With Faith as Small as a Mustard Seed...

A couple days ago, I received the Sisters In Faith blog award from Nancy at Be Not Afraid & Therese at Musings of A Mom. I met them on line over a year ago and have enjoyed getting to know them while reading their blogs. We've lifted one another up in prayer on more than one occasion. What a blessing! They amaze me with their spiritual strength and prayer life. It means a lot to be considered their Sister in Faith. Thank you very much Nancy and Therese.

What a way to start the New Year!

Karinann, is the creator of this Blog Award. You can meet her at over at Blessings of the Day & read about how this Blog Award came to be in this post. When honored with a blog award, you are supposed to pass them on to other bloggers you feel represent the spirit of the award. I technically could pass this on to every one of the wonderful ladies on my sidebar...and quite a few others but in this case, the instructions are:

1. Pass this award on to sisters who have been blogging with me from almost the beginning.

Debbie at Clothed with Scarlet

Betty at Glimpse into Midlife

Evy at Yes, They are All Mine

Rebecca at Knit by God's Hand

Karin at 6 By His Design

Sissy at Out on a Limb

Nichole at The Pumpkin Seed

Jessica at 5 Acre Fun

Bug at Day by Day

Julie at My Life with Boys

2. Include at least one new Sister In Faith.

Betty at Adventures in Blue is relatively new to blogging but I've known her since our husbands worked together in Italy. She was active in her church then and continues to be a strong woman of faith.

Thanks to all of you who have prayed for my family and me. Starting this blog has turned into so much more than I ever imagined and that's all because of the unexpected but wonderful support I've found through each and every one of you.

Thank You Ladies

I have a couple ladies I want to thank. Anissa at Peek A Boo Mommy, sent me this award.

Thank You so much for thinking of me Anissa!

The rules for the Honest Scrap award:

A) first list 10 honest things about yourself - make it interesting, even if you have to dig deep!

B) Pass the award on to 7 bloggers you feel embody the spirit of the Honest Scrap.

10 Things I don't think I've shared yet. 1. I am really hard on myself. 2. I couldn't get through the day without my husband. He is my rock. 3. I love to daydream. 4. I have to go barefoot in summer or wear socks in winter. I hate shoes! 5. I am the most relaxed person about my clothes. T-shirt and shorts are the perfect outfit for me though they may not look so great. 6. I am sensitive to what others say but try to take what they say and make an improvement if it's needed. 7. I feel my creativity is stifled by my current home. 8. I don't remember the last time I slept through the night w/o tossing and turning. 9. I am NOT a morning person! Gotta let my brain wake up or I might bite your head off. 10. I hate working out! However, I enjoy working out while playing a sport or game. I love to compete! I'm going to pass this award on to: 1. Nancy at Be Not Afraid 2. Rhonda at Led By Still Waters 3. Valerie at It's a Wonderful Life 4. Therese at The Musings of a Mom 5. Mummy McTavish at Samster.com 6. Cat at Juggling Act of Life 7. Alicia at Yaya Stuff (Here we thought our Yaya was the one and only. :))

I also want to thank Nichole at the Pumpkin Seed for the Good Mail package she sent me. She's sneaky that gal! I saw her post about making the hearts below. I also read where she had just sent them off. I never in a million years imagined they were coming to me! What a fun and unexpected treat to receive in the mail. Yaya couldn't wait to dive into the "talklate" AKA Chocolate. She begged and begged until I let her have some after dinner. I'm saving the candy hearts for Valentine's Day but hung the "pillow hearts" up right away. Yaya wants to sleep on them and calls them HER "Piwow Hahts." Thank You Nichole!

Great Way to Start A Week!

AVT Coach honored me with three awards at one time. This was very thoughtful and I haven't seen two of the three which is very exciting! The rules for these awards are: 1. Put the logo on your blog or post. (I've added it to my layout under My Blog Awards.) 2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude! 3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post. 4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog. 5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

I'm nominating a little different this time since there are 3 awards below.

