Congrats to winners Laura and Terry. You should receive an e-mail shortly!
Well, gang, March 23 marks 30 years of life for me. To celebrate such a momentous event, I’ve decided to do the biggest giveaway ever in the history of Backseat Writer…and you can win it all (or slightly less than it all).
One winner will receive the Big 3-0 Birthday Bash Stash, which includes….uh, everything!
A second winner will receive the Big 3-0 Birthday Bash Party Favor!
Here’s how you win, all you have to do is LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW wishing me a happy birthday, giving me advice on turning 30, or something else birthday related! Contest ends March 30 at 11:59 AM EST and the winner will be announced on March 31. Remember to leave a valid e-mail address so I can contact you if you win.
Bonus entries:: Do whatever you want (follow Backseat Writer or Atypical Musings, Tweet about contest, fan BSW on Facebook–whatever). Just leave a comment below telling me what you did–each thing you do should be left as a separate comment (I use Random Number Generator to pick winners) . If you DO NOT leave a comment, your entry will not count, but your promotion is definitely appreciated.
__________________________________________________________________________
GRAND PRIZE:: BIG 3-0 BASH STASH GIVEAWAY
Backseat Writer’s grand prize includes over 20 CD’s, 7 books, 3 DVD’s and a few extra special surprises.
The Stash includes music by:
Phil Wickham—Heaven & Earth
Matt Redman—We Will Not Be Shaken
Josh Wilson–Life Is Not A Snapshot
Fee—Hope Rising
Sara Groves—Fireflies and Songs
Todd Agnew—Need
Gungor—Beautiful Things
Derek Webb—Stockholm Syndrome
tobyMac—Tonight
Philips, Craig, & Dean—Top of My Lungs
Steven Curtis Chapman—Beauty Will Rise
David Crowder* Band—Church Music
MercyMe—The Ultimate Collection CD/DVD (This is a hard to find, must have for MercyMe fans.)
Stellar Kart—Everything is Different Now
FFH—Wide Open Spaces
Heart of Saints—Self-titled
Passion–Awakening
Newworldson–Self-titled
Day of Fire–Losing All
Chris McClarney–Introducing Chris McClarney
Delirious?–History Makers: Greatest Hits
Cool Hand Luke–The Sleeping House
Books:
So Long, Insecurity by Beth Moore
The Last TV Evangelist by Phil Cooke
Listen by Rene Gutteridge
Raven’s Ladder by Jeffrey Overstreet (ARC Copy)
The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard
The Me I Want to Be Study Pack by John Ortberg
To Save a Life book by Jim Britts, T-shirt (Large), & Devo2Go
DVDs:
In the Blink of An Eye
Sarah’s Choice
Love Finds a Home
***
PRIZE #2:: BIG 3-0 BASH STASH PARTY FAVOR PRIZE PACK
This prize includes three artists who decided to release their new albums on my birthday–Me in Motion, Robbie Seay Band, and Luminate as well as a few other favorites.
Luminate–Self-titled
FFH–Wide Open Spaces
Stellar Kart–Everything is Different Now
Fireflight–For Those Who Wait
The Best New Praise & Worship Songs Ever
To Save a Life T-shirt (Medium) & Devo2Go
Inflatable Beach Ball
Finger Blaster
A special thanks to the folks who made this giveaway possible–The Media Collective, EMI (Josh Pauley!), Tyndale House (Christy Wong), Zondervan (Adam Forrest), Savvy Media, Biscuit PR/ Lori Lenz, Hoganson Media, and anyone I forgot. 🙂 Oh, and my parents, for giving me life so I could have a birthday and have this giveaway! 🙂
Don’t forget to enter to win HERE BURNS MY CANDLE by LIZ CURTIS HIGGS. Enter here.
She is Beloved 
Happy Birthday, Amy!
30 is just a good start. I left it behind three years ago. Things seem to get better from here.
Oh, and I posted this page on Twitter as well, which means it also got posted on Facebook.
Thanks!
Clay
*Remember to leave a comment for EACH thing you did and each time you did it or it won’t count.** But I’m cool so I’ll do it this time.–Amy
Happy Birthday, Amy! I hope you have a fantastic-ly blessed day.
