And the winner is...

So, I almost forgot to post my winners! (I'm kinda new to this whole contest thingy)

If you remember, the challenge was to identify what was in this picture:

Well, I had a variety of water-based guesses, but only two people who mentioned pools, and that is the closest guess, because this is a photo of something that took place in a pool.

It's a picture of Jimmy's baptism! During the summers, our church often held baptism services at a local pool.

So the two winners are my Uncle Chuck at Secondary Roads and Shanda at A Teachable Heart.
Enjoy your award and feel free to pass it on!

Last Chance!

Today is your last chance to earn the Tommy Toe award by guessing what's in the picture. It does have to do with water, but no one has the situation quite right yet, so there's still a chance for you, yes you, to swoop in and win it!

What is it? The challenge returns!

I recently won the Tommy Toe award over at Secondary Roads for a "What is it?" challenge. I have decided to carry on this new tradition in the hopes that it will take the bloggy world by storm.

Take a close look at this photo. What do you think is pictured here?

The first correct or best guess will be declared the winner. The winner will be awarded the Tommy Toe Award for sheer brilliance.

The Tommy Toe gets its name from what my grandmother used to call this wonderful fruit that makes such wonderful sandwiches with bacon and lettuce. The BLT was one of her favorites. Every year when fresh tomatoes were available in the garden, she would get together with a friend and they would make BLTs for lunch.

I remember that this food love continued on through her years with us grandchildren, and I too love a good BLT on a hot summer day.

GOOD LUCK!
...and may the best guesser win!

I am so not totally unappreciative, people!

I want to take this time to say thank you to those of you who nominated me for awards and what not for my little corner of the bloggy world. (even to those of you who nominated me with a statement similar to, "Look, I know you don't really get into these things, but....) It's not that I've been ignoring you, but I often just don't have the time, and with this heart thing now, I often don't have the energy, either. So, here are the awards that I remember winning... if I missed one from you, please let me know!

There's quite a few, so thanks in advance for your endurance. :)

FIRST! The coveted Zombie Chicken award. (This one I really, really wanted, so....YAY!) "The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken - excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all…" This award came from Clara (aka my mom), so I can't give it back to her. (That would be rude!) Here are five other bloggers for whom I would brave a pack of zombie chickens:

1. Liz at A Mom on Spin
2. Mark at ...sez Mark
3. Erica at Much Ado About Nothing
   
4. El at Profoundly Seth
5. Conversations With a Cupcake

SECOND! From Vanilla over at String Too Short to Tie, I received the 2009 Friendly Blogger award. (Thanks, V!) No restrictions seem to be attached to how this gets distributed, and I must say that I'm hard pressed to pick who's the friendliest.... hmmmm. I guess I will pass this on to my friendly friends... hmmmm. Ok. You, you, you..... and you. All for you, my friendliest of friends! (You know who you are, so grab that award and put it on your blog!)


THIRD! Next comes the Marie Antionette Award for courage from Clara (aka Mom). (My mom likes to give me awards, btw, and I'm Ok with that. You'd be spoiled, too, if you were an only child.)

The tag line for this award reads, "Queen Marie Antoinette is the epitome of a real, fun, fearless woman who is never afraid of getting what she wants.” This is an award for courageousness, not selfishness, though. My mom has some interesting info about the real Marie on her blog, if you're interested.

So what do you want? Are your motives pure? Then you could be one of the seven nominated for this award. Why seven? Who knows? Here are my recipient selections for this courage award:

1. Meaghan of I Kicked Cancer's Ass. Meaghan fought off cancer, went back to law school, and is in the midst of surgery recovery. (Go wish her well!) She uses her web sites (she sells yummy coffee, too!) to raise funds and cancer awareness and to bring aid to others in the midst of their battles. She's a brave, positive person with no fear when it comes to facing down prejudice against those with cervical cancer.
2. Jill of Jill's Believe it or Not. Jill's last post details the medical issues her daughters are facing and she's not feeling so great herself. What does Jill want? Answers. Will she get them? You bet. She's also a very fun person. (CAW!!!) It was great to meet her out here in the blogiverse.
3. Jen at Cake Wrecks definitely deserves this award, too. Now her great battle is against the bad cake makers in the world, and I truly hope she wins, but I can't help asking myself what will keep me entertained if she does. She's fun and fearless, posting all kinds of craziness on her site. She also shows us the good side of cakes every Sunday. Thanks, Jen.
4. Mama Kat over at Mama's Losin' It. Mama Kat has been braving the new world of gluten-free living due to her kids' recently diagnosed gluten allergy. She's been chronicling their (mis)adventures on Allergies Shmallergies. She wants what we all want: happy kids and a crazy good time.
   
