Cover photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash

Congrats to Caroline K. who was the winner of this gift card. Please check your email and respond within 48 hours.

**This post does contain affiliate links which help to support my blog and my family. The Back To School Giveaway details are at the bottom of the page.

I’ve had a couple of great successes as far a my blog goes and I want to thank everyone for their support and loyalty. Without readers I wouldn’t be where I am right now.

At the New Year I had set some goals for myself and my blog. While a lot of those goals haven’t been accomplished for various reasons some of them have. Some of you may remember that I had planned to move my blog over to BlueHost. I had some BIG plans. (Great site and exceptional customer services!)

Keep Reading to Get to the Link to Enter to Win!

Then things kinda fell apart because when we went to transfer the site it didn’t go as planned. I was panicked for a bit as I thought for sure that we’d lost my whole blog but thankfully most of it was restored.

Then the next month I had gotten really sick and had to go to the hospital TWICE. Not fun! Then I’ve spent the past ~~few~~ several months recovering and paying off those bills. Last month I finally finished getting them paid off… Yay! I also started getting back to blogging. I mean I’ve really been working hard at it trying to get back into the swing of things.

Last month I also stumbled across the Wealthy Affiliate program and did some of the FREE trainings that they offered and boy did I learn a lot. In fact I started putting the information to use right away.

Then a funny happened. I expected to see an increase in traffic on my blog and I did. (I had set a goal of having at least 20 views/day which was kind of pathetic since I had well over that this time last year but you’ve got to start somewhere, right?) I am happy to say that I far succeeded that goal and have set an even bigger goal for this month.

Along with the increased blog traffic I began to notice a dramatic increase in my Instagram followers. I had initially hoped to reach 1,500 followers by mid year but that didn’t happen, probably because of my lack of effort. This week we finally reached that goal and are steadily climbing as we speak.

To celebrate I have decided to host an Amazon Giveaway but I couldn’t decide on what to do. I debated on whether to go with back to school supplies or books/magazines as I know my kids love these:

National Geographic Kids Magazines

Then being a busy Momma I know that there are a lot of other ideas I could come up with. I know I could really use this:

Well Planned Day, Family Homeschool Planner, July 2018 – June 2019

Decisions, decisions but sadly after spending over an hour talking with three different Amazon customer reps I was not able to set up a giveaway as I have previously done. (My account was hacked a few months ago and now they have suspended most of my privileges.)

Click Here To Go To The Entry Form!

No worries as I have decided to use Rafflecopter to host a giveaway of an Amazon.com eGift card in the amount of $25.00! Then the winner can choose whatever prize they like and I can get off the phone with customer service. Amazon is not affiliated with this giveaway.

Click Here To Go To The Entry Form!

Ok, now that we have the prize decided. What do you need to do? Simply click this link and follow the instructions. The link will take you to the Rafflecopter Giveaway Page. If you already follow my blog then please just leave your screen name and leave a comment for me on a recent post.

Click Here To Go To The Entry Form!

The instructions are pretty simple. You just need to come to my blog and click the ‘Follow’ button. (Located in the left column of the page.) After you have followed my blog I need you to leave a comment on this post letting me know you entered. Then enter your username/email into the box on the Rafflecopter form so I can verify.

Click Here To Go To The Entry Form!

I do encourage you to share this post with others but it is not a requirement to enter nor will it increase your chances of winning. The giveaway will start 8/2/2018 at 12:00 am and end on 8/10/2018 at 12:00 am. The complete rules are listed at the bottom of this post.

Again, Thank you all!

I plan to do some more giveaways as I reach some of the other goals I have set in place. In fact I will host another one when my blog reaches 1500 followers and/or my Pinterest page reaches 500 followers.

Back To School Giveaway Rules

The winner will receive a $25.00 Amazon eGift card.

No purchase necessary to win; only an email address is required. Your privacy is important to me, I will not share (other than with a sponsor for the purpose of getting a prize to you) or sell your email address or mailing address.

Winner will be chosen randomly through Rafflecopter Random Selector (which uses Random.org) and contacted via email. A reply to the winning email is required within 24 hours before a new winner is chosen. The winner’s entries will be verified.

Kirby’s Korner Blog and it’s owner and writer, Susie Kirby, is not responsible for any technical failures or for any sponsors inability to live up to his or her prize obligation, nor is she responsible for lost, broken, damaged or stolen prizes.

Please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery of prize, unless other wise noted. Unless otherwise specified, open to U.S only, ages 18+. Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, Pinterest, and Google+ are in no way associated with this giveaway.

The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Kirby’s Korner Blog reserves the right to publish winner’s first name and last initial.

Kirby’s Korner Blog also reserves the right to choose a different winner in the case that the randomly chosen winner refuses to co-operate with rules, reply to winning email in 48 hour time period or does not have verifiable entries.

Contact information for sponsor(s), if applicable, can be found in the review text via website links. Giveaway is subject to the laws of the state of Florida.

Taxes due, if any, on prize winnings, are the sole responsibility of the winner.

Void where prohibited by law.

It’s been a little while since I’ve done one of these posts but I have thought about doing one several times. I’ve got several drafts saved but it seems that I just can’t find the time to work on them or I’ve lost the idea when I go back to it.

Let’s see, where to start? Well, we’ve been busy with school work and just normal everyday life activities. We’ve also joined a rock painting group and the kids are having a blast painting rocks, hiding rocks, and finding rocks. (I may try to do a post later on about some of our activities with the rock painting.) I’ve tried to post some of our activities on Instagram and on our Facebook pages. I’ve also started a Facebook page for this blog.

I have been going to the square dance classes every week and having a blast! It is so nice just to get out of the house and be around some other ‘grown ups’ every now and then. The dancing is a lot of fun too but the fellowship is wonderful.

I just absolutely love square dancing! Yes, I have two left feet sometimes and I mess up on the calls but I have so much fun. I just can’t stop smiling when I’m dancing or watching others dance. Have I mentioned the outfits? They are so beautiful too! Gosh, I just don’t think there is anything about square dancing that I don’t really like at all.

I know it’s not for everyone but we all need to find something that we can enjoy. This just happens to be something that I really enjoy right now. It makes my heart happy which could be why I can’t stop smiling! Be forewarned as I may do a post, or two, on square dancing later on.

Can I just say also that God works in mysterious ways? I want to thank anyone and everyone who has prayed for myself and my family. I have been so blessed and His blessings continue to pour out on my family and me in so many different ways. It is a joy to see how He comes through time and time again.

I am also reminded of how important it is to remember that He will provide us with what we need in His perfect timing, not ours. I’m smiling as I type this because I am still in a state of awe at what He has done in my life this past week. All I can say is that my heart has been smiling and that smile has been visible on my face all week long!

When we think something is impossible He will prove that everything is possible when you hand it over to Him. He knows the desires of our hearts and He knows what we need before we even ask. When He takes something from us He will replace it with something so much better. Every trial and heartache that we go through is to prepare us for something that is yet to come. He is molding us and shaping us into the person He wants us to be. He is so good to us!

So please, if you have a problem, a need, or just something that you desire don’t be afraid to hand it over to God, no matter how impossible it may seem. Let Him have control over it and let Him be the one to decide what to do or how to do it. You will be amazed at what happens when you release your worries and cares.