Remember that thirty is just a number; you’re the same fabulous person you were yesterday, and the same fabulous person that you’ll be tomorrow and a year from now too…. :).
This contest is terrific! Aren’t we the ones who are supposed to be giving you gifts? Thanks so much for celebrating this way.
Hugs and blessings,
Karen
klange61(at)hotmail(dot)com
Happy Birthday Amy. You are a gift!
Advice about turning 30? Get ready, this is the decade when you really begin to find out who you are, or rather, who God is shaping you to be. It’s good. It’s fun. There may be some gray hair. Don’t panic. That’s why we have tweezers!
Now I’m gonna go tweet about your birthday bash.
Love ya Girl!
*Remember to leave a comment for EACH thing you did and each time you did it or it won’t count.** But I’m cool so I’ll do it this time.–Amy
#2 Clay Twitter
#3 Clay Facebook status
#2 Evangeline Twitter
Joyeux anniversaire chérie!
This girl is a couple years away from 30, but my advice is simple and true. “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us.” Eph 5:2 -to me this means 3 things. 1) Be IN LOVE with Jesus, and strive to maintain your love of him. 2) Know that you are securely held IN HIS LOVE. 3) Do all things with both of those things in mind, FULL OF LOVE, as you live in a world filled with people who also need LOVE.
Don’t know you, but happy birthday. May your love grow deep roots and strong vines.
You just got extra cool points for using French!–Amy
ooh, a birthday party?!? i love birthday parties! i hope its a good one for you!
i’m going to be 30 later this year, too, so i only have the same advice for you that i have for myself. and that is to enjoy the simple things and laugh often, and to cherish the good things in life. and tell the people that you love that you love them, often. you are a beautiful person and nothing about a silly little birthday will change that one bit. 🙂
You can totally use all my advice. I give you full permission. 🙂 –Amy
and i tweeted: http://twitter.com/thelittlereader/status/10905188135
Hope you have a swell 30th birthday! Our friendship sure has been one heck of an adventure. I thank God for your incredible friendship. As far as advice goes, 30 really isn’t old…its just one day closer to spending eternity with your maker.
DUUUUUUDE Chris McClarney?! Hahahahaahhhaahahaha he’s the worship pastor at my church 😀 😀 With that happy little tidbit, HAPPY BIRTHDAY 😀 I don’t have any advice for a 30-year-old but YOU TOTALLY ROCK and in the morning I’ll write you a birthday blessing, etc. SO glad to know you 😀
Is he single? I’m 30 now and I’m not getting any younger… *wink* –Amy
Happy 30th Birthday, Amy!
I don’t remember my actual 30th birthday…but I do remember the era. And I am so glad for the years between then and now. (I will be 49 in June.) It is a time of growth and change…physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. I am glad I am not the same today as I was yesterday…and I do not want to be the same tomorrow as I am today. Each day I am grateful for lessons learned and to be learned. Birthdays are milestones to measure progress. As Christians, each day we hope to learn and grow to become more like Christ. So, perservere and press on toward the goal to win the prize.
Focused on the Goal (The Message)
“I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.”
~ Philippians 3:12-14
Thank you for the sweet birthday wish (completely with one of my favorite passages from Scripture)–Amy
Left link comment on Facebook. 🙂
Happy Birthday Amy…the big 3-0…30 is fun even if it seems scary and you feel like you have to be a grown up now…My B..day is tomorrow and if 50 is the new 30 then 30 is the new 10 if i have done the Math correctly…So you have a long way to go before you really have to start acting like a grown up…Enjoy… Hope its a great day. i enjoy your blog…
Thanks for the birthday wishes and thank you for reading/enjoying Backseat Writer.–Amy
oh- and i shared this on my facebook too…
I’ve found the blog! Happy 30th!
Happy Birthday!! Embrace 30! You are still young and amazing so celebrate the thirty years you have survived and the many many more you get to use to leave the world a better place!!
Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hope it’s a terrific day and we’ll celebrate when I’m back out that way…hopefully after graduation.
