My friend, Pia, gave me this blog award. Isn't it bright and beautiful? Thank you so much, Pia.

The "rules" for this award are simply to list 10 things that you love and then pass it along to 10 other bloggers. So, here's my list:

1. I love my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

2. I love my family.

3. I love summer.

4. I love gardening.

5. I love my church.

6. I love the colors red and green.

7. I love creative writing.

8. I love the Bible - God's holy Word to mankind.

9. I love my blogger friends and family.

10. I love praise and worship music.

I can think of lots of other "loves" but I'll quit here.

Now, to pass it on to others. I'm going to pass this award to bloggers who, I think, make the blogosphere a more beautiful place (and who haven't already received this!) If you want to just accept the award without making any lists, that's fine. I DO want you guys to know that I appreciate what you do through blogging.

1. Clara at Coming Back to Life
2. Chuck at Secondary Roads
3. Debbie at Just Possibly
4. eLisa at Extravagant Grace
5. Joy at From this Side
6. Gabrielle at Couponing in Critical Times
7. Megan at Daily Essential Deals
8. Deneen at Desperately Seeking Deals
9. Jenn at Growth in God
10. Mrs. H. at Heritage Schoolhouse

My friend, Nancie, at More than Conquerors gave me this award. You've just got to go visit her blog and see the huge list of friends she has made through blogging. Nancie has a lot to be thankful for, as you will see once you begin to read her posts.

Thanks, Nancie!

Best Blog Award

My friend, Chuck, at Secondary Roads gave me this award. It is quite an honor to receive it because, if you'll read the  stipulations below, you'll see it's humbling.

"The rules of the award state that you must post it on your blog together with the name of the person who granted you this award and a link to his/her blog.

Pass the award on to 15 other blogs you have recently discovered, and think are great! Remember to contact the bloggers you’ve awarded to let them know they have been chosen."

Boy, who to choose when there are so many very good blogs on the web? The blogs that interest me the most are spiritual ones and those that contribute something to lives of everyday people who are just passing through on their way to Heaven. So, with that in mind, here are some excellent blogs you may wish to visit. They are in no particular order of importance.

1. 1 Blog and 2 Sides
2. Extravagant Grace
3. Free Spirit Haven
4. Heritage Schoolhouse
5. Mindful of Us
6. The True Life Adventures of Neener Girl & Family
7. Magnolia Blossom Art

I'm sorry I don't have 15 here. I've been super busy and on top of that, sick. But I did want to post this award. It's beautiful and quite the honor.

Inspirational Blog Award

The other day, Chuck over at Secondary Roads gifted me with this award. I am honored to receive it and count it a blessing to be able to touch another life with inspiration that comes from the Lord.

Oh, who to pass it to?

I really enjoy A Collection of Days - just the pictures alone are awe inspiring.

Pia's Journal is full of inspiration. This girl has the faith to move mountains.

Laurie Ann at A Magnolia's Heart Beats never fails to encourage me when I feel down - and she most often doesn't even know that she's done it!

I visit Free Spirit Haven every chance I get. Angie is a real blessing to me and will be to you too.

The above blogs are inspiring and a joy to read. I hope you'll visit them soon.

Lovely Blog Award

I've received another blog award! This one is from A.J. at Teen Christian Site. I love it, A.J., and feel honored for you to have given it to me.

I'm going to pass it on to Rocks at Made to Worship. It's a beautiful blog.

Awards Galore

I received each of these awards from Secondary Roads - you really must go visit Chuck and read an interesting blog. Check out his wife's pictures from a recent missions trip to be inspired. We're not put on this earth to serve ourselves. It's so good to be reminded of the needs out there because I think we just get into this vacuum that sucks us into a place that screams "ME!"






I received each of these awards from Secondary Roads - you really must go visit Chuck and read an interesting blog. Check out his wife's pictures from a recent missions trip to be inspired. We're not put on this earth to serve ourselves. It's so good to be reminded of the needs out there because I think we just get into this vacuum that sucks us into a place that screams "ME!"

Zombie Chicken Award

I can't begin to tell you how much this award means to me - I think! Colleen over at Short Stories in the Making passed this one to me. Thanks, Colleen!

Here are the rules:

"The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken - excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all ....... "

Without further ado, I'll give this to some of my followers:

Susan at One Day at a Time
Joy-Anne at From this Side
Hip Chick at A Collection of Days
A. J. at Teen Christian Site
Julie at Girl's Night Out

Generosity and Other Awards

I have received yet more awards this week - six of them! It's so wonderful to know that others recognize and appreciate my blog and I'm thrilled to accept these from Clara at Coming Back to Life. This is a wonderful blog that I really appreciate. Her weekly feature, Wednesday Hero, is a special blessing because it reminds us of those who've laid it all on the line for the freedoms that we each enjoy.

While all of the awards are a blessing, the generosity award is special because it underscores something that seems to be missing in today's society - a true giving spirit. I am reminded of God's generosity this Easter season. He generously gave me salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ and His shed blood on a cross. Without that, I would have no chance of redemption.

Thank you, Clara. And thank You, Jesus.

The only award with rules (as I understand it) is the generosity award. Here are the rules:

1. Show generosity towards others in the blogging community by giving a small gift of appreciation. This can be free advertising, a card in the mail, or anything else your imagination takes you.
2. Send this award to at least five others. If you wish to send the award to more then that, feel free to. Generosity has no limits.
3. Link back to the person who sent you this award.
4. Copy the rules as well as the award into your post.
5. Enjoy yourself and have fun!

I am going to pass this award to:

Wanda
Christy
Jenn
Tami
The Mom with Brownies

If you gals have already received these, sorry. I never know who would like to play along and who wouldn't.

