Surprise! Fellow bloggers spread encouragement with the Liebster Blog Award

Thank you to Behind The Smile the author of  http://BhindTheSmile.blogspot.com  for the privilege of the Liebster Blog award. It made  me smile. She is a brave woman who says, "I only hoped my experiences and thoughts may resonate and be of some help to others who wear their smile but have illness or struggles to deal with behind the smile." 

As a recipient of the award it is now my privilege to pass this on to other bloggers. The Liebster award rules are as follows (If you so choose):

1) Answer eleven questions. 

2) Think of eleven questions of your own to ask.

3) Choose eleven worthy bloggers (who have fewer than 200 followers) to pay the award forward to.

My answers to Behind the Smile's questions

Q1. Who is the person who has influenced your life the most and why?

If I I had to pick only one HUMAN who has influenced me the most, it would have to be my husband because he completly changed the course of my life.  I think that there is a sneaky plot in the heavenlies that picks out a soul mate specifically for the purpose of chipping off our rough edges.

Q2. Do you have a saying or a quote which is your favourite and you refer to often?

Yep!One in four people are mentally unbalanced.

                                               Think of three friends.
                                               If they seem fine,
                                               You’re the one.

Q3. What is your greatest fear?

The deepest, almost non-verbal fear is that I am unlovable and not good enough .

 

Q4. If you could turn back the clock what would you change? If anything?
My husband and I have suffered many "catastrophies" but they  shattered illusions and our egos, bringing us to a place where we turned to His Love.

Q5. What do you do to be kind to yourself?

No matter what I always have a good, strong cup of tea and I always manage to hack out a garden,  In university I once was given a load of manure for my poor excuse of a garden as a BIRTHDAY PRESENT!! That would actually be a load of sh--.

Q6. Name two positive attributes/gifts you have? 

I can disarm most people and give them the chance to relax and warm up during a conversation. I also have been given an infectious gift of joy that bubbles up in spite of myself when I am with others.

Q7. Name one new skill you would like to learn? 

How to drive a car.

Q8. Do you attend church? If so what do you like about your church?

Yes. Lots wrong with my denomination but I treasure the Eucharist, the presence of Jesus in the host.

Q9. What are you thankful for?
My husband and my kids, the gift of joy,  the power of forgiveness and mercy in relationships.

Q10. What makes you smile?
People and our foibles.

Q11. Why do you blog?
I have so many stories bottled up inside, I did not want to forget them and as I write, more rise up. I am surprised by what comes out as I write. It is a source of great joy and I become so engrossed in writing that when I come back to the present moment, I am hungry, thirsty and aching everywhere



The following are my Liebster Award Winners in random order, Congratulations!

Emily http://coffeeandspellcheck.wordpress.com/
Claire  http://mumologic.wordpress.com/

Denise    https://www.blogher.com/member/denise  

Fatcat   http://www.blogher.com/member/fatcat 

Isabel_Anders   http://isabelanders.wordpress.com/ 

Darcie  http://www.blogher.com/member/victoriasview

Sunbonnet  blogher.com/member/sunbonnetsmart 

@meganbroutain  http://www.blogher.com/member/thebehavioralchild

Dawn Storey http://www.blogher.com/member/alphabetsalad

Kraken http://www.blogher.com/member/kraken

Karen Ballum http://www.blogher.com/member/sassymonkey

Now the FUN part. MY questions

1. Who are you writing for (besides yourself) when you write?

2. How did you come up with the title of your blog?

3. What are off limits on your blog and why?

4.Have you ever offended anyone with your blog and would you care if you did?

5. What makes you laugh?

6.What makes you cry?

7.What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you?

8.What's the funniest thing you've ever seen?

9.What advice would you give new bloggers?

10.What are you grateful for?

11. What quality do you like in others? In yourself?

Versatile Blogger Award.

I would like to thank "Life Cherries " for honouring me with the Versatile Blogger Award.


Here Are The Rules For This Award
1. Thank the Blogger who nominated you

• Thank you, so much Life Cherries you are kind, supportive and FUNNY

2. Include a link to their site.

• http://www.lifecherries.com/2012/07/the-versatile-blogger-award.html

3. Include the award image in your post.

4. Give 7 random facts about yourself.

       # I love quirky, intelligent, creative people
.

       # Sometimes when I am reading and writing, I am VERY focused and only come back to reality when every bone in my body is aching, I am starving, thirsty and desperately need to use the washroom.

.       # I love cats

        # My favorite books are The Narnia Series- powerful allegory.

        # My husband is the opposite of me- thank God.

         #  I love to put the water on to boil and THEN pick corn on the cob. It is the sweetest then because none of  the natural sugars have turned to starch.

         # I am in awe of how well my kids are turning out.


5. Nominate 10 other Bloggers for the award.

   Since I nominated bloggers from blogher the last two times, this time I am going to take time to read and get to know bloggers on wordpress and blogspot. So I will keep adding to the list. Here is a start

http://www.myalienbody.com/alienbody-  because she is witty, with a wry sense of humour and she is brutally honest


http://unfinishedbizness.wordpress.com/-  straight forward, honest and funny

http://namammaste.com- a young, wise, articulate mum

http://rambleramble.com/  - she can be funny or serious, intellectual or down to earth but she always writes well

http://shambolicliving.com this woman is prolific, I love her photos as well as her open-hearted discussions about an imperfect life

http://bhindthesmile.blogspot.ca/ she writes about a potential debilitating illness with insight and even humour

http://lifencanvas.blogspot.com - a wonderful artist with uplifting messages

http://canadiandad.com/category/the-blog/- a  "dad" blogger who sees things from another perspective

http://smy2brazil.blogspot.ca/- A missionary who writes great stories from Brazil. He truly is writing from a different perspective as well

http://coffeepoweredmom.wordpress.com a truly versatile blogger