An Award and FIVE FABULOUS BLOGS!!

What a great surprise! I received this award from Jodi at Live Today, Cherish Yesterday, Dream Tomorrow. I have just recently discovered her blog and have really been enjoying it!

The rules of accepting this reward are that you have to list 5 favorite addictions and then pass along this award to five other fabulous blogs!

Now...let's see if I can narrow it down to just FIVE favorite addictions...hmmm:

#1 would have to be DARK CHOCOLATE. I LOVE dark chocolate! My absolute favorite is this:

And this would have to be a close second:

But, don't get me wrong, I'm not above settling my craving with a good ole' H@rshey's Speci@l D@rk from the grocery store!

#2 addiction - BIG SEXY HAIR SPRAY AND PLAY hairspray. There is no substitute! I have tried all kinds of cheaper alternatives and I don't even waste my time (and money) anymore. This is the only spray for me!
# 3 addiction - VINEGAR. I wouldn't know what to do without vinegar. I use it to clean absolutely EVERYTHING in my house. It's inexpensive and it works great!

#4 - MUSIC! I love all kinds of music! I have approximately 5000 songs on my IPod and they cover pretty much every genre of music.

#5 addiction - DISHES! I have a dish "fettish"! I have sets of dishes from both of my grandmothers and my great aunt, plus dishes that I have acquired during my married life. I cannot even get them all in my cabinets! My newest set are these beauties that my husband and kids gave me last year! I had always wanted Christmas dishes, but I decided on these instead because they are "Winter" dishes and can be used much longer than just at Christmas.

Another one of my addictions would have to be reading the following fabulous blogs that I would like to pass this award on to:

Jenna at These Are The Days. This girl is funny, witty and wise beyond her years and God has given her a great gift of storytelling. She is part of the most wonderful family and after reading her blog for awhile, you will begin to seriously wish this girl was your daughter, daughter-in-law, sister or best friend.

Megan at Tales of the Trees. She is a newlywed who has also been given a great ability to capture her audience with her words. Her and her husband, Luke, are just the absolute cutest couple and you will wish that you lived close enough to them to be able "hang out" with them.

Dawn at Dawn's Cottage Corner. This girl is one of the sweetest people I have met since joining this blogging world. She and I just hit it off almost from day one and I feel such a kindred spirit with her. She just recently got back from The Mayo Clinic having some major knee surgery and is going through a difficult time right now. Please pray for her as she gets her staples out this week and begins her Physical Therapy.

Faith at Walk With Me By Faith. As many of you know, Faith is my oldest daughter, but if she wasn't I would so want to be her friend! God has given her a remarkable faith (HE named her appropriately, huh?) and such a sweet spirit. She is funny, witty and very talented. Her and her husband are struggling with infertility and we are excited about the miracle that God is preparing, even now, for her and Chad.

Cindy at Army Brats and Me. I met Cindy just a few months ago as she began her battle with Stage 3 Breast Cancer. You have to meet this remarkable young lady. Her strength and faith is incredible. She is such an inspiration to me and many other ladies that are right alongside of her on this journey she's on. She is going through a difficult time right now as her white counts are very low and she has the flu. Please visit her blog and let her know that you are praying for her.

**Note: I do not want Cindy and Dawn to feel pressured to have to list 5 fabulous blogs and link to them. I know that they are not up to that right now, but I love reading their blogs and wanted all of ya'll to visit them and "show them some love" during these diffult times they are facing right now.

Kreativ Blogging!

Last week, I had the pleasant surprise of being awarded the Kreativ Blogger Award by two of my favorite bloggers --- 

Lianna and Rebecca.  I don't even feel like I am in the same blogging league with either of these sweet ladies, but I am so grateful to them for passing this award on to me.

The rules of this award are that I have to name six things that make me happy and then pass the award on!

1. My family - Having all of my family together.  I love cooking for all them and I love all of the noise, confusion and laughter when everyone is together.

2. My morning coffee - I love the coffee that my husband makes for me every morning while I am getting ready for work.  We both make coffee the VERY same way, but his ALWAYS tastes better than mine to me.  I don't know why, but it's true!

3. Ice Cream Floats - I LOVE ice cream floats!  MY favorite would have to be a Dr. Pepper Float, with a Cheerwine Float running a close second!

4. Clean sheets - I love getting into my bed with clean sheets on it.  They are just so much better when they are "crisp" with no wrinkles. And that smell......love it!

5. Grocery shopping with my hubby - I love having my hubby go to the grocery store with me for our weekly shopping trip. The fact that I know he doesn't really want to go, but he does, means a lot to me.  We carry our own reusable bags with us and he always bags our groceries.  I always tell the checkout person that I bring my own bagger with me!  (-:

6. Cards, letters and emails - I love receiving a card, letter or email from a family member or a precious friend. God always seems to have them come right at the appropriate time when I so need them.  After all, God's timing is always perfect!

