2016 Liebster Award!

 

In 2016, one of my fellow bloggers, Robin Baldwin of Words for Life, nominated me for the Liebster Award! This award is passed on from one blogger to another as a way of encouraging them to keep on writing. I am very grateful to Robin for considering me for this!

As a nominee, I have to answer Robin’s questions below, nominate other new bloggers (with no more than 500 followers), and then ask those bloggers questions of my own.

The following are my answers to Robin’s questions:

1. Why do you write?

The more I learn about God, the more I feel compelled to share it with the world. I simply can’t not write. (Yes, that was an intentional double-negative. As a writer, I take liberties from time to time.)

2. What one thing do you want to do to leave the world a better place?

I want to help others develop a closer relationship with Jesus, whether that’s through example, personal discussions, or my writings.

3. Who inspires you? Why?

My late grandmother, Verona Kirby. She was the most godly woman I have ever known. All of us who knew her were blessed because of it.

4. What makes you laugh?

Cat videos. No matter how rough my day was, a crazy cat video will have me tearfully laughing in no time flat.

5. If you could write a letter to your younger self, what advice would you give?

You are special, and you are loved. You don’t have to lower your standards for anyone.

6. Who is your favorite author? Why?

Dean Koontz is an unbelievable author! His thrillers are terrifying, but it’s his imagery that leaves me shaking my head. What impresses me most, though, is that his books usually contain a message of hope. (Read The Face if you’re really daring and don’t care to sleep for a night or two.)

7. What book made you become a lifelong reader?

I have to pick two: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton. I remember thinking, “Now, this is a book!” (I’m pretty sure I was in fifth grade when I read Crichton’s, and I’ve been hooked on adventure books ever since.)

8. What life experience humbled you?

God recently led me away from a successful career in risk management to work in a management / support capacity for a local business. Through this, I’ve learned not only be obedient but to get excited with whatever God wants to do through me. His way is always better than mine!

9. What do you do for fun (besides writing)?

I love photography! For me, the fun is capturing that perfect moment in nature, like a fuzzy bumblebee perched delicately on a flower. There’s so much beauty, but a perfect photo is only framed for a moment. To capture that on camera is pure magic.

10. What is your favorite quote?

“I want to be the kind of woman that, when my feet hit the floor in the morning, the enemy says, ‘Oh no! She’s up.’”

11. What is your favorite blog post that you wrote? Why?

I really liked “The Most Lavish Gift of All,” which I posted in December 2016. In it, I wrote about a homeless man I had watched spend a large sum of money on a Christmas gift for his sister. Through this simple but generous act, God made me realize that His love is lavish; He does not budget or skimp on us. It was a great reminder, and I hope the blog blessed others as much as the lesson blessed me.

No man is an island. If you’re looking for great blogs to read, here are three of my favorites:

• Kristen Hogrefe’s blog
• Manna for Marriage by Tami Myer
• Boosterclub Blog by Charles Huff

And for beautiful poetry, don’t forget to check out Robin’s site at Words for Life.

Thanks for reading! I’d love to hear your feedback.

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My questions to those I’m nominating:

1. Where do you get your inspiration?
2. Do you ever get writer’s block? If so, how do you get “unstuck”?
3. Is there a writing rule that you like to break from time to time? If so, what is it?
4. Most blogs have a theme. Do you have a topic you’d like to write about that doesn’t fit within your theme?
5. Finish this sentence: I wish I were more _____.
6. Do you write outside of your blog, such as news articles or books? Tell us about it.
7. Why did you first start your blog?