It’s a blog party and you’re invited! I’m celebrating the birth of this blog and over 50,000 views in less than a year. I’m celebrating 312 posts, 2,289 comments, 65 categories, 674 tags, and 533 followers! Most of all I’m celebrating writing and communicating with people through the medium of a blog, and I’m celebrating you, the reader, for being willing to read, give feedback, email encouragement and be a part of this process.
In honor of the celebration (besides the mandatory Proseco that I am committed to) I am giving away three books. But to get these books I ask for something in return….
I am inviting you to do one of two things:
- Comment on this post giving the title of your favorite post, perhaps a reason why it’s a favorite and suggestions for future posts…..or
- Invite someone to read Communicating Across Boundaries who you think would enjoy the blog. Make sure they comment and let me know that you recommended the blog. If you choose this way to participate, here are some of my favorite posts that you may want to recommend – A Sun Dial and a Swiss Watch – The Story of a Relationship; Learning to Speak Coffee; Meet me at Terminal E and Hookah Hypocrisy.
I will put the names of those who take part into a hat and randomly select three. Those three people will have their choice of one of the books I love and have talked about on this blog.
Here are the books you can choose from:
Please join in the fun. No one wants to party alone so if no one participates I will cry myself to sleep on my wee pillow!
(Notice that Digging to America and The Day the Chicken Cackled are missing from the photograph. They are on loan to friends!)
Marilyn R. Gardner 
Marilyn
It’s really hard to pick a favorite but there is one that you posted in February that I still think about. The title is Caution: falling ice.
Keep up the good work!!
Joan
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Hello Marilyn. :) I am new to your blog, so there are many posts I have yet to read. Nevertheless, my favorite so far was ‘Angels from the Rooftop – A Christmas Story from Pakistan’. I remember meeting your mom a couple times as a child and thinking that it was interesting she had chosen to live in such a far away place. To me, Pakistan was a foreign, unknown place and I thought of your family’s journey as only adventure. As an adult, I am able to better appreciate the complexity of your mom’s experiences and emotions. This post literally brought me to tears. What a beautiful gift God gave to your family that night through the singing of carols and the kindness of friends. Love it. Your writing is such a gift, Marilyn.
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Happy Blog Birthday! My favorite must have been Hookah Hypocrisy. It made me chuckle because as I was reading I was thinking about the Hookah brought back from Egypt by a certain son, stored in a closet upstairs. Every time I open that closet door, I look at that strangely pretty contraption and have to laugh. Me — with a hookah in the closet. Who would have thought! :)
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I love this story! I can’t wait until you reveal it at a Mennonite potluck dinner! They are pretty and it says wonderful things about you that your son chose to bring that home as a gift.
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Dear Aunt Marilyn,
I love your blog, and one of my favorite posts is “a new kind of mommy blog.” Thanks for writing.
Love, Christi-Lynn
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I had forgotten about that one! I’m so glad you liked it and I’m SO happy that you’re reading.
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Good post… Just killing some time rubbaging around and found your page. Great looking blog. I’ll have to add the page to come back and see what’s new. Cheers
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I’ve only been reading for a short while, but my favorite so far has been “I’m not a tourist, I live here!” After all the comments about the coffee post, I’m going to go and read that one next! Amy
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Amy – thanks for beginning to read! Always encouraging. Take a look at Learning to Speak Coffee – I think it will resonate with you! So great to connect and thanks again for the messy middle. I think about it all the time!
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Congratulations! Reading your blog has become a light in every day for me, so choosing a favorite is difficult. What I most love are the images you share across cultures, whether it be a cross-cultural marriage in Sun Dial/Switch Watch (one of my favorites) or your memorable impressions of Pakistan and Egypt. “Angels from the Rooftop – A Christmas Story from Pakistan” particularly touched my heart, and your words and your Mom’s drew such vivid pictures that I could almost feel myself there. What a gift.
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You ask such hard questions Marilyn, I can’t choose a post, i enjoy reading all your posts, because they always set me off thinking. I like the thoughts that your posts inspire. I began reading a few blogs when I began mine, but yours is the only one I have continued reading and you are the only blogger I have connected with on many different levels. Proud to call you friend. Past two days have been hectic so I think i missed your deadline. But oh well, it is still fun to come to the party :).
I know that your blog will go from strength to strength as will you. I will not be surprised to find books by you in bookstores in a year or two from now. I know I will read them and I am certain that you have way more than a couple of books in you.
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Pari – good news! you haven’t missed the deadline at all- I’m having people post from now until next Tuesday – You have been a tremendous encouragement and a huge gift for me in this journey. I could say more but will save it. I still dream of a trip to India with you!
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ok what time does this party start? and no I want the carrot cake you wrote about… will wait for the courier. I am no good at understanding US time zones so please tell me GMT I am GMT+3
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Each blog is valuable, thought-provoking and entertaining. In retrospect, the post about “Chocolate Jesus” was very valuable since it invited to an indepth reflection. CONGRATULATION!
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You bring up a great point- that of connecting others to the post. I have really appreciated the input you give, not only to me but to others who comment. Thank you! And thanks for coming to the party!
Sent from my iPhone
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ok one question will there be cake?
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Virtual bloggy cake!!
Sent from my iPhone
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I have loved reading your articles. The one I loved best was the one about the lady for whom you fetched the shoes and the picture of her bathed in light – the “holy moments” one!
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Oh Wilma- that’s the one that got me started! That is my signature post! Thank you for reading and encouraging.
Sent from my iPhone
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Great job Marilyn! It’s a treat to read your stories – so well written painting wonderful pictures, bringing back many memories, laughter and tears. Mubarak!
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My favourite was certainly Learning to Speak Coffee… although there have been many favourites since then!
But if you need to cry…go ahead… after all, “It’s your party and you can cry if you want to, cry if you want to, cry if you want to….”
Congratulations! You’ve done it! —and you’ve done it wonderfully well!
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Ha! Thank you Robynn. And two of my favorites are Bright Pink Razais and Taper,trim and snip!
Sent from my iPhone
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Congratulations Marilyn! Please don’t ask me to give my favorite…every single blog has resonated with me. Your insights and ability to pen them creatively reaches into our hearts and minds with freshness. Thank you.
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Bettie- your encouragement has meant the world to me. From insightful comments to emails to Facebook likes you have spurred me on! Thank you!
Sent from my iPhone
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Hi Marilyn, thanks so much for your posts! They inspire and oddly enough, though I barely know you, reveal a common past. I love boarding time bedtime stories. I haven’t started with the Pakistan stories, but will someday soon when my kids are old enough to understand. For me these stories are like adventures from a different world. As I grow older and hopefully wiser, I have to remind myself that they’re not just adventures of a 10 year old girl in an exotic place, they’re my adventures and they make me who I am. I guess this is something we all share. Like Sophie posted some time ago, we’re all a part of a very odd but wonderful family.
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Anneleis- thank you so much for this comment. What you said about the stories from childhood being your stories and integral to who you are really resonates with me… In fact a huge part of why I began writing. And yes – our large, diverse, multigenerational family that spans the world is pretty amazing! Sent from my iPhone
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I loved the post on learning to speak coffee. Hilarious. I also love virtually any post having to do with Cairo.
You are the best, Marilyn!
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I’m so happy to have you as my first guest!! I think I’ll give you a giveaway just for that! Pick your book! Seriously – this has been a tremendous exercise for me this year and I am grateful that people are actually along for the journey. Thank you!
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