Awarded!!

Hey guess what! I got an award. The Cherry on Top blog award was given to yours truly! (I think I'm supposed to put the picture of that on my blog, but confession: I don't know how to do that). Now Abbe, the amazing woman who gave me the award can be found here. If I had to describe Abbe in one word, it would be brave. Her family is going through some rough times right now. And I don't mean she didn't find what she wanted at the store or her child is going through a phase or she wishes she had a new car rough. I mean the kind of rough that would shatter some people's faith. But she is holding onto Jesus, and I've seen Abbe hold on to Jesus over and over since I met her in college and I'm so proud to say that I know her. I just recently re-connected with her through the blogosphere, and I'm so glad I did. Check out her blog--it's rated BH (for brutally honest) and pray for her as she walks through a dark valley.



As a recipient of this award, I'm supposed to A. Tell readers 3 things I like about myself, then B. give the award to 5 blogging friends, so here goes.



1. I like my slightly different perspective. I am told by many that I am a very artsy creative person, and they can't all be telling lies, can they? I love beauty, and after years of struggle, I almost don't feel guilty about it anymore. As followers of Jesus, there sometimes can be this idea that we have to be super minimalists and not spend money on pretty things and not appreciate really fine things. But that is contrary to the very character of God who Himself, made things incredibly, amazingly, astonishingly beautiful!!!! So I like that I see beauty in lots of things and places and people, and that I'm almost always on the lookout for the beauty around me, and hoping to participate nobly in the call to create something beautiful.

2. I like it that I'm generally pretty honest and transparent. I hope it gives the people in my life a safe place to be themselves too.

3. This isn't like 100% me, but I love my marriage. I am very happily married (it will be 6 years in August) to the man of my dreams and I feel like we have worked really hard to make it the best it can be. We have had LOTS of fights. And misunderstandings. And differences of opinion, but we have learned to understand each other and to really love each other and to lay down our lives for each other in lots of ordinary everyday things and we're still really in love.



Now for part B--the blogs I want to award with the Cherry On Top award for that something special . . .

My mom gets the first Cherry On Top Award. She is seriously funny. She is building a house right now and writing about the perils of being do-it-yourself'ers. She loves Jesus and loves her family and her church and serves people all the time. She has a lot of wisdom for those of us who are new to this being a mom thing, and she makes me laugh.

My friend kelli gets the next award. We lead a very similar life but we're in different seasons (she's much more of a pro at it). Her kids do and say some really funny things (especially Naomi) and I love it when she shares them. She is the most patient mom I've ever seen and I aspire to be so slow to anger with my kids someday. She is very good at being creative in giving her kids interesting stuff to do even though they are bound by lots of limits and surrounded by a concrete jungle. She posts several posts at a time when she actually gets the time, so make sure you don't miss any. . .

My sister in law Lisa gets the next cherry. She doesn't post often (maybe this award will inspire her?) but every time she does, i laugh out loud. I'm sure I'm biased because it's usually my nieces saying funny things, but these are some funny kids and I love how Lisa captures these moments with them. She's really great at that--capturing moments. Can't wait to have some moments with her!

And I am going to break the rules and stop there. I'm just tired of how long this post has taken me. (and I'm a recovering people pleaser who wants to give the other 2 awards to like 5 people, so rather than offend and leave out anyone, I'm just not going to finish. Lame, I know. Just assume you were in the category of people I wanted to give those last 2 cherries to . . . )