Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

I have much to be thankful for these days!

1. Jeanne of Jeannie's Happy World sent me a beautiful card after I commented that it had the same colors as my blog. The card is beautiful. The kind message in the card is priceless. If you are looking for a special card, please check out her shop Queenie Jeannie's Card Boutique.
   
   
   

   
   

   

2. Cottage Belles sent JDaniel two of her reusable lunch/snack bags in mail this week. How did she know I just used my last sandwich sized plastic lunch bag this week? We are going to love using these.
   
   



3. Frugal Creativity presented me with the Trendy Blog Award. I totally love her site. This is a great honor.
   
   
   Here’s how the award works:
   
   -To receive this award, promise to share this with 10 other BLOGS that you think are Trendy too.
   
   -Post about your award in your blog. List your Top 10 Trendy Blogs. Share with them.
   
   -Leave a link to the Trendy Blog Button. Tell them they need to give this award out to 10 as well.
   
   I am passing it to:
   
   Crazy About My Baybah
   
   The Journey
   
   One Plus One is Three
   
   Our Growing Garden
   
   Rockin the Mini-Van
   
   Adventures of Goober Grape and Monkey Man
   
   The Mommy Logs
   
   Nolie's Place
   
   Not Quite Susie Homemaker
   
   Dear Crissy
   
   
4. Just Keep Smiling shared the Versatile Blogger Award with me. Her site is new to me. I can't wait to spend more time there. I am her latest follower.
   
   
   
   The rules for this award are:
   
   1. Thank the person who gave you this award
   
   2. Share 7 things about yourself.
   
   3. Pass the award along to other bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic! (in no particular order...)
   
   4. Contact the bloggers you've picked and let them know about the award.
   
   Here are my seven things:
   
   1. I have thirteen nephews and nieces.
   
   2. I love Jane Austen's books.
   
   3. I have to ride the swings at the park.
   
   4. I love to go to school and take classes.
   
   5. I love the book of Ruth in the Bible.
   
   6. I love eating popcorn with cheese.
   
   7. I love going to the mountains.
   
   
   This award is being passed on to:
   
   Kibble n' Dribble
   
   The Crafty Charlestonian
   
   Really? I'm a Mom?
   
   As the Forest{e} Grows
   
   A Real Housewife of Atlanta
   
   A Mama Stork Knows
   
   
   
   
   
   

A Lovely and Awarding Thing About Blogging

I received this lovely award from Finding What I Am Looking For. She has an amazing blog filled with wonderful things like a Max and Ruby Cake based on the the book Bunny Cake. We just read this book at my house. If JDaniel could, he would crawl through the internet to Finding's House.


I am passing this award on to ten wonderful blogs I have come across:

Spilled Milk

Little BGCG

My Monkey Tales

Life with Boo-Boo and Bug

The Southern Belle Baby

Charming Chandler

Life with Rylie

A Few of My Favorite Things

Loving Mom 2 Boys

A Look into the Life of a Fire Fighter's Wife

Please take a moment to visit them and see why I am passing this award on to them.

Happy to Share the Happy 101 Award!

I recieved this wonderful award from Once Upon a Time. It is truly special. The award challenges you to think about all the things that make you really happy. I am so thankful Once Upon a Time is giving me the opportunity to share 10 things that make me happy. Please check out her really special blog. It will make your happy if you do.

Here are the rules:

1. Copy and paste the award on your blog.

2. List who gave the award to you and use a link to her blog (or hyperlink).

3. List 10 things that make you happy.

4. Pass the award on to other bloggers and visit their blog to let them know about the award.

So 10 things that make me happy on April 18th early in the morning:

1. I got up and got things done before JDaniel was awake.
   
   


2. I am going to attend at wonderful church this morning where I hear the Gospel preached every week.
   


3. JDaniel's rash from the allergic reaction to pollen has cleared up.
   


4. I will get to go to playgroup tomorrow with awesome moms and JDaniel's closest friends.
   


5. My freezer is stockpiled with meat I got on sale last week and bread I got an Arnold outlet.
   


6. I have all my posts planned for the week. Now I just have to write them.
   


7. My husband reminded me many times last week why he is amazing.


8. Listening my two guys chat while playing with trains earlier in the weekend.


9. The wonderful comments and supportive ideas I read last week on my blog and others.
   
10. Knowing as of this moment everyone in my family is well and doing well.

Here are the blogs I would like to share this award with:

My Life in a Blog

Pocketful of Posies

Proverbs 31 Living

Shabby in Suburbia

Singing With Birds

Snips and Snails

Southern Domestic Goddess

Tales From the Fairy Blogmother

The Mom Road

Teach Preschool

Please take a moment a visit them when you get a chance. Each one is really special.

