The Liebster Award

Thank you to Justina Luther for nominating me for the Liebster Award. I definitely need to read more blogs myself if I expect my blog to be read by others. So – thanks again Justina, for stretching me. Here’s a link to her blog: http://justinaluther.wordpress.com

The rules are as follows:

Link and thank the person who nominated you
Answer the questions they asked you
Pick eleven bloggers or writers (I’m changing the rules) to nominate them. I pick my friends and acquaintances no matter what their numbers. Some don’t even have blogs yet. Hopefully this will encourage them to start one. 🙂
Ask them eleven questions
Let them know by commenting on one of their posts

Discover new blogs!

Here are the 11 questions I had to answer.

Why do you blog or write?

I have no idea. No – ha ha. I love to write, and my writing journey has been a long one and on and off, depending on what season I was in life. Started blogging in 2009 with a soapbox blog, a chocolate business blog, and a book review blog.

What writing projects are you working on?

I’ve drafted my historical romance novel, Meghan’s Choice, recently entered into Christian Writer’s Guild’s Operation First Novel contest. I’m also ACFW Area Coordinator for Pennsylvania, where I live.

What is your #1 dream in life?

To serve the Lord wherever He puts me. Always has been. 🙂 I would like to my dying day (someday far in the future, I hope) and be able to say “I did what I was put here to do. I finally found it and was able to enjoy doing it.”

What is the oddest compliment you’ve ever received?

I’m sure I’ve gotten some, but none come to mind right now. Strange, isn’t it?

What is your favorite thing about blogging? or writing?

Sharing my thoughts with others, hoping to be encouraging and helpful. I started out five years ago talking about what I had been through in the area of character development and rejection a few years before. Then I started one for my in-home organic chocolate truffle business. It’s writing, and trying to find what people want to read.

What are your hobbies?

Playing piano, singing. If I got new reeds, I could probably play my clarinet again, but since I broke my wrist earlier this year, I haven’t been able to play my flute or guitar. My forward bend is only about half there, not enough for those two instruments.

What is your favorite food?

Chocolate, French fries. On the “good” side, baked chicken, a huge chef salad

What is the weirdest dream you’ve ever had?

That’s a loaded question. I’ve had a lot of ‘weird’ dreams, but I generally know what they mean. Here’s one I had earlier this year I really liked.

I was given a new office and told my job would be that of “Retired Post Office Manager.” The office I was shown was my Dad’s home office he had in my childhood home. I was asked if I liked the office and I replied, “Yes.”

The V.P. of Marketing then said, “The position comes with a lot more money and benefits. The key is word is ‘retired’ – it will take you until you do.” (meaning retire)

Know what it means? “Retired” = rest “Post Office Manager” = delivering messages “Dad’s office” – my Father’s authority

Get it? A new place of rest where delivering my Father’s messages.

Have you ever done something you never thought you would?

Almost everything I’m doing nowadays I never thought I would. I went to Israel earlier this year, never thought I would. Never thought I’d be silly enough to take a two-year bible school in one, never thought I’d write a novel. I never thought I’d be an ACFW Area Coordinator. I never thought I’d be going to St. Louis for the ACFW conference – but I’m doing all of those things.

Do you believe you can reach your dreams?

Hopefully, my dreams are God’s dreams – because if they’re not – they won’t happen. I have experience in that area. But I’m believing that I’m in touch with His heart and I’m listening for His voice.

Bonus Question: Justina only gave me ten questions. Here’s a bonus one: What is your ‘vision’ for writing?

My vision statement for writing is: To write compelling stories that change peoples’ lives and point them to God. I don’t want to write merely a “good” or “great” story. I want God’s presence to be in the story. When people read it, they’ll feel His love and want to know Him.

I ask the same questions of these listed writers: that I had.

Here are the AWESOME bloggers I nominate: (I don’t know that I’ll have eleven, but I’ll nominate who I feel the most comfortable with)

Lisa Bartelt: http://lmbartelt.wordpress.com

Becky Toews: http://beckytoews.com

Natalie Walters: http://nataliewalters.wordpress.com

Christina Banks: http://christinabanks.com

Jen Sloniger: http://jensloniger.com

Jeanette Windle: http://jeanettewindle.com

AND – for those who don’t have blogs, if they want to put this on their Facebook page:

Darla Hershey

Kelly Anne Liberto

Leslie Lowe

Jodie Wolfe

Jill Hackman

I must admit, I’ve been greatly stretched this week and I’m excited about it. Thanks again, Justina. You paved the way to stretch all of us! These are fun, yet questions that are interesting to get to know more about each other. For those on Facebook without a blog, I would encourage you to consider what you want your blog to do and have the courage to start one.