be emailing you with regards to someone I know in nEed this holiday season… What a true blessing you are to everyone who knows you! {Hugs}
Happy Birthday! Thanks for blessing us with all of your posts! You’ll never know how much your words have touched me and others this side of Heaven, but God does! :)
Awesome :)
Happy Birthday Tracie! What an incredible accomplishment…1,000 posts…that in itself could be a book. So many pieces of your heart in each of them…revealing the truest of spirit albeit good or bad you share it. I believe that is what makes you so special…your ability to touch so many with your thoughts…touching the heart of us…speaking the words we feel but don’t know how to express. The journey with you has been amazing, opening my eyes to things I would have never seen and eagerly await each post with anticipation to what I might learn. THANK YOU for sharing you…and your gift of touching others~love and miss you my friend!
I came back to your site to get the download for the RACK cards . . . and read your post, so I had to say happy birthday – because it’s MY birthday, too!! Hooray for us :) I saw your idea on Pinterest, but I have to say, I love reading your posts!! Christmas blessings to you & your sweet family!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRACIE!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t even begin to tell you how much of a inspiration your posts have meant to me. I love you to the moon and back! I think that what you are doing for the 1,000th blog post is so inspiring and wonderful. I hope your birthday is blessed and filled with love and happiness. Your awesome!
Happy Birthday Tracie! You are blessed in so many ways. May the Lord be with you today and always. Congratulations on your blog posts!!! AWESOME
You are the most amazing, giving, wonderful person! I wish you the happiest of birthdays. Keep your eye on your doorstep as I think your gift will be delivered today. Hopefully it will bring a smile to your sweet face :-)
I popped over to the Broadway Paper posts you linked to and found this…
southern daze said…
I have tears in my eyes right now – both for you selling your store (which must be VERY hard to do) and because you’re doing this to be there for your family. What an amazing mother you are!! My step-daughter is currently in the 8th grade and I know first-hand how challenging a time that is for them. Having you home will most certainly make a difference for her.
Thank you for sharing this bittersweet news with us and in such a personal way. Although I’ll never have the pleasure of meeting you in person, I feel like I know you through your blogs. Hopefully you’ll keep us up to date on the next chapter in your life.
If I lived closer to Wisconsin, you can bet I’d be doing everything in my power to purchase your “baby.” While that isn’t an option for me now, I just know you’ll find the perfect person.
I wish you the best of luck!
How wonderful to see just how wrong I was. Not only have I had the pleasure of meeting you in person, I’m blessed to call you one of my very best friends!!! Huge hugs to you today. I know you have a lot swirling around you today but PLEASE celebrate. Birthdays are special & you deserved some celebratory time with your girlies :-)
Love you!
I had to come out of hiding/just-reading-never-commenting/one-could-call-it-stalking to say CONGRATS on 1000 posts! And since I was there for all 246 BWP posts, Happy 1,246! :P And Happiest of B-days! What an amazing way to celebrate both events, with such an amazing give-away! I am praying over the families you bless! Enjoy your day, Miss TSJ!
Birthday Blessings To You!
Happy Birthday and Congratulations on 1000 posts!!
Happy Birthday and congrats on 1000 posts!!
I saw your post about RACK’ed on my cousins facebook and was instintly drawn to the idea of doing random acts of kindness. So many people forget what the real meaning of Christmas is and for you to do it and show your girls is amazing. I love the new idea for this year. This day in age we do not see many unselfish people and it is so nice to find a person who is so giving. I will be “stealing” your idea of RACK this year and will be doing with my sisters and hopefully with my children one day. Thank you for your generosity and kindness and I wish you and your family nother but the best for this holiday season. Merry Christmas!
Aah, my friend . . . you are a treasure. Congratulations on the milestone (you need to +1 to your total . . . you guest blogged on mine when your site was being remodeled, remember!?) and happy, blessed birthday. I was so giddy to read your announcement today — and was both surprised and NOT surprised . . . because this is exactly the sort of thing that you do! <3 Your kind, gentle and generous spirit shines through once again! Love you so, so much.
Congratulations! A thousand posts is definately a milestone!
