I ran across this post on Facebook this morning that gave me a “knee-jerk” reaction… and when I have that kind of reaction to something, I’ve learned by LOTS OF MISTAKES to sit on it and think about why I’m having that particular reaction before I react!  I know that totally makes sense to you .

Wanna know what the conversation was about?  Linking Parties.  Yup, that party I hold every week. The party I DO spend a lot of time on and that I began in hopes to benefit myself, my blog, my readers and my blogging friends.

I’ve pondered long and hard today over this subject.  Lately, I have been feeling like there needs to be something more to the party  (I mentioned this here). But, I don’t know what it would be…. so, I’ll keep pondering on this one…and YES, I’m open to suggestions!

After reading the FB post/conversation, I feel a need to share with my readers and blogging friends my thoughts and feelings on why I host and why I started to host a party…(Can I also add that I don’t like what a few of my favorite bloggers added to the conversation?  I really had absolutely no idea that they felt that way about link parties).

My first and foremost reason for hosting a party was because I wanted to get to know more bloggers.  Yes, I wanted to have more visitors.  I wanted to network and not just “know” bloggers because of their blog… I also wanted something to carry my blog when I was too busy to have a project going on.  I have bonded with some amazing women because of  my party.  Was it about making my blog big, fancy and well known? Absolutely not, I like to think I blog from my heart and not my pocketbook.  Hence, the reason why you will never see a bunch of posts on advertising or a lot of adds on my blog.

Hosting a link party enables people to share their projects in ONE SPOT.  I love to visit parties (even if I don’t link up).  Where else can you see 100′s of projects without having to click from site to site?  If the picture of the project doesn’t “grab” you, you can move on to the next project that was linked up.

Do I invite people to my party? YES, if I run across a project that I feel is absolutely AMAZING and I think my readers and bloggers would like to see it, I most definitely will invite that person to the party.  Why wouldn’t I?  Am I doing this to get more readers?  To have the BEST party?  To have more links? No, I invite the blogger to link up because I’m excited for everyone to see the fabulous project!

Want to know what I DON’T like about hosting a Link Party?

I have a hard time choosing what to highlight.  I try very hard not to highlight the same blogger every week.  I truly do want everyone to have a chance to be highlighted.   I agonize over what projects to choose… there are so many talented bloggers!  It’s probably why my highlight parties have gone from 6 highlights to 12!

Please know, that I appreciate every single blogger who takes the time to link their project.  I wish that I could email every single one of you and say, “Thank you!”  As it is, I spend 2 hours on Sunday evening going through all of the projects and another 2 hours on Monday to write my post.  I also like to comment on each and every project that I highlight.

Lately, I have been feeling like the party is getting redundant on my part.  I feel like I say the same thing weekly…. “Welcome to Project Queen’s….”  are you feeling it or is it just me?

I know that God has been feeling my “uneasiness” with hosting a party every week.  His timing is always perfect.  Why would I have come across the FB conversation this morning?  Yup, it got me thinking.  So, for the next few days I’m going to pray and ask God for His guidance on continuing to host a party.  I really do want to make sure that I’m hosting a party for the right reasons.