You may have noticed this little button over in my sidebar for some time now. It’s been sitting there, patiently waiting for me to get my illness plagued household pulled back together… waiting for me to remember. Well, I haven’t forgotten. It’s a pretty special little button, because that cute little girl splashing along in those rain puddles is Jacqui. I wanted to create a little something to pass on to extra special bloggers who are inspirational in their strength. You know the sort… the ones that smile through the tears, and keep that upward tilt to their chin no matter what. The ones that keep walking even when life’s path becomes daunting in it’s steepness. This month, I would like to honor two such souls.

Tiff, of Three Ring Circus. Tiff is my mommy hero. And has she ever had one tough month. Not only has she just passed the fourth anniversary of her sweet little William’s death, she also has had to wrangle two serious hospital admissions in less than a month with her beautiful little Ivy. Somehow she keeps going. Somehow she is still able to crack a wry smile and a tongue in cheek joke now and then. Somehow she keeps her beautiful family in even more beautiful smiles. How? Because she’s the Mom. And an exceptionally fine one. Keep singin’ Tiff. Your song means more than you’ll ever know.

Melody of Slurping Life. In the space of a few months, Melody has been through countless medical challenges, both for herself and for her wonderful, vibrant household of boys. She also quietly surrendered a treasured hope of her heart with a smile and a heart filled with prayer. And my heart wept and prayed with hers. She’s a selfless soul, reaching out to help others even when her own world is reeling with heartache. If that’s not singing in the rain, then I don’t know what is.

I would be honored if you would both be the very first recipients of this award. And pass it on to someone else. Someone you have found singing in the rain or whistling in the dark. The world needs more such souls and we should reward them with ounce of sunlight we can spare.

award blogging award In The Life of a Child Singing In The Rain Award In The Life of a Child’s Singing In The Rain Award

OK, it’s obviously been too long since I’ve done an award post… and goodness, have you guys ever been busy! Lots of awards to pass on today… are you ready?

First up - Many thanks to the delightful duo, Carrie at Chocolate The Other White Meat and Kandy at Ramblings of a Redneck Woman who have dubbed my blog ‘Excellent’ with the Excellent Blog Award. I find you ladies to be most excellent as well!

I am passing this award on to the following Excellent blogs:

Lucy at An Ordinary Mom
Thomas at The Gluten-Free Casein-Free Diet Experience
Karen at Only Sometimes Clever

Next, Summer at Summer’s Nook awarded me with the Powerful Words Award, and I couldn’t have been more delighted! A true compliment, coming from Summer, who writes with the most beautiful, powerful imagery. Thank you, Summer!

I am pleased to pass these awards on to:

Jo at Florescence
TaunaLen at TaunaLen

Next, I would like to thank Stacey at Not For Profit, But For Joy for awarding me with the Blogging With A Purpose Award. A higher compliment could not be paid to me, Stacey. Thank you so much for your kind words about my efforts here.

I am passing this award on to the following bloggers who put heartfelt purpose into every post:
Casey at Casey’s Critical Thinking
Isaiah at Joie de Vivre
Becky at I know Something Good
Shalene at A Proverbs 31 Woman Wannabe
Kathy and Tim at Duckabush Blog
Sarah at Real Life
Angie at Sonflower
Liv at Liv Laugh Luv

Next, thank you to Tiff at Three Ring Circus for the delightful Magical Golden Blogger Award — Thanks for the smile, Tiff!

I am passing this one on to Casey at Casey’s Critical Thinking for his magical assistance in helping me tame the terrors of my new WordPress blog’s plugins. Were it not for you, Casey, the only plugins I would have successfully installed by now would be from the ‘Hair Club’ because I would have torn all mine out in utter despair and frustration had you not come along when you did. I pay grateful homage to the WP Plug-In Master!

^:)^

The next two awards are from one of my ‘favorite-ist’ bloggers, Trish at My Little Drummer Boys. She’s the wonderful Aussie mum of two delightful little twin boys who never fail to put a smile in my day. The awards were given to her entire blogroll, and I picked them up to share with a few special bloggers. Thanks Trish! The first is the
I Love You This Much Award…

I would like to pass this award on to three lovely ladies that I just adore:

Carrie at Chocolate The Other White Meat
Kandy at Ramblings Of A Redneck Woman
Leejo Bert, Bean, Rockstar, and Schmoozer

The second award is the Best Blogging Buddies Award and I would like to pass this award on to some special friends who just make blog-land a happy place:

Jen at Unique But Not Alone
Ursula at The Daily Drool
Kristi at Music Mom Of 2
Jenn at The Daring Adventure
Shannon at Gabi’s World

Still with me? Told you that you guys have been busy! The next award is the Grrrr8 Blogger Friend Award from Marla at Marla Baltes. Marla is a wonderful blogging friend with a beautiful little girl who also suffers from CVS like Jacqui does. I know she would appreciate any of your prayers on behalf of her little girl. Marla gave this award to all of her commenters on Valentine’s day (Thank you Marla!), and I’m going to pass it on to some wonderful new friends who have been commenting at In The Life of A Child — welcome!

