Thank you for the Liebster Awards!

Nov4

Thank you so much, His Perfect Timing (https://hisperfecttiming.blog for two Liebster awards. It’s an honor to receive these from this lovely, dedicated blogger. I urge you to please check out her many diverse blog postings from healthcare and book reviews to lifestyle posts. It’ll really keep you busy and enlightened!

So here are the rules:

The rules of the Liebster Award are as follows:

1) Acknowledge the blog who nominated you for this award.
2) Answer 11 questions the blogger gave you.
3) Give 11 random facts about yourself.
4) Nominate 11 blogs.
5) Notify them.
6) Give them 11 questions to answer

MY QUESTIONS TO ANSWER”

How did you get started blogging?

A. I began this blog five years ago after I began to notice the many similarities of mental, physical and Spiritual health to food and godly living.

Where do you find your inspiration?

A. I found inspiration from Biblical illustrations, my husband’s sermons, my pets, my bookshelves as well as specific questions from followers regarding healthy living.

Have you learned any important lessons along the way?

A. Those who focus on people rather than their Creator will always be disappointed. God gives us patience to not expect perfection from others. B. Many are hurting; searching for encouragement, validation and purpose in life. C. Words and integrity matter. If you say you’ll do something, keep your word

What is one thing you can share with others about blogging?

A. One can accumulate friendships from all over the world through blogging and I look forward to seeing these fellow Christians in Heaven where we’ll have eternity to get to know each other in person!

Have you found blogging to be profitable? If so, what’s the secret?

A. Nope, my blog is a ministry and so are my books – although I would hope that those who promised their review, would keep their word. If they didn’t enjoy it, contact me privately.

How long did it take for you to develop your own unique style?

I didn’t realize I had a distinct style until a lady contacted me in Arizona for a seminar. She told me, “I googled, ‘Speaker, Christian, nutritionist . . .’ and congrats, you’re it!” When God moved us from AZ to Ohio, I spoke at her women’s group and we became instant friends going on 3 years now.

Who would you like to read your blog that isn’t reading it now?

Those who are attempting dangerous fad diets! Attempting to become healthier through crazy and illogical ways is not how God intended us to live.

How much time do you spend on your blog every week?

A. Probably a good 10-12 hours by researching, composing, posting and reading/replying to follow up questions.

How long have you been blogging?

A. 5 years without missing a week – (it might be time to take a sabbatical)

Where do you see your blog in the future?

A. Hopefully continuing to motivate others.

What one word describes you?

A. Enthusiastic

SHARE 11 FACTS ABOUT YOURSELF:

Okay, 1. I grew up on a poor NJ dairy farm where 2. I learned how to work hard and self-discipline at an early age. 3. Tough circumstances early in life, taught me to have gratitude for the good times. 4. I gave my heart to the Lord at age 14. 5. I’ve been married 48 years this month to the same guy who has been a military man, golf pro and now a pastor. 6. I find life is never boring! 7. I enjoyed change because I could get rid of the “old me” and morph into a butterfly. (Who asks for 11 facts??? Yikes) 8. My favorite place on Earth is Sorrento, Italy. 9. Have visited 39 countries and islands. 10. Lived in West Berlin Germany when it was divided and 11. Wherever I am, I am content in the Lord and NE Ohio is the best place yet!

Nominate between 5 to 11 other bloggers..

As someone who appreciates ALL my wonderful followers. I realize many have now created a “No Awards Zone Allowed” blog and I won’t offend them. Therefore, I am opening this award up to those who enjoy these and have the time to work on this project. It’s wonderful to discover more about those who write to me. Love you all!

MY QUESTIONS FOR ANY NOMINEE

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why

What author (alive or dead) would you invite for a dinner party?

Favorite book

Favorite movie

What colors are in your home

What is your best talent

What were you like in high school

What was your first car

What’s your ideal vacation

Name an item on your bucket list

Are you a dog or cat person

#CHAMPIONSAWARDS – Thank you Carol!

Jan21

What makes a Champion? Have you ever needed one? I have and I am pleased to say that one of my true Champion friends has bestowed on me a very sweet, yet humbling honor. Thank you Carol Balawyder for this lovely award which came from your heart. I urge you to check out this fabulous writer and blogger, becoming friends with her too: http://carolbalawyder.com/ You’ll love her books!

