I'm a little behind on a few things...

I've been negligent in acknowledging a few things here on my blog. I can't go another post in good conscience.

FIRST: I won my very first blog contest....Yes, I did! After the long week of attempting to win that trip to Connecticut, I found out I won a book. Some of you may know Louise at A View from Carmine Superiore, well she has another blog Biblios Book Reviews where she reviews books (duh). I happened to comment on a give away and I won! I'm so excited. The book has arrived all the way from Italy. That was the most exciting thing is to think this book spent time at a place I would most love to go....ITALY!~

The book is Jane Autsen Ruined my Life by Beth Pattillo and I plan to take it to read in Jamaica this summer when Buster and I go. (more on that later) Thank you Louise ♥

Second: I won a CD. Suzanne at Adventures in Teething was giving this away. It is a very thought provoking CD geared to young women who are in their teens and out of high school, but not married yet. The CD is a talk given by Crystal Paine (a homeschool graduate) entitled What to do While You are Waiting for Prince Charming. Paige (my 13 yr old) and I listened to it together. It was interesting and the speaker has some strong ideas on the role of young women in their homes and society. Maybe I'll regift it in the future.

I'll let you draw your own conclusions from her talk. But thank you so much Suzanne. I enjoy your blog and your heart for your home and family shines through.

Now, on to the awards.


I'm always humbled when my blog comes to mind when a fellow blogger is handing out awards. These are some very sweet and thoughtful awards and I have yet to acknowledge and pass along. Like I said I'm a little behind in my thank yous on my blog.



This award comes from Caroline at Family Stories. Caroline loves genealogy and has some deep Texas roots. She has great stories and does lots of research. She just started her blog recently and wow, I think she has the hang of it. It's great. Go check her out.





This award is from Melody at Merrie Melody. When you visit Melody's blog you know you just met a woman that loves her home, husband, home-schooled children, her chickens and numerous other animals. She amazes me with all she accomplishes each day. I love reading her blog.




Daja at In Other Words surprised me one day (quite awhile back) by including me in this award. There is not enough I can say about Daja. She inspires me beyond belief with her love for the Lord, and her heart for the country and church in Mongolia. She has lots of beautiful kiddos and has all kinds of adventures with them. Check out her blog....She can tell you how to birth babies, love your husband better, who to vote for and praise Jesus in her terrific blog.

Thank you Daja.





Allison at Displaced Texan sent this one to me (quite awhile back).... I'm telling ya'll...I'm so far behind on this stuff. Anyway.....Allison is a fellow Texan who has been living in Germany with her husband while he serves in the military. She's headed back to the home turf soon. (not all the way to Texas, but close) Allison's passion for protecting the unborn endears me to her. She also has a miniature schnauzer, which makes me so happy. She was the brains and the talent behind my blog re-do a little while back. So check out Allison and give her some love.








Also, Jiggy Update: I've done the Wii Fit 5 days in a row. Still Ohhhhing though.

Another Happy Pig Award

Yesterday Betty at Keeper of the Skies posted a recipe for Lumpia. I have never heard of Lumpia, much less made it. I decided to give it a try for our dinner last night.

My little family loved it. Leah helped me roll them. They are full of chopped vegetables. My kids did not even notice the veggies!!! You can probably put any kind of veggie you want in there. Buster won't eat onions so I didn't put those in and I didn't put the spouts in mine. I put green bell pepper and cabbage in along with the other ingredients Betty had listed. Go to Betty's blog. She has step-by-step pictures posted along with the recipe for Lumpia.


So Betty I'm awarding you this Happy Pig Award for your Lumpia Recipe.


I would also like to award the Happy Pig to TracyP for leading us all into temptation during Christmas. Her Christmas Cookie Exchange was lots of fun. I tried a couple of the recipes listed on there. We loved them and my neighbors did too.





Thanks Betty and TracyP.

♥

The Happy Pig

Introducing the "Happy Pig" award!

Cruising around the world (on my keyboard), getting ideas and reading about your lives has become a hobby of mine. I must say a very time-consuming hobby, but I love it.



I also love to cook (and bake sometimes). I wanted to give a shout out for these recipes, but wanted to include something fun for the original bloggers. So I scanned around and found this cute Happy as a Pig picture. I thought she would get the message out that these recipes are good ones to "Pig Out" on .

I'd like to award Allison and Julie the first "Happy Pig" Award.

Allison lives in Germany with her husband who is in the U.S. Military. I love her blog and I'm also lovin' this pumpkin bread. Her Pumpkin Bread recipe is so good and easy to make.


Next, we are off to Hungary to visit Julie to try her Rosemary Bread. This recipe is tucked away in a post she wrote and boy am I glad I found it. If you go to Macaroni Grill. This is the Rosemary Bread recipe. Our family tears through a loaf in no time. We are hooked!

Go check out their blogs and give these yummy recipes a try.

I'll keep cruising the world (via my keyboard) and searching out some good recipes. I'll let you know when I find more. If you want to send this Happy Pig award to someone who posted a recipe and you actually prepared, ate and loved it. Send the Happy Pig to them.
Have fun!
♥

Proximity

My sweet blogging friend Betty at Wien's World sent this award to me. I'm thrilled because it is my first blog award. I discovered Betty's blog during her featured day at Blog Around The World. Betty lives in Paraguay and shares with us about her life in Paraguay, her two sweet daughters and loving husband. She also gives us the history of her Mennonite community and how it ended up in the middle of Paraguay. She is a special lady and I check in on every post to keep up with her. Thank you Betty.

This blog invests and believes in PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships! These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or 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." Then I am supposed to award this to 8 fellow bloggers.

I'm passing along the award to:

Michele - I have to credit Michele for inspiring me to start blogging. I was so impressed with her blog and the ability she has to share her heart. I decided to start one myself.

Tracy - Not only is a blogging friends, but an actual neighbor who lives in my neighborhood. Although I think the blogs do a better job of keeping us up on each others lives. Usually it's a wave out the SUV window.

Tracy P - I came upon Tracy P's blog early in my blogging life. She is the Northern version of me. I read her profile and laughed because it was so similar to mine. She is even married to a Georgia Boy just like I am.

She is a Godly woman and writes insightful post. TracyP's blog is a must-read.

HOPE - I came across this blog thru a link on another blog. You know how that goes. Anyway, I'm glad I did. She actually has several blogs and on one of her blogs she tells the story of how she led her father to the Lord. She is also very crafty and shares her crafts on another blog.

Lorie - Lorie at Encouragement from my Heart is such a blessing. She writes poetry. She will minister to you in such a sweet way. She definitely has the gift of encouragement.

Clarissa - That is Aunt Clarissa to me. She has just started her blog. She is a pastors wife living in Connecticut. I'm glad she is blogging. It gives me a chance to keep up with cousins and family that unfortunately I never get to see because of distance. Go see Aunt Clarissa and tell her I sent you. Did I mention she's also an artist, a seamstress, a wonderful cook, a gardener, etc. Anyway, you get the idea she's lots of fun.

Deb Deb writes a blog to encourage parents and families. She believes our children are the greatest mission field we have in life. She reviews books and gives great ideas for parents to use in bringing up our children in the Lord. Thanks for blogging Deb.

Givinya - If I want to travel around the globe and get a good laugh. I head down to Australia to visit Givinya de Elba. She has a way of writing that makes me smile and chuckle every time. She has two sweet kiddos that you have to read about and a wonderful husband.

My blogging friends (and family) I hope you enjoy receiving this award and it is up to you to pass it on. There are many other blogs I love and want to include and will. I think you all deserve it!

♥