July 12, 2014

That Thing I Do Now - Vol 52 ya'll! (You know there's a Giveaway!)

Welcome to VOLUME 52 of


"That Thing I Do Now"
A Gathering of Awesome...

In other words:
Happy Anniversary!

I can't believe we have been doing this, every weekend, for a year already! (Over a year, actually - because it took me a few weeks to commit to it being a 'Thing' - thus, the name!)


Happy Reading!


Enjoy! (Ya'll know to click on the authors' names to read their whole posts, yes?)

* This one by Jennifer Lee on How to Remember God...
"Well, when the doctor sewed up the wound in ER, it was in the shape of a Y. I thought… of course. Y for Yahweh.

It moved me to tears.


It felt as if Yahweh had marked me with His initial after blessing me with the miracle of getting out of that crash alive and whole. I declined plastic surgery to remove the scar. I wanted to keep my Y.


Sadly, the Y scar has faded over time.


But I still see Ys everywhere — hope finding me right where I am."



* This one (referenced above in Jennifers' post) by Emily Freeman over at Incourage on The Simplest Way to Remember Hope...
"So we pick up rocks to lay down burdens, collect the feathers so hope will fly. We hold on to the gifts we find in the simple stuff of earth, the gifts that help us to see, to wonder, and to celebrate our smallness again.


Maybe today is the day for you to begin to see again, to choose what you’ll look for among natural things to help remind you of supernatural hope."



This post by Shannan Martin over at Flower Patch Farmgirl on How To Be Free...
"If I know anything at all, it's that the shortest routes to relationships are carved when everyone takes two giant steps past the fences of their comfort and toward each other. It has been worth it every time." 


* This post by my friend Kelli Woodford over at She Loves Magazine with Rebirth in the Psych Ward...
"Tyrone’s jaw eased up a little. He unclenched his hands, but kept his eyes on the floor.

“And I know that you have a gentleness about you. I know that you will consider her pain and her needs. I told her that. I told her you would be safe …”


Jason’s words trailed off when he saw Tyrone’s wide-eyed stare. Amazement crept into those dark eyes, followed by a new tenacity. Something very close to a rebirth. Not a word was spoken about the inner workings of such transformation, but confessions pooled again, all the same. This time, they were the silent type.


After a moment, Tyrone spoke in a softer voice, “Yeah … I will look out for her.”"



* This post by Randy Alcorn over at A Holy Experience about how How To Plan Neglect: Saying No to Good Things So We Can Say Yes to the Best...
"But if I’m booked so tight there’s no room in my schedule for unanticipated God moments, I’ll miss them, and thereby miss some of life’s greatest joys and opportunities and occasions for gratitude.

If you don’t give yourself room to breathe, you won’t give God room to move.


Instead of exhausting ourselves doing many secondary things, may we do a few primary things well."



* This post by Shannan Martin (what? Her name sounds familiar? Whatever... just read it! You'll see!) over at Incourage with These Are the Glory Days...
"I remember the other nine, but my three chosen ones or, rather, the three that chose me, are stitched in and through me, clean intersections and whirling, dizzying loops.

I was made for summer.


I’m still the little girl slipping down the soapy length of plastic salvaged on a lark from the hay mow. I am angel food cake with strawberries in a Styrofoam bowl. I’m stacks of library books in a plastic lounger under the tall oak, a bowl of cherries at my fingertips. I’m corn fields and sun-tan oil. An eager garden weeder. I’m fireflies at dusk.



* This one by my sweet friend Ashley Larkin with The wonder of new eyes and ears...
"Writing is my way of saying yes,
I have seen and heard wonder today,
and I saw it yesterday, too,
and with hope, tomorrow I’ll see more..."

* This post by Winn Collier on Troubadors...
"A woman with the courage to hold her ground and a woman with the courage to ring, ring those bells. We’re all in different places, we’re all learning to trust what we have to give."

* This one right HERE where I take a turn at poetry...
"I'm thankful for the Birds chirping, the Cat purring,
and even the low hum of traffic, down the road.

It's all keeping time,

like a metronome of blessings,
waking me to the Rhythm of an
Unplanned Summer Day."


And of course... the video... because that's how we wrap up this Thing... I was going to do something funny - or a Happy Anniversary video... but then I ran into this and, well - just So Much Yes!!! You can read behind the scenes here... (I loved Colbie before but now... gah! Adore!)


I know, right? LOVE!                                   

Lastly, in celebration of our One Year Anniversary... you know I just had to do a Giveaway (or four) and it's no stretch of the imagination that the Giveaway simply MUST include Books and Coffee!

So enter below to win. We are celebrating with (2) Amazon $25 Gift Cards, and (2) Starbucks $10 Gift Cards. There are several ways to enter and the winners will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here next week!


Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Thanks so much for celebrating with me and for coming around and hanging out over the past year!  There really IS just so much Awesome to be found across the Interwebs and I am a girl who LOVES LOVES LOVES Community and Gathering together!  

So here's to another year of hooking you up with all kinds of Awesome!



28 comments :

  1. Hmm I love reading Angie Smith's words... and always Emily Freeman's!

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    1. Amen Kaitlyn! Somehow I don't think I have featured Angie Smith very often in this past year but I love everything I read by her as well! (Better go make sure I am subscribed to her blog... surely that is my mistake!)

