Sunshine Blogger Award

I have been honored to be nominated for a couple of awards and a challenge in the last couple weeks.  I was nominated close to the beginning of my blog, but, I had no idea how I was supposed to respond to it.  I didn’t realize there were guidelines in accepting them.  I said thank you and was honored.  I didn’t announce it or tell about the person who nominated me either (truth be told, I thought nominations actually would eventually lead to an announcement of a winner – that’s not how blog nominations work – so sorry!)  I will do better this time with the last two nominations I received.

Today I will focus on the nomination from The Coffee Bean Brain.  Claire is an amazing blogger that speaks of embracing herself as an introvert, a doctor and life in general.  Stop by, read her blog and get to know Claire.  I believe your life will be blessed by what she has to say.  She definitely spreads the sunshine around.

She nominated me for The Sunshine Blogger award. The Sunshine Blogger Award is an award for bloggers from bloggers. It’s a way of recognizing bloggers who are positive and who creatively inspire others.

sunshine blogger award

One of the rules of accepting the nomination is to nominate ten sites I believe pour out the sunshine in my life.  I have a few I will nominate that I know have already received this award, but I wanted to acknowledge them anyway.  You don’t have to do anything with the award.  I just wanted you to know that you spread positives on my days:

  • Travel Much?  – She makes me laugh.
  • Beyond the Flow – She shows joy in the midst of chronic illness.
  • Freedom born…Aussie Christian Focus – Her focus is beyond positive with her eyes fully on God.
  • Aster Pari – Song of Soul – This site makes me smile because I enjoy the poetry.  I actually am not a fan of poetry.  I guess it’s over my head in some ways.  I’m a simple type of girl with a preference for people to “just say what you’re thinking clearly”.  I don’t like discerning what the heck I’m reading (usually).  But this site has short poems, that are deep, yet easy to understand.
  • Super Inspired Moments – His posts are focused on the positives in life and directing readers to reach their full potential.
  • From Belgium With Love and Waffles – This my niece’s blog about the move to Belgium, her husband’s home country, she and her husband made this summer.  Kevin is a missionary with Sport Quest and they moved back to work in his country for the same ministry to spread the gospel.  Jenni is funny in her representation of life’s events.  I think you’d enjoy reading it.
  • Pastor’s Ponderings – Dennis and I have adopted each other as twin brother and sister.  We’ve known each other since college where I first greeted him with the phrase, “I have a bone to pick with you.”  It made for immediate bonding!  Dennis is a minister and a good writer.  His postings are thought provoking with humor thrown in.
  • I Wrote a Book.  Now what? – This is a blog about writing for writers.  It makes me smile because it is overflowing with information about writing, but is written like she’s sitting down and talking with just you.
  • Welcome to My Little Piece of Heaven – She has great daily quotes as well as posts where she takes you into her day or experience with her.  It’s like having an outing with a friend.
  • Autism in Our Nest – This blog is written by a mother with two children on the autism spectrum.  She is honest and straightforward about all aspects of living life in the autism spectrum world.  Since my oldest is on the autism spectrum, I find her writing encouraging and it helps me to know I’m not alone in this journey.

The second rule is to answer the questions presented by the person who nominated you.  Here are the questions and answers.

1.   What do you feel most proud of?  I’m most proud of the fact that I was able to continue to parent my boys even through abuse and rough times, but especially after my husband’s suicide.  That means the world to me.  They always knew they were loved.

2.   If you could only keep five (5) possessions, what would they be?  1 – My phone with charger.  My phone would give me access to Bibles, Kindle books and music.  But the main reason I would want it is because the things I hold most dear aren’t things at all.  I have friends who don’t live close to me and my children and mom text me throughout the day.  To not have access to them would take away the best parts of my life on earth.  2 –  A huge pad of paper so I have lots of room to write with lots of erasable pens with refills.  3 – A toothbrush and toothpaste – I’m kind of ridiculous about my teeth. It would still be bad for me if I don’t have flossers, but I only have five things.  4. – Flossers.  I told you I was ridiculous about my teeth.  I would be having dreams about cavity creeps (from an old Crest commercial when I was a kid) invading my teeth.  I honestly have those dreams. 5 – Jewelry findings – With these I would have a way to express my creative side and give me something to do with my hands and mind.  It is a good release for me.

3.   What feels like love to you?  Someone really wanting to be with me and I with them. You can tell by someone’s smile and the way they are when you’re together if someone truly enjoys and loves their time with you.  Close second to this is the intense look of love my dogs gives to me when they look in my eyes and the purr of my cats when we’re sitting together.

4.   If you could choose just one thing to change about the world, what would it be?  Have people care about each other rather than being self-absorbed.  It would change the world.

5.   If you could witness any event of the past, present, or future, what would it be?  I’d love to have been able to be with Jesus when He was on earth.  I’d love to  see both His birth and resurrection, but I really would loved to walk with Him and hear Him speak.  I can only guess that the look of love He would have in His eyes when He looked at me would make my dog’s look of love pale in comparison.

6.   What makes you, you?  Probably my sense of humor.  It can be rather mischievous at times, especially with my kids.  I love to laugh and humor is a natural response for me in most situations.  

7.   What is true happiness?  Living for something more than yourself.  When your focus is on others, you find happiness in the giving.  By giving of yourself, you become a better person and your focus becomes much clearer than if you were focused only or primarily on yourself.  I have found that most self-absorbed people are rarely very happy.

8.   What would be your perfect day?  The day would definitely start with sleeping in.  Then it would go into a day at the beach, with a good friend and/or family floating on the waves, sitting on a beach chair with the waves passing over my feet.  I’d love for the day to be spent with a good mix of fun time together as well as quiet time to reflect and just be.  A WaveRunner would be an added happiness because I do love speeding across the water – it is pure joy for me.  The day would end with a nice dinner with said friend and/or family at a restaurant by the water where we could casually eat and talk.  

9.   What is “home” to you?  Home is a place where drama isn’t a part of the equation.  Even though this hasn’t fit my actual home life all the time, I feel the most at home and comfortable when there is no drama.  I just don’t handle it well.  It stresses me out and I see no purpose for it.

10.   If you could choose your last words, what would they be?  I love you.

That is my Sunshine Blogger Award nomination.  Thanks to everyone for adding so much happiness to my life.

12 thoughts on “Sunshine Blogger Award

  1. Its a great joy for me to learn that my blog has contributed happiness to you. Thanks a lot for nominating me. Keep up the good work you are doing.

    Lots of Love:)

  2. This is such a heart warming post. I agree with your items you can’t be without, phone, charger, toothbrush, floss…yup! The essentials.

  3. Wouldn’t that be a great way to leave this life? I’m planning to get to reading more of your blog as well. It’s (you’re) inspiring.

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