The Smile Award

Carrie, one of my best friends from college and former roommate, has given me the Smile Award. I am a little shocked--I have never recieved a blogging award before! Thank you so much, Carrie, for giving me this unexpected and undeserved award :) I want to tell you a little about my friend. This has been an emotion-filled year for her family. After fighting the good fight against cancer, her dear mother-in-law Pam went home to the Lord in February. Just a little over a month and a half later, a little angel came from heaven to live with them--a new daughter, Ella Jean. Admist the roller-coaster of emotions and life-changing events of the past few months, I know Carrie has been a rock for her family and can always put a smile on everyones' faces!

Now, I must return the favor and grant the award to five more deserving bloggers!

These are the rules:
1. The recipient must link back to the awards creator the babblings of mere.
2. You must post these rules if you receive the award.
3. You must chose 5 people to receive the award after receiving it yourself.
4. You must fit the characteristics of the recipient of the award, as posted by Mere.
5. You must post the characteristics of a recipient.
6. You must create a post sharing your win with others.
7. You must thank your giver.

Characteristics for the Smile Award:
1. Must display a cheerful attitude (not necessarily at all time--we are all human)
2. Must love one another
3. Must make mistakes
4. Must learn from others
5. Must be a positive contributor to blog world
6. Must love life
7. Must love kids

And now...the five winners are...

1. Tracey is my mom's best friend who went to live in Thailand last year because her husband's work took them there. Her only daughter just became a new mom and Tracey keeps smiling despite the fact that she can't be with Vanessa and little Riley all the time. Tracey also has a real heart for teaching children (she was a teacher in the States for many years) and has used that skill even despite a language barrier in Thailand. You can read all about Tracey's Thailand adventures (and she visits neighboring countries, too!) on her blog.

2. Amy is a friend from college whom I've reconnected with through blogging. She is a Christian mom who is as witty as she is compassionate for the neighborhood kids to whom she ministers. Amy has kept smiling (and making others smile) through many hardships, specifically her baby brother's untimely death and her own constant battle with MS. Check out Amy's antics and her heartfelt ministry.

3. Chelsey is another dear friend from college. We actually met the first day of orientation (we were in the same group) and became fast friends. Our lives went in different directions for a while, but we became close again when we ended up in the same literature class our first senior year (ha!). We have kept up ever since and I am so glad we did. Chelsey is a fighter and keeps on smiling when life throws her those curve balls. Like Carrie (above), Chelsey lost her mother earlier this year. Though Mary Sue had been sick for as long as I've known Chelsey, this blow still hurt just as much. Chels has kept up her smiling attitude, even through her pain.

4. Terri, my mom, is always someone who makes me laugh and smile. Her stories, like her current one about croaking toads, are just "smile-worthy!" And of course I know she loves kids, because she loves mine! One of the best things about my mom, though, is that she loves and supports her friends family. No matter what anyone is going through, you can always count on my mom to be there for you. And most likely, she will put a smile on your face while she's at it!

5. Finally, (man, I wish I could give out more than five!), Harmony, is one of my best friends. We knew each other in college, but didn't really become friends until we both ended up in Big Spring. She and her precious family moved last summer, but thankfully, we have been able to remain in touch (in fact, we just returned from her house on Sunday!). I playfully call Harmony "Super-Mom," because she works two jobs, keeps her house in order and clean, and cares for her three children and husband and makes it all look very easy. I know it's not and she knows it's not, but she does it all with a smile on her face and that's why she's Super-Mom to me. Go see pictures and read fun stories about Ry, Ray, and Reese on Harmony's blog.

Thanks again to Carrie for my first blogging award. You make ME smile too!!!!