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. 

It’s taken me some time  and I didn’t want to be remiss in mentioning my first Sunshine Award nomination from accomplished author Bea Sempere (Denise Baer) last year, Dec 13, 2012, on her site at “Skipping Stone” Memories. I’ve been fascinated with her life in Germany and new transition. She always stops by my site for a read and inspires me with her comments and feedback, which is evident by receiving her most recent “The Best Blog Supporter Award”.

I hope you’ll spend some time, go to the links and check out their sites and amazing stories, especially Diane’s called “A Thing of Beauty in an Unexpected Place”, a story on how she lost her business and almost her life and daughter’s in an earthquake, and Bea’s moving story called “A Love that Lasts Forever” in tribute to her mother she lost Dec 7, 2011.

I’m going to take Diane’s lead and share 7 fun things about me instead of the traditional questions. Maybe you’ve already read some of them in the stories on my site:

1. Almost “killed” my husband (not really). It was one of those “fruitcake” moments, when I was young and newlywed. I tried to give him a push start and pushed him out onto the highway thinking his car had started, while I stopped to check for traffic.

2. My mother was from the south and father was from the north. There were some interesting family talks that included “damn Yankee” and Mason-Dixon Line.

3. We’ll be married 47 years this year ― getting closer to the Golden one. Not bad for only knowing each other for 6 months and me only 19, which was no small task considering how we got married? You can read more about it in “Young Love to Old Love”.

4. We live in the Rocky Mountains at 8,500’ ― makes for some spectacular thunderstorms at times. We have several pine trees bearing the scars of such storms. We’ve had some pretty good snowstorms too.

5. I love: nature, babies, elderly (on my way to being one of those), night sky, rainbows, flowers, birds singing, wind blowing in the pines, an old song or a good story to name a few.

6. Our daughters have gone on to getting their degrees in spite of our not being able to help. One daughter has earned her BA in Registered Nursing and our other daughter has earned her BA in Journalism. I’m so proud of them for their determination in furthering their education.

7. I took the plunge last Dec 2012 and self-published my first free e-book (nothing original there). It’s short (only 15 pages tops) with 6 stories. It’s called “Sweet Days of Summer ― All is Okay and Other Wisdom Stories”. I’m hoping there are more stories in me to write, as I’d like to attempt a second book ― much longer next go around.

Now, on to the best part of receiving this award and, that is, it’s a privilege to pass along 10 (+3) of my favorite sites and bloggers, among many (hard to choose) I’ve come to know and love. Here you go (da-da-ta-da)!

Please do me the honor of checking them out, you will truly find some talented gems with gifted words of wisdom:

1. “Blogging Without a Blog” by Barbara Swafford. We’ve been following each other since 2007.  She is such a valuable resource, friend and support, especially in my beginning blogger days.

2. “Adversity University Blog” by Stephen Hopson. Another blogger I’ve known since 2007 in my old blogger days and have followed each other ever since. Stephen’s journey is incredible in what he has overcome and accomplished. He’s currently on a shamanic journey in Peru.

3. “Pearce on Earth” by Brandon Pearce.  I found Brandon, via my husband, as a guest on the Tim Ferriss 4-Hour Workweek site. I was impressed with his adventure of travel, love of family, spiritual contexts, not to mention incredible success as an entrepreneur. I was honored to have him as a guest on my site and found his spiritual reflections and resources to be life changing. He’s genuine in how he tells his story.

4. “Colloquium”- Janie Siess and I have also been following each other since 2007. She recently started writing again and supporting others in book reviews. Her credentials are quite impressive to include a 6-year litigation of the Conservatorship of the Wendland before the CA Supreme Court and musical performances at Carnegie Hall.

5. “Serenity Spell” by FeyGirl, an advocate of Florida’s threatened ecosystems. I’ve been captivated by her beautiful photos and stories of wildlife in the Everglades.

6. Beverley Young at “Welcome to Ghost Talk Blog” tells stories with an interesting change of pace, while stretching to think out of the box. Having a psychic grandmother, I am intrigued with her concepts and stories of the world beyond having some experiences of my own.

7. “Searching for the Happiness” by Wendy McCance, a gifted and inspiring writer, who I’ve come to know and love in her down-to-earth stories of everyday life. She is generous in the sharing of her abilities and resources and, though we’ve been internet friends a relatively short time, I truly appreciate her.

8.  I enjoy Barbara Topolosky’s site “My Life in My 60’s” and can relate to some of her topics and  inspirational stories sharing today’s life on the move and in the past.

9. I know Susan Cooper at “Finding Our Way Now” has been given this award among so many others and rightfully so; but, for those of you who are reading about her here for the first time, I want to share her with you. I truly respect her talent and expertise not only in blogging but her other gifts, as well, in podcasts and graphic art.

10. I love following the travels of Randall St. Germain at “Camino My Way” on his pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago in honor of his mother. We’ve gotten to know each other through his photos and stories. They transport me to a different world I’ve longed to travel someday.

11. Sorry, I couldn’t stand to leave out these remaining three ― so many to choose from ~~ Alex Blackwell at “The Bridgemaker” and I have also known and followed each other since 2007. He is a trained life coach and accomplished author and I value his wisdom and support.

12. Patricia Singleton’s heart is on the “Spiritual Journey of a Lightworker”, an advocate for the safety of children and adults, male and female, who have suffered at the hands of abuse and incest. Patricia and I go way back to my old blogger days and we have kept in touch and supported each other down through the years.

13.  Joanne at “joannerambling” on her slice-of-life tales. I understand her physical challenges with life and family and we follow and support each other.

There’s no obligation to complete the process of accepting this award. I’m just happy to honor you and share it with the hope others will come to know you, as I have, in the knowledge I’ve gained, the friends I’ve found and the hearts you have touched.

Thank You!

A message from Shaun, the creator of this award:
This is an award for everyone who is part of the “Word Press Family” I started this award on the basis that the WordPress family has taken me in, and showed me love and a caring side only WordPress can. The way people take a second to be nice, to answer a question and not make things a competition amazes me here. I know I have been given many awards, but I wanted to leave my own legacy on here by creating my own award, as many have done before. This represents “Family” we never meet, but are there for us as family. It is my honour to start this award. Thank you, Shaun @ http://prayingforoneday.wordpress.com/

Rules:

1. Display the award logo on your blog.

2. Link back to the person who nominated you.

3. Nominate 10 others you see as having an impact on your WordPress experience and family.

4. Let your 10 Family members know you have awarded them.

5. That is it. Just please pick 10 people that have taken you as a friend, and spread the love.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH, AND LET’S CONTINUE TO SPREAD THE LOVE!
BE BLESSED!!

Pat from the ol’ kitchen table