I was most thoughtfully awarded this "blogging with a purpose" award from Jules and since it is the first token I have received since I began blogging in July 2007 I am claiming it as my treasure today! Although I am not quite certain what my PURPOSE for blogging is I'd like to think I am simply "here to live out loud"...famous words by French Activist/Artist Emile Zola...but he is dead, so he won't mind me keeping his words alive I'm sure. As part of receiving this honor I believe it is customary to pass it along to FIVE people and so I will, but along with passing "the torch" so to speak, I would like to add a personal note to each of these special people and let them know how their purpose is met in my heart, despite what their purpose might actually be in blogging. Please accept this from my blog to yours and know that a lot of thought went behind who I chose, although I would have preferred to stretch it to a few more people, I will keep with the tradition with these FIVE:To: Annette ~ who has provided me with unconditional friendship since the 3rd grade and whose blog is authentic and real, adhering to the spirit of visiting an old friend on a relaxing porch with a glass of suntea on a summer day.
To: Kimberly ~ who has become such a dear sweet friend, always uplifting and encouraging, whose blog provides me with inspiration in countless ways and she genuinely cares...I can feel it.
To: Phyllis ~ who has provided me with friendship and scripture to read every single morning, whose blog brings me joy and quiet time, two things I need to kick start my day.
To: John-Michael ~ for keeping a welcome mat out for me even when I don't agree with everything he has to say, he keeps loving me anyway, because that's just who he is, and whose blog serves as a refuge I can actually get lost in because he so eloquently articulates an inspirational balance between life's questions and answers.
To: Debbie ~ for making me laugh out loud on most days so that my family wonders if I'm truly OK, and for sharing real life in a real way, whose blog is not only entertaining just from her sheer personality, but also inspirational in the down-to-earth-, keepin'-it-real aspect.
Everyone who visits my blog is a real treasure to me, all for different reasons, and I thank everyone who drops by from the bottom of my heart. I have genuinely come to care for you all and I am honored to call each of you FRIEND.
" A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one's heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away."
- Arabian Proverb
6 comments:
you gave "gose bumbs" this morning Thank you for the sweet word's, I can't imagine my life with out your friendship in it, knowing you love me for me, and accepting all my faults and for being truley honest with me, now that is a true friend til the end, and I cant think of any body else I want to be all that with then you! and I mean it when I say..."when were old and sitting in our wheel chairs together on the porch of where ever and watching our grandchildren together" now the world better start preparing them selfs for that sene!! I love you, you all ready know this. Love, Nettie
and you gave me tears.....thank you for this very kind gift and your words, my dear friend....i'm not sure what my intention is either, but i am so glad to have found you through it, and received a genuine friendship along the way....i am drinking my "morning coffee" in a cup that says "live out loud"! and i purposefully chose it this morning....before visiting...how wonderful is that?
thank you, joni....from my heart.
I do love your expression of your Self through the Arab proverb, Joni, my Darling. For it illustrates so well the gift of your sweet breath of loving care and gentle kindness that calms, reassures, and encourages my Soul as You gently blow away some of my all-too-frequent chaff. I am reminded of the old hymn, "Breathe On Me" that beseeches the Holy Spirit to bless with a breath of loving care. This is surely what I experience with each visit from You, Dear Beloved Friend.
'Tis You ... as You are eternally known and loved ... who I Love.
You are an Angel and have brought tears to my eyes too! Thank you for such wonderful comments about me. You made me smile and yippee and dance around today!! This is my FIRST award and I am so honored it was given by such a special lady ((JONI))
I adore your blog and love visiting here...thank you so very much.
How very touching Joni. You do blog with a purpose and i love reading your blog. You are such a beautiful person and you deserve every award life has to offer. Keep being yourself, you are a sweet inspiration in my life.
Thanks for stopping by my blog and for leaving such kind words about my granddauthter. Yes, I am proud and I am not sure if she has a favorite recipe. She has been cooking for her family since she was 14 years old.
Hugs
God Bless You
Patti
Thank you Joni. I'll treasure this gift from you forever. I'll be back in the swing of things soon and catch up with everything that's been going on.
Love to you,
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