I would like to thank both Yori and Shaun for the SUNSHINE AWARD!

私の最も穏やかなあなたに、ありがとうございました、ヨリは〜私は私が受け取った任意の賞を感じ、私の仲間のブロガーのすべてを、私は共有するものです！私たちは、輝くためにお互いを助け、すべての水の結晶である！どうもありがとうございます！私はこの日本人が使用して翻訳した“Googleが翻訳” – 私はそれが私が正しく言うために必要なものを言っていることを祈っています！ありがとう！毎日、あなた自身の心に太陽の光を発生する可能性があります…すべてが快適であり日…で​​、それらを通してあなたを運ぶために雨の日に！

Arigatō!

My most gentle thank you, to you, Yori~  I feel any award that I receive is one that I share with ALL of my fellow bloggers! We are all water crystals helping each other to shine! thank YOU so much!  I did this Japanese translate using “Google Translate”–I am praying that it is saying what I need to say correctly! thank you! may each day you experience the SUNSHINE in your own heart…on days when all is pleasant…and on rainy days to carry you through them!

and

dear Shaun, my Gallant Knight, thank you so much for nominating me for this award! Your reading of my posts,  your gentle encouragement with these precious awards that you have bestowed on me! You are a sweetheart! You give so much encouragement to so many bloggers…I smile whenever I read your comments to others!  You are making an important impact on humanity!  Your affirmations definitely go a long way to help others continue their day to day lives, to not give up or give in, to journey through the sun and the mud, to be all that they can be–and WHY?—because YOU are there with your powerful and gentle words to encourage them and me! Thank you!

Sunshine Award

How to spread the Rays of Sunshine (…or the RULES…as they say):

* Include the award’s logo in a post or on your Blog.
* Link to the person who nominated you.
* Answer 10 questions about yourself.
* Nominate 10 Bloggers.
* Link your nominees to the post and comment on their Blogs, letting them know they have been nominated.

Respond to Ten Questions about Yourself–Share the INFO about your Sun Rays:

1.      Favorite color:   turquoise blue–it stimulates the soft and gentle part of my inner being.
2.     Favorite animal:  Giraffe — because this animal sticks its neck out…and I admire people who have the courage to “stick their neck out” for a good cause or to help another.
3.     Favorite number:  4–not too much and not too little! LOL
4.     Favorite non-alcoholic drink:  Water — water begets love crystals — bubbling all around inside of me and you!
5.     Favorite alcoholic drink:  Brandy Sweet Old-fashion — I am from Wisconsin –Of course, there must be brandy in it! Only one drink on the Evening of  Christmas Day.
6,     Favorite types of music:  Eclectic choices–depends on my mood…Romantic Songs of the 40’s…Andre Bocelli, Susan Boyle, Elton John, Moody Blues, John Denver, Simon & Garfunkel; Bee Gees, Mozart, Bach, Beethoven and Adele!  LOL
7.     My passion(s): Seeking truth…being love to myself and others…writing…oil painting
8.     Prefer getting or giving presents: Giving little presents because I hope that my giving will bless the receiver…and I am attempting to be a Minimalist…(not working too well! LOL)
9.     Favorite cities:  Montreal; St. Louis; Madison
10.  Favorite TV show:  Public Television:  British drama and comedy: “Downtown Abbey”…

My 10 nominees are each important to me in their own unique way…

*  Anna Lea West     http://annaleawest.com

I present Anna Lea West with the Sunshine Award for her the humor she injects into her writing, while still making an authentic statement about life! Her writing makes me smile so much! And I love to smile! Thank YOU for your Sunshine, Anna Lea!

*  Jerry   phoport.wordpress.com

Great photographer who knows the technique behind his art form!  Thank you, Jerry,  for bringing the SUNSHINE of nature and all things on our Mother Earth into focus for us! and besides this, he also offers some deep insights into the soul, with his very fine writing calling us to BE more than we perceive ourselves to be! I love your “Lilypad Crystal” photos by the way!