My goal is to never miss a week of blogging and for three and a half years, I’ve met that goal. Sometimes however, as you’ve probably experienced yourselves, it gets frustrating wondering what to write next. Maybe you’ve asked yourself as well: am I really making a difference? Whenever I’ve gotten a little discouraged, the comments and encouragement of my blogging friends have kept me going. How I love and appreciate all you dear followers who have become friends!

The Champions Award is a way of saying thank you to those readers and writers who go the extra mile in support of others. I know with this award we needn’t say anything special, but this is how Carol went that extra mile for me:

Since Carol Balawyder is a writer herself, she purchased and read my first novel, “Sometimes Marriage is a Real Crime” (only 99 cents on amazon.com – shameless plug.) Not only did she read it but posted a fabulous 5 star review which sold a couple of extra copies.

So as I progressed on my sequel, I inquired if she’d be curious to read the first several chapters and simply let me know what she thought. Once again she not only read it, she assisted me with common sense advice to enhance my plot and enrich character details! I’m happy to say that I’m thrilled with the final manuscript and now have it on the desk of a publisher in hopes they’ll bite. Thank you dear Carol for all your encouragement!

All my followers are Champions and I’ve selected these for this award:

http://cindygrasso.com/

https://thoughtsfromanamericanwoman.wordpress.com/

http://www.stroryland4.wordpress.com ( aka: Audria@TheWell.com )

http://www.lifeisnotaformula.blogspot.com

http://www.fromtrextotigress.com

http://www.yelobrd777.com

http://talkingtomyweightlosscounselor.com/

http://somebodylovesmeblog.wordpress.com

Friends, if you choose to accept the CHAMPIONS AWARDS, it’s simpler than most: please do the following:

Post this Award Sticker on your blog, with the hashtag #CHAMPIONSAWARDS
Acknowledge the sponsor of your Awards.
Choose at least five of your own nominees and advise them accordingly, attaching these 5 guidelines.
Keep it simple… no need for explanations for the Awards… we know how great these folks are.
You are free to give out these Awards as frequently as you wish.

I hope blogging has enriched your life as much as mine!

“I thank my God each time I remember you” (Philippians 1:3)

Thank you for the “Sisterhood of the World” Award

Oct6

How wonderful to discover while on vacation that I’ve been nominated by a lovely new follower, Fashionable Librarian for the Sisterhood of the World Award. I am honored and thank her so much for thinking of me. Please check out her fabulous “fashionista” blog at http://conciergelibrarian.com/2015/09/26/sisterhood-of-the-world-bloggers-award/

I find these type of awards a wonderful way to discover more about our blogging friends. Only wish I could nominate many more. Have fun with this one!

Here are the simple rules for participating:

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you, linking back to their site.
2. Put the award logo on your blog.
3. Answer the ten questions sent to you.
4. Make up ten new questions for your nominees to answer.
5. Nominate ten blogs, notify them.

Questions I had to answer:

What is your ideal vacation spot?

Where do I start? Possibly the coast of Spain, the Highlands of Scotland? The Rhine River of Germany? No, I think my favorite place is a small area high above Innsbrook, Austria called Pertisau. An absolutely breathtaking, peaceful village surrounded by mountains. My husband and I loved cross-country skiing there. Enjoyed stopping at local eateries for gluwein and brats as we progressed.

Where are you from?

Having lived in 14 States, moved over 20 times in my life as a girl, while in the military, golf and on God’s ministry, I’m from “everywhere.” Educated up north, raised mostly in the south. Best of both worlds!

What is the national dish of your country?

Probably Bar-B-que, wouldn’t you think, USA?

Dark or milk chocolate?

Definitely dark!!! Nutrients you know.

Coffee or tea?

Always preferred coffee until we moved to Ohio where the winters are freezing and spiced teas warm us up!

Do you have a pet?

Had a skunk, raccoon, calf, cats, duck, (until he went to duckie “heaven” my mom said. Can’t eat duck to this day) Now we own two crazy dogs, a Cocker and Lhasa who frequently get mentioned in this blog.

