You know what just makes this heart go pitter-patter?
You, yep, you. My bloggy friends. You all make me smile, dear readers because I really like to blog, y’all. (Um, can you tell)? I don’t think I’d enjoy blogging much if no one was reading.
Sooooooo, I’m going to take part in something redonkulously crazy: a daily post for 2011 sponsored by WordPress. Even if it’s short & sweet. Maybe this will help me get to the point, eh?
Here’s where YOU come in:
I like to call my gabbingwithgrace readers one thing: blurkers. Y’all are the biggest blog lurkers on the interwebs! =) I have met so many people who say, “I love your blog,” & I’m all like, ‘woah, you read my blog?’ And then their all like, “yeah, I lurk.” If I had a penny for every lurker…
I decided to do a little research on my blog stats today and found out that I have 1 reader each in the following countries: The UK, Netherlands, Philippines, Kenya, Jamaica, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Indonesia and Spain. I have 2 readers in Nigeria, 6 in Canada & 440 in the US!
Now, here’s the thing, my beloved blurkers I’m longing for your comments like a little girl panders after Justin Beiber. Apparently, it\’s really important for a blog to get comments.
Perhaps, I’ve not let you know how to do it & just how easy it is.
- Whether you are reading this in a feed reader, an email message, or a syndicated blog post somewhere, click here to get to the post.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and follow the directions to add a comment.
- Type in your real 1st name -or alias- so I and others know who you are.
- Type in your real email address so I can email you privately, thanking you for de-lurking.
- Type in your blog address, or your corporate website, or maybe your Facebook page. Somewhere where I and others can click your name (your web link will be linked to your name) and read more about you.
- Type in your Twitter id, if you have one.
- Type in whatever text you want, e.g. how long you’ve been reading, where you live in the world, what you do for a living, etc. Pretend we met at a bookstore and you’re introducing yourself to the world.
- If you want to read subsequent comments of other people, you need to check the applicable box under the text box to receive emailed updates. I click this box on every blog I comment on.
So, PLEASE I’M BEGGING YOU comment today! Share something about yourself both for me and my blog readers & blurkers to enjoy.
My pledge to you? A daily post for 2011. I’d love to “see you around,” more often. Because I love y’all mugs…blurking and all.
Once I reach 50 comments, (not including my replies) I’ll randomly select a winner for a $25 Home Goods gift card! This is not a sponsored post. It’s just little old me trying to encourage my community to interact and make my little spot on the web a fun community to be in. =)
Please don’t be shy. Care to de-blurk now?
Hey Grace! What a fantabulous idea! I could TOTALLY USE a little more grace every day. I was wondering… are you taking requests for your blog topics? Because I want to read about funny things that happen when you drive. You have so many funny stories from driving… I think that would be a great topic to read about. What do ya think? huh?
Well, I know you know that I read your blog now, but I bet that you didn’t know I lurked for a long time before I ever posted a comment. I worked my way through your archives and finally caught up with your posts and then continued to lurk for quite some time. I’m glad that I finally decided to comment.
As for the other info you requested, I live in Grand Rapids, I work for the same wonderful organization you do even though it doesn’t relate at all to the degree I spent 5.5 years getting (major: Integrated Science, minor: Elementary Education, job I should have: elementary science teacher), and I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up (even though I’m 24) but I’m having a great time trying to figure it out.
Thanks for all the wonderful blogs, Grace; I’m really looking forward to reading your dailies!
Hey Grace!
Your former Manny is an avid blurker. I have you filed in my Friends and Family folder in google reader and I am a fan of your words, especially the ones about Ran Man and Dave (and Rhys, even though I don’t now him).
That’s all I really feel like saying.
Tell the fam I said Hi!
shut the noise, Nosa! I had no idea you were an avid blurker!!!! We all miss you…well, not Rhys, but you know the deal. =)
I’ve been reading your blog for maybe a year now. I love it! I’m a total blurker! I’m on staff with IV in South Carolina. I’ve seen you around all the staff conferences, chapter planting cohort, etc. You are such an encouragement to me of being a mom in ministry!! Thank you for keeping this blog!!!!