DP at Poetic License
Mima at Mima’s Doings
Christina at Momology
Krista at Going Gluten Free
And also to Sophie… Even though you don’t have a blog…

Next is the Faithfulness Award from Deb at Mom Of 3 Girls and Summer at Summer’s Nook. Thank you Deb and Summer, I wish I could pass this one right back to you two… you are the epitome of faithful blogging buddies!

I’m going to pass this award on to some blogging friends who never fail to stop by and brighten my day with their comments and emails… you ladies are like sunshine!

Marla Marla Baltes
Jo Florescence
Tiff Three Ring Circus
Becky Abba Stories
Trish My Little Drummer Boys
Elissa Managing Autism

The Next Award is the You Make My Heart Flutter Award from a blogging buddy of mine who is the wife of a police officer with a private blog. This award really put a smile in my day! Thank you ‘Mrs. Anonymous’!

I’m passing this award on to the following lovely ladies who routinely tickle me with their wonderful comments and friendship:

Lainey at Blog In My Eye
Trish at My Little Drummer Boys
Deb at Mom of 3 Girls
Ice Cream Diary at My Ice Cream Diary
Summer at Summer’s Nook
Tiff at Three Ring Circus
Corey at Living And Loving Every Minute Of It

Next, Tiff at Three Ring Circus awarded me with the lovely Beauty Within Award. I feel the same about you, Tiff — thank you!

I would like to pass this award on to some exceptionally lovely souls:

Donetta at A Life Uncommon
Kim at The Bitter Ball
Corey at Living And Loving Every Minute Of It
Val at Dig Your Toes In

The next award is from the lovely Tiff at Three Ring Circus and it actually made my cry. To understand why, you need to know Tiff. Which if you don’t, I suggest you get over to her place and start reading. Like yesterday. Tiff is beyond amazing and is fighting her way through some of the most heart-rending struggles imaginable. And she’s a dear, dear friend. She’s created the Blogs With Heart Award for blogs that have touched her heart. I can’t ever recall a time when I’ve been more touched by an award, and it’s a beauty…

This very special award goes to some very special ladies who have touched my heart with their incredible stories of courage…

To Melody at Slurping Life as she struggles through sudden medical challenges in her own life while raising three beautiful boys with special needs and waiting with quiet patience for God to reveal his plan for her family.
To Pam at Rhett’s Journey as her family faces a string of upcoming surgeries for her darling little boy and the financial challenges that come with raising such a child.
To Tammy at Praying for Parker as she fights with the beautiful courage of a mother’s heart to secure the medical treatment her precious little boy so desperately needs while trying with all her heart and might to care for her family’s financial, physical and emotional needs as well.

Each of you are so very, special and I hope this award brings a little smile to your week.

The next award is from Summer at Summer’s Nook and is called the Wonderful Women of The Web Award. Summer, you spoil me rotten… you know that don’t you? (Thanks Summer!)

I’m passing this award on to four ladies who each inspire me in unique ways:

Jenn at The Daring Adventure
Michelle at Scribbit
Lynnae at Being Frugal
Katherine at GFCF Mommy

The next award is the Perseverance Award from Isaiah at Joie de Vivre. Isaiah gave me this award as an encouragement for persevering during Jacqui’s recent lengthy back-to-back CVS episodes. Thank you for the wonderful encouragement, Isaiah. I have appreciated it more than you know!

I would like to pass this award on to the following ladies who have been persevering through some extreme challenges:

Pam at Rhett’s Journey
Tammy at Praying for Parker
Melody Slurping Life
Tiff Three Ring Circus
Marla Marla Baltes
Leejo Bert, Bean, Rockstar, and Schmoozer
Elissa Managing Autism
DP at Poetic License
Mima at Mima’s Doings

And the last award to pass on is the You Make My Day Award from Becky at Abba Stories. Becky makes my day in so many ways and so often, that I would have to write a book to tell you about them all. Thank you Becky — you’re a treasure!