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  2. Love the Colbie Caillat video! I stopped wearing makeup a few years ago (and I never have had the patience for any hairstyle that required curling, straightening, or product) and haven't looked back. Do it for fun or because *you* want to, but never because you think you *have* to! <3

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    1. So much Amen SJ! I got into modeling when I was a preteen, just starting to wear make-up... I am sad to say that there have only been a handful of days that I have gone without it since. I feel 'naked' without it but I am trying on brave and making sure I am not a slave to it! LOVE that you have stepped into such freedom and beauty! (The funny thing is how much we think makeup and all those beauty rituals make a dramatic improvement and mostly - they really don't! I will try to remind myself of that when I feel like I need to get 'ready' before running errands or going out!)

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  3. Happy Anniversary- yeah such a good idea and giveaways are always great ideas too.:)

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    1. Every day is worth celebrating... but we can't just let these Anniversaries pass by without a little extra fun, right? Glad you stopped by Katie!

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  4. It's just like you to be so sweet and generous with all the wonderful things that are books and coffee! Bless your heart. I think we have so any favourite friends in common when it comes to reading. You know I love LJB and Momastary like you. Love Holly and Amy and Dana and Jenn P from the FMF crew. Have you ever visited Amy Ward? (http://www.amydward.com/) or Casey Prince? (http://caseywillardprince.snappages.com/home.htm) both bloggers I enjoy. Happy anniversary friend! Love you and your encouraging heart!

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    1. Aw - and you know you can buy TEA at Starbucks too! ;) We DO love the same people... I have been to Casey's place I know... but I'm not sure about Amy's! I will be sure to check them out! Thanks for sharing! (Oh - and I love you right back!)

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  5. Anonymous7:32 PM

    Great picks this week! I have a new favorite singer-Colbie Callat-that is some kind of awesome. All of your other choices are wonderful too! Happy Anniversary!

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    1. Mary - I just adore her... I loved her already and her music is so much easy and summer and happy love songs that I was excited for her new album anyway! But then I saw this video and read that piece and oh my goodness! She's amazing! Thanks so much for popping in to celebrate with me!

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  6. Hooray for celebrations! Books & coffee are always a great way to celebrate.

    My favorites are probably some of yours too - Emily Freeman, Holly Barrett, Meredith Bernard. I also love Leslie at http://www.surseegal.com. Such wisdom. She is a friend of Heather's from the God-Centered Mom podcast.

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    1. LeeAnn - Amen to that! Books and Coffee are ALWAYS cause for celebration! Oh wait? ;) I love Emily and Holly and am new to Meredith but am enjoying getting to know her as well! I will check out Leslie too! Thanks for the tips! So glad you stopped by to help celebrate!

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  7. So many bloggers and writers have touched my heart. To name a few, I really love Kimberly Ann Coyle, Bonnie Gray, Christine Hoover, Rebekah Ellis, and this is my first time visiting you, but not my last. I love this wonderful gathering.

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    1. Kelly, I am so glad you stopped by! I adore Kimberly... and Rebekah... and I am new to Bonnie Gray and will be sure to check out Christine Hoover too! Thanks so much for giving me some new names to read! So glad you stopped in to help celebrate with me!

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  8. I follow so many wonderful bloggers, I can't possibly keep up with them. To name just a few: Rebekah at A Soft Gentle Voice; Chris Malkemes, Jolene Underwood, Rebekah Ellis, Alia Joy oh there are really too many!

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    1. Oh Barbie... I know! But I love finding people I don't know... of course we know and love many of the same writers! I think there is only one I don't know that you mentioned so I look forward to finding Chris and reading soon!

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  9. Kelly Wiggains is one of my favs! http://www.kellywiggains.com/

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by Elizabeth! I don't know that I have been over to Kelly's! (Thanks for the link! I will check her out!)

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  10. Happy 1st Blogging Anniversary! I usually don't have time to visit blogs. One of my friends has a blog and I think he is a gifted writer: http://thefreerange.net/ . However, he doesn't blog regularly.

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    1. Thanks so much! Thanks for stopping by... I know life is busy and the internet is full of great things (besides blogs!) I will go check our your friend at The Free Range! Thanks for the tip!

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  11. Happy One year!! Yea!! So glad we are friends. I am always blessed by you and your beautiful words.

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    1. Right back at ya, Jennifer! (Praying for your girlie today!)

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  12. Books! Coffee! Happy blogiversary! I love reading your words!

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    1. Thanks so much my friend! I know right? Who doesn't love Books and Coffee? What better way to celebrate, well - anything?

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  13. You bless me big, all the time. I'd love to win this giveaway! What a fun way to celebrate! xoxo (And I subscribed to YOUR blog...how had I not done this before now?! Thanks for the nudge, Rafflecopter.)

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    1. I love you girlie! Just read your blog and I am doing all kinds of happy dances and can't wait to hear more about this new Brave-stepping-into-you open door!

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  14. Happy anniversary Karrilee!! Love following you --- also enjoy reading Crystal Stine and Holley Gerth, of course, Ann Voskamp, LisaJo Baker too. I still feel like I'm new to this arena, so I'm taking suggestions from the previous comments on who to check out! :) Blessings on your continued ministry!

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    1. Yay - I love that you are stopping by and that (no surprise!) we love all the same people!!! I am planning on checking out the above suggestions too! There are a few I had never read so that is always fun! xoxo

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Thanks so much for stopping by! I always love to hear your thoughts! Remember to: Speak Life - Be Love - Shine On!
~Karrilee~

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