There are so many blogs that I read on a daily basis that deserve this award.  I know that most of you have already received this award, but if you have not already been the recipient of this award, PLEASE consider yourself awarded by me!  

I love you all!

Something To Smile About!

I got on Bloglines during lunch today to read a few of my favorite blogs and my new blogging friend Hollie brought a big SMILE to my face by giving me this award!

I enjoy reading her blog so much. She is so cute and has such a great sense of humor. She always makes me smile! If you haven't visited her blog yet, please click here to check it out.

Thank you so much, Hollie! I am so grateful that you read my blog and for the award!

Characteristics for the Smile Award:

1. Must display a cheerful attitude.

2. Must love one another.

3. Must make mistakes.

4. Must learn from others.

5. Must be a positive contributor to blog world.

6. Must love life.

7. Must love kids.

These are the rules for The Smile Award:

1. The recipient must link back the the award’s creator

2. You must post these rules if you receive the award.

3. You must chose 5 people to receive the award after receiving it yourself.

4. You must fit the characteristics of the recipient of the award, as posted by Mere

5. You must post the characteristics of a recipient.

6. You must create a post sharing your win with others.

7. You must thank your giver.

And without further ado, here are the 5 people that I would like to pass this award on to:

1. Dawn - I think of Dawn as my "eternal cheerleader"! Her comments that she leaves on my blog always lift me up. I am always encouraged by reading her posts. She loves her kids, the youth of today and the Lord! She is leaving for the Mayo Clinic this week for a long awaited appointment regarding knee pain. Please check out her blog and let her know that you will be praying for her!

2.Betsy - I love reading her blog! She is such an awesome Mom, approaching the "empty nest" years, that loves her children so much! She is also a teacher so her students must be so blessed by her as well. Her blog always makes me feel uplifted and leaves me with a smile! You have to stop by and visit her - you will be blessed!

3. Jenna - Any of you that know Miss Jenna know that you cannot read her blog without smiling. God has gifted her with an amazing ability to write and express herself. She has an amazing family and friends and you will become part of them as you follow their adventures!

4. Cindy - Cindy is a new friend of mine in the blogging world. She has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and is just beginning her battle. God has given me such a burden to pray for this sweet mom dealing with a difficult "storm" at this time. Her strength to fight this battle and the wonderful stories she tells about her precious children always lift me up! Please pop over to her blog and let her know that you are praying for her!

5. Faith - Many of you know that Faith is one of my daughters. She has so many wonderful friends that are part of her life and so many interesting things that happen to her. God is working in her life in such a mighty way. I am encouraged in MY walk with the Lord every time I read her posts. She and her husband are dealing with infertility and would covet your prayers. Please drop by her blog and let her know that you are joining with many of us to cover them in prayer. You will be blessed by reading her "walk of faith".

And The Blog Award Goes To.......

I received this award today from one of the sweetest people that I have gotten to know in this great big blog world.

Caroline, I was so touched by the sweet words you had to say about me.   You have the most interesting posts and I can just feel your excitement and enthusiasm for life as I read them. Besides being absolutely gorgeous on the OUTSIDE, you are even more beautiful on the INSIDE! God has given you a special ability to communicate His Word SO clearly and you are mature WAY beyond your years! I am so glad that I found your blog because you are such an encouragement to me!

I would now like to pass this award on to someone else that also brings me great encouragement with her posts.

Dawn at Dawn's Cottage Corner is another one of the sweetest people that I have met in this blog world.  She loves to cook and loves music which are two of my loves.  She is a wonderful mother to a 15 year old son.  God has given her a deep love for teenagers and she has a heart for seeing a great revival among our young people.  She has an amazing sense of humor and she always leaves the most encouraging and uplifting comments. Dawn, thank you for the blessing that you are to me and many others! 

If any of you have not met Dawn yet, please pop on over now to visit her now!

Many of You Make My Day!

 

I got my first blog award!  As many of you know, I am new to blogging and I am still a little unsure of exactly how all of this works, (I had to call my daughter to ask her what to do when I got "tagged" last week!) but I do know that I have many of your blogs that I now look forward to reading on a daily basis.  

So, thank you so much, Heather, for the "You Make My Day Award".  I feel like I should be giving it right back to you because I look forward to your posts and enjoy them so much! Thank you, also, Faith for encouraging me to start a blog.  (Even though you did kind of trick me into it! LOL)

I would like to pass this award on to some people who also "make my day"!  Thank you for being great "bloggy friends" and for keeping me motivated, challenged and encouraged through your posts.

Betsy Maddox

"Grandma Judy"

Becky

Melissa 

Nicki