Honor Roll Award Given and Shared with My Top Commenters

I received this wonderful award from Southern Institute for Domestic Arts and Crafts. I love to visit her site and learn new things. Do to that fact I am one of her top commenters.

Here are the rules:

*In order to accept the award, please post it on your blog with the name of the person who awarded it, including the link to their blog.

*Pass the award onto 5-10 of your most loyal followers.

*Remember to contact those followers and let them know they have been chosen for this award.

The TOP 10 most frequent commenters made it onto the honor roll and will receive this award.

My top ten are:

Combatbootmom- One of my sisters

Believer

Miracle

Kyooty

Jamie

Pam

Jenny in Utah

Noelle

JamericanSpice

W

With the exception of my sister I love to leave comments on their sites too. My sister doesn't have a blog yet!

Awards Spring Up From Everywhere! Wonderful Award Bouquets to Share!

Just as spring is popping up all over it appears awards are too. I received three awards this week that I would like to pass along to wonderful blogs. Please check out the blogs I received them from and the ones I am passing awards onto.

The first is a Sunshine Award from I'm a Full-Time Mummy. Now according to the award rules, I have to do the following 5 steps:

1) Put the logo within my blog or on my post
2) Pass the award onto 12 fellow bloggers
3) Link the nominees within my post
4) Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog
5) Share the love and link to the person whom you received this award from.

The blogs I would like to pass this award onto are:

The Cogitate Apple
Home Grown Hearts

Counting Coconuts

Frugal Family Fun

Izzie, Mac and Me

The Home Teacher

Dawn's Daily Life
One Family Under God

The Pink Coupon Cafe
Amundsen House of Chaos
Naturally Educational
Yes, Our Hands Are Full

I also recieved the Beautiful Blogger Award and the One Lovely Blog Award from 1 Prince and 3 Princesses.

Here are the rules For the "Beautiful Blogger Award" and "One Lovely Blog Award" you need to:
Thank & link to the person that gave you the award.
Pass this award on to 15 fantastic bloggers you’ve recently discovered.
Contact the Bloggers and let them know they’ve won.
State 7 things about yourself-
1. I am love reading to JDaniel.
2. I had to take a swimming test to graduate college.
3. I love ice cold sweet tea and water in the summer.
4. I love being an aunt to my 13 nieces and nephews.
5. I love going to the park.
6. I am spending time on the internet searching for deals, visiting blog, doing research, etc.
7. I love homemade ice cream. (Thelma's in Great Falls, VA is my favorite place to get ice cream.)


I am passing these award to the following blogs:
The Book Chook
Everyday I Walk With You
HomeSpun Threads
We Laugh Until We Cry
Sugar Tails
A Day in the Life of... 8,6,4
A Mommy Talks
Adventures in Mommydom
i am a princess, all girls are
Country Fun
The Frugal Girls
Isacjklm's Blog
Tech Savvy Mama
Pajama Projects
Miller Moments

Rewarding Recipe Blogs

I was given this wonderful award by From Misery to Happiness in 365 Days. What an honor! Please take a moment to check out her site.

The rules for this award are to state 10 things that make me happy. Right now I am so happy for all my family and the support we have been given during this difficult time. Rather than list 10 things I am just going to say thank you to the more than ten of you that are praying for us. Your thoughts and prayers mean so much.

I have to pass this award on to ten sites. Since I have a recipe theme this week, I have selected ten great recipe blogs.

Here they are:

Gourmet Mom on the Go

Itty Bitty Bistro

Just Like Grandmas Cooking

The Hungry Housewife

Hoosier Homemade

Mommy’s Kitchen

And Baby Makes Five

A love At First Bite

Full Bellies

Jersey Girl Cooks

Three Awards to Pass On

I feel so honored. I have received three awards this week that I would love to pass to some wonderful blogs.



To accept the "Happy 101 Award" I need to:
1. Acknowledge the person who gave it to me
2. List ten items that make me happy, and
3. Award it to ten other bloggers.