* Jack (?)  http://thedimwitdiary.com

Wild humor and he  wakes you up with his interesting comparisons and smashing honesty! Thank you for the SUNSHINE, Jack!

*  Sheri     http://sheridegrom.wordpress.com

You write the reviews with such great warmth! You are one with the author—you carry their story into our hearts, creating this desire in us to read them for ourselves! THANK YOU, Sheri,  for sharing your wonderful gift with us all and the SUNSHINE it brings into our lives of learning!

* MM Mohan  http://advocatemmmohan.wordpress.com

Your site is fascinating with all that you delve into with the law. You have a gift of understanding it far surpassing mine! Thank you for helping others with their understanding through your blog and its information. M M Mohan,you are awarded the SUNSHINE for all the rays of knowledge you bring into the lives of others!

*  Rachel Meeks      http://doilooksick.wordpress.com

Rachel, you are amazing…you have a unique sense of humor and you use it to deflect the pain you suffer from endometriosis.  I am amazed at your strength. You give us all SUNSHINE rays of HOPE!

*http://shlehora.wordpress.com

Simplicity of photography! Exquisite photos of uniquely captured moments! You will love her photos!   Thank you, Shelhora, for sharing your gift of SUNSHINE photo rays that bring life into ours!

*Alastair Duncan       http://www.adphotowalks.com 

This wordpress site is DYNAMITE! Artistic and so fantastically unique! Magnificent! Alastair, you made my heart beat rays of SUNSHINE –the style and set-up of your wordpress site is so cool…tremendous idea…the natural sounds added to your photos, your slideshows…It is an interactive site! So artistic! Love it!

*Miss Betty     http://clarabetty.wordpress.com                clarabetty@windstream.net

Miss Betty, I love your down-to-earth honesty …you speak from your heart and your truth!  Thank you for the rays of   SUNSHINE honesty!

* Stephanie Raffelock   http://somanyblogssolittletime.wordpress.com/

Stephanie, YOU bring SUNSHINE to so many lives with the creative writing classes you teach! Your personal writing is soft and gentle! That you for the gentle rays of SUNSHINE that you have brought into my life!

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************

Wishing YOU each  SUNSHINE days filled with rays of blessings and water crystals of love to carry you through all that you discover and experience so that you may have a fuller, richer day with yourself and all whom you meet along the journey!

I feel very honored to receive this WordPress Family Award…it is a blessing to be part of a blogging community that cares so much about each other, not just as writers, but as human beings! I have grown leaps and bounds, first,  as a person and then as a writer, from the interaction that has taken place since I began writing on this blog site, October 14, 2011. I have experienced so much deep joy in the words that others write…in the honesty  in which they portray their thoughts and experiences…in their relentless care and concern for each other as gifted human beings on our Mother Earth.  A very good friend of mine, Elaine, said I should surround myself with “gentle beings.” I think becoming a part of the WORDPRESS FAMILY has given me that opportunity!  I have met so many wonderful and good people on this blog site: writers, poets, photographers, artists! I have been blessed so much!

Many times during my life I carried with me the thought of Sir James Barrie, the Scottish novelist and playwright, who penned  Peter Pan. He wrote these words:   “Those who give sunshine to the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves.”  I do not always succeed, but I try to live these words.  Perhaps, that is selfish…because I am seeking happiness…however, I think it means that by giving to others, I am being who I am meant to be….and that helps me to live happily.

