...and the Oscar....I mean the Good Egg Award...goes to...

Wow! My first blog award....I feel as if I should be wearing a gown, and I don't mean nightgown, for  my acceptance.

Barbara, from Footprints in the Sand, was gracious enough to honor me.  In a week where I'm feeling more like a scrambled egg than a good egg, this gesture made me smile. Thank you so much!
She has an awesome blog about being an American girl living in France.  It's great fun experiencing life through her eyes. Stop by and say hi if you get a chance!

As for the rules:

1.  Thank & link back to the person who gave me this award
2. Share 7 things about myself
3. Award other bloggers
4. Contact these blogs and tell them about the award

Now on to the exciting part;  7 things about me, whether you wanted to know them or not:

* I live in the same little town I grew up in after years of living elsewhere.  As Bon Jovi sings, "Who says
   you can't go home?" My parents live here so right choice. Hands down.

*I have one wonderful husband, three lovable/exhausting teenagers, and one loyal Golden Retriever
  named Winnie.  Having a dog while raising teenagers is awesome because at least someone
  is happy when I walk in the door.  (heard that quote somewhere....loved it!)

*I used to teach elementary school until our second son was born.  Now I substitute, often long-term, in
  our local schools.  Perfect job for me....flexible and fun.

*My husband and I moved to Switzerland with our 3 children when they were 5, 3, and 5 months old.
  Lived there for 4 years....loved all our experiences. Well...most of them.

*I love a good glass of wine.  Who am I kidding? I love a bad glass of wine! I'm not picky.

*I dip my french fries in sour cream.

*I love having a good discussion about anything...books, psychology, faith, writing, traveling, family or
  sex...not in that particular order.

I'm a little nervous about the tagging part. I don't want it to be like a chain letter where you feel guilty if you don't respond because you'll have bad luck or horrendous menstrual cramps for 7 years.

So here's my disclaimer: 

Girls, I'm giving this award to you because I love your blog, your style, and your graciousness in welcoming me into this blogging world.  No strings attached.

 If you want to pass it on...awesome!  If you don't ....awesome! 

 I would still invite you over for that wine!

.....and the Good Egg Award goes to..... (drum roll please!)

~ayala @ a sun kissed life

~Galit Breen @ These Little Waves

~Ms. Monet @ Postcards From a Peaceful Divorce

Thanks girls for being so kind, encouraging and funny.  I hope you're dressed better than I was when you accept this honor.

Now...back to bed! 

xoxo



P.S.  I have no idea why some of my sentences skipped midway through to another line.  Sorry if it's confusing....don't have the oomph to figure it out now. 

Proof that I really am "scrambled" this week!

Word for 2011

In January, when I first started to get serious about maybe creating a blog, I did some exploring. 

I found the idea of choosing a "Word of the Year" and claiming it for my own. 

Loved. This. Idea.

The word I chose?

Create.

What was I thinking!?!

I have spent hours trying to create this blog.

Hours that should be used taking care of my family.  I'm embarrassed to admit that it took about 5 hours just to learn how to make a banner on Picasa 3!

5 hours!

I could have cleaned a closet and made a gourmet dinner in that time.

The banner didn't even turn out the way I wanted. (whine)

Of course the gourmet dinner might not have either so that's a coin toss as to which was the better use of my time.

Seriously, I am wondering why I have become so devoted to this little blog.

I'm not trying to make money or collect 1000 followers.

(although I must admit I do love me some followers!)

So why am I doing this?

I guess I just took the circular way back around to the word.

Create.

I feel as if there are some things, and I'm still discovering them, that I need to express.

Whether this be through writing, photos, designs, or home decor it seems to feed something.

Something inside of me that has been quiet for a long time.

Looking back I suppose it was quiet because I was directing my energy elsewhere....primarily small children.

Now that my children are older they don't appreciate my butterfly sandwiches, Thankful Turkey displays, and splatter pictures quite as much.

My creativity needed another outlet. 

Hence, this blog.

Late at night, In the wee hours of the morning I have my insecurities.

I've never been this public about my writing...my feelings...my trials and mistakes.

Yet, I know I will wake in the morning....run to my writing space....and one sweet person will have left a comment.

That's all it takes, and it will encourage me.

To try.

To fail.

To get back up.

To create again.

