Walking in Sunshine

Kim Gossling over at Chronic Conditions and Life Lessons nominated me for the Sunshine Award a good while back. We share a lot in common as mothers who have had to “manage” a condition in a child. We both tend to look toward the positives and lessons of faith and family that come from our experiences. Kim and I both love photography of flowers, wild life and share our faith in a God who is larger than the obstacles we face.

The Sunshine Award is for “positively and creatively” inspiring bloggers. It is definitely my goal to be positive. We are all faced with enough negatives each day as it is.  I’m constantly working on the “creative.” This process of blogging has actually stirred a passion for photography that is borderline addictive! Yet my new passion has also revealed so much through a different perspective that fuels my faith and stirs passion to share what I see with others.

Kim has my sincere thanks for is inspiring me!  In accepting this award here are ten things about myself. A few bloggers have asked me to share a bit more so here goes…

I am an introvert, I know you probably can’t tell from some of my comments on your blogs but it’s true!

I am officially the cat lady on the corner. Not really officially but I figure my stray porch cats earn their keep by keeping mice and snakes away (see next post). I also have a black indoor cat  named “Lucky.”  DSC_7107 (2)

I don’t like crowds (which may have something to do with being relatively short and unable to see when I’m in them!)

I’ve been married over twenty years to the hubby I met my last year in college.

Chocolate is therapy.

My mother and I were spared from a head on collision with a semi-truck. Traffic literally (in slow motion, just like the movies) parted like the Red Sea on I-475  outside of Atlanta. My mother had been praying to know God was with her. After that experience I told her to please stop praying for that.  It was clear He was and my heart couldn’t take much more!

I am the only person in my immediate family (not hubby’s) who did not pursue teaching as a profession. 

My mother’s maiden name, Shinholster, is German. My maiden name, Finley, is Irish.  My married name, Raphael, is French. Go Figure!

I am named after my mother, Kay. I was nicknamed  “Little Kay” before I was born and my father shortened it to Lilka. While my mother was in recovery someone let him sign the birth certificate.

I’m very grateful you’ve taken the time to read stop by and read this today!

My nominees for The Sunshine Award are

www.shadeakinbiyi.com

vwoods1212.wordpress.com

igivegodalltheglory.wordpress.com

lionelsneeddailydevotionals.wordpress.com

aikidonosekai.wordpress.com

kellyjgrace.com

levithetford.com

thewritemight.me

katebortell.wordpress.com

walterbright.com

These blogs make my day a little brighter and I suspect they will do the same for you!

If you choose to accept this award, the “rules” are that you post the award on your site (you can create an awards page if you like), tell ten things about yourself  and nominate ten other blogs.  There is no pressure from me to “accept” this award. I do think they are a great way to expose bloggers to great reads they may not find on their own.

May you read and write where the Son/Sun shines on you!

“But the path of the just [is] like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.” Proverbs 4:18 NKJV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the nominees are…

My friend Eric, at Hunt4Truth.wordpress.com, kindly nominated me for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award on Wednesday. The funny thing is on Wednesday I wasn’t very inspiring. In fact, I was a mess!

Yet, Eric inspired me to get myself together and get it in gear! After a few words from him, I realized I was lacking a proper attitude. I promptly “found my mind” as my youngest child would say and was able to once again think rationally and move forward.

I often have no problem encouraging others yet my efforts to motivate myself don’t always come easy. Sometimes the encourager needs encouraging. Eric does this for me. He truly projects “love your neighbor as yourself,” as posted on his site.

In fact, one of my first “conversations” with Eric was earlier this year when I was ill and couldn’t write as regularly as I had before. He checked in with me to see if the ol’ girl was okay. He inspires me by proving kindness, thoughtfulness and consideration for others does still exist.

Eric writes on matters of the heart and mind. He challenges us to look inward at ourselves and how we interact with others.  He motivates you to look outward into those things spiritual in nature. Eric prods you to check that ego and the selfish acts that often result because of it. I am truly inspired by his blog and am humbled and flattered that he nominated me. My goal is to be as inspiring to others as he has been to me.

That said, my nominees are for Very Inspiring Blogger Award are:

DEVOTIONSBYCHRIS

Heavenly Raindrops

Deeply Rooted in Him

Simply Life In Christ Blog

Stephenmustang1

This Ability Of Mine (This young lady is simply awesome)

Soul Healing Art

A View From My Summerhouse

LightWriters

Ann Kilter

Walter Bright

Roses Near Running Waters

Some of these writers inspire with their words.  A few inspire by the sheer beauty of their art. And a few have inspired me with their ability to overcome adversity with a good attitude, a grateful heart and a lesson learned. All of these blogs continually inspire me. And for this, I am very grateful.

I do realize that not everyone does “awards.” And that’s okay too.  This post is to thank you for your time, talents and dedication to inspiring others just like me.

Peace!