These last ten years have been especially difficult for me–professionally and personally…My nephew died from a horrible disease, Myotonic Dystrophy, in 2007 at the age of 39. Then my Mom had a stroke at the age of 90…she came to live with me until she died in my home at the age of 94 in 2010. To say I miss her so much would be an understatement…60 years is a long time and I was blessed to have her with me…but still it was not enough time. Then my older sister, Barbara, died from the same myotonic dystrophy that took her son’s life, at the age of 63, in 2010,  six months after my Mom. This past March, 2013, my younger brother, Bill, died of myotonic dystrophy at the age of 61.  The losses have been great…and, of course, no one can replace them. However, the people on WordPress have accepted me as part of their family…and I cannot begin to express the intense feelings I have developed and finally feel like I belong somewhere. Thank you for your heartfelt words that have encouraged me so! I am “feeling the love” as the young people say! LOL

I think this is true of the WordPress Family.  We pass rays of sunshine  and love crystals to one another in our gift of affirmations and comments! How blessed we all are! I am full of gratitude for each of you!  And especially for dear Patty!  Thank you, Patty, [ http://petitemagique.wordpress.com%5D for your nomination! I am truly honored! and dear Shaun, my gallant knight! and my younger brave heart, Shane…dear sweet son! You inspire me so with your generous spirits and good hearts!

Now for a description of the award:

This is an award for everyone who is part of the “WordPress Family” I started this award on the basis that the WordPress family has taken me in, and showed me love and a caring side only WordPress can show. The way people take a second to be nice, to answer a question and not make things a competition amazes me here. I know I have been given many awards, but I wanted to leave my own legacy on here by creating my own award, as many have done before. This represents “Family” we never meet, but are there for us as family. It is my honor to start this award.” from Shaun @ http://prayingforoneday.wordpress.com/

The Rules:

1. Display the award logo on your blog.
2. Link back to the person who nominated you.
3. Nominate 10 others you see as having an impact on your WordPress experience and family.                                        
4. Let your 10 Family members know you have awarded them. There is a real problem here since this award spread like wildfire but I think I can find ten who should be recognized
5. That is it. Just please pick 10 people who have taken you as a friend, and spread the love

Nominations

*  Shaun @ http://prayingforoneday.wordpress.com/

Shaun is the Gallant brother…always looking out for everyone!

*  Patty  http://petitemagique.wordpress.com

Patty is the Courageous Woman Princess…always so kind and gentle…compassion rules her being!

*  Shane http://shanesbookblog.com

Shane is the Knight of Thought…thinking deeply about the meaning behind all that is read!

* Tersia      http://www.tersiaburger.wordpress.com

Tersia is the Mother Beautiful…obvious…read her blog! A woman of great courage and strength!

* Dace  http://mywaytotruth.wordpress.com/category/lgbt/

Dace is my Sister of Courage.  Such deep beauty and truth in telling of her story…so unselfishly written and bravely –so as to help others and not only herself. She succeeds!

*Suzie   http://artistsuziepindar.wordpress.com/?blogsub=confirmed#blog_subscription-3

Suzie…Courageous Photographer….delicious perspective in the photos she takes! and a person of courage to be who she is!

* Sabatino  http://www.hotcupoflove.com/2013/04/27/meet-sabatino/#comment-1375

Sabatino is the Knight of Truth…..writes from the truth of his heart…his writing is so clear and focused…and beautiful!

*  Sheri     http://sheridegrom.com/

Sheri is the Princess of Enlightenment with her excellent book reviews and well-researched insight on matters of humanity!

* Stephanie  http://misscarriedmuse.wordpress.com

Stephanie is the Mother of Bravery…she speaks of her loss but also of her resolve to move forward and find a new way to live!

* Kamlesh Oraon     scarycloud.wordpress.com     http://en.gravatar.com/kamleshoraon

Kamlesh is a Knight of Courage…he blogs in a Second Language…English is so very different than Hindi…he is so brave in his execution of this goal!

*http://middlepane.com

This Master is a Knight of Mindfulness…his blog teaches the way to find peace within ourselves.

*http://hearingwiththeeye.wordpress.com

Sumithra Sriram is the Princess of Possibility as books, music and travel are the loves of her life at present. Her writing is refreshing!

I would like to thank all my friends and followers for their support, comments and awesome posts!

