Blog Anniversary

This is crazy to me: today marks 8 years of blogging. Since 2006, I've created 1,917 blog posts. (This one makes for 1,918.) That's millions of words strung together in an attempt to express thought (sometimes more coherently than others). That's 8 years of developed bloggy friendships, some who came and went. but quite a few who have stuck around and become quite dear to me. That's 8 years which included stints reviewing at 5 Minutes for Books and trips across the country to do bookish things related to the reviewing of books. That's countless reading challenges which have been both successes and failures.

Mostly, that's 8 years of learning how to think and working to correct my own bad and misapplied theology. That's 8 years of documentation showing the development of a worldview. There are plenty of embarrassing moments mixed in with some proud ones. That's 8 years of writing out convictions and questioning the way I approach life and people, not just books. Of course, books are the subject matter around here but I truly do hope the center piece has been Christ. I don't know if it is that or not, but if there is less of me and more of Him than there was 8 years ago then I think it has been worth it. This has been a very interesting ride to me.

To celebrate a bit, I'd like to host a fun, book-ish contest. It's a little outside my norm, but bear with me. Usually (always and forever) when I host a contest I simply let you leave a comment for an entry. (By the way, I never intent to change that. I like things easy and simple.) But this time I'm giving up something a little bit bigger that is coming directly from me to you and so I'd like to up the ante a bit, if you'll indulge me this once.

I would like to give away a $50 Amazon Gift Certificate to one of you dear old friends (or possibly a new one?). 

In order to enter this contest, I would like to request that you do something more than just leave a comment:

Take a picture of you with your favorite book and post it to Twitter, Facebook or on your own blog, linking back to this post here at Reading to Know. (If you have privacy concerns, I do understand that. If you can come up with a creative and/or pretty original photo of just your favorite book, that is just fine. But I would like to see YOU with your book if you are willing.)

Come back here and leave a comment on this post letting me know that you did so and leave me proof in the form of a link. (If you do this via FB you can "share" the FB status discussing this contest on your own wall and I'll see your post as proof.)

My Twitter handle is @readingtoknow (easy).

Here is the Reading to Know Facebook Page.

This contest will be open through Friday, August 8th to give you some time to choose a book and create a photo that you like! It is open to U.S. residents only. The winner will be selected using Random.org to determine the winner based on the comments left on this post.

Now, it wouldn't be fair to request a photo of you unless I agreed to share one also. Here is a picture of me with one of my favorite books, translated into Korean! This photo was taken a few months back when Jonathan and I traveled to South Korea.

I truly do appreciate those of you who read along and comment. I appreciate the questioning remarks - challenging me to think differently - as well as the encouraging, kind notes you frequently leave. To me this is not just a hobby but a way of working out my thoughts and convictions on any variety of topics and I'm just glad it's included so many wonderful people and wonderful books at the same time! I feel very blessed indeed and if I could bless another just a little in return, that would be enjoyable for me.

I hope you'll play along, spread the word about Reading to Know, and keep diving into books alongside me!

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. THE WINNER, as selected by Random.org, is #10 - Stephanie from Simple Things! Congrats!!