Beautiful Blogger

Thank you Marinda for my Beautiful Blogger Award. It was totally unexpected and brightened up my evening last night. You are a great friend and my only wish is that we lived closer to each other. Though with how busy you keep yourself with raising two kids, running a cleaning business, doing professional photography (and I do mean professional) and helping Eric with work from time to time, we'd probably never see each other still. Thank you for your kind words and always taking the time to help us make fun memories with our children.

As part of the award, I'm asked to list 7 interesting things about myself. Not sure if I can write about something other than the kids, but here goes:

1. I am a child of God. We are all children of God, so in worldly standards, it doesn't make me interesting or special, but in God's eyes, I am interesting, special and one of a kind. He knows me through and through and loves me in spite of all my shortcomings. Because of God I am interesting.

2. I have been blessed with two beautiful children who this blog is dedicated to and written for. It started as a way to keep family up to date on Goy's growth and discoveries while we traveled, but has become so much more. It is their baby books, our family journal, a daily routine which relaxes me better than a cup of hot chocolate by Pop's fireplace on a rainy day. Because of my children I have become more interesting.

3. I have a wonderful husband who makes me joyful every second of every day. He comforts me when I need it, teases me when I deserve it, supports me in all the projects I start (and encourages me to finish them), respects my opinion in all things and believes in me more than I do. Because of my husband, I know someone will always find me interesting.

4. I know all of my grandparents. Until just this year, each of my 4 grandparents were just a phone call, or short drive away, and boy do I use the phone a lot. This makes me interesting because most people in my generation can't claim the same even if their grandparents are/were all living in their lifetime. Also, the stories they have shared with me, the lessons they have taught, make me a better person.

5. Pop and I have many nick-names for each other (for both our sakes, I'm not posting them here), but we've always had a special connection and although I gave him a very hard time growing up, he made sure to spend quality one-on-one time with me, and still does (looking forward to our next Dodger's trip!).

6. My best friend is my Mommy. This may not make me that interesting, but it took me a lot to get to this point. I gave her a lot of headaches during my teen years, but thankfully for me, I woke up before too much time passed. I call her every day, just to talk, to laugh, to cry - Thank you Mommy.

7. Others have called me a crafty person, while I appreciate the compliments, I'd have to disagree. I'm a clever copier. Most of the ideas I use are not my own, but usually multiple ideas I mold into one. I do try and use them to bring others enjoyment, and that makes me interesting.

Now - onto nominating 7 bloggers:

1. Julie - my mother and best friend. She is the reason I have a blog, she has her own blog and she started a family blog for her large, spread-out family to keep in touch.

2. Erin - my sister-in-law, but more of a sister than an in-law. I always wanted an older sister and she came into the family when I was 15 and has become one of my closest friends. She catches everyone up on her two great kids (I'm a very proud Auntie) with her sweet blog.

3. Patty - my sister-in-law (Frankie's sister). She started her blog recently and hasn't been able to update lately because she's a BUSY mom. But when the updates come in, they're too cute (proud Auntie again).

4. Chelsey - my cousin, but more like a younger sister since the time she was born. She just started her blog and shares such great newlywed stories - I remember those days like they were yesterday (when did I become so old - thanks for reminding me Chels).

5. Erin C. - a close friend since I can't even remember. Erin has already been nominated (she touches too many lives in the blogosphere not to have caught one yet) and posts great stories and pictures of her beautiful little Allyson.

6. Christy - a friend I lost touch with years ago but just connected with this year thanks to Erin C's blog. Christy has two beautiful girls that although I've never met them, I feel like I know them through the adventures she posts on her blog.

7. Stephanie - a cousin by marriage, and a great friend because of it. She keeps her blog updated each month with things she puts on facebook, since I'm in the stoneages still and haven't joined, she keeps me updated through her blog.

I've been told to pass along the instructions I was given, but PLEASE know there is no pressure to come up with 7 people to pass the blogger award to - I was lucky to have 7 bloggers to pass it onto (my whole blog list).

Instructions for the NEW SEVEN BEAUTIFUL BLOGGER WINNERS!

-Thank the person who nominated you for this award. -Copy the award; place it on your blog. (At the top) -Link to the person who nominated you for this award. -Tell us 7 interesting things about yourself. -Nominate 7 bloggers. -Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.

Congrats and Good Luck!