Because there is one thing I have learned for sure during this small time I've spent in Blogging World.

People I have never met can make a difference in my life.

They are the ones who have made me laugh and cry...

Through their stories... their encouragement...their lives.

"They" is really you.

The you that is reading this right now.

Thanks for showing this little blog some attention and giving it some love.

I'm happy to give it right back at ya!

With all of you around me I feel as if I can really live 2011 while honoring my word.

Create.

Even if my attempts don't come out the way I visualize...

I will carry on...

I will create...and

 I will get to bed before 3 AM....but it's going to be close!

Sweet dreams.... xoxo

How about you? Do you have a word for 2011?
I know! I know! It's March already.
But it's still not too late to start.
What would your word be?
I would LOVE to know!

 

Ugliness Transformed Through Grace

*Describe a time when you saw something ugly, then found the beauty*


I see

 Machines, tubes, coils of wire, and a plastic box that holds a little being, a little soul, a little life.

A tiny needle pierces her soft scalp, tape on her face firmly holding the tube inserted down her throat.

I hear

 Electronic sounds that swoosh and beep, echoing through my entire body. No cry from my babe whos vocal cords are stretched by a ventilator...only tears tracing a path down her face. Silent wailing.

I smell

   The sharp antiseptic smell that reminds me not to touch anything...my nose twitches. The sweet fragrance of newborn skin absent.

I feel. 

 My hands tingle, spots of red where I scrubbed hard, trying to scour away any trace of bacteria, disease, possible infection that I carry just by the sheer fact I'm living.

 Tears, stinging my eyes and a throat impossibly tight with the effort of holding back sobs.

 My hands pressed against the smooth, hard plastic that separates us...for the first time in 9 months.

Being wheeled into the room, my postpartum brain only an hour old, my senses are assaulted. 

 I see, hear, smell, and feel.
Ugliness...pain...death....grief. 

 This is not where I am supposed to be.  

Somehow this ship docked in a different port. Not the sun warmed beach of my intended destination. Instead I've been washed onto the land of a frozen, cold foreign place......and I am sad,confused and angry. "I am not supposed to be here!" is the wail that longs to escape from my  mouth.

Ugly.

God's grace sweeps in ...without my invitation...and alters my senses.

I see. 

 Machines, tubes and coils of wire that sustain life for my babe. 

 Blue eyes that are impossibly large on a rounded face. Rosebud mouth, tiny nose, ten fingers, ten toes, seashell pink ears.

Other mothers eyes that hold mine in empathy.

I hear.

Steady beat of a heart, breath being breathed into tiny lungs, murmuring medical voices, soft lullaby falling from my lips.

I smell.

 Cleanliness...freshness....purity....life.

I feel.

Thankfulness for the medical care that surrounds, comforted by the caring nurses.

Blessed by the wonder of our newest miracle, and cradled by the wings of my guardian angel.

Beauty.

Promise transforms into ugliness which contains beauty. 

Seeing with our heart, with faith eyes, the beauty that is always there.

Sometimes hidden.... but always there.

Inspired by: The Red Dress Club
Shared on:  Poetry Potluck

*That "little babe" is now a healthy, happy, sweet, and sassy 13 year old. (in case anyone was wondering)  :)

The Beauty of Each Moment

Whoop Whoop!!  I'm excited!

When I started reading One Thousand Gifts yesterday I thought I'd be reading it

alone.

Which is fine....that's how I usually read.

But then this morning as I was checking the blogs I follow I realized that (in)courage has an

AWESOME

book discussion going!

And the cool thing is that the author, Ann Voskamp, is part of it.

Listening to her and the other women discuss her words..her lessons learned....has made the book come

alive

for me.

I have read, underlined, written, starred, and "heart-ed" my way through the first 3 chapters already.

The book club is on chapter 8....but that's ok.

I'm just going back to the older posts and proceeding at my own speed.

So now I don't feel so

alone.

So now God is able to speak to my heart, not only through the beautifully written words,

but

also through the laughter-producing, tear-jerking video clips and posts.

I feel as if I have just made some new friends to journey
along with...

so with that said...

One Thousand Gifts

1. a beautiful book speaking words of grace, thanksgiving and joy

How about you? Are any of you out there taking part in this wonderful journey? Let me know....  :)