1. Shannon at Welcome to the Nut House

2. Lizzy at Journey to The Hot Tub

The Best Friends award I am giving to those bloggers who are my friends in the real world. I rarely give awards on this merit alone. I think it's title says it all though!

3. Karin at 6 By His Design

(We met when we were paired as tennis partners as Freshmen in High School. 20 years ago people!)

4. Bug at Day By Day

(We met on her birthday and have been the best of friends for 12 years.)

5. Betty at Adventures in Blue

(We met while living in Italy while our husbands worked together 6 years ago.)

6. Cindy at All I Want For Christmas

(We played Softball together in Jr. High and Volleyball in High School. Dare I say 20 years or more?)

7. Tricia @ The G Unit

(We met 7-8 years ago through our husbands who have been life long friends. Click Here to learn more.)

8. Jess at 5 Acre Fun

(We also met while living in Italy 7 years ago. Click Here to read our story.)
 9. Gramma 2 Many

10. Rebecca Jo at Knit By God's Hand

11. Deb at Clothed With Scarlet

these ladies know how to make lemons into lemonade. Their blogs are very inspiring!

Happy Monday Everyone!

P.S. I ask that you keep my girlfriend Bug in your prayers today and throughout the week. Her grandfather in law is very ill as well as a few other members of her family who are battling cancer. Her husband is also scheduled to go in for a hip replacement in February. She really needs prayers of strength and uplifting so badly right now!

Christmas Spirit Award

I received this Christmas Spirit Award from Nichole at The Pumpkin Seed. What an honor to receive an award such as this. Of course I believe in Christmas and the reason we celebrate it. The birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. Even better is being able to pass on the spirit of Christmas and love to others.

The Rules are simple: *You must be a true Christmas lover to receive this award. *The person to whom you give the award must also be in love with Christmas. *You must link back to the person who gave you the award. *You must list 5 things that you love about Christmas. *Pass the award along to as many people as you like. That can be 1 or 45; it's up to you. But, you must pass it on to at least one person in order to keep the Christmas cheer going! *Let your recipients know that you have tagged them by leaving them a comment on their blog.

My favorite things about Christmas include:

1. I love looking at Christmas lights. 2. I love the good it brings out in people. 3. I love catching up with friends and family through the lovely cards/letters and time together. 4. I love watching Yaya's eyes light up at the wonder of it all. She oohs and ahs at all the lights. She is having so much fun singing Frosty the Snowman, The Little Drummer Boy and Jingle Bells.

5. Listening to Christmas music in a candlelit church. I can't choose a favorite Christmas song/hymn though. They all touch me in different ways.

My favorite Christmas memory has to be last year. It was our first Christmas with Yaya so it was already extra special. The minister recounted the story of Mary and Joseph's journey and when he read Luke 2:11, "Unto you a child is born in the city of David..." Nevaeh cheered, "Yeah!" really loudly and as if she understood what was going on. (She was 1 1/2 years old.) It's moments like that I'm reminded again and again how she really was sent to us direct from Heaven above.

Merry Christmas! I am passing this award on to...

1. Julie at My Life with Boys for spreading God's word as a missionary.

2. Rebeccas Jo at Knit by God's Hand for always finding a way to teach God's word from day to day life.

3. Kori at Between a Whisper and a Roar for hosting a Secret Santa swap for 60 some bloggers.

4. AVT Coach at This Abundant Lifehttp for practicing what she preaches.

5. Betty at Weins World for spreading Christmas cheer near and far and knowing how to make the best of all situations.

6. Deb at Clothed with Scarlet for sharing scripture through her personal life and always checking in on others to pray and be sure we're ok.

7. Shannon at Welcome to the Nut House Just look at her posts of Christmas past.

8. Trit at The G Unit Look at all the ways they celebrate Christmas and spread cheer.

9. Karin at 6 By His Design for hosting a Christmas party for each of her kids and their friends. Plus, being a room mom at their school parties and surviving.

I've been honored with 2 more blog awards.