Thank you to dear Shaun for nominating me for the “Dragon Loyalty Award.”   You are so gallant and strong…and your blog is that of an Honest Knight!  Dear Shaun, you wrote:   “I have a great life, I am blessed, but when the hurt comes, I turn to you, Word Press..And you help me.. I hope I help you back, just a little” —- your words have helped me a great deal! Thank you for being a blogger and sharing your truth so beautifully!

Seven Facts about me:

1.  I seem to love to laugh…more and more…and not to “cover up” pain…I feel so happy! and it is WONDERFUL!  I have been sad long enough in my life…and now I think there is something more…deeper joy!

2.  I love to plant trees…unfortunately, due to last summer’s drought, trees that I watched grow for 2o years, are now dying. But today, my neighbor gave me 4 more trees to plant! How kind and generous of  Ellen!

3.  I am blessed with beautiful people in my life…my family…my daughters…my grandchildren..LOVE!

4.  I do enjoy playing Canasta and Gin Rummy…occasionally.

5.  I would love to learn French, Spanish, Hindi and Chinese.  I know one or two phrases in each. Now time for some serious studying! LOL

6.  Sometimes I get very lonely…and depressed…and I turn to my writing to free myself…and then I get responses from the wonderful WordPress family and all is well!  Since I have begun daily meditation, I am doing so much better…I see how important it is to return to the Center…to find balance.

7. I believe in the GOD of LOVE—and I am open to all forms of spirituality….because, honestly, I think we are all ONE in LOVE. We are all water love crystals, gifting each other along the way…just like a bag of marshmellows when placed in the microwave—they all become ONE! So we are marshmellows of love crystals full of love sugar and whichever religion, spirituality, view gets you to believe in yourself and the goodness of others is a wonderful, tremendous gift!

I now award 7 people:

*  Kamlesh Oraon     scarycloud.wordpress.com     http://en.gravatar.com/kamleshoraon

A new and inspiring poet from Dhanbad, India. I am nominating Kamlesh for this award because he reminds me of a Gentle Dragon going out into the world, giving blessings and hope to all with his new found voice in poetry!

*  Saunved  Mutalik     http://saunved.wordpress.com/

So young a writer, a poet, and already on the road to success! Saunved, your blog is wonderful to read! Such versatile entries! Love your humor!

*  Mama Baker  http://crumbsnatchertales.com/

Love your recipes and joy of life…a happy dragon of delicious words!

*  Pat Gerber-Relf  http://angloswisscat.wordpress.com/

For her very delightful blog in which her dynasty cats allow her to publish their profound writings!  How wonderful and fun!

*   http://www.mybpdlife.org/

You are a courageous lady! Your words are the expression of your bravery! You are a lovely, talented and amazing dragon of inner strength!

*    http://emdawn80.wordpress.com

Love your beautiful pen drawings…your selected quotes…your words!  Your strength to go out there and be BOLD!  Definitely a gentle dragon!

*    http://theelusivescribe.wordpress.com

You receive this award, dear Elusivescribe, for you are the Dragon of Romanticism! Lovely, lovely poems have you!

* Patty     http://petitemagique.wordpress.com/2013/04/29/hardest-post-for-me-ever/

I nominate you, Patty, for this award, because you have tremendous, courageous fire in your words…you are my Dragon of Courage!

Thank you again, Shaun, for the award! YOU are my Dragon of Gallantry!   You honor me too much!  Congratulations to the SEVEN  BLOGGERS above and may your footprints of thoughts continue to grow!

Jane

The Rules are…

-Display the  Award Certificate on your website.

-Announce your win with a written post and link to whoever presented your award.

-Present 7 awards to deserving bloggers.

-Drop them a comment to tip them off after you have liked them in the post.

-Post 7 interesting things about yourself.

-If you don’t have a blog but have a website, Facebook, or Twitter or other type account, post there with a link back.