I would like to thank Jumpin Beans for this award.

My father in-law is still getting weaker and weaker. We went to see him yesterday. He wasn’t talking much, couldn’t sit up without help, and ate only small amounts of food. While we were there, I did see a whole lot of love. This award is supposed to be 10 things that make me happy. I hope you don’t mind that I am changing it to Ten Ways I Saw Love This Weekend.

Ten Ways I Saw Love This Weekend

1.My mother in-law helped feed the man she loves and did so with such respect.

2.The nurses that take care of him kissed his forhead when they came to rotate him in his bed.

3.My sister in-law Gina slept on an air mattress in his room so, my mother in-law could go home and get rest. Each of my sister in-laws has been doing this for a few months.

4.My sister in-laws and brother in-law along with my husband and have been rotating who will come into town to help their parents. (My sister in-law Marcia comes for two weeks at a time.)

5.A freezer filled with food each one has made so that my mother in-law won’t have to cook.

6.Text messages flying from one family member to another. It has helped us know how to pray and how he is doing.

7.My twenty three month old throwing his grandfather a kiss and telling him he loves him.

8.My sister in-laws singing and playing with JDaniel to help keep him entertained.

9.The stream of friends that came through to check on my father in-law.

10.My father in-law reaching out his hand for my mother in-law and her hearing her tell him he had quite a grip.

Here are the blogs I am passing this onto:

Living with Fairies

Lemon Drop Pie

Live and Love Out Loud

For Love or Funny

The Practical Mom Guide

Steph's Cafe

Confessions from a Working Mom

Izzie, Mac, and Me

Tickled Pink Twice

The Mama Zone



I received this award from the Sevin Family and Acting Balanced. They both have amazing blogs. Please check them out! Check out Jumpin Beans while you are at it.


Here are the rules to the award:

1.Put the logo on your blog or within your post.
2.Pass the award onto 12 bloggers.
3.Link the nominees within your post.
4.Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5.Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

I am passing this award onto the following blogs:

See Great Things

Home Grown Families

Singing in the Rain

Mine are Spectacular

Good, True and Beautiful

Totally Tots

Buried with Children

Out Numbered 3-1

Mama to 3 Blessings

Mommy Guru

Creative Blogger Award Goes to Me! Five Awards are Given from Me!

I am excited about receiving the Creative Blogger Award from Moments of Mommyhood.

The rules for accepting this award are: List 5 things that you may not know about me and pass this award on to 5 fellow bloggers.

1.I came to marriage and mommyhood when I was over forty.

2.I am learning how to cook for a family after all those years of being single. Sometimes I still don’t cook things long enough.

3.My favorite place to visit in the whole world is Ireland. I have been there twice.

4.My favorite scripture verses are Is 49:15-16.

5.I am only seventeen states away from my goal of visiting all fifty states. I visited a lot of states when I was a trainer for the Marco Polo website.

Here are the blogs I selected along with a post I really love from their sites:

Life with Kaishon- Her post on the Important Things to Remember About God is a moving piece of photos and words.

Blue Cotton Memory-Six Mom Stages of Raising Boys to Men takes you through survival mom, rock star mom, fading star mom, underground foundation mom, occasional mom and ends with confused mom. Each stage is beautifully painted by her words.

Twinsomnia- Deep Thoughts While Finger painting is a great photo essay on finger painting.

April Flowers- Train Placemat is a fun teaching tool idea. It covers colors and counting.

A Bit of This and a Bit of That- I really love her muffin tin on Antarctica.

Two Awards from Momma's Playground and One from Ma, What's for Dinner?

I love to visit Momma's Playground! She really has a fun blog. Recently she contacted me with news that she was giving me two awards! I am so honored.

The Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity & creativity inspires others in the blogworld!!The rules for accepting this award are: Put the logo on your blog. Pass the award on to 10 bloggers. Link the nominees within your post. Let the nominees know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

I was given this award by Mama's Playground and Ma, What's for Dinner! Please check them both out. Ma, What's for Dinner has great recipes for families.

For this award, you are to list 10 things that make you happy, then tag another 10 people.

Ten Things That Make ME Happy:
1- My husband
2- My son
3- Family
4- My Time with God
5-Watching my son picture walk through a book I have read hundreds of times
6. Reading a great book
7- Spending time with friends and watching their little ones grow and learn.
8- Finding Deals
9- Couponing
10-Blogging- Working on my blog, visiting other people's blogs, reading wonderful comments.