I do have a family in mind. There is a family here in town who is in a hard way. The father has been unemployed for several years. The mother has a chronic deadly heart disease that could kill her at any time. They have 2 children who are homeschooled and with the illness and unemployment they haven’t been able to travel much or do much. I think a vacation weekend even – something like Great wolf Lodge, or Disneyland, would be amazing for them and make amazing memories. Just a thought…
Happy Birthday!!! And congrats on 1,000 posts. I just LOVE how each of us here writes to you like a personal friend…it’s SO wonderful and such a tribute to YOU!
I have followed many blogs, since way back in 2006, and I can honestly say that I have never ever read someone like you – your heart is in the right place, your allegiance to God is all over what you write and who you are. That’s remarkable.
I am so glad you are able to get out of dodge and go away for Christmas – I was thinking about this holiday season and how it would affect you – so glad you have a great option. Now that’s a charity to start one day – a place for women and their kids to go heal during hard holidays, find some fellowship and peace. I’ll put that one on my list to start one day!
I know you will find three amazing people to bless – and that it will be a joy for your kids to help choose them! I will think about the people in my life, on and offline, and let you know if anyone comes to mind.
I hope you have a special birthday celebration with your girls today Tracie! Congratulations on your 1000th post too! I moved from Hudson, WI to the East coast early this year due to a new job for my husband. I can definitely relate to the adjustment it takes. It was hard on my oldest and hard on me. I wasn’t expecting it to be so hard because I had moved many times prior to having kids. 9 months later we are finally settling in and I found your website when someone in my Mom’s club shared your RACK ideas with the club. I’m praying that you and your girls will continue to find peace, joy and comfort in your new home. You have God on your side and in your heart, so I know you will be okay! Happy Birthday from a new friend!
Happy birthday, Tracie!! Also, congratulations on your 1000th post. What an amazing accomplishment!
You have such a precious, kind, and giving heart. What a blessing you and your girls will be this CHRISTmas season!
Happy Birthday!! Much love from me & “your man reader” (although I’m thinking there must be at least one other hidden in those 5,000 visitors.) Happy Birthday – a thousand times over!
tracie…. you’ve blessed me in more ways than you could know. wish i could be with you. i’m thinking about you all the time. God’s peace, be with you.
Happy 29th Birthday Tracie ;) and a huge congrats on your 1000th blog post! What an accomplishment in itself…and on such a special day :) Thank YOU for your inspiration to others this CHRISTmas season and throughout the year. The world is BRIGHTER because of YOU! And THANK YOU for remembering the REASON for the SEASON…and teaching it to your daughters. You are creating a living legacy through Him in them. And that, is the greatest gift you can give as a parent. Miss you dear friend and love you lots – muah!!! xoxo
I’ve only found your blog a few days ago and love it already. It amazes me how generous and kind you are to people, we need more of YOU in this world. So glad your taking the time to be wtih your family this season and slow down. This is my plan too. Thanks for inspiring me and making my December so MERRY AND BRIGHT ALREADY!!
Happy Birthday and Congrats on your 1,000 post, so awesome.
Here is a link to someone in need…..
http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/als-may-take-man-s-life-but-not-his-smile/article_7ef786fa-13f3-11e1-a89d-001cc4c002e0.html
Thank you for being so generous and helping those in need.
oh dear friend, i love you more each day……what a beautiful heart you have, a beautiful love for the Lord and your family. i thought of you so often today hoping you were having a wonderful day- just now got to read your post~ you are blessing us all by your writing and sharing your generous heart! sleep in peace and wake in joy! love you SO much!!xxoo
Happy Happy Birthday Tracie! YOU are such a blessing & I love YOU and your blog!
I strive to honor GOD each day and I can see that YOU do as well. Bless your family this Christmas season!
I know you will find wonderful deserving families to grace with your kindness. While I am so lucky that my family has all we need financially, I would ask you pray for peace for my daughter. Our family has been through a very difficult divorce the last year and the greatest casualty has been my daughter’s relationship with her dad. Although I can give her every gift under the sun this Christmas, what she truly needs is peace in her heart and I am hoping and praying that it will come soon for her.