If so how did you decide on a name?

They fit the names they already had, couldn’t change ’em. Too stubborn . . . dogs that is, not us.

Reggae or Hip Hop?

I guess Reggae because of it’s happy Caribbean beat, but love all types of music from Jazz to Country.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

Mmm, any place near the ocean. Mykonos, Greece sounds good.

Why would you want to live there?

The warmth of the people, the freedom to write.

Here are my questions:

Would you rather win an Oscar, Pulitzer, Nobel or other award? Why?
What would be your dream job?
What characteristics describe your ideal husband?
What’s your favorite place to vacation?
What’s your greatest skill?
What was your first car?
What were you like in high school?
Have you met a celebrity? Who?
Have you been on television?
What historical person would you invite to dinner?

Have fun! Here are my Nominees:

“I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus,” (1 Corinthians 1:4)

I Humbly Accept the WordPress Family Award

May19

A Very Special Thank You to Deborah of www.talkingtomyweightlosscounselor.wordpress for nominating me for this sweet award, The WordPress Family Award!

I was amazed to discover that Deborah and I have been reading each other’s posts for only four months! That just goes to prove how quickly one can become friends via the blogosphere! I urge you to check out Deborah’s blog where she advises and encourages others to strive for healthy weight-loss through Godly, long-lasting ways. After all, He is the True Counselor! No dietary gimmicks for this lady! She looks amazing and if she can do it through sensible applications, then you can too.

Yes, as bloggers we do seem to become family, don’t we? When someone’s heart is breaking, we grieve along with them. When someone celebrates a special occasion we are happy with them. When one moves from a warm climate to brave the bitter cold of a northern winter . . . oh wait I digress . . . well anyway, close blogging friends sympathized with me. Sometimes, don’t you wish we could simply select all those who are close friends via our blogging network, and create one big, happy, encouraging town of our own? Yeah, me too.

Simple rules for the Award:

1. Copy and display the award logo on your blog. (check)

2. Link back to the person who nominated you. (check)

3. Nominate 10-15 others you see as having an impact on your WordPress experience. (check – all of these and more have been incredible supporters!)

4. Let your “fellow blogging family members” know you have awarded them. (check)

5. That’s it. Simple. Just please pick 10-15 people that have taken you as a friend, and spread the love. Simplest award I’ve ever won! But family members are supposed to make life simple, aren’t they?

I’m proud to call each one below a beloved friend, for each one has been there encouraging me and making me feel so special that I called upon my LORD to keep me grounded and realistic. I know that my life belongs to God and He is the one I ultimately work for. I wish I could nominate all 1556 more but then it would become another book. But please know that I love and adore all my followers! Please continue to express your comments so I can get to know all of you better.

The friends below are nominated as well, but I know they live extremely busy and hectic lives, so I leave it up to them to accept or not. No need to respond, but I want you to know you are equally special to me:

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you” (Philippians 1:3)

Book Tour Through Blogland

Feb16

Congratulations to Mary A. Perez on the release of her new novel, Running in Heels, debuting February 23rd!

Running in Heels is her personalized coming-of-age story of a Puerto Rican girl seeking love and security. Living with her difficult mother, then married to an abusive man twice her age, she overcomes insurmountable obstacles as faith and hope never fail! It’s an intriguing premise and I urge you to check it out at http://maryaperez.com/

It is my honor and I thank Mary, for asking me to participate in her Tour Through Blogland.

Describing My Creative Process:

1. What are you currently working on/writing?

My current book, “Life’s Too Short to Eat Bad Cheese” (Nutritional and Life Lessons God Teaches Us) has recently been released and I am now in the midst of publicizing it. It provides light-hearted yet convicting insight regarding our mental, physical and spiritual connection to food. Physiology: Why do I crave certain foods and why willpower alone won’t overcome it. Practical Application: God does not want us to suffer through some crazy diet plan. That’s why He placed Adam in a Garden; every nutrient we need to sustain life can be found there! Nevertheless, humans needlessly create their own crazy formulas which only destroy while Satan laughs. Spirituality: Why, when we know we want to follow God’s Will, do we self-destruct anyway?