5. Liz again! Anybody who can survive all the craziness of teenage girls and rampaging priests (can I say that?!) and still be quirky and great and funny deserves as many awards as I can get my hands on.
6. Ummmmmm..... I am out of ideas. I guess I'll stop at five.
7. Tada! I made it to 7!
   

FOURTH! (and this one is from Mid-March!) comes the "Friends" blogger award from Uncle Chuck at Secondary Roads.

“These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.” (Eight?!? I neep a nap. Also, I'm pretty sure whoever created this award is somewhat of an attention leech. "cleverly-written text"? Really?!)

This'll be fairly easy. Kind bloggers who don't toot their own horns. Easy.

1. Shanda
2. Melissa
3. Jill
4. Erica
   
5. Rachelle - Ok, so she is a book agent, but she's so writer-centered and awesome!
6. Stephanie
7. K
8. Kiki
   

My goodness, but this has turned into an epic post! I hope that everybody enjoys the awards that I have bestowed upon them in turn, and I promise to (try to) stay more on top of my acknowledgement and thankfullness in regards to bloggy awards.


Thanks, everybody!


PS. Another one from Secondary Roads just came in! ...but I'm tired! It's gonna have to wait. I hope you enjoy checking out all of these fine folks!

Noblesse Oblige Award

In American English especially, the term noblesse oblige has also been applied more broadly to those who are capable of simple acts to help another, usually one who is less fortunate.
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Why is it that whenever my mom - Clara of Coming Back to Life - sends me an award, I am off my game and undeserving?

Ok, Ok, this is only the second award she's given me. The first was the Lemonade Award: an award for being a positive person. She sent it to me on a day that I was totally sucking lemons instead of making lemonade.


The circumstances around this Noblesse Oblige award is no different. Check out what she wrote about me:

Lynne nominated 3 blogs for this award. I don't know if there is a required number or not. I'm only going to nominate one blog. She doesn't usually participate in memes and awards so she may not post that she has received it. But she certainly deserves it and I hope you'll go read her blog. She is Mikki at Here's What Let's Do. Mikki has Celiac Disease and much of her blog is devoted to helping others who have this problem find ways of coping with it. She also tells funny or serious stories of her life as wife, mother, and teacher.

But when she left me a comment, saying she'd understand if I didn't follow up and post the award, what did I do? I was happy that she'd relieved me of the commitment. Sure, I thought, I'll get around to it eventually (11 days later now), but I went to her page anyway and skimmed the post. Oh, nifty, I thought.

But I didn't READ the post. I didn't realize I was the ONLY winner. I was so self-centered that day, thinking about MY life, MY commitments, MY work problems... ME ME ME ME ME.

Why is it that we snub those we love? When I read the post again today - really read it this time - I realized that I have done my family a disservice. I have said, "Yeah, whatever," to my Mom when she did a nice thing for me. What kind words she poured out for me. What pride I see in those lines. And there I was, ignoring her attention.

I'm honored to have been chosen to receive this award. It represents a type of person that I DO strive to be.

Like the aid worker who travels the globe, but does nothing at home; like the Christian who is religious on a Sunday, but hateful at home; like the benefactor who supports children from overseas, but does not give to local foundations, I was so busy with being helpful, that I risked being harmful.

I hope, Mom, that you do not mind the 11 days of silence, because I AM grateful for the award, and touched that you would choose me to be the sole recipient. I am glad that you think that I am deserving of it.

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The conditions for receiving the award:

1. The Blogger manifests exemplary attitude, respecting the nuances that pervade different cultures and beliefs.
2. The Blog contents inspire, strive to encourage, and offer solutions.
3. There is a clear purpose at the Blog, one that fosters a better understanding of Social, Political, or Economic Views; the Arts, Culture, Sciences, or Beliefs.
4. The Blog is refreshing and creative.
5. The Blogger promotes friendship and positive thinking.

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Here's the fun part: choosing who to send the award to next. I have decided to pass this award along to Beth of A Real Anti-Supermom. Her posts remind me so much of when my kids were little, and she keeps such a pleasant tone to her writing. I think that she deserves the award because she

• definitely promotes positive thinking - "Don't Cry Over Spilt Milk"
• displays a realistic view of our blogging culture and society - "Love-Hate Relationship"
• takes a creative approach to all her posts, even incorporating great art - "Hot Mom"

(hehee - that last one I just really liked! I had to get it in there somewhere!)

