An Awesome Award

Josie has awarded me with a lovely compliment - one of her 6 choices for "Wonderful Women of the Web" award. I am blushing from her accolades but at the same time am quite honoured. She knows what I went through in 2007 starting Jan. 13/07 and continuing on until Jan. 1/08 and she feels I've been very courageous to share the sorrows (and some joys) with you all. There were times when I thought I would bore everyone to death with my tales of trials and tribulations, but it was absolutely amazing how so many people came to my aid with prayers, emails, and good vibes. This year has started out well enough and I'm hoping I'll be able to do more for myself - like getting more done on my book, do a bit of traveling (even if not too far from home), entertain more, and get out socially more often.

Apparently, my job now is to pass this award on to the women whom I think deserve it. If Josie had not already nominated me I'd have her first on my list. But I find I've been visiting a lot of women who are in Britain or are ex-pat Brits and she doesn't visit these ones so I think I'll mention some of them. Even though I enjoy all my regular sites I have to narrow it down to 6. So here goes:

Liz in Wales has a blog called "Finding life hard?" My father's mother was born in Llandudno, Wales and all my life I've wanted to see her homeland. I've managed to go two or three times for brief periods, but will be doing a driving trip around the coast some day soon. I love visiting Liz for several reasons. We are both Christians and she currently works part time for her church as did I years ago. She has a crackling sense of humour (you should see her current blog title: "Soaking my thighs in red wine") and has just recently added a puppy to the family. You must go and visit and tell her I sent you.

Welshcakes Limoncello is a semi-retired language teacher who was Liz's neighbour but moved lock, stock, and barrel to a town in Sicily. Her blog, Sicily Scene, is just that - a daily slice of life as a Brit adjusting to life in an Italian town. She has me in stitches about her escapades at the local post office and when the water truck comes to deliver in her little neighbourhood. She's always trying something new in the cuisine department, too, and has lots of photos of her attempts at Italian cooking along with photos of her new friends' dinners. You get hungry just reading her site.

Casdok's site is titled "Mother of Shrek." She is the single parent of a non-verbal 19-year-old son with autism. She lives in Surrey, UK, and writes some powerful posts. She strikes me as a very strong (emotionally) woman who loves her son with all her heart and soul and will do whatever it takes to give him the best life he can possibly have. Some of her latest topics have been "Is sleep the new sex?" "Body language" "Autism abuse lives on" "Sign language" "the art of dust" and her newest is "Only the moon howls." She also has a great sense of humour along with her serious side and I highly recommend you take a peek and tell her I said "Hi."

Shirl, of "Shirl's the Girl" is a sweetheart! She also lives in the UK and I recently realized that she suffers from MS. But she has such a great outlook on life and busies herself with crafts. Recently, her hubby bought her a cute little hand and foot warmer that looks like a lamb. She named it Lola. Lola is now the subject of a future book that I sure hope she finishes. Go to her site and read the bit she's done and see the photos - adorable! Whenever I go visiting there, I just want to reach through the screen and give Shirl a big hug.

Nancy in Panama City, Florida is my next choice with her site called "Too Wonderful For Me." She, also, is a Christian woman who loves her husband, children, and grandchildren right along with the Lord. With a wonderful sense of humour, I can also feel some of the pain Nancy suffers when she makes comments like "there is so much sorrow and sadness in the world that sometimes we just need to laugh..." And laugh, I did, when I read her hilarious renditions of shaving her legs in the 6th grade and getting her ears pierced against her parents' wishes when she was a young teen. You MUST read these posts!

Finally, close to home is jmb, who always posts about intriguing topics. She's in a walking club and helps to manage a blogpower website, along with interests in travel, music, books, flora and fauna. From what I read on her site called "Nobody Important," she's retired from hospital pharmacy and refers to her husband as "the old scientist." I'd love to meet her and since we live only about 1/2 hour from each other, we probably shall meet one of these fine days.

As I've been writing this, the sun has set in the west and I can just see a bit of pale orange glow above the treetops outside my window. That means it's time to think about dinner and an evening walk. Although it's been beautifully sunny for 2 days now, it has also been crisp and cold so I'll have to wear my wooly cap tonight. As I wander the neighbourhood, I'll look up at that huge full moon and think of all the wonderful women of the web, thanking God for each and every one of you and the gift of friendship.