2. How is what you write different from others of the same genre?

“Life’s Too Short to Eat Bad Cheese . . .” is not another diet book. It’s a Biblical philosophy meant to motivate and generate godly action. Using personal education through practical Biblical applications, one discovers how the past and present influences our response to food today.

3. Why do you write what you do?

My main purpose is to motivate others to be the best example of a disciplined Christian. That is my ministry. We are commanded by God to “Be holy because I am Holy.” (1 Peter 1:16) but many fail to do so.

As a certified nutritional counselor, I realize almost every “dieter” knows what to do but doesn’t. James 2:19 states that even the demons believe in God, but fail to do what He says. Head knowledge without heart knowledge is dead. Real change occurs from within. “As a man thinketh within himself, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7) How can our mind, body and spirit control our beliefs? Through sensible solutions, the reader discovers how.

4. What is your creative process?

I find creativity everywhere! There is a correlation between nutrition and spirituality all around us. I find inspiration not only in the Bible but as I walk my dog, drive, listen to sermons and what I read. My only challenge is remembering to transfer these to paper before they are lost in the vapors of my mind. When the muse hits however, I can write for eight hours nonstop. When one loves what they do, it’s a joy! Find yours!

Thank you again Mary, for inviting me along for the journey!

The rules regarding this project are easy:

Pass the tour on to another blogger (up to 4 others.)
Give them the rules and a specific Monday to post. (March 9th or 16th)
Answer those 4 questions about your creative process. (Allowing other bloggers and visitors to know what inspires you.)

Now, as Mary showcased me on her Tour, I have the pleasure of introducing you to another fantastic writer, who has also become a dear friend. She has is one of my favorite authors, Carol Balawyder!

puyb-meet-the-author-copy

Carol Balawyder has a wonderful talent for composing and defining distinct characters with whom all women can relate. She does this in her newest endeavor: Getting to Mr. Right. Each character is so richly written that you wonder if any could be your neighbor, co-worker, relative or friend? The novel emphasizes how important trust and support among women really is! Since you’ll find her protagonists in her other novels as well, reading her prequel is like revisiting dear friends from the past.

Carol herself, has certainly led a diverse, Walter Mitty lifestyle. Whether it was educating challenging kindergarteners, teaching poetry or English as a second language, researching at the British Museum, pursuing Applied Linguistics at Concordia University in Montreal or writing English as a Second Language manuals or freelance writing, this lady has done it all! No wonder she writes so well; she has so many life experiences to choose from! It also confirms why her characters are so well-rounded.

Please check out Carol’s blog for yourself at http://carolbalawyder.com/ Her books are available on Amazon.com.

Please feel free to choose one of these pretty Tour Through Blogland Photos!

Thank you for “One Lovely Blog Award”

Nov13

This post is long overdue. It arrived the day before we left Arizona and I promised to pass it along as soon as I could, so thank you Heather for your patience. Now that we have the internet installed in our new home. I hope to get back to writing regularly.

So thank you Heather for thinking of me. What a sweet surprise and such a lovely award. I am always humbled when someone believes my work is worthy of recognition. You can check out Heather’s blog at http://heatherbergdahl.com or http://survivemedschool.blogspot.com/. Currently she is a hard working student and amazingly versatile! Who knew this beautiful young lady, who looks like a fashion model, works on automobiles with the same surgical procedures as she does attending medical school? (I hope she’s one the “Versatile Blogging Award” as well!)

Here are the rules for accepting this award:

Thank the person who nominated you for the award.
Add the One Lovely Blog logo to your post.
Share 7 facts/or things about yourself
Nominate (up to if you’re new to blogging) 15 bloggers you admire and inform the nominees by commenting on their blog.

So 7 things people might not know about me:

I recently moved from Arizona to Ohio (Whither thou goest) to join my husband at his pastor position of a small, loving congregation.
Some of my blogging friends have become as close as family!
I have had a recent book published entitled, “Life’s Too Short to Eat Bad Cheese . . .” a perfect Christmas gift! Great for women’s Bible studies too!
I participated in theater when I was younger and was a children’s theater director for a couple of years.
I have been a military wife, golf pro’s wife and now a pastor’s wife all wrapped around one guy.
I was once overweight but keep healthy and control my weight through the discipline of loving God more than chocolate or processed foods.
Been to 49 states and I’m happy to say that Ohio has some of the friendliest residents in the US!

