The Blogger Reflection Award

I sort of feel like I'm tooting my own horn here, but my dear friend BARB at A CHELSEA MORNING honored me with the BLOGGER REFLECTION AWARD several days ago and I'm overwhelmed by the kind and gracious words she used to describe me. Barb's words touched my heart and I'm so blessed that she claims me as a friend.

Here's what Barb said about me: Diane at Diane's Place. The very first time we connected I knew Diane's as real as a person can get. She lives in Arkansas and she's a true country girl. She's honest as the day is long and you know when you read her reflections that she's just sharing her real day-to-day life with you. I'd give anything in the world to sit down and share just one of the wonderful down-home-cookin' meals she makes. And oh my word, she's FUNNY! We've become close enough friends that she called me just before they took Jessica to the hospital to have the baby to share her excitement with me. How I'd love to meet Diane in person. She once said to me, "It would be like we'd known each other forever." I absolutely agree."

The purpose of the award is to, in the words of the originator of the award: "make you reflect on five bloggers who have been an encouragement, a source of love, impacted you in some way, and have been a Godly example to you. Five bloggers who when you reflect on them you get a sense of pride and joy...of knowing them and being blessed by them.

This award is for the best-of-the-best so consider who you pick carefully. This award should not be given to just anyone. If you're going to do the award don't just write a few words and slap it on your blog. Write real thoughts about these bloggers and what they've meant to you. If the bloggers you pick have already been given the award, don't be afraid to give it to them again. They deserve it as many times as it's given."I want to say up front that by honoring these 5 of my friends with this award I am by no means slighting anyone else. I always hesitate to single out a certain number of people for these awards because the last thing I want to do is to offend anyone or hurt their feelings.

On the other hand, some people do deserve to be honored for their achievements and anytime someone wins, that means somebody else loses. Life is not always fair, grasshopper. We can't always be the winner every time.That being said, here are my 5 picks for the Blogger Reflection Award, in no particular order:

BEV AT SCRATCHING THE SURFACE -- Bev is 100% real. I love that along with all the good things that are happening in her life, Bev never hesitates to share her struggles and her whole heart, warts and all. Bev is generous to a fault and I have been the recipient of that generosity so I can say that with full assurance. She sees God in aspects of her life that had never occurred to me until she pointed it out in her beautiful devotions on her blog. Bev's writing truly speaks to my heart.

LINDA AT MIDDLE YEARS -- If I know Linda as well as I think I do, she'll be a bit shocked that I chose her for this award. Linda is also REAL. She writes the most honest and touching devotionals, straight from her heart. I don't think Linda realizes how well she writes and shares her relationship with God. When I think of Linda, the words "humble heart" are what first come to mind. She may not think of herself as humble, but that is what is woven in the threads of the Godly tapestry of her blog.

PAULETTE AT MY LIFE SHIFTING -- Paulette will probably be shocked as well that I have chosen to honor her with this award. Paulette has weathered a lot of storms in her life since we got acquainted here in Bloggityville over a year ago. She has weathered those storms of life with grace and been found faithful to God throughout. Just by blogging about her daily struggles to be faithful in her Christian walk and to be the best Christian Mom she can be, Paulette has blessed me and many others and inspired me to be more faithful in my own walk with Christ.

SUSIE AT SUSIE'S SPACE -- Where do I begin to express what Susie means to me? Susie shares with us her daily life, both the good and the not so pleasant, and all the while her faith permeates every aspect of her life and writings. Her love for her family is obvious in all the photos and family history she shares with us. She has opened her home and her heart to her fellow bloggers and often posts pictures of her flowers, garden and her beloved cat, Vincent. Her camera is never far from her hand and she is quick to invite us to share the beautiful scenery as she travels around her home in California.

BEV AT MOUNTAIN MAMA -- Bev's faith is laced through every facet of her life as she shares her photos, memories and daily life with us as she blogs. Bev blogs about her family, her flowers, and her daily life and whatever else strikes her fancy. Throughout all her writings her love for God and family is a constant theme, sometimes bubbling below the surface and sometimes the focus of her beautiful devotions. I always leave her blog enriched and blessed in some way.Those are my 5 picks for this award. I wish I could give this award to everyone on my blogroll, seriously. You all bless me and enrich my life in some way or I wouldn't keep reading your blogs.

God Bless you all, dear family and friends,