Awards Received

Last week I received the Friendly Blogger Award from Colleen at Short Stories in the Making. Her blog is a joy to visit and I hope you'll stop in there to say hi.


I received this Passionate Blogger Award from Chuck at Secondary Roads. If you haven't visited this blog yet, you're missing out.

Thanks to Chuck and Colleen for thinking of me! I'll try to pass these on later this week but I wanted to acknowledge them now.

Passionate Blogger - Me?

I'm not sure of the rules for accepting this award, but I'm going to try to do it correctly. Colleen of Short Stories in the Making gave me this beautiful award for being a "passionate blogger." I'll say that I do write with passion - it's a joy for me though I don't always have time to properly devote to it. Someday when my children are on their own I'll be a little more free to "let my fingers fly across the keyboard."

For about a week I won't have my laptop to access the internet because our wireless router went kaput, so I'll be working on manuscripts rather than blogging for a while. Jonathon is graciously allowing me to use his computer (desktop connected to the modem) but I don't want to take advantage of that too much. He does have a DIVE into Math program he's working on so he needs his computer.

Anyway, that's a lot of nothing. Colleen awarded:

Tara of ifmomsaysok
Rachel Anne of homesanctuary
Denise of shortybearsplace

Sue of beggarsshotglass

Melissa of frommelissasdesk

Rita T of following31

Peggy of thesimplewoman

Danielle of simply50
Kimberly of blessed1 and wornoutwoman

Now I'm going to award:

Christy of At the Creek
Jenn of Growth in God
Bev of He Lives
Melissa of Musings of a Multitasking Mama
Rocks Made to Worship

Please pick up your award and post it proudly on your blogs, ladies. Pass it on if you have the time but don't feel pressured. These things are supposed to be fun and not a chore.

Friends Award

I received this lovely Friends Award from At the Creek a while ago and am just now getting to posting about it and passing it on. This has been a busy day with two church services and the hour is late so I'm just going to get right to the "rules."

“These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.”

I don't necessarily think you have to stick to the eight people rule, but I'll do my best. I'm going to choose some of the bloggers I visit daily or close to it and pass it on.

One Weigh at a Time - This blog helps others lose weight in a very encouraging manner.

My Christian Diary - Donna's a Christian wife of an Army man and she has a powerful blog.

Frankie's Corner - She sure loves her family!

Overcoming Chronic Illness - Ev encourages others to be healthy.

Fatty Prejudice - Can you tell I love these health blogs?

Secondary Roads - You can learn a lot from this blog.

Blog Love Award

Secondary Roads has gifted me with this Blog Love award. I love it because it pictures some of my favorite things (typewriter, pencils & hearts)!

Here are the rules attached to this particular award:

* When you receive the Blog Love award, you should place the logo on your blog proudly!
* Link to the blogger that awarded you the love.
* Nominate your friends and bloggers you read regularly, as many as you like.
* Finally, let them know you’ve nominated them to receive the award.

I'm passing this to:

Growth in God

At the Creek

Now with Baby

Guy's Wife

I apologize if you guys already have this....if so, look at it as "twice the love."

A New Award

I have received the Noblesse Oblige award from Christy and am proud to receive it. I'm not too sure that I deserve it, but then, who really does deserve all of the great things she receives in life? Yes, amid a house of sick people, a van with a punctured gas tank, and a husband with two upcoming surgeries, I think I've received lots of blessings. Just the fact that we have a house full of family and chaos rather than an empty house with echoes makes me thankful.

To qualify for this award a blog and blogger must fill these qualifications:

1. The Blogger manifests exemplary attitude, respecting the nuances that pervades amongst different cultures and beliefs.
2. The Blog contents inspire; strives to encourage and offers solutions.
3. There is a clear purpose at the Blog; one that fosters a better understanding on Social, Political, Economic, the Arts, Culture and Sciences and Beliefs.
4. The Blog is refreshing and creative.
5. The Blogger promotes friendship and positive thinking.

As a Christian blogger writing about and for the Proverbs 31 Woman, I've tried hard to keep in mind that women (and men) from all walks of life frequent this blog. While I not always agree with some of their ideas, I hope that I've remained respectful of them. We're not always going to agree on everything and even in the Bible there are those "gray areas." I think it's important to meet somewhere in the middle on some of the issues. And more than that, some of the things we could argue about are just not important in the larger scheme of things.

When I first put up Following31, I resolved to give my thoughts on Proverbs 31, verse by verse. It has been one of the most rewarding times that I've posted here because it gave me a chance to really study the verses myself rather than simply listen to someone preach it.

To pass on this award....hmmm....

I think I'm going to give it to Eyebright. She's a recent homeschool graduate who I think is a great role model for young ladies. Her blog is uplifting and encouraging, considerate and respectful, though she doesn't pretend to approve of something that she doesn't. We need more strong young people these days and Eyebright is one of them.

Lemonade Award

A while back I was given this Lemonade award by The Frugal Housewife. Then I got busy and forgot about it. Shame on me!

Today, I found I have been awarded again, this time by The Power of Me and Seeking His Face in Everything.

I so appreciate each of the above blogs and the people who pen them that I don't want to neglect passing this honor on to others. Here are the rules:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs that show attitude and/or gratitude.
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know they have received this award by commenting on a post.
5. Nominate your favorites and link to this blog.

I went through some of the blogs I'm following and found that there are great attitudes within them. Without further ado, here are the folks I'm nominating:

The Mom with Brownies
The Empty Nester
Made to Worship
Live/Seeking
Life is a Story in the Making
Growth in God
Christ-faithdefenders
1 Blog and 2 Sides

Not quite 10, but I'm going for quality rather than quantity :)
In other words, I ran out of time!

Please visit the above referenced blogs. You'll be blessed by them.