Now to nominate up to 15 bloggers deserving of this award. All of these are truly lovely and worth discovering:

“I thank my God every time I remember you.” (Philippians 3:1)

A Special Thanks to Two Special Ladies

Jul16

Once again, I am humbled by two followers who honor me with two Very Inspiring Blogger Awards. When I think of all those who are more deserving they could have selected, I am truly touched . Thanks go for this nomination to two beautiful, lovely, inspiring women: my ‘free spirit’ friend at http://alygeorges.wordpress.com who always dances in the rain and to my “searching for Angela Basset’s arms” friend http://fromtrextotigress.com. Please check out their blogs and be inspired as well! I appreciate their kindness as well as their friendship within this blogosphere we exist in!

Here are the rules:

Thank and link the amazing person who nominated you.
List the rules and display the award.
Share seven facts about yourself.
Nominate 15 other amazing blogs and comment on their posts to let them know they have been nominated.
Optional: Proudly display the award logo on your blog and follow the blogger who nominated you.

Seven Facts About Myself:

Love animals and as a farm girl have had a raccoon, skunk, snapping turtle and a duck as pets.
Can’t eat duck to this day because little Daffy “went to visit friends” and never came back.
My favorite country is Austria . . . well maybe Greece . . . perhaps Italy . . . mmm, or . . . any country I’m in. “Wherever you go . . . there you are.”
I’m looking forward to my first non-fiction book coming out within the next month, entitled “Life’s Too Short to Eat Bad Cheese . . .”
I love any movie that is intelligently written like “Benjamin Button” or with a “Wow, what a great ending!” like “The Shawshank Redemption.”
Love all types of music from Jazz, Rock, Oldies, Country to Christian.
My first car was my brother’s ’62 Chevy II Nova, which I happily used for a year until I had to give it back, sigh.

So now I get to nominate 15 other amazing (I try to nominate different ones each time) inspiring bloggers who will pass this honorably along to others. If you don’t have 15, nominate those you love. My wonderful recipients of this award this time are:

Thank you all for your great friendship, encouragement, comfort and strength. I love all my amazing followers so this decision is always a tough one. Blessings to all.

“Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.” (Philippians 1:#)

“Do these awards make my head look too big . . . ?”

Jun30

I love awards! I especially appreciate the thought that goes into giving them. And for Kim, to think of me amongst all of her 7.65 million followers, was extremely humbling. I very much want to thank my new friend from St. Louis and fellow blogger of https://kimgosselinblog.wordpress.com/ for nominating me for these two awards – I hit the jackpot here! This is fun as well as informative since I LOVE discovering even more about my friends around the world. I appreciate and accept the The Versatile Blogger Award and the Sunshine Award! I urge you to please visit this very talented woman’s well written and upbeat blog about finding joy in everyday life.

The rules of acceptance for the above awards are as follows:

1) Thank the person who has nominated you.

2) Place the award badges on your blog page.

3) Answer the ten questions listed below.

4) Pay it forward! Nominate ten deserving bloggers for the same awards. See, Easy Peasy . . .

So now let me answer those “Ten Delightful Questions” and I’d love to know how anyone else would answer them if one sticks out:

1) What is my favorite food? Anything with garlic (I know weird)

2) Who is my favorite actor? Oh, there are so many. I enjoy watching versatile actors: Morgan Freeman never makes a bad movie and Gene Hackman plays good types as well as he does bad.

3) What is my favorite television show? I like “The Voice” but feel it is going to get a little old seeing it twice a year. Favorite Christian program: Answers in Genesis with Ken Ham!

4) What is my favorite “Tear Jerker? Of course any movie where the dog dies in the end is a given for me!

5) Tea or Coffee? I enjoy dark, rich coffee although I was a tea drinker as a teen.

6) What is my favorite sport? What month is it? And what isn’t my favorite sport? Hmmm . . . Spent a lot of my college dates in Fenway Park, married a jock and learned to play golf, tennis, run, cross country ski and watch NASCAR. And I actually worked with the Redskins on a couple of projects when we lived in D.C. So “You make the call!”

