Liebster Award Nomination

  
It’s always encouraging when someone appreciates what you’re doing, and sometimes that appreciation comes in a special form. I’m honoured to announce that fellow blogger Tammy from faithhopelovefood has nominated me for the Liebster Award. I have less than 3000 followers which makes me eligible for this award.

The Liebster Award

The Liebster Award is given by bloggers to fellow bloggers in order to support and encourage them in their blogging. The guidelines for receiving the award varies, however, the general rules are as follows:

• Post your award to your blog in a blog post
• Answer the 10 questions that were given to you by the fellow blogger who nominated you
• Nominate 3-10 other bloggers you have discovered with less than 3,000 followers
• Create 10 questions for your nominees to answer

Here are my answers to the questions I was given:

1. Who has been most influential in your decision to write? It may sound clichéd but it has to be God. He just won’t let me off the hook. Even when writing feels too scary or too hard, he keeps gently nudging me to persevere. Encouragement from good friends and family that I have something worthwhile to say, also helps tremendously.
2. What led you to choose the focus of your blog? Reading John Ortberg’s book The Me I Want to Be. He writes about flourishing and that really resonated with me.
3. Where do you find your inspiration for your blog posts? It’s really a mixture of my own experiences and observations, thinking about something I’ve read or seen, and the occasional insight that’s like a light-bulb moment. Sometimes I have no idea what I’m going to say or what I think until I’ve written it. I’m learning to just keep writing, whether I’m feeling inspired or not.
4. Who is your favourite author? Tough question. Since I have to choose, I’ll say that it’s currently Emily P. Freeman. I’ve been reading her blog and books for several years now, and I appreciate her perspectives and insights. Sometimes it feels like she’s holding up a mirror in which I see myself.
5. What are your writing aspirations? To be a better, more consistent blogger for a start. To walk beside people as they explore their own faith journey. Whether my writing will extend beyond blogging is part of the journey of discovery.
6. What is your favourite scripture or quote? Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
7. What does a perfect day look like for you? Spending time enjoying nature, reading a good book, journaling in one of my favourite cafes, watching a good movie, getting a massage, enjoying good food with good friends and family. Hmm, I might need a week.
8. Coffee, tea or neither? I’m a hot chocolate girl. However I am partial to an iced coffee or an iced tea. Go figure.
9. Favourite childhood memory. There are many, but one is picking wild blackberries in summer. I’m sure we ate far more than we brought home.
10. Advice you would give to someone who wants to be a writer. Some good advice that was given to me: be prepared to keep working on your craft. Keep learning and improving your writing skills. On the flip side, don’t wait until your writing is perfect before you release it into the world, because that day will never come, and there are people waiting to read your words.

The blogs I’m nominating are:

Charis at Charis: Subject to Change
Alicia at Alicia’s Roses: Renewal, restoration, refreshment, rest
Judi at It’s not really about me…  …it’s about a creative journey of faith

And here are my questions for them:

1. What does writing / blogging mean to you?
2. What’s a significant lesson you’ve learned from life experience?
3. What’s your favourite way of being with God?
4. What are you thankful for?
5. In what ways has God blessed you this year?
6. What books, films or music have impacted you, and how?
7. What is you favourite place to just be?
8. What advice would you give to someone asking you how to flourish?
9. Do you have a favourite topic or theme that keeps showing up in your life or your writing?
10. How do you integrate rest into your rhythm of daily life, and what does that look like for you?

Monthly Musings: Four things from August

It’s that time again – the end of another month. Before we get all excited about spring, here are some things from August that I want to share with you.

1.  From the reading list

One of the books I’ve been reading during August is Ed Cyzewski’s little e-book, Creating Space: the case for everyday creativity. Here are a couple of quotes that made it into my bullet journal:

You need to invest in your own creativity because it’s the way God designed you to fully live.

and

Tapping into your creativity isn’t about the finished product. It’s about the process – becoming who you were made to be.

2.  A new book from one of my favourite authors, Emily P. Freeman

I’ve been a fan of Emily’s blog and books for a few years now, and in August her latest book, Simply Tuesday: small moment living in a fast-paced world was released. I’m still reading the book, and will probably read it again to really absorb more of the goodness from Emily’s writing. There may be more to come on this is a future post. In the meantime check out Emily’s free video series to see what she’s talking about. And here is Emily’s podcast interview with Jeff Goins.

3.  Yummy food

This month I made pizza from scratch – dough, sauce and toppings – tomato, basil and bocconcini is simple and delicious. And then there’s Bracegirdles’ salted caramel dark hot chocolate – mmmmmmmm.

4.  An old-new way to slow down, de-stress and get creative

Did you know that adult colouring books are very popular at the moment? I hadn’t really noticed until I saw a display of them in an airport bookshop recently. I bought one and have been enjoying a little colouring each evening. Fun and relaxing, it’s a creative way to unwind.