Oh Boy! Got More Awards for Which to Give Thanks and Share

Words can’t express how truly thankful I am for the following 3 awards given to me by my Scotland friend, Shaun Gibson at “Praying for One Day”. We made an instant connection, when I noticed he lived there as my paternal grandparents were from Scotland. It’s a place that has always fascinated me and I’ve put it on my bucket list as one of the first places I want to visit. I had the chance to Skype with him and loved hearing that accent once more ― put me in tune with my roots.

Shaun lives with chronic Fibromyalgia pain which limits a lot of what he’s able to do, as a man of 40 with a young family. So, he posts on his site on a variety of topics from music, family, personal reflections, ghost stories, space and current events to politics. He researches and passes along what he finds and is pretty successful, I’d say, with 1000+ followers and 100,000+ views. You don’t have to agree with all of what he says, he just wants you to care, be open and be a part of the solution. No doubt, I’m sure you’re bound to find something that will keep you coming back to his site for more.

The 3 awards I’ve been blessed to receive from Shaun are “Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award” (yes, I know it’s a girly award from a guy ― that didn’t stop Shaun), “Semper Fidelis Award” and “Peace and Justice Award”. I’ve acknowledged each one below and followed the listed rules. I hope you will visit the fellow bloggers I’ve nominated for I have grown close to them and enjoy their stories and the messages in their writing. I know I keep choosing some of them for awards over and over only because I feel they are so worthy of recognition.

I know I’ll be posting the pictures of these awards again further on in my post, as I acknowledge them and choose my nominees. I thought they were especially nice and colorful so I just wanted to put them together here, first.

sisterhood-of-the-world-blogger-award1

Semper Fidelis Award

Peace and Justice Award

Peace and Justice Award © 2013 Barbara Mattio

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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2013-2014 Pat Ruppel

A Special Thank You ― Dragon’s Loyalty Award

Dragon's Loyalty Award

Dragon’s Loyalty Award

I was happy and surprised when I saw that Sherri Matthews at “A View From My Summerhouse” gave mention to my site for an award and nominated me for this Dragon’s Loyalty Award.

I had never seen it before. It is beautiful and I am extremely grateful and truly honored to be listed as one of her nominees. I’ve recently gotten to know Sherri through photographs, stories and poems.

Though, I haven’t traveled much. I enjoy taking these journeys with her down the wooded paths of the UK, as well as reading about what is going on in her life ― family, her values and struggles.  Continue reading

God Bless our Troops ― Thank You!

Today, we celebrate Veteran’s Day honoring our soldiers that are serving and have served to protect the United States. In tribute to many that have put their lives on the line, both young and old, for the freedoms we share.

To all veterans, from the bottom of my heart, I salute you and say THANK YOU!

May God Bless You and your families!

Pat from the ol’ kitchen table

Thank You For The Sunshine Award!

The Sunshine Blogging Award
The Sunshine Blogging Award

 I’m honored to be nominated for “The Sunshine Award” (twice) from a couple of my favorite inspirational, internet-blogger friends.

This most recent Sunshine Award nomination comes from Diane Reed on her “The One Thing I Know for Sure” site. I’ve come to know Diane through her life stories of struggle and triumph. She has been a testimony to me in how she shares her life in the highs and the lows.  Continue reading

Blue Moon

Photo by Jim Ruppel – Copyright 2012

There’s a Blue Moon tonight meaning it’s the second full moon in a calendar month – this month being August.  It’s bright, full, eerie and majestic as it hangs there in the sky.

While typically it is rare that the second full moon would be blue in color certain unusual particles of dust or smoke in the atmosphere can create them.  Folklore has it that the name Blue Moon originated as a saying for when there are more full moons in a month than ordinary.

It is hard to believe on the same day of this month’s second full moon a National iconic legend, the first man who set foot on the moon, Neil Armstrong, was laid to rest – almost in tribute to a humble hero.

He commanded the Apollo 11 historic moon landing on July 20, 1969 and said as he stepped on the lunar surface, “That’s one small step for a man, a giant leap for mankind.”  It’s been over 43 years ago and no other event has been more gripping and proud than watching a human walk on another planet.  It hasn’t happened since nor been pursued.

Tonight’s Blue Moon is beautiful to watch rising in the sky, a pale yellow, as it first appears on the horizon.  It seems so large and close at first and brightens the higher it gets lighting up the ground as if it’s day.

I can’t think of a more fitting salute to Commander Armstrong than the heavens escorting him to the other side with the rise of a Blue Moon.

Pat – from the ol’ kitchen table