I know, I know, how do you win the free stuff? I’ll get to that but I want to give you the background first. Please? Good.
I started this blog the first week of February 2011. I wanted some way to gather my thoughts while I was recovering from open heart surgery. So, I just set it up and posted an introduction. It was super crappy and has since been dropped. I made one more post on the blog then my wife was hit by a truck and shattered her femur. I didn’t revisit it again until April. For this reason and others I have put off the birthday giveaway a little so it would hit somewhere in the middle. The blog in its current form has only been around since October 2011. It has been an interesting year here in Paraguay and God has blessed us. I look forward to another, maybe with you in tow here via subscription. To those of you who have been with me for a while, thanks for the support. To my new friends, hop on board, ’cause it’s going to be fun.
A little about the giveaway prize
Paraguay has a tremendous commercial cattle farming industry. They export cows and meat all over the world. What this means is…you guessed it, Cow Pies. No, I will not be giving away a steaming hot cow patty.
A by-product of the cattle business is truck loads of cow skins, leather. From this abundance of hides comes a cottage industry. Here in Paraguay you find almost anything covered in leather.
This is my daughter’s cold water thermos. It holds 2 1/2 liters of water and ice. It is covered in tanned leather and a hand-stitched traditional needlepoint called Ñanduti. Here is a side view so you can get a look at the hand tooled leaf designs. So cool, huh?
This is a guitar case made entirely from leather. It is carved and stained after it is tanned but before it is formed. Absolutely beautiful.
This is a book cover. This particular one belongs to my wife. She carries various things in there. You could put a big book or a couple of small books or even a book and a notepad. These make great covers for a Bible. There are pockets and everything.
Then, there is my very own travel coffee mug. A friend of mine had this covered for me for my birthday over three years ago. It has been used multiple times a day, every day for three years and still looks great.
Here is the prize package. This handsome leather-covered coffee thermos and matching travel mug. That’s right. One of you lucky readers will get to call these beauties yours.
Imagine your swelling pride as you fill this coveted thermos with your favorite blend of bean juice. Then the prospect of toting this envy-inspiring gear into your workplace causes your little coffee-loving heart to jump. Sure, your work companions will ask, “Where can I get one of those?” With your head held high, you’ll say, “You can’t. I got this from The Barba and it was specially made for me in Paraguay.” BOOYAH. Coffee street cred.
Giveaway
It’ll be a random drawing, but you have a chance to put your name in the pot multiple times. Just do one OR MORE of the following to make your dreams come true:
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a Rafflecopter giveaway
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=”http://rafl.es/enable-js”&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;You need javascript enabled to see this giveaway&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;.It looks like there is a glitch in the raffle widget for the twitter follow and Facebook like (says their FAQ section). Not to worry your entries are, for sure, being tallied but you may not actually be following me or liking my page. If you wouldn’t mind go and double check. Thanks.
By the way,you can follow me on Networked Blogs, and stalk my wife’s blog about our ministry here. That will NOT earn you another entry but I would like it. Thanks. It would be great if, once you have the prize, you could send me a photo using it. I want all the folks out there to see it in action.
We’ll be posting the winner on Friday, April 13th. You did all the work in the Raffle box but you can still leave a comment if you like.
BTW the blank on the front is where we can have your name branded into the leather. What do you think of the prize?
This is the highest level of epic that I can think of.
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Thank you sir. I think it turned out well.
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Yay! But I’d still love your blog even if you never gave anything away.
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Thanks so much. I guess I can pull your name then, right? I jest, I jest.
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Ummmmmm… NO! 🙂
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I didn’t think so, good luck.
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Do all bloggers live on coffee?! I definitely do… glad I’m not alone. This is very cool.
(BTW this is Jess @priscasvoice… my google account is tied to my church, hence the name.)
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I love the bean elixir. Good luck.
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thats pretty awsome
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Thanks. A guy in our town covered it for me.
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Thank you for the kind words. I glad I kept at it too. Good luck.
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We can’t wait to see you. It’s been too long. We’ll get your room ready.
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Happy blog anniversary dude.
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Thank you sir. Make sure you enter to win.
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Ive been following your wife’s blog since we learned that my husbands job might take us to Paraguay. Im excited go read your perspective too. Still waiting to hear God’s direction but loving the experiences you all have while we wait. Tanya Will
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Thanks so much. Look us up when you get here. Don’t forget to enter to win. Also, email us if you have some questions or need more info.
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Congrats brother. Quite a milestone. Keep at it bro, you have a great tribe here.
Keep being you!
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Thanks Moe. I appreciate the kind words.
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Hey Ken, congrats on the year of blogging! That is a great looking thermos. Beat my starbucks mug hands-down! lol
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Thanks, Rick.
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Happy Anniversary, Ken! Love hearing the journey others have taken!
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Thanks, Eileen. I always appreciate your comments.
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First off, this prize is top shelf! I’d love me some leather covered coffee holding apparel.
Second, I’m glad you started your blog a year ago. I love reading it, and I can honestly say it’s made an impact on my journey with Christ, and for that I’m grateful. Thanks, Ken.
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I don’t know what to say. That is a compliment of the highest order. Thanks and thanks for reading.
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Thanks. I really like the way the prize turned out. I guy here in town did it.
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Whoa! Diggin’ Camille’s termo. That is some seriously sweet Nanduti!
I’d enter to win except that I’d prefer to pick out my own. You know– there, live, in person, after packing and spending a day on planes and wowing whoever comes with me with empanadas and Guarana… ;D
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Well, what are you waiting for. You could bring your items with you. For the prizes I had a guy in Ypacarai do the leather.
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Happy blogiversary Ken! From one blogger to another, please know that it is no small feat. You are a thoughtful, passionate writer who has a unique way of seeing God and applying His Word.
Here’s to many more years of blogging.
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Thank you, Ma’am. I appreciate the kind words.
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Happy blog anniversary to you, brother!! We wish you many more crazy and hilarious adventures in paradise serving the Lord.
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Thank you so much. We will be praying a special prayer for y’all over the next few months.
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That is SO sweet!! Happy blogiversary!!
Hmm … I should get Jason over here to enter {if he hasn’t already}, then we’d double all our chances to win mwahahahha
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Thank you much and that tweet is fine. Send him on over the more the merrier.
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Oh, btw … for the Tweet about this entry, I put in a link for your update …. because I just RT’d that. Hope that’s alright 🙂
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Have I been reading this site that long already? wow.
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I honestly hope not. It was pretty crappy to start with. haha Thanks for sticking it out.
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Oh my those are beautiful!! Happy blogiversy!
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Thanks Jessica. I had them done locally. Thanks for stopping by.
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Ok, I just found that whole ‘entering on fb thing’ really scary. That’s a whole lot of bizarre button and screens to deal with. Meh, I’m easily scared though….
Eva
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Sorry about that. Rafflecopter uses the FB machine to verify the login and actions. Otherwsie you would need a username and password for them. Thanks for reading though.
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Ken,
Not only is your beard epic, but your blog is as well. Happy blogaversary! Here’s to many more years of impacting lives for Christ on this electronic mission field!
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Thanks Chad. I hope it does something close to impacting. I’m glad it’s entertaining to some of you.
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Many consider it heresy, but I do not like coffe nor drink it. However, it is beautiful. I’ve been meaning to subscribe. I will but give that to someone who will get the proper use out of it.
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Thanks for the kind words Larry. I will let the slight of coffee go because you were nice to me. haha
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