30 isn’t bad, btw!
I am wishing you a most happy birthday, 30 times over. My advice. Turn 50 (I will next week), get in a time machine… and redo a few things you did when you were 30. Isn’t it weird. In order to become a person of thirty, you have to make a whole a lot of mistakes along the way, some of which you might gladly undo if you could – but you couldn’t get to whereyou are or learn the lessons you need to learn, apart from learning them. So… better advice. Allow love to cover a multitude of sins (both yours and others) and give room for the Grace of Jesus to take you beyond your dreams, to a reality much richer than anything you might have imagined.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY chick! : ) welcome to the ‘club’ – as a woman of 30 years myself, I can tell you that although you may not feel any different today, it’s the little things that start to ‘add up’ – no longer being able to pull an ‘all-nighter’, starting to notice a few stray gray hairs, etc etc etc
on the bright side – you are no longer an ‘old 20’, you are now a ‘young 30’! : )
Happy, happy, happy birthday! I don’t want to steal anyone’s loot, so no need to enter me in the fab-o drawing, but I did want to wish you an awesome day and a spectacular year. Thirty is great! Make it what you want it to be.
Whatever, JBJ, you so deserve loot! Love ya, Amy
Amy happy birthday! Every year it is a blessing to know we can look back and see God’s work in our lives, be thankful for our life, and then look forward to what God will do with us with another year yielded to him and his ways! God speed and may your next 30 be a major blessing…
(Whoa. That really IS all.) Happy happy birthday!
A very happy and blessed birthday to my very loved, beautiful daughter who God has grown into a wonderfuk, Spirit-filled woman. You are now 30, a milestone. Didn’t Jesus start His ministry about now, at 30. God is about to take you on a special mission for Him. No one else has walked in you shoes. He has prepared you for YOUR ministry for HIM. Happy Birthday, Daughter!
Happy Birthday Amy!
You’re such a blessing! Praying you have an amazing birthday.
Happy Birthday to you, Amy!! 🙂
We.., I turned the big 28 on March 23, so I’m stealing your ‘turning 30′ advice ’cause I still have a couple years 🙂 (and hopefully winning presents!)
30 is a year for courage to walk into the things God’s been shaping within you for the past 10 years. John Arnott (http://tacf.org/about/our-pastoral-team) tells us junior pastors “It’s easier to steer the ship when it’s moving”
I feel 20’s are the years for building the ship with God, and then our 30’s are for driving the ship with Him at the helm.
Its much the same advice as others have given – but that’s what we’re called to do. Thanks for sharing Christian Music with whoever wins (ahem – hopefully me). We started a small promotions company to help bring more Christian music to Canada – come check us out some time 🙂
love and blessings
Well, I haven’t turned 30 myself, but I bet your body can’t really tell when it hits decade marks.
So I’ll give this advice: live every day (no matter how old you are) doing everything you can for the Kingdom of God. Be earnest, be sincere, be righteous, be humble. Not because you’re 30, but because it is a privilege to do God’s work on this earth. That’s his gift to you and it’s amazing.
Happy birthday!
I hope you had a great birthday despite the issues that came with the day… Praying for you
Happy B-Day!
Advice on turning 30…
This is truly the start of your life. You are now secure, mature and sophisticated enough to live life at its fullest. Enjoy!!
P.S. I RT’d the message
*Remember to leave a comment for EACH thing you did and each time you did it or it won’t count.** But I’m cool so I’ll do it this time.–Amy
Happy Birthday! 30 is a great age to be, enjoy!
I’ve re-tweeted too xx
*Remember to leave a comment for EACH thing you did and each time you did it or it won’t count.* But I’m cool so I’ll do it this time. Heck, I’ll do it every time. Y’all should get every opportunity to win.–Amy
Happy birthday! I am a few years over 30 myself. Remember that God still has lots in store for you. Enjoy your day.
Happy Happy Birthday!! And many, many more!!
Happy Birthday Amy! I hope that you’ll have a wonderful day 🙂
Personally I think being 30 would be great (I still have a few years to go myself). A lot people think that you’re already getting old around that age but I think life would just begin for most people. Around that age they have started living their own life and got to know their goals in life. For me that would be a huge relief, so I can’t wait to be in your shoes!