What started as a difficult week ended with a couple pleasant surprises. I've found myself honored with 2 wonderful blog awards. I'm thinking it's time to celebrate! Thank you Deb for blessing me with this great award.

The rules of the Superior Scribbler Award state: I must first post the Award to my blog. Check. Link it to Deb's blog for giving it to me. Check. Link to the originating post. Check. (I'm very honored after reading it's true meaning.) Pass the award on to at least five people. Check. Check. Check. Check. Check. Karin at 6 By His Design Lizzy at Journey to the Hot Tub Kerry at Day by Day Tricia at The G Unit Rebecca Jo at Knit By God's Hand

I received this award last night from Jess. Thank you my dear.

If only I looked as Fabulous as the woman in this award.

Requirements for accepting this award are that I must list five of my favorite addictions and then pass along the award to five other fabulous blogs. My five addictions are:

1. A little coffee with my cream and sugar please. Actually, I prefer the flavored stuff by Coffeemate. My favorite is Fat Free Cinnamon and Vanilla. No more Starbucks for me. Makes my tummy hurt.

2. I also MUST have one Coke a day. Regular Coke or leaded fuel as I call it. None of that Diet or caffeine free stuff for me thanks . It's what helps me get through the remainder of my day.

3. Emailing or blogging. I thought I might die over the past few weeks when my computer and blog account were on the fritz!

4. Gray's Anatomy and Ugly Betty are a must each week. I also like Samantha Who!!

5. Creating things and entertaining for my family and friends. Gotta do it at least once a week.

Now the blogs I'm addicted to:

Nichole at The Pumpkin Seed

Sissy at Out on a Limb

Cat at Juggeling Act of Life

Julie at My Life with Boys

Dawn at Dawn's Diversions

That said, you must know that I'm addicted to all of your blogs and am so thankful to have insight into your days and lives. Thank you all for sharing so much of yourselves with me.

Takin Care of Business

1st Remember to leave a comment if you want to be a part of my Pay it Forward Drawing. The deadline ends tomorrow. Some of you left comments but didn't actually say if you wanted to play. Please be sure to tell me you want to play so there is no confusion the day of the reveal. It's going to be fun because Yaya will be choosing 3 names from a hat. I've already got most of the treats ready to go. All I need are 3 winning names. 2nd Do you see the Secret Santa Shindig button on the right side of my blog? If you want to take part head on over and tell Kori you want to play. Be sure to tell her that I sent you too. Who knows, maybe we'll get to be Secret Santa buddies. 3rd Lordy, Lordy... I won an Awardy from the Avtcoach over at This Abundant Life. I have seen this award on countless blogs and am thrilled to receive it myself. I must admit, I borrowed the little Lordy Lordy Rhyme from Liz over at About a Boy or Two. She's in the hospital recovering from surgery so please go give her some positive and healing words to lift her spirits.

Here are some rules from the bloggy rule book! 1. Place the logo on your blog. 2. Link to the person who awarded you. 3. You can nominate up to 5 blogs 4. You can then add their links to your blog. 5. Leave a message in the comment section to each nominee on their blog. I love this part!! It is so fun to reward people for the hard work they put into posting and creating! Thank you Avtcoach!

1. Nancy at Be Not Afraid

2. Merideth at The Road Less Traveled

3. Betty at Weins World

4. Trish at The G-Unit

5. Karin at 6 By His Design

In all honesty I could nominate all the blogs I read on a daily basis. I LOVE YOU ALL! I also know many of you have already received this award so I will try to spread the love rather than repeating it. The blogs above are just a few places I find comfort and a sense of personal reflection from on a regular basis! I know you too will be inspired by their spirituality, honesty and sense of humor. I always come away from their blogs having learned something new about them and/or myself in the process of reading their journeys.

A Challenge and Some Bloggy Love for You

I did a little project this weekend with some of my new fall photos. The large photo of the barn was taken by Tressa of American in Norway. I told her how much I loved her photo and offered to buy a copy of it from her. She allowed me to have one and this is how her photo turned out in my frame. I only wish I could have her autograph on it. Thanks Tressa!