I am passing this lovely award on to:

Kristi at Music Mom of 2
Stacey at Not For Profit, But For Joy
Amber at My Joyful Life As A Momma And Wife
And my wonderful ‘Anonymous’ friend who made my day with the You Make My Heart Flutter Award

Finally, a few awards that I have already passed on, but I wanted to thank the lovely ladies who passing them on to me a second and third time - Thank you Kim, Amber, and Corey - you are all bright spots in my day!

Kim at The Bitter Ball for the Daily Dose Award.

Amber at My Joyful Life As A Momma And Wife for the You Make My Day Award.

Corey at Living and Loving Every Minute of It for the Spreader Of Love Award.

And special thanks to Corey at Living and Loving Every Minute of It with her fabulous post, “Hopeless Or Hopeful?” which inspired me to finally get this bear of a post out of my over-stuffed drafts folder - Thanks Corey!

award blogging award Excellent Blog Award Powerful Words Award Blogging With A Purpose Award Magical Golden Blogger Award I Love You This Much Award Best Blogging Buddies Award Grrrr8 Blogger Friend Award Faithfulness Award You Make My Heart Flutter Award Beauty Within Award Blogs With Heart Award Wonderful Women Of The Web Award Perseverance Award You Make My Day Award

Donetta at A Life Uncommon and Deb at Mom Of 3 Girls have awarded me with the Daily Dose Award, which completely made my day not once, but twice! The award is supposed to be passed along to “All the blogs that you’ve discovered that you can’t possibly live without. They make you laugh, cry, think and feel connected every time you read a post. They give you a thrill as you see them loading into your browser and you get an equally satisfying thrill when you see that they have commented on your blog.” Thank you Donetta and Deb! I feel the same about each of your blogs and would pass it right back to you if given the chance. I would love to pass this award on to the following lovely bloggers (Corey, Summer, and Melody - I would have loved to pass this on to you too, but someone already beat me to it…). These ladies challenge me in so many different ways. They allow me to see things from new angles, inspire me through their parenting, touch me with their transparency. They gift my baby-babble-infused brain with a few daily moments of intricate wit. They remind me that, no, the itty-bitty intellectual piece of my being isn’t completely dead. It’s just buried in mashed bananas and goldfish cracker crumbs. Oh, and Jo and TaunaLen… thanks for sending me to the dictionary on occasion : )

Jen at Unique But Not Alone

Tiff at Three Ring Circus

TaunaLen at TaunaLen (This award is to guilt-trip you into writing another post : ) And NOT one about arachnids - kapish? I’ve still got the St. Vitus heebie jeebies *shudder*! I’m like that little rat at the end of the maze… I sit there scritching at that refresh button… just hoping that this time there will be something waiting for me…click, click, click, click…)

Amber at My Joyful Life as a Momma and Wife recently gave me this lovely Spread The Love Award - which she does so well! Thank you Amber - this one really put a smile in my day too! I would like to pass this award on to these wonderful gals. You spread love wherever you go, your comments always make me smile and so do your lovely blogs. Thanks for being so lovable!

Stacey at Not For Profit But For Joy

Lucy at An Ordinary Mom

Faith at Walk By Faith Not By Sight

Pam at Rhett’s Journey - (Lots of prayers for you, Rhett, and Andy today Pam!)

Kristi at Music Mom of 2

This award was sent to me via email from a blogging friend who has a private blog. She’s a police officer’s wife and asked to remain anonymous, so thank you “Miss Anonymous” - I treasure your friendship as well. I would like to pass this award on the following amazing individuals. You’ve been the shoulder’s I’ve cried on, the bloggers I’ve run to for advice, the gal-pals I’ve giggled with and friends that I cherish. You’ve kept Jacqui in your thoughts and prayers through her rough times, you’ve checked up on us if my blog goes a little ‘too quiet’. For all these reasons, and so many more, I thank you.

Melody at Slurping Life

Tiff at Three Ring Circus

Sarah at Real Life

Jo at Florescence

Shannon at Gabi’s World

Angie at Sonflower

Becky at Family

Jenn at The Daring Adventure
Deb at Mom of 3 Girls

Lynnae at From Under The Clutter

Shalene at AProverbs31WomanWannabe

Kathy at Duckabushblog

Kim at The Bitterball

Leejo at Bert, Bean, Rockstar and Schmoozer
Stacey at Not For Profit But For Joy

Jen at Unique But Not Alone

Ursula at The Daily Drool

Summer at Summer’s Nook

TaunaLen at TaunaLen

Corey at Living and Loving Every Minute of It

Donetta at A Life Uncommon blessed me with this special award (she’s spoiling me rotten!) I immediately thought of a few special ladies who go out of their way to encourage others in the midst of extreme challenges in their own lives. Each of you are an inspiration and I am so grateful that I have gotten to know you through your blogs.