Happy belated Birthday Amy ,
Hope you had a blast .
Cheers,Ann
retweeted on twitter
Added extra entry for Twitter RT!–Amy
Have a wonderful birthday, 30 is a good number, it’s the number that represents the perfect balance in the cosmic organization 😉
Happy Birthday from one Amy to another!
Here’s something birthday related. When I turned 20 (I’m 42 now), I started a tradition of writing myself a birthday letter to be read 10 years later. So for my 20th through 29th birthdays, I just wrote a letter. When I turned 30, I got to read my letter written at age 20, which was a lot of fun — and then I write myself a letter for ten years later again.
So every year I can find out what I was thinking about my life ten years earlier. It’s been illuminating!
That’s a marvelous idea. I should so write a letter to myself.–Amy
Happy Happy Birthday! People make a big deal about turning 30, but always remember your life is made up of so many days; living them all for God is what counts! But I do hope your birthday is extra special!
What a wonderful assortment of CDs you’re giving away!
Happy 30th. I can’t give good advice on this one. I cried my whole 30th birthday. Turned 40 last summer. It wasn’t nearly as bad as 30.
Have a great birthday!!! 30 is the new 20 🙂
Hope you had a happy birthday. 30 is so young. I’m five years older than you are, dear. We only get better with time, much like fine wines. I just turned 35 on March 9 (aren’t March babies great?) 🙂
I retweeted about your contest just now, so you know. I hope you are well. Take care.
Happy b-day. I haven’t hit 30 yet, but it’s right around the corner! I think I’m cool with it though…maybe?!?
Hope you had a great day, and thanks for the giveaway 🙂
Happy Birthday! I’m not yet 30 but I think you should live it up!
Happy Birthday and remember having a birthday is great!!! It beats the alternative 🙂
Happy Birthday Amy! I’m not there. I’m actually really looking forward to my 30th birthday… right now my life is crazy and I hope I’m more settled in a few years. Hope you have a great birthday! Thank you for the chance to win. 🙂
Have a wonderful birthday- 30 is just like 20 with 10 years experience! And remember-you’re looking maarvalouss!!
Happy Birthday! 30 is the perfect age- not too young and not too old.
Happy Birthday, Amy!
30 is great! I miss being 30… Enjoy your time!
ap_lemos at yahoo dot com
Happy Big 3-0 Amy!! Don’t think of it is as a dreaded birthday but celebrate it as a huge milestone. Nothing changed about you except the number so go out & celebrate and have a GREAT time!
I turned 33 on the 24th too so we are birthday buddies!
bamagv@aol.com
Cool. We should go get tats together. :)–Amy
Happy birthday!!
Happy Birthday!!! The only advice I can think to give you is this: DON’T BLINK, because if you do , you will be 35 like me (in 2 weeks) and wonder how you got there so quickly. I hope all your birthday wishes come true.
But my eyeballs will dry out if I don’t blink…. :)–Amy
Happy birthday!
I don’t have any advice, but I plan on turning twenty-ten instead of thirty when I get there. And then I realized that it’s a pretty cool year to do that – your “age” can match the year for as long as you decide to state it that way!
Ok, I’m a nerd, but hope you had an awesome one and thanks for the great giveaway.
dukeblueathena at yahoo dot com
There is absolutely nothing nerdy about you, especially since you subscribed to BSW or something like that.–Amy
And I just subscribed to Backseat Writer via email. Glad to find this blog and looking forward to reading more!
dukeblueathena at yahoo dot com
Happy, happy birthday! It’s mine today. 🙂
I hope you had an amazing day, and that today is awesome too (even if it’s not your birthday… every day should be great. :))
AHHHHH Phil Wickham!!! 😀
Phil Wickham makes the best of us scream with girlish delight. Even guys!–Amy
Happy Birthday to you!
Thanks for the chance to win!
Hope you have a great birthday!! Thanks for doing such a fantastic giveaway.