7) What is my lucky number? Number 7 because it’s the number of completion.

8) What is my favorite holiday? Has always been Mother’s Day as I tried to instill fun into it with time-together activities as a family. (Like pulling teeth with the kids though) After many years, I believe we might be getting back on track again.

9) Twitter or Facebook? … oh I guess Facebook because of the photos but personally I’d rather have an actual hug than glance at what could have been from across the miles.

10) What is my favorite Christmas movie? (Do they currently know what MONTH it is?) “A Christmas Story” with Dickens, “A Christmas Carol” a close second.

So now I must choose ten bloggers to pass along my nominations to. This is always the hardest part because it’s like saying which kid do I like the best? Every one of them! However I usually nominate followers who comment a lot because I LOVE to converse with my round-the-world friends! (Speaking of which: Please drop me a comment when your post goes online? Thanks)

Now the Ten Deserving Bloggers Nominated Are:

¹⁷ A friend loves at all times… ” (Proverbs 17:17)

Thanks for the Versatile Blogger Award!

Jun25

I’d like to thank my good friend and versatile blogger himself, Liam, for another sweet award nomination; The Versatile Blogger Award. Appreciate his thoughtfulness but need a larger home with a bigger mantel.

As the award states, I must tell you 7 interesting aspects of my life and nominate up to 15 others to pass it along.

Okay, so here’s the list:

1. I haven’t blogged much over the past several weeks due to revising my book “Life’s Too Short to Eat Bad Cheese ” (Nutritional and life lessons God teaches us) for publication. It should be coming out the end of July. So exciting!!! Stay tuned!

2. I was a tour guide in Europe for several years. Couldn’t believe I actually got paid for that fun job!

3. I personally enjoy a wide range of reading genre’s, from apologetic Christian books to Jodi Picoult novels. Love “what if” intelligent works.

4. I don’t enjoy eating at restaurants but love to create my own recipes at home.

5. I was so crazy about horses as a child I created lots of stories about them. Now I blog about my dogs every once in a while, 🙂

6. Was always petrified of snakes and once got caught on our crossing bridge as a kid by one and screamed so loudly our neighbors from a quarter mile away came running!

7. Almost moved to Australia. We sold the car, got all the shots, my husband had a job lined up and then he was drafted. It became a road not traveled but I sure love all my Australian followers – so I guess I live through you all.

Okay, your turn: My nominees to pass on the award. Have fun! All of my followers are fantastic and most of these are newer and yet have become great friends across the miles already. Wish I could nominate all of you.

“I thank my God every time I remember you.” Philippians 1:3

And the Nominees for the Shauny Award are . . .

Dec9

My deepest thanks to Kate Bortell of http://katebortell.wordpress.com/ for this prestigious award. She has truly blessed me because as she stated, this award is “to commit to showing humility and love toward all others, and to enhance these virtues in ourselves and others.” Humility? Well that’s debatable but I’m honored that someone thinks so. And love? Absolutely! How I love all my followers who have encouraged me through their comments and support.

All of the nominees below have have touched my heart and life through their kind words. They have brought a smile to my face, a tear to my eye and always inspiration to my heart. Each possess courage and a positive, can-do spirit. These particular nominees are all over-comers who stared adversity in the face and said, “No, Not today! You cannot win! This day is for my LORD!!” As always I wish I could nominate so many more because my followers have become my friends and I hated to leave some out.

The criteria for the award (credit given to The Invisible Sage blogger, (http://theinvisiblesage.wordpress.com) said it better than I could)

The idea behind the award is to commit to showing humility and love toward all others, and to enhance these virtues in ourselves and others. It is also to encourage ten other blogs by co-nominating them because they show such traits as well. Key points then, as stated by another recipient of the award, are to:

Show humanity and humility
Show love
Be yourself
Don’t be others
Don’t gossip
Share the award with 10 others
Link back to the person who nominated you for this award
Display the award logo with pride on your blog/site. That’s it! Simple. Congratulations and go spread the love around!

“I thank my God every time I remember you.” Philippians 1:3