THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!

The beautiful globe with heart inside was made and sent to me by my precious friend Gemma

(the top hat thing?....I've ALWAYS wanted one and finally have it)

Let me begin with this……. This year’s event had 1,088 live links from 40 different countries…..isn’t that AMAZING??? Who would have thought from 85 the first year we’d grow this much.

With every email where someone wrote how excited they were to participate for the first, second, third or even fourth time…….with every entry from another country…….with every comment I received on my blog saying what it’s meant to you and the beautiful thank you……..with each of these things there were tears and a feeling of resounding joy! You should know I do not take any of it for granted.

When I began this year’s event I thought perhaps this would be the last year…perhaps it was time….but with each new entry I was so filled with happiness I thought perhaps I should reconsider until people just don’t want it anymore. Yes, I know, there are those who think this event is just one big giveaway and it’s about getting something for free….but you know what? It is precisely those people who don’t GET IT and I can’t change that. IF you really understand the premise of this entire event you will know it has never been about what you can “win” in terms of a tangible item…..it’s about winning friendships, connections, kindred spirits, a chance to broaden your scope of who you know and how you relate. (Even if they are oceans away) Winning something is the bonus or the cherry on top. When someone writes me to say they’ve already found some fabulous people, they’ve already emailed one another, they’ve already begun a dialog….they are already thinking about next year……that’s what makes my heart sing.

You have to know I can’t please EVERYONE, it’s impossible and I can’t worry about that. There is always something someone wants to change. When you start to dissect it you are missing the reason for it in the first place. You know? There are valid reasons for the guidelines I created and wanting to review your posts…it keeps things cohesive. Oh and I went to EVERY blog to find what country each of you were in (something I forgot to ask of each person this year) and it was hard. I was amazed how so many of you don’t have your profile visible, some are way at the bottom of the blog and if it is visible they may not say much or even indicate the country you’re in. I had to do some real investigating and still some are incorrect. So I encourage you to get those profiles visible and say a few lines about yourself. We want to know who you are. I still didn’t get back to each blog to comment, I tried, I really did but I still will because it’s important that I thank you individually no matter how long it takes.

OK, I know, this is long winded. I just want you ALL to know that at the end of the day it is YOU……….ALL of you on that list…..YOU who makes this event a success year after year. It is YOU! Without you I’d be talking to myself and I’d be the lone link on my sidebar. Truly…YOU make all this possible…YOU should know that and embrace that fact. I cannot THANK YOU enough for taking part this year, I so enjoyed riding around with you. That first year we took a walk, the second we rode the Love Train, the third year we rode the Gypsy Caravan and this year we boarded our Magic Carpets….who knows how we will cruise the globe next time…..I just hope you’re there.

The list will remain on my sidebar until the 23^rd of this month…..BUT there is already the alpha list (see OWOH Links at the top) and that will remain for six months or more so you can still visit everyone. The links still point to the giveaway posts but you can get to the main blog simply by clicking their banner or HOME or Main. Please be sure to let me know if your country is incorrect. Now go mix and mingle to your hearts content.

AND NOW FOR THE WINNERS OF MY GIVEAWAY………………….drumroll please...

The winner of the Sun Goddess painting
is