Happy belated birthdayyyyy! 😀
You are one dedicated chiquita! Thanks for all the promotion!–Amy
http://twitter.com/FionaChan/status/11130793398
oh and I am a fan on fb now. http://www.facebook.com/fionaachan?ref=profile
and I subscribed to your blog!!
http://fionalevesque.blogspot.com/2010/03/backseatwriter-big-3-0.html
blogged!
http://fionalevesque.blogspot.com/
added the button to the side bar of my blog 😀
Yes, yes enter me too :-). Will tweet as well and it will go to FB. :-D.
Silly girl, you were supposed to leave a comment for each thing you did. But don’t worry, I got your back!
Happy birthday, Amy! Thanks for the fantastic giveaway!
Happy Birthday!
30 is a good place to be.
Thanks!–Amy
Happy Birthday ! What a generous giveaway!!
Thanks!–Amy
Birthday advice would be my favorite quote…”You c an go any where you want to just as long as you are willing to take enough small steps to get there.”
Oh, how true that is for me right now! Thanks for the quote. I can see what it’s a fave.–Amy
Hey, I want to win stuff! Here I am. Choose me.
You crack me up, sir!–Amy
By the way, I’m totally the number 40 subscriber to Backseat Writer on Google Reader. 40! That’s significant! 40 days, 40 nights, the atomic number of zirconium, etc., etc., etc.
Extra Entry–Melissa #30 Tweeted about giveaway!
Extra Entry for Anne Carter #31 for Tweeting!
Extra Entry for Ann #35 for Tweeting!
Extra entry for #21 Jenny B. Jones for blogging about contest (eventhough she should get like 5 extra entries for that….)
+1 for Groovitude #41 for Tweeting!
+1 ShariCakes for Tweeting!
+1 ShariCakes for FB Status!
Hi! Happy Birthday! I am not much older than you. Just stay true to yourself and have as much fun as you can. I still act like a kid sometimes when it comes to certain things. Thanks for doing such a great giveaway…you ROCK!!!!
Party down and live it up!!!
We’re only 29, right? Party on!–Amy
Happy birthday!!!!
HAAAPPY BIRTHDAY TOOO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHOOOO hooooo
P a r t a y time
Well My inspirational saying is this
remember today is the first day of the rest of your life!
Thank you for the awsome giiiveaway!
corpesa14 at yahoo dot com
I like your spirit! Thanks for all the promotion! –Amy
I follow you on twitter!!
I am a fb fan!!
I twwwetted!
hope i win!!!!
Happy Birthday!
I’m turning 18 on Wednesday so we are both crossing milestones right now! It is so amazing to look back and see all that God has done, and it is exciting to look forward and see all that He is going to do!
Enjoy all of life’s birthdays because they are all gift and marks of your increasing wisdom!
Please enter in your amazing giveaway…
booklovercb[at]yahoo[dot]com
Well, I’m happy to share my birthday month with such a fine gal as you! Happy birthday!–Amy
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
Celebrate YOU.
Thanks for the fabulous giveaway you are sponsoring 🙂
Amy:
I had a hard time turning 30 but now I realize that it was such an opportunity to become an adult and live a life that chased after God is a new way. My 30’s was the decade where God truly formed me into who I am today,.I am just freshly out (turned 40 in October) but I will say live every day as your last.
Thanks for the encouraging thought, Jasper!–Amy
I wished you happy birthday on your facebook and keep seeing this giveaway on your page…
getting older has as many positives as being young had. i still don’t feel my 57 years…i’ve stayed young at heart.
i thank God for each new day He gives me. life with God is so full of fresh mercies.
oxo
Well, it’s high time you entered then, isn’t it? 🙂 Thanks for joining the fun!–Amy
Happy 30th Birthday
Happy Birthday girlfriend!!!!
Now I’m gonna sit here and wait until I win something. Because I never win anything!!!!!
Love ya!
Cyndi
It’s about time you joined the party!–Amy
+1 Cyndi for RT’ing
+1 Cyndi for Tweeting!
Have a happy birthday!!!
The giveaway is now closed and e-mails have been sent to the winners! 🙂