I’m a day late, but hope your birthday was a super happy one and a big congrats on all that writing! Whew!
First off I hope you had a great Birthday Tracie!! I like reading you blog, but sometimes I’m a little slow at keeping up, haha. I know, well I don’t know her on a personal level, someone that needs help. I went to Middle/grade school with her-she was a few grades above me, but our school was small so we all knew eachother. She has a little family now, and I am facebook friends with her… The other day she wrote. “I feel so shameful for asking but I’m at a point right now where I need to. Can I borrow from anyone just for a couple weeks? I can wrote postdated checks for you. I am too afraid to take out a loan bc of interest but I don’t have money for gas right now. I’m so sorry for making this public but I am admitting I need help for once. My mom is broke and my dad won’t help. Thank you to anyone who can help. I’m so close to being outta this hole”
I see her at church, she’s alwasys smiling and happy to be there. She needs help paying for gass. Her FB post is hard to follow a little, but i think she was nervous. But she has two kids, a newborn and a 3 year old and then her husbands kid as well who is also young. But yea, i thought id through that out there =]
I hope you guys are all doing so well, we miss you all and hope you have a great christmas! <3
Did you choose your 3 families yet? I ran into a random lady today that I was able to give a “random kindness” but her story touched me and I would love to share it with you. Let me know and I’ll email it to you if it’s not too late.
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Loved your idea of RACKed from last year that we are doing it this year. Congratulations on your 1,000th post and hope you had an incredible, fun-filled, blessed birthday.
Wow.1000! That’s awesome!!! What a blessing you are!! There is a couple that I work with with a small family. They’re doing the best they can, but it seems to never be enough. They have 3 kids. (2 girls, and 1 boy ages from like 3-5..I think.) They’re Christmas is going to be very small this year, and I just think it’d be a big blessing for them to wake up Christmas morning with toys and clothes to open, and I would love for them to have Bibles! I think whoever wins the giveaway would receive a major blessing. There is so much need around that it’s hard to help everyone. Thank you for being so kind. and I love your RACK idea!! My Sunday School class is doing it this year. Yall are fabulous. Keep up the great work! To God be the glory!! :)
Tracie – Happy Belated Birthday! You are such an inspiration!! There are days I miss reading your blog but when I finally get back to it catching up is such a wonderful experience. Congratulations on your 1000 posts!! Have you ever thought about doing motivational speaking? I’d certainly be first in line to register :) God Bless.
Hi Tracie,
First Happy Belated Birthday and Second Congrats on the 1000 post! That AMAZING!
Third I just want to say what an amazing Blessing this is going to be so someone that you would do that! Praise God!
I have two friend very good friends of my that I’m thinking of one is a single mom that lost her job Feb. 2011 and has looked and looked and looked and still nothing her unemployment is coming to and end in Feb. Her daugther has ADHD and she is so amazing with her. She just recently accepted Christ as her Saviour! Praise God! As I’ve gotten to know her more and more I’ve just come to see how truly amazing she is. Her and I are doing the RACK’ed with our girls and though she doesn’t have much money at all enough to pay her bills she is such a giver. She knows the Lord will take care of her! She helps at the school with the mentally challenged kids and she is sooo good with them! She said that because she lost her job she can see how God was working in it all she would have never accepted Christ or meet all the amazing people or do the things she has done had it not been for that!
The second friend is a now single mom of 6 kiddo her husband is a Pastor and has decided to divorce her. It’s been a longggg processes in court and is still not over. He is trying to get full custody of all the kids. When they started having kids they had decided she would be a stay at home mom so she hasn’t worked in 8 years. She’s a good mom but it breaks my heart to see her hurting like this and now worring that the man she loves is not only divorcing her but trying to take her babies away from her. These are just two women that have been on my heart this Holiday season two very special women and I’m always amazing to see how God is working in their lives and I’m truly Blessed by them to see how they are just trusting God and their Faith is so strong in these very difficult times.
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Bobbie Colvin
bobbiecolvin@charter.net
bobbijaysoncolvin@gmail.com