Grace,
I love your blog because it gives me a window into your world and your thoughts. I’m honored to have you as a daughter-in-law and to see how God is using you. Keep writing–you have so much to share.
Love & prayers,
Sara
& you are the BEST mother’n'law a girl could ever dream of having. I love you! =)
Well, part of my New Years “resolutions” is to be more active in the blogging community. So you’ll probably see more of me around.
Especially I’ve gotten such cool gifts just from commenting, lol! So far I’ve gotten 10 free Shutterfly photocards and I’ll soon be the owner of a cool new necklace! So it pays to comment on Grace’s blog! No, seriously…it is a great blog, (even without the gifts)…interesting, witty, thought provoking…I’m learning a lot and getting inspired and I just plain enjoy reading! I appreciate the link to that article…it gives me even more to think about as I venture further into Bloggy land. I’ll look forward to reading your daily posts!
hey, fellow blogger, IV staff and mom! I heart your blog.
Hey Grace!!!!!
You know I absolutely love your blog and writing and I look forward to blurking with you this year
Teke
I love my Hotlanta peeps! =)
I live in NW Iowa – where it’s only a few months away from Spring…
I check out your blog a few times a month – and enjoy it. But I’ve never posted a comment – so, yeah – I’m a lurker…
Dave, nice to meet you. Thanks for your introduction! Being at Western Sem I have a lot of friends from Northwest Iowa =)
Hi Grace! You invited me to your blog after I facebook-friended you after a good lil conversation at NISET last summer. I have only read a few posts but I just added you to my google reader so I’ll be keeping up! IV staff in Virginia (and a former student of Amy, who commented above.. hmm..) I also got encouraged by WordPress to blog more but I’m still deciding!
do it! Blogging is rewarding! =)
I’m Meghan. I live in Mexico (which you DIDN’T list!), and I guess I’m a missionary – I teach English to preschoolers at a Christian daycare for single mothers. I have a blog where I write about normal stuff and not so normal stuff (like living in Mexico).
Meghan, nice to meet you! My apologies for leaving out Mexico. It didn’t show up in my reader-finder! Duly noted! =) Your job sounds amazing! (Not that I could EVER work with preschoolers, but I am amazed at those who can) =) I am going to check out your blog, sounds interesting!
I’m Emily, a U of M grad who has many IV staff friends (including Lisa L and Jessica F.) I love how real you are with your posts, especially as I am adjusting to being a working mom of a squirmy 4 month old baby. Now you’ll know who this lurking NC person is.
Thanks, Emily. Nice to meet you!=)
Grace,
. Love you girl!
I love reading your blogs! I can always count on you to spread an encouraging word. Seems like I always read at the right times. Keep it up, we need wonderful people like you
Sharry
Sharry, Thank you. You are so sweet. I love you too! =)
Well, I read your blog all the time, thanks to the handy reminders I get in my inbox. I am sad we don’t get to see you guys more often, but I feel incredibly informed on your life. Keep it up Grace!!
Erin, I do a great job don’t of keeping you & every other stranger in the world very informed on our lives….it’s actually the thing Dave hates most about my blog. lol =) Let’s schedule something soon! We’d love to have you guys over or vice versa.
Hey GRACE! I get an email EVERY am….you make the 5o’clock hour at work just a lil more fun for me
Norma, Punkin, so glad I can make you & your inbox happy! =)
Ps. I live In ATL (area) I work at EMORY and I’ve blurked for like 2 yrars or something….
Yay, Norma! Thx for being a faithful blurker!