So, go visit Beth! Check out her lovely, realistic, it's-ok-to-be-a-normal-mom-and-person-and-have-a-great-time-doing-it-oh-and-also-laugh-at-yourself-along-the-way blog. Oh, and Beth... Thanks. Your blog is the awesome.

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Here are the rules:

1. Create a Post with a mention and link to the person who presented the Noblesse Oblige Award.
2. The Award Conditions must be displayed at the Post.
3. Write a short article about what the Blog has thus far achieved – preferably citing one or more older Post to support.
4. The Blogger must present the Noblesse Oblige Award in concurrence with the Award conditions.
5. The Blogger must display the Award at any location at the Blog.

Time out for Lemonade!

While I was sitting on the couch grousing and pouting, I decided to check my blog comments, and found that I've been given this award:
Clara (aka my mom) over at Coming Back to Life gave me this award for "showing gratitude or a good attitude (from 'if life hands you lemons, make lemonade')! " I kid you not.

The Irony, oh! The unlimited, hateful irony! gah! Poetic justice, too, perhaps? After all here are a few of my favorite "If life hands you lemons" quotes:

• If life hands you lemons, make grape juice. Then, sit back and let 'em wonder how you did it.
• If life hands you lemons, throw them back and ask for chocolate.
• If life hands you lemons, stick 'em in your bra and be glad it's better than nothin'!
• Since when are people just randomly handed lemons?
• If life hands you lemons, chuck them at people. Survival of the fittest, baby.
• If life hands you lemons, make tea!
• If life hands you lemons, just shut up and eat the damn lemons.
  

And, perhaps my all-time favorite:

• I AM SICK AND TIRED OF PEOPLE TELLING ME WHAT TO DO WITH MY LEMONS!!!!!!!!!!!

So on this cranky evening when I am wet from turning on the shower by accident and itchy from fiberglass shavings under my skin, when I am mad because my house was put together oddly by thrifty do-it-yourselfers and now that it's breaking I can't do it myself, too, when I wish my husband could cook, when I wish my kids could cook, when I wish fast food didn't taste like the packaging it comes in, I am happy.


I am happy because even though one bathroom is broke, I have another one (and a half!)



I am happy because there are three Christmas trees in my house. Some of them are messily decorated, and that's Ok.



I am happy because I get to decorate this year, because I feel like decorating this year, and because I actually managed to find almost all of my decorations for this year.



I am happy because my family loves me, even when I cut holes in the wall that I can't really fix. Even when I burn dinner. Even when I lose my temper because of something I myself did. Even when I pout on the new couch while wearing a wet t-shirt.


I am happy because I have the bestest husband ever, who probably will read this and be SO proud of me for using the word "bestest" on my blog.





I am happy because I have a son who is old enough to learn what it means to be a man, but young enough to snuggle and just hang out.





I am happy because said son is very happy to spend his chore time cleaning the toilets so I don't have to. And happy to mop. He loves to mop.





I am happy to have a daughter who does stuff like this.



I am happy to have a daughter who is just like me, who knows she is just like me, and is quite content - if not downright proud - to be just like me.










I am happy to have this dog. (Who wouldn't be?)







Finally, I am happy to have others who inspire me and show me the way when it comes to peace and contentment in a life made complete in Christ. I don't have 10 blogs to recommend as the award stipulates, but I will do my best to follow the rules, which are as follows:

• Put the logo on your blog or post.
• Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!
• Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
• Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
• Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

My nominees are:

1. Shanda at A Teachable Heart - A down-to-earth, honest, woman of integrity who never fails to have some amazing wisdom to share. Also a friend from the real world who I have seen move through adversity with grace and strength.
2. Joy at News From Joy - my sister-in-law. Although our boys are the same age, they've had very different paths through life. In dealing with her son's disabilities, illnesses, and surgeries, she has managed to stay positive and faithful.
3. Megan at I Kicked Cancer's Ass - a new acquaintance out here in the virtual world, Megan blogs about fighting through cancer and the stigmas associated with a cervical cancer diagnosis. She also has just finished college and runs benefits for other fighting cancer.
4. Just Say Julie at Keeping up with the Chreste's - another newly found blogger who is cheerful and fun to read, too.
5. Melissa at A Mom Like You - A wonderful friend, Melissa now has a blog, too! She is an amazing mom and a spiritually strong woman. She is kind and intelligent and just all around fabulous. Melissa has taken her mothering advice to the web with this blog and the virtual world is lucky to have her!