The middle photo of the pumpkins and mums you may recognize from my recent trip to Vegas. I took the picture at the Bellagio conservatory.

I took the third photo last weekend while at the Japanese gardens in Golden Gate park. You might have to click on the picture to zoom in and see the details of it. Will you play along and show me some of your new photos framed and set out for the new season?

Bloggy Love

I received this beautiful award from The Pumpkin Seed for my Fall post at Apple Hill.

Now I get to pass it on to six other bloggers. I'm linking to their fall decor posts.

1. Susie's Homemade says Good-bye Summer Love

2. American in Norway needed some Tressa Time

3. Farmgirl wishes y'all a Happy Fall

4. Queen Bee isn't afraid of Pumpkin Guts

5. 6 By His His Design has put out her Fall Welcome Decor

6. Bug at Day by Day is having a Halloween party

If you have stopped by, will you please pick up the beautiful award below. It was a gift from my sweet blogging sister, Deb, and I would love to pass it on to you.
 
Do you know how much you are loved? John 3:16 tells us "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life". Amen!! Jesus loves you so much so let's be faithful servants and love one another.

Thank you ladies for coming to see what we're up to at Heaven's Gift. I am so appreciative of your loving, supportive comments and prayers. I am blessed to have met you all through bloggy land!

Playin Catch-Up

A week or so ago Dawn blessed me with the above award. What is the meaning of the expression: Arte y Pico What is the meaning of the expression: And basically, ironically, it translates into a wonderful phrase in Mexico, “lo maximo.” It will never find its counterpart in English, but if it HAD to, it would be something like, Wow. The Best Art. Over the top, if you already have the award just accept and that's all you have to do.

Otherwise:

1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogging community, no matter what language. 2. Each award has to have the name of the author and a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone. 3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that presented her/him with the award. 4. The award winner and one who has given the prize have to show the link "Arte y Pico" blog so everyone will know the origin of this award (the link is http://arteypico.blogspot.com/).

Rowena, Anissa, Shannon, An American in Norway, FatGirlSkinny

Today, I received this award
 
from Dawn as well.

We need friends for many reasons, all throughout the season. We need friends to comfort us when we are sad, and to have fun with us when we are glad. We need friends to give us good advice, We need someone we can count on, and treat us nice. We need friends to remember us once we have passed sharing memories that will always last. Thank you Dawn for both of these awards!!!

Karin, Lizzy, Bug, Farmgirl Monologues, Pumpkin Seed

On top of the awards I've been tagged by Trish and Susie to share...

4 Things... So here's just a little something about Me

4 things I did today: Wired and hung 2 new pictures on the wall. Vacuumed my living and dining rooms. Dusted my kitchen, dining room tables and new bedroom furniture. Danced with my daughter and husband. 4 Random Facts about me: I had my hair re highlighted and cut last week. I feel like I'm 30 year old trapped in a 65 year old body. I love and always have loved Whales. Not the rich manly kind. I'm talking the big swimming mammal kind. I am a hopeless romantic. 4 Things on my To Do list for today. Clean the house for my In Laws tomorrow. Hang pictures up to get them off my dining room floor. Spend quality time with Bird. Cook dinner. 4 of my Guilty Pleasures Blogging TV Napping Fast Food

4 bloggers I am tagging: G Unit, American in Norway, Out On A Limb, Adventures in Blue

Susie tagged me too.

1. I started swimming and diving when I was 2 years old. (I even went off the high dive.)

2. I attended 3 different schools in my first grade year alone.

3. I have never lived in one place longer than 3 years other than Missouri.

4. I still love vacuum lines in my carpet.

5. I hate it when people smell their food before they eat it to decide if they'll like it.

6. Meal time is my most challenging time of day with my daughter.

(My father is loving every moment of this!)

7. I still have moments when I'm afraid of the dark.

I'm leaving this one open to those who want to participate. Come on it'll be fun!