Momma's Playground chose to give both awards to the same ten bloggers. I have decided to follow her lead. I am also including the ten from Ma, What's for Dinner?'s award. I am grateful for both giving me this award.

Here a my awardees:
Miscellaneous Matters
Totally Tots
Our Country Road
Mom is Not Concerned
Life with the Grovers
Our Family Treat
Tammy's Two Cents
Mama to 3 Blessings
Adventures of a Flake
A Pocket Full of Buttons

I won the Lemonade Award! I am passing it on!

I have been awarded the Lemonade Stand Award by Fun with Little Mouse. . I am so honored to receive her award. I love her site. It has become a part of my weekly blog visits. Fun with Little Mouse participates in Muffin Tin Mondays with me. I get to visit her site every Monday and have taken to visiting other days of the week too.

The Lemonade Stand Award is awarded for being a blogger who shows great attitude and gratitude.

The rules for accepting this award:

- Put the Lemonade logo on your blog or within your post.

- Nominate at least 10 blogs with great attitude or gratitude.

- Link the nominees within your post.

- Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

- Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

I just love the following blogs and it would be wonderful to visit the blogs I am passing this award onto. Each of the blogs I have selected with the exception of one participates in Muffin Tin Monday too. I have truly enjoyed visiting each of them at least once a week during Muffin Tin Monday. Each has taught me creative ways to serve meals and new foods to try with JDaniel. The non-Muffin Tin Monday blog is Southern Institute for Domestic Arts and Crafts. It is just an awesome place to look for creative things to do with your children.

Southern Institute for Domestic Arts and Crafts

Activity Mom

Momma’s Playground

One Little Word She Knew

Dandelions In My Vase

The Sound You Hear is Living

The Shafer Family

The Masked Mommy

School in the Kitchen

Fun Days with Mommy and Maddie

I won the Fabulous Blog Award! Thank you Miscellaneous Matters!

Miscellaneous Matters has awarded JDaniel4's Mom the Fabulous Blog award. Thank you for this honor! It is even more special knowing it comes from her! If you’re not following her site, visit she's tremendous encourager and great lady. You will benefit from her insights.

Rules:
It's required to list one's top five obsessions and then pass on the love to five other fabulous blogs.

My Top 5 Obsessions in no particular order:

1. Family

2. Finding Deals

3. Couponing

4. Prayer

5. Blogging

Passing it on:

Jumpin Beans
Hear Mum Roar
Suburban Jungle
Simply Being Mommy
The Activity Mom

Best Blog Award Given by The Mama Zone

I was just awarded the Best Blog Award from The Mama Zone.

There are two conditions that come with accepting this award:

1.To accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his/her blog link.
2.Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you have recently discovered and think are great! Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Here are the blogs I have selected:

Texas Couponers Anonymous

Out Numbered 3-1

Mommies with Cents

Thrifty and Chic Mom

Amy Loves It
STL Mommy

A Hen's Nest

Freebies 4 Mom

Supah Mommy

Growing a Baby in Seattle Reviews

Mom's Focus Online

$5 Dinners

Apron Goddesses

Three Different Directions
Fun foods on a Budget

Congrats to all of you!

Lovely Blog Award

My first blog award! I was awarded this by the Frugal Racing Fan Mommy! Thank you so much for presenting me with my first blog award! I am soooooo excited.

Now that I've accepted and linked back to Frugal Racing Fan Mommy, I will nominate 15 more Blogs who I think deserve the award. The blogs that I have nominated below are wonderful blogs.

Here are the 15 blogs that I love. These blogs are awesome resources for me. You have probably seen posts with credits to them. I hope you can find deals and helpful advice by following them also!

Congratulations to the following blogs:

Deals and Steals
Energizer Bunny Mommy Reports
Helping Mommy’s Win
Southern Savers
Two of a kind, working on a full house
ABC and 123 Learning
City House and Country Mouse
Mariann Johansen-Ellis
Southern Bella’s Ways to Save
Packaged with Care
Susan Heim on Parenting
Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms
Playground for Parents
Leslie Loves Veggies
Fabulous Fun Finds


This is how the One Lovely Blog Award works: a blogger receives the award, accepts it by posting it and linking back to the person who awarded it, and then passes it on by nominating 15 more bloggers!