Feeling better

     I've had a nice morning.  I spent a few hours in my quiet house going through the many blogs I've bookmarked but not read much, if at all.  Most of them are blogs written by widows/widowers.

I found so much comfort in them today.

You can't always say that about the blog of a widow -- you all know that first hand.  

But today I did.

     First, I read a comment from Carrie over at Ceaseless Praises.

This lovely young woman has given me an award (visions of "A Christmas Story" now running through my mind ..... it's a major award!!!).

Back to the present ..... Carrie thinks my blog is fabulous and I am oh, so flattered.  She has been and continues to be a wonderful encourager to me ..... and we've never met.  

     So I'd love to just receive this award and let you all just enjoy looking at it with me, but with the award come a few rules, if you want to play along, and I am certainly going to play along.

First, I must pass this award on to 10 blogs that I think are fabulous.

Here we go .......  in no particular order:

1.  Good Times Delgado Style  I just recently "met" Vanessa and I can tell you that she is an amazing young woman with an even more amazing love for God.  Her family has been through so much this past year and yet she still chooses to glorify God in it.  She has been a prayer warrior for me and I think she, and her blog, are fabulous.

2.  God Spots  Luanne is also a fabulous woman who keeps me in her prayers.  I love going to her blog to get a boost and a spot of joy.

3.  My Life as a South-East Country Wife  Kristy is an amazing young woman who is on this path with me.  We all think that we didn't get enough time .... I'm not sure you EVER think there was enough time, but she had so much stolen from her ...... and yet she keeps putting one foot in front of the other and moving forward.

4.  Oops We Did it Again  BritGirl is another blogger whom I've recently met.  I love her blog because it's about life .... new, unexpected life, which is the best kind.  I love reading and waiting with her for the birth of their 4th child.

5.  Rocking Chair Reflections  I always enjoy checking Linds' blog to see what fun thing she's doing each day.  She is an inspiration for moving forward and enjoying life (and she has FABULOUS pictures of her trip over Christmas!!).

6.  Tamara's Spot  I am so blessed to have this woman in my life as a friend.  We are not only co-bloggers and co-workers, but friends.  I love Tamara and her family and I love her honesty.  And I have really loved watching her grow in so many ways over the years -- and growing closer to her over this past year (though she's probably not grown enough to want to play along by listing 10 blogs!!).  And that's OK.

7.  matt, liz and madeline  I just found Matt's blog and I really do think it's fabulous.  He is raising his baby daughter alone after the sudden death of his wife and I, for one, think that he's doing a fabulous job ...... and so he gets the fabulous award.  Plus, his daughter is so full of life and joy that I get a little piece of that joy with every picture that he posts.

8.  Well Honestly Now  I love this blog because Wendie NEVER fails to make me laugh.  Out loud.  And I think she loves that, too.  

9.  Big Mama  Melanie has probably received dozens of awards like this so she's used to it .... and she's a pretty well-known blogger.  That's because she is so hilariously southern!  And she's a terrific writer.

10.  Bring the Rain  I've been quietly following Angie's blog since she started it.  I don't have enough words to accurately describe it, or her ..... other than she is a woman of God and I'd love to sit down with her and have a nice, long visit.

The next rule of this award is that I must list 5 addictions ..... yes, just 5.

Hmmmmmmmm .......

1.  Blogging

2.  Chocolate mint truffle coffee creamer (which is only around over the holidays so I will all-too-soon be having horrible withdrawl).

3.  Gabby --- yes, I am addicted to my dog, though I try really, REALLY hard to not be obnoxiously addicted (you may disagree)

4.  my Circle -- I am addicted to spending time with these precious friends of mine and I feel an almost physical loss when we don't meet weekly.

5.  Jim's love -- Yep ..... I know that sounds strange (unless you're in my Circle) but I am totally addicted to that love, and mine for him, and this addiction is a good thing.  It's so huge that it will continue to keep me feeling loved for the rest of my life.

OK, there you go.  I followed the rules (as I, an oldest child have mostly always done).

I have another post in me but will give you all a break for a while.

But only a short while.

:)