If I have forgotten an award or a Meme please forgive me as it wasn't/isn't intentional. I am so thankful to be honored with the awards and to be thought of to participate in these Memehs. Thank you ladies!

Thank you so much Anissa!

To translate the gift from Portuguese to English, it means:"This blog invests and believes, the proximity"[meaning, that blogging makes us 'close' -being close through proxy]

How awesome is that??" I received this precious gift from Anissa this morning. Thank you so much Anissa! This means a lot coming from the Queen Bee herself. ;)

They all are charmed with the blogs, where in the majority of its aims are to show the marvels and to do friendship; there are persons who are not interested when we give them a prize, and then they help to cut these bows; do we want that they are cut, or that they propagate?" Then let's try to give more attention to them! So with this prize we must deliver it to 8 bloggers

that in turn must make the same thing and put this text:

So, here are my 8 bloggers who will receive this award from me: 1. Debra

2. Carrie

3. Debbie

4. Trish

5. Lisa

6. Breanne 7. Jillian 8. Rhonda

Now go spread some love to these wonderful ladies!

I Love Your Blog Award x2!!!

I'm flattered to receive this award not once not twice but three times.

A big thank you to Shannon, Farmgirl Monologues and Annabelle for liking me enough to present me with this award. I learned a new twist to this award the second time around. There are rules in accepting this award. I have to answer the following questions with one word answers. I know, I know...me and short or one word responses is a scary thought! But I have accepted this challenge, and THEN...I must pass this award on to seven people. I will now complete the task at hand! Have fun!! The questions are as follows:

1. Where is your cell phone? counter 2. Where is your significant other? living room 3. Your hair color? brown 4. Your mother? Nancy 5. Your father? Bill 6. Your favorite thing? Family 7. Your dream last night? didn't 8. Your dream/goal? weight loss (oops I broke the rules) 9. The room you're in? guestroom/office/scrapbook room/tv room (oops I did it again) 10. Your hobby? crafting 11. Your fear? loss 12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? happy 13. Where were you last night? Spanish class 14. What you're not? satisfied 15. One of your wish-list items? CAMERA 16. Where you grew up? everywhere 17. The last thing you did? blogged 18. What are you wearing? shorts 19. Your TV? huge 20. Your pet? sleeping 21. Your computer? quiet 22. Your mood? sleepy 23. Missing someone? always 24. Your car? Ford 25. Something you're not wearing? earrings 26. Favorite store? Michaels 27. Your summer? SHORT 28. Love someone? yes 29. Your favorite color? eggplant 30. When is the last time you laughed? today 31. Last time you cried? today And for my seven blogs to tag. 1. An American in Norway 2. 1Husband 5 Kids 3. 2FatGirlsskinny 4. Out on a Limb 5. LedBesideStillWaters 6. Tale of a Kansas Girl 7. HomeschoolinginLouisiana

Does it get any better than this?!

Imagine my shock when I was told I was being presented with a second blogging award.

I received this from Renata from down under at Sunnyside Fun and am again honored to learn someone loves to read my blog. I started this journal for my daughter and family. It sounded like a great way to keep family across the miles close. I never imagined I would meet so many interesting people in the process. I love that I am not alone in my daily walk as a mother, wife, woman and Christian. Who would have ever dreamt a personal journal could talk back and bring such added insight and wonderful blessings? Thank you Renata.

I am excited to pass this award on to the following 3 blogs.

1. Shannon at Welcome to the Nut House She's one of my first commenters and has been here ever since. I see her comment on almost everyone's blog and she is so sweet and funny.

2. Debbie at Blog Around the World has embarked on an unplanned journey that has taken her and many of us around the world. I'm am enjoying traveling along with her and her followers.

3. Nichole at The Pumpkin Seed I love her posts about crafting and her hubby. Could there be a more cute couple in the world? She is so happy and in love you can almost feel it coming through your computer screen.

