A Lemonade Award

I received a very special award from my bloggy buddy Much2Ponder at the In Case You Were Wondering blog.



The purpose of this award is to give it to someone who is showing gratitude or a good attitude ("if life hands you lemons, make lemonade") within their life or blog.

Here is what Much2Ponder said to me regarding this award:
"Amy...at In My Life I choose you because of all you have gone through in the short time I have known you. You always have something to laugh about and that not only makes your days go better, but all who come in contact with you that are willing to take the time to pay attention. Thank you."

Thank you so much for those sweet words of encouragement to me.
My cup runneth over.

"Laughter gives us distance. It allows us to step back from an event, deal with it and then move on." ~Bob Newhart

A Christmas Tag And An Award

I got tagged for this Christmas MeMe by Much2Ponder at the In Case You Were Wondering blog, and Sondre Lyn at the Sondre Lyn blog.

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?

Neither. But a Starbucks coffee would be just perfect.

Cold......



Or hot.....



2.Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

It depends on the size of the gift. But this year since both of our boys want cash, we might just be passing out envelopes. LOL!;)

3. Colored lights on house/tree or white?

Both.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?

You know that I do.



*Sigh*

5. When do you put your decorations up?

Usually right around Thanksgiving. Sometimes before. Sometimes after.

And speaking of decorations, as part of our Advent celebration, this past Sunday, Shannon and I made a gingerbread house with the boys. And since my mom really wanted to see it, I am going to share some pictures of it with you.

We called it the "Gingerbread Shack." ;)





6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?

Broccoli Casserole. Here is the recipe in my mom's handwriting.



7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?

Unlike my own children, I loved when my parents would take me driving around Crazyville to look at all the different houses decorated for Christmas. I would get so excited seeing all of the bright and cheerful Christmas lights and decorations.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?

I believe that I was in about the fourth grade, and some little snippy girl spilled the beans at school one day. I remember going home and demanding that my mom tell me the truth. And when she did.....I just started bawling. It was a very sad day for my mom and me.

*Sniff*Sniff*

Even now that I am older I still love to hear people say, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus."

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

We usually let the boys open one gift or three on Christmas Eve.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?

I'll let you see for yourself. (And even though you cannot tell it in this picture, our tree is covered in white and multi-colored strands of lights.)



11. Snow. Love it or dread it?

I love to look at snow and watch it falling. But I cannot drive in it. At all. Ever.

12. Can you ice skate?

No. I have never even tried it. But just between you and me, I have had several dreams that I am awesome at it. Like this.



13. Do you remember your favorite gift?

The first year that Shannon and I were married, I wanted a Christmas tree, but we were living in a mess, as we were building our house (while living in it), so my husband thought it would not make sense to put a tree in a "construction zone."

I was disappointed, but I understood.

Anyway, not too long after our discussion, I arrived home from work one evening, but he wasn't there. Which was unusual, because he got off work much earlier than me.

So I waited and worried, and finally he showed up. He came in the house and asked me, "What is all of this stuff out on the porch?" And I looked at him confused, and replied, "What stuff? Where have you been?"

Then he said, "Help me get all of this stuff cleaned off of the porch."

So, I walked outside with him and he shouted, "Merry Christmas!"

The "stuff" on the porch was a tree, lights, ornaments, tinsel, and an angel topper for me.



*Sigh*

14. What is the most important thing about the holidays to you?



Amen.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?

Hands down....pecan pie.



Mmmmmmmmmm!

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?

I absolutely love listening to Christmas music! I never tire of it. Just ask my family. ;)

17. What tops your Christmas tree?

A Precious Moments angel that my sister in law gave me many years ago. And no, Michelle, you cannot have it. ;)

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?

Definitely giving.

19. What is your favorite Christmas song?

I love SO many Christmas songs, so there is NO way that I could pick just ONE favorite. But just for the sake of answering the question, I will share with you one of my many favorites. Take a listen if you'd like. It's "The Christmas Song" sung by Nat King Cole.



20. Candy Canes. Yum or Yuck?

Yuck. Yuck. Yuck. However, I do think that they are very pretty.

21. What do you want for Christmas?

"All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth."

Seriously, feel free to just completely ignore me.

22. Do you attend an annual Christmas party?

No.



Just kidding. ;)

23. Do you dress up for Christmas Eve or wear PJ's?

Pajamas!

24. Do you own a Santa hat?

We own a Santa hat, and a hat for Santa's elf as well.



25. Who do you normally spend Christmas with?

My sweet and crazy family.

And last, but not least, I received this award from Lynn at the Somewhere in the Middle blog.

Isn't it sweet?



*Sigh*

The requirements for this award are:
"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find, and be friends. They are not interested in 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."

Thank you so much, Lynn, for thinking of me for this award. I really appreciate you, my bloggy friend!

Can You Find The Word In The Rocks? (And A Word To Dianne...Followed By An Award!)

