Thank You for The Liebster Award!

I am honored and thankful to have received a nomination for the Liebster Award from a fantastic, beautiful, God filled – faith sharing blogger:  Drawing from the Well!  I don’t always write about my faith or beliefs, but when I do, it is heartfelt.  I decided before I started this blog that I didn’t want to write about only one subject like those wonderful home improvement bloggers.  I enjoy too many things, and to try to split it between a variety of blogs is too time consuming.

As many of you know, you can go to my homepage and get a daily dose of ‘Laugh’ter…or listen to me talk about ‘Challenges’…or take a peak at ‘My Home’ improvement/craft projects…and then there’s the story of my ‘Family’…or taking a look at ‘All Things Beautiful’…and finally, the area that I’m sure Drawing from the Well appreciates the most: ‘Gratitude and God’.  Like I said – a little of everything…because sometimes you just need a laugh, or want to get inspiration for your home, or need an extra dose of faith…whatever you need, I hope I can help.  Honestly, I don’t write this because I like to read my own stories, I write this blog with the hope that I can help others somehow, and as a way for our stories to be documented for the next generation.  I so wish my parents and grandparents had taken time to write their stories down, but they didn’t…and so we start from here.  Hopefully I don’t embarrass my children too much in the process!

Now on to the rules of the award:

Upon accepting the Liebster Award, there are a few rules that need to be followed:

1. Link back the blogger that tagged you
2. Nominate ten others and answer the questions of the one who tagged you
3. Ask ten questions for the bloggers you nominate
4. Let your nominees know of their award

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Drawing from the Well’s questions for me:

1.  What is you favorite verse in the Bible?  It would have to be Psalms, Chapter 27…yes, all of chapter 27.  Here it is:

Of David, The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom should I fear?  The Lord is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?  When evildoers come at me to devour my flesh, My foes and my enemies themselves stumble and fall.  Though an army encamp against me, my heart will not fear; Though war be waged upon me, even then will I trust.  One thing I ask of the Lord; this I seek:  To dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, That I may gaze on the loveliness of the Lord and contemplate his temple.  For he will hide me in his abode in the day of trouble; He will conceal me in the shelter of his tent, he will set me high upon a rock.  Even now my  head is held high above my enemies on every side.  And I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of gladness; I will sing and chant praise to the Lord.  Hear, O Lord, the sound of my call; have pity on me, and answer me.  Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks; your presence, O Lord, I seek.  Hide not your face from me; do not in anger repel your servant, You are my helper: cast me not off; forsake me not, O God my savior.  Though my father and mother forsake me, yet will the Lord receive me.  Show me, O Lord, your way, and lead me on a level path, because of my adversaries.  Give me not up to the wishes of my foes; for false witnesses have risen up against me, and such as breathe out violence.  I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord.

I find great comfort and great strength in this chapter of Psalms.  And yet there’s a reason I italicized two sections.  The first one I discovered after the death of Tim’s Grandpa.  I picked up the bible, let it fall open and this is what I found.  It spoke so strongly of Grandpa Shepel’s beliefs, his faith, and his life.  His faith was strong until the end.  He suffered with cancer that eventually moved into a tumor on the back of his head…and yet he held his head high.  This was a man who sang in the Polka Mass – even traveling to Rome to perform it for the Pope – singing of God’s goodness.  And in the last few days of his life he spoke of seeing Jesus there with us.  His family decided to use these verses at his funeral.

The second verse was brought to my attention by my sister-in-law Heidi.  I was going through a very difficult time with my parents and one day she called and shared this verse with me…it was just the message I needed to hear.

2.  What is your favorite Bible story?  The story of the Nativity.  The sweetness of Jesus being born in such a simple setting, the irony of all the shop owners turning away this poor young family without the knowledge that they were turning away our Savior, the amazement I feel that God sent his only Son to earth, and the glory that this baby brought to our world on one quiet December night.

3.  What was the first car that you owned?  It was a rather ugly, brown as an M&M, little Ford Maverick.  The vinyl top was ripped and the paint rather worn, but my parents had bought it for me and  they had the top fixed and the car repainted.  It was wheels…I was thankful…and when I drove up to school and the car backfired (sounding like a gunshot), I proudly got out and waved my hand saying “Yup, that’s my car…it’s just me!”  {inwardly groaning}

4.  Name your favorite soda?  Pop Shoppe Pop – Pineapple flavored!  Oh what fun and what a treat when my parents would take us to the Pop Shoppe and let us pick out flavors to fill the red carrier.  Aaahhhh …memories!

5.  iPhone or Android?  iPhone…based on my oldest daughter’s recommendation…and I LOVE it!

6.  Mac or PC?  PC, but I’d love a Mac!

7.  Why did you start your blog?  I was encouraged to start a blog by my friend Jan…who had this vision of my sharing my decorating ideas in my home…yeah…I’m still working on that!  The other reason for this adventure:  I was going through health issues which took me out of the working world – this has been a great creative outlet, wonderful therapy and what a great way to meet new friends!

8.  Where did you grow up (city and state)?  I grew up 2+ miles south of Aurora, MN.  Small town, small hobby farm (less and less a farm as my older brothers grew up and left home…and no I’m not kidding when I tell the story of how one of the horses stepped on my head (I know, it explains a lot)), born to parents that loved to fish and hunt (yes, my Mom was sitting in her deer stand the day I was born!).

9.  How many siblings do you have?  5…I used to joke with my parents that they started right (with my sister, and ended right (with me)…but got mixed up in between (4 boys)!

10. Breathe a sigh of relief…the questions are DONE!

Whew!

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My new blogger picks for the Liebster Award:

Long Walks and Dark Chocolate

Garden2day

Barb Taub

KD Corner

Casual Contentment

Yes, I Am That Single Mom

Chronic Illness is a Journey

A Dream Come True

aSharee Design

A Flick of Light

OK fellow bloggers, here are my questions for you:

1.  What is your favorite quote?

2.  Your favorite Pinterest item?

3.  Would you share your favorite recipe?  (If yes…I’d love to add it to my daughter’s cookbook of our family and friend’s favorites!)

4.  What is your favorite memory?

5.  Do you have a pet? (What is it?…story?)

6.  When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

7.  What is your favorite season?

8.  Do you think people who hang junk on their walls are crazy? (watch for my home decor post later this week 🙂 )

9.  Who is your favorite person in the world?

10. What is your most treasured possession?

Fellow nominees:  now it’s your turn…have fun!  To my readers:  grab a cup of coffee and check out the links I’ve provided for these nominee’s – trust me they’re a great read!

Patty O