Hey Grace-
I don’t even know how I got connected with your site, but it was only about a week ago, probly something from FB. I’ve enjoyed looking around at past posts. I plan to come back regularly
Thanks, Tracy! Congrats on your recent graduation!!!!! =)
well, i saw you on MY blog so i thought i’d check you out. lo and behold your post had a challenge to come here and comment.
so here i am, although having just visited for the first time, i’m not a lurker! thanks so much for stopping by my blog and for not telling me to stop posting so many pictures of my wee child.
Liv, thanks for being a 1st time commenter on a 1st time visit! I’m trying to leave comments on every blog I visit, & reply to all my commenters. It makes investing time in my blog make much more sense —I need relationships to make me feel like it’s a worthy time investment. p.s. Keep posting pics of your baby, she’s adorable! =)
hey grace! i’m a blurker of yours
Bethy, Yay! (It was nice to see you last week chic)! =)
hi! have fun blogging every day for a year! a month was fun, but i’m nearly certain i couldn’t make it work for a year…
Serina, I changed my mind. It’s just too much!
Hi Grace! My name is Elaine. I live in Massachusetts, have two girls ages 14 and 10, and my little boy, TJ- chihuahua/corgiemix- he’s three!, and have been married to my wonderful husband for 17 years. Right now I work part time at CVS (very, very part time since my hours were cut AGAIN) and I also do care giving for the elderly. (clean house, errands, help pay bills…)I, too, have depression issues that were diagnosed two years ago. But looking back, way back, I truly believe I had it growing up. Unfortunately, a lot of people do not understand it (husbands, friends, relatives, even wives of the men who have it…) so it’s nice to know you are not alone and are able to reach out and talk about it. Now if I can only get off my butt and walk more to start getting this weight off…
I love reading your blog and am sorry that I don’t comment more. I usually sneak into the office and have just enough time to read before the little ones find me. It’s great to see all of these readers.
I forgive you, TS! =)
Girl, you know I’m a blurker/stalker lol. Your blogs are so encouraging. You’re like the big sister I never had! It really is awesome to hear a fellow IV staff worker share their experiences as well. Keep doin what you do!
Eva, I love it! Your the little sister I’ve never had! =) (you keep it up too, aight?)
hey girl! I found this after commenting on today’s blog that I’m a lurker – and now know that I’m a “blurker” LOL So, HOW can i get a daily inbox reminder??? Honestly, I’m so NOT tech savvy and am just learning my way around FB and now “trying” to figure out my new smartphone
I’ve been avoiding the blogosphere for a long time just b/c it can eat up my time….but whenever I see your posts, I either laugh, shake my head in agreement, am encouraged about bi-racial/inter-racial children/marriages. I’m very thankful that you have the courage and the words to say the things that I don’t know how to put into words or wouldn’t dare say outloud to more than 1-2 people 
Mostly, I just love reading about how you see the world and you give me great hope and encouragement for my own beautiful bi-racial daughters! Love you!
Sharon, go up to the feedburner logo (a little flame) & put in your email address & hit enter and WALAH! It will send you an email not every day, but every time I post. I was on a similar journey like you trying to figure all this out & smartphones and all that…it was just 4 years ago. lol. =) Be patient, you’ll get it. Anyway, thanks for your encouragememnt. Blogging is super fun to do! Love you too!
Grace – I love how much cleaner you blog looks. You did a great job with the redesign!
Hi Grace, I clicked over to your blog just about a month ago, on recommendation from a friend, and have really enjoyed poking around and reading your posts on various topics. I’m also a mommy of 2, and our family just made the move from vocational ministry to living out the gospel in ‘regular’ jobs. We also made the move from living smack dab in the middle of urban grittiness to middle american car driving, house living life… because God moved us on- so we are still sort of finding our place in this new season.
I find myself taking the time to read a few posts on your blog whenever I come over to read just one- so glad I found your blog
I’m just reading this for the first time and I was trying to figure out why. It’s probably because I was going to give birth the very next day. HAHA (And so I was still packing my hospital bag). HAHA
hahahaaha, Michelle. you are REAL LATE!!!!!