4. Carrie at Candid Carrie and Friday's Foto Finish Fiesta is another deserving recipient. I go to her every Friday if not more to see what kind of fun she has in store for us. I never leave her blog disappointed and I know you all don't either.

I know this is 4 blogs and I was to only nominate 3. What can I say? I live with a toddler and sometimes we color outside of the lines and forget to follow the rules.

Shh don't tell on me please.

My first blogging award!

Shannon at Welcome to the Nut House presented me with this wonderful award today.

Wow! I am shocked and so so so flattered. I never imagined I would ever receive a blogging award! I would like to thank Shannon for presenting me with this award. I would also like to thank all of you who come back to read and comment day in and day out. It's been so fun getting to know you all. I am also enjoying catching up with some old friends through this wonderful world of blogging. Now that I have been honored with this award, I am told I get to pass it on to 7 other deserving blogs. How do I choose? I guess I'll have to start from the top and with my oldest friends and blog followers. 1. Karin at 6 by His Design and I go way back. We met as Freshmen in High School when we chose to be each other's tennis partners in gym. We've wrote endless notes about life and boys in High School and college. We even shared a few crushes if I recall correctly. I've loved her ever since. She inspires and amazes me on a regular basis. She's a mother of 4 with 2 sets of twins. Count them Mr. T, Miss Pookie and 2 new additions. I was one of her bridesmaids and vise verse. We've kept in touch for years now and I love reading about her amazing family through blogging daily. Many of you may have met her in Missouri during our BATW. She was one of Debbie's guest hosts from St. Louis, MO. She helped me get started on the whole blog thing and has taught me how to use many of the applications you see on my blog. 2. Kerry at Day by Day is also a long-time friend whom I have to read about daily. We met in MO while she and another friend were celebrating their birthdays together. Heck we might have even gone to No Place that night with the girls. That would mean I met 2 of my very favorite people in the world at No Place. Kerry like Karin would bend over backwards to put a smile on your face. She's a Special Ed teacher and just completed her degree in Counseling. She was my Maid of Honor as was I at her wedding. Kerry can and does it all! She's amazing but be warned. She's the biggest Husker fan around. Don't mess with her and her Huskers! 3. Jai at Moments with MoMo and I met while living in Italy. Jai came into my life and home on Christmas Day. She had just arrived from Texas and was exhausted and had jet lag. However, she put on a happy face and made the best of it. I've learned so many new things from her. IE Feng Shui tips, Anime, about green toys, bento boxes for kids. You name it. She is also a mom for keeping our girls modest as they grow up fast enough as it is. She is a Feng Shui consultant, awesome hands-on mom and a woman of many other talents as you'll find on her blog. She speaks Spanish, English, Portuguese and has even taught herself sign language and Japanese. She knows and has taught the martial art Kuk Sool Won. Get to know her; I know you'll love her and her insightful blog just as I do. 4. Rowena at Rubber Slippers in Italy is new to my life. I met her while blogging and her blog has made me drool ever since. She talks about her travels in Italy as well as the yummy foods she encounters and prepares. I know once you read one of her posts on cheese, sea food or you name it you'll fall in love too. 5. Trish at Just a Little Something from Me is a fellow Missourian. However, we've never met in person. She has just signed up to be her daughter's volleyball coach and is so excited about the season. She just bought a awesome new camera and is having fun learning how to use all it's settings. She's a fun mom and fellow blogger. 6. Terri at Irish Eyes are Smiling is a woman with many causes and many children ;). She is always supporting a fellow blogger/friend and their loved ones with prayers, updates and love. Here are a few for example Tuesday and JD. Plush she shares another blog with several other moms with big families. How does she do it all? She is insightful and I love her blog. 7. Renata at Sunnyside Fun is another mom with many children. I wanted to break the rules and add her to my list because she is one who comes to us all the way from Down under. I love her life and family as well as the neighbors who come to visit. You never know what's gonna happen on her blog. Thank you again Shannon. I don't know if I can present an award back to the person who gave it to me. Trust me, you would be on this list had I not received the award from you.