My sweet bloggy buddy, Dianne, at the Deez Dayz blog, recently went to Knysna in her home land of South Africa, and she took this picture that you see below.

Dianne spelled out a word in the rocks along the rocky beach. Can you find it? If so, leave the answer in my comments section.



I'll give you a little quote as a "hint."

"Words have meaning and names have power." ~Author Unknown

I would also like to mention, that even though Dianne was born and raised in South Africa, as you are reading this post, she is now officially living in the United Kingdom. She and her lovely family will now be calling the United Kingdom home. So, "Hi, Dianne! Congratulations, sweet lady! I am SO excited for you, Hilmar, and Miss P. I look forward to hearing all about life in your new home, and one day visiting you in person, of course." ;)

I'm just saying.

"Where thou art-that-is Home." ~Emily Dickinson

Ag shame, my skattie!

Now, last but not least, I have received a special award from my bloggy friend Mari at the Mari's Morning Room blog.

It is the PROXIMITY award.



Isn't it pretty?

What this award encompasses is as follows:
“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.”

Mari, thank you so much for thinking of me for this award. I really appreciate you, sweet friend!

Now, it's my turn to pass this award along to eight two bloggy friends. Which, is NO easy task, but I will. I have enjoyed getting to know all of my blogging friends this year, and I adore each and every one of them. But for this award, I would like to pass it to my two newest friends in Blog Land. But, just between you and me, if I am a regular at your place, please feel free to take this award too. Really, it's okay. Just take it. I want all of you to have it. Seriously. ;)

And like Mari, I am not going to tell you anything about these two lovely ladies, because I want you to go to their blogs and take a peek at them for yourselves.

So, without further ado, I am passing this award along to the following ladies:

Nikowa at Knowledge House Academy

Michelle at Lovin' Life

Nikowa and Michelle, I have really enjoyed getting to know both of you here in Blog Land, so please accept this award from me.

And to the rest of you, remember, take the award for yourself and stop by Lovin' Life and Knowledge House Academy and show both of these ladies some love!;)

(Not So) Wordless Wednesday (And An Award!)

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." ~Roger Caras

What's wrong with this picture? Can you figure it out?



Even though we put all of the pillows down on the couch to block her (to keep her from hurting herself even more), and even though she has a torn ACL and a very weak heart, she still insists on sneaking her way up onto "her spot" on the couch.



If I leave the room for even one moment, I come back in the room only to find all of this cuteness going on.



She is a sneaky sneak, my Allie Girl.

What am I going to do with her?........

"Happiness is a warm puppy." ~Charles M. Schulz



Good Grief.

And now, I would like to tell you all about an award that I received.

My sweet friend, Tracey, from the "Grace Comes By Hearing" blog, has honored me with this beautiful award.



Here are Tracey's kind words that she wrote for me on her blog:
"*Amy has to be my first nomination. She's always first every morning to comment on my newest post. My day wouldn't be complete without a comment from Amy. She's inspirational as a wife and mother. I hope I can be half the mommy that she is. Through everything she has her eyes on God."

With all of the nonsense that goes on in my life on a daily basis, I am so touched that any one would be able to say those kind things about me. It is only by the grace of God, I can assure you, that any one could be able to see good in me. And for that, I am very thankful. Just ask Shannon and the rest of my family (and Kenny). They have to put up with me in "real" life. ;)

I'm just saying.

"A friend accepts us as we are, yet helps us to be what we should." ~Author Unknown

Thank you so much, Tracey, for your kind words and for thinking of me. You have been so sweet and thoughtful to me throughout all of the nonsense that I have been through this year, and I am so thankful to have met you. You are a true treasure, my friend. My cup runneth over.

Here is a little bit about the award: The "uber" (synonym for super) is a blog award given to sites who:
- inspire you
- make you smile and laugh
- or maybe give you amazing information
- a great read
- has an amazing design
- and any other reason you can think of that makes them uber amazing!

The rules of the award are:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.

2. Nominate at least five blogs (can be more) that for you are uber amazing.

3. Let them know that they have received this uber amazing award by commenting on their blog.

4. Share the love by linking to this post and the person you received the award from.

5. Here are my nominations:

*Dianne at the "Deez Dayz" blog.

*Shelly at the "Smiling Shelly's Shell" blog.

*Mia at the "Mama Mia" blog.

*Michele at the "My Blessings From Above" blog.

*Tina at the "Golden Goodness" blog.

*Paula at the "His Ways...are not our ways" blog.

*Valerie at the "Valerie" blog.

*Gina at the "Beandip Blog."

*Laura at the "The Wellblog."

All of these women that I have listed here have really touched my life in so many different ways. This has been a tough year for my family and me, and each of these ladies have reached out to me in so many special ways. I am so thankful and blessed to have had the opportunity to meet each and every one of them here in Blogland, and that is why I am passing this award along to them. To me, all of these lovely ladies are Uber Amazing!

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive." ~Anäis Nin