Elissa at Managing Autism: A Personal View

Tammy at Praying for Parker

Kandy at Ramblings of A Redneck Woman

This last award is from Tiff at Three Ring Circus. It means a lot, because Tiff is plain amazing. If I made her day, then she just made my week by saying so. I would like to pass this award on to some very special ladies who never fail to make my day. You light up my little corner of Blogland with your kind hearts and thoughtful words. You never fail to make me smile. Each of you are a treasure!

Donetta at A Life Uncommon (Ha! Found one you don’t already have!)

Amber at My Joyful Life as a Momma and Wife

Deb at Mom of 3 Girls

Marla at Marla Baltes

Carrie at Chocolate The Other White Meat

My Ice Cream Diary at My Ice Cream Diary

Baby Amore at My Little Drummer Boys

Congrats to each of you and thanks for making my little world brighter : )

(P.S. In other news… Keep Ken in your prayers. I leave Friday for a weekend scrap-booking retreat, so he’s flying solo with the two little terrors. At least that’s what I told him. I’m hoping he won’t notice the excessive luggage or the bill for the one-way to Cabo…)

award blogging award Daily Dose Award Spread The Love Award Forever Friends Award Spreader Of Love Award You Make My Day Award

So I’m a little behind in the awards department… and I’ve got a few folks to thank…

Thank you so much, Donetta, at A Life Uncommon, and Shannon at Gabi’s World for the “You Lift Me Up Award”! You both lift me up with all of your wonderful encouraging words and kind hearts!

I would like to pass this award on to Deb at Mom of 3 Girls for her unfailing thoughtfulness of others, to Jo at A Broad’s Thoughts From Home for her beautiful poetry and and even more beautiful heart, to Casey from Casey’s Critical thinking for his thought provoking posts and kind encouragement, to Isaiah at Joie De Vivre for his thoughtful insights and compassionate soul, to Shalene from Proverbs31WomanWannabe for her selfless consideration of others, to Angie at Sonflower for being a ray of sunlight in the blog world, to TaunaLen for her magical pen and equally magical sense of humor, to Kim at The Bitterball, For her inspirational courage and kind heart that she gives herself too little credit for, and to Corey at Living and Loving Every Minute of It for the beautiful and inspiring way she parents her child and for her faithful friendship.

Corey at Living and Loving Every Minute of It has dubbed my blog bodacious and I’m just tickled pink to hear it. I think her blog is pretty bodacious too! I’ve been meaning to ask her how she got a photo of me to put on the the award…

I would like to pass this award onto my goofy friend Stacey at Not For Profit but for Joy. Stacey has a brand new bodacious blog, so if you get a chance, head over there to her place and give her a warm welcome!

Also I would like to pass this award on to Donetta at A Life Uncommon. Donetta is a totally bodacious blogger and a super fabulous person to boot. Plus, this is my one chance to pass on an award to her that she doesn’t already have : )

I’m also passing this award on to A Happier Girl. Mostly because I want to see how she fits it into her color scheme… No seriously, her blog is the definition of bodacious. Seriously, look it up. I’m completely addicted to her devilishly clever sense of humor and she pretty much makes me laugh every day.

Deb at Mom of 3 Girls really touched my heart with this award… It is an award that was started by Chrissy at Chrissy’s This and That to honor wonderful women and was inspired by a post that her husband wrote about her. Thanks Deb, you really did make me feel wonderful with this award!

I have met some pretty serious wonder women in my blog travels and I would like to introduce you to a few of them and pass this award on to each of these amazing ladies…

To Shannon at Gabi’s world, to Jessica at Walking by Faith, to Tiff at Three Ring Circus, to Jen at Unique but Not Alone, To Jenn at The Daring Adventure, to Ursula at The Daily Drool, to Elissa at Managing Autism, to Leejo at Bert, Bean, Rockstar and Schmoozer, to Katherine at GFCF Mommy, and to Kandy at Ramblings of a Redneck Woman. I would also like to pass this award on to Melody at Slurping Life (she already has this award but she deserves it twice).

Every one of these women have overcome incredible obstacles and heartache. Every one of them is a real live Wonder Woman. I feel so privileged to have learned their stories and forged friendships with such incredible, inspiring women. If you are looking for inspiration… just start clicking away on any of the links above!

award blogging award You Lift Me Up Award Bodacious Blog Award Wonder Woman Award