Tag: Liebster Award

Feeling Honored

I would like to thank Pastor Chris Jordan of New Life for nominating me for the Liebster Blog Award. I truly feel honored! Thank you so much for thinking of me, and I am very glad that I have been able to be a blessing to you in at least some small way. 🙂

– – – – –

liebster-blog-award-2

Here are the Rules for the Liebster Blog Award:

1. Thank and link to the person who nominated you.
2. Answer the questions given by the nominator.
3. Nominate 11 other bloggers, who have less than 200 followers and link to them.* (*Note – in some places where I have seen the Liebster Blog Award posted, they have stipulated less than 3,000 followers, and I am going with that one).
4. Create 11 new questions for the nominees to answer.
5. Notify all nominees via social media/blogs.

The following are my nominees for this award. They share their hearts in their blogs through writing and/or photography regarding their thoughts, dreams, ideas, and more. I think the thing that draws me to them the most is their openness and authenticity. I decided to pair things down a little and nominate 5 blogs and ask 5 questions. 🙂

  1. Wild Call of the Soul
  2. * Life Amplified *
  3. Pens and Journals
  4. Philos / Theo / Sophia
  5. Paths to Adventure and Praise

Questions for the nominees:

  1. What is your favorite thing to write about and/or photograph, and why?
  2. Tell us about an experience in your life that greatly affected you, in a positive way.
  3. What is a goal that you have for yourself in the next year or so?
  4. Share with us about a person in your life who has been very influential.
  5. What is a funny/interesting fact about yourself?

– – – – –

Here are my answers to the questions that Chris gave to me:

  1. What motivated you to start writing or blogging? I think the biggest thing that motivated me to start blogging were the difficulties I was encountering in my life at the time, and needing to “work through them” somehow. I found that by writing about my struggles, and how those struggles related to my faith, it helped me to process what I was going through so that I could take steps forward and make positive progress.
  2. What is one of your favourite books (or authors), and why? One of my favorite books is called “Streams in the Desert,” by L.B. Cowman. It is a book of 366 Daily Devotional Readings that focus on the topic of trials and how they can be used in a Christian’s life for good. I read this book almost every night before I go to bed, and many times God uses it to speak to me regarding whatever situation I am in. Even though I’ve read the book over and over, the Lord continues to use it in my life in new ways.
  3. What is one of the items on your bucket list – something you would like to do before you die? It may sound silly, but I have this dream to visit every continent before I die. I’ve visited South America and Asia (along with North America, of course) so far, and I would like to go to Europe next. I love to travel, and I think it would be so neat to be able to have this type of experience. World, here I come! 😀
  4. Who is your favourite Bible hero, and why? This is a difficult question! There are so many men and women in the Bible who give us wonderful examples that it is very hard to choose. I guess I would have to say Abraham – because of his faith. He obeyed God when He was told to go to a different country, without knowing what he would face or how things would turn out. He also trusted God enough to offer his only son as a sacrifice, just because God asked him to. He didn’t understand. I’m sure everything in his heart and mind and body cried out against doing this – but he obeyed, and God blessed his faith by delivering his son (Isaac) and growing his faith even more.
  5. Who is one of the most influential people in your journey of faith? My Mother. 🙂 She has been one of my biggest supporters since I began my life’s journey. She listens to me, tries her best to understand, offers wise advice that she has learned from situations in her own life, and PRAYS for me. I really don’t know what I would do without her, and I’m so grateful to God for putting her in my life!
  6. Do you prefer coffee or tea? That’s actually a funny question for me right now. 🙂 I had always preferred coffee, and I still enjoy it. However, I just recently started a loose leaf tea business, and have come to really enjoy the taste and health benefits of this beverage. I guess I’d have to say that I enjoy both!
  7. Share one other interesting anecdotal fact about yourself! I have been sponsoring a young girl named Perla through Compassion International for about 7 years now. I have found it to be such an uplifting experience! Not only am I able to help a child who is less fortunate than I am, but I have the opportunity to communicate with her through mail and get to know her and her family. It has definitely been a blessing! ❤

My First Awards!

liebster-award-badge

My blog has been nominated for my first ever awards, the Liebster Award and the One Lovely Blog – Very Inspiring Blogger Award! Sami from FlowersAndWanderlust was kind enough to nominate me. Thank you, Sami! 🙂

I am so excited about these awards! They help me to feel that my blog has been an encouragement to other people. I only hope that I can continue to share from my heart through my writing and photos, and that the lovely people who read my blog can be blessed!

Rules for the Liebster Award

  1. List 11 random facts about yourself.
  2. Answer the questions designated by the blogger(s) who nominated you.
  3. Place YOUR nominations for the Liebster Award! Nominate five (or more) other bloggers that have less than 200 followers. Make sure to notify them via comment/email, etc.
  4. Make up a set of questions for those nominated bloggers to answer.
  5. Display the Liebster award badge on your blog!

11 Random Facts about Myself

  1. I have small feet–my shoe size is a Women’s 6 1/2. I can also fit into children’s shoes! 🙂
  2. My favorite seasons are Fall and Spring. I enjoy the mild weather and the changes in nature around me.
  3. I’m addicted to chapstick–I carry it around with me wherever I go.
  4. I have a 7 year old cat named Misty and a 1 1/2 year old puppy named Daisy. I love them so much!
  5. I met my wonderful husband of 2 years on the internet (okcupid.com), and we got engaged within 5 months of meeting!
  6. I have a crazy goal to visit every continent before I die. I love visiting new places, and I think it would be so cool to be able to say this about myself!
  7. I can be pretty goofy at times! I enjoy laughing, and when I feel comfortable with someone, this tends to come out!
  8. My cup of iced coffee comes before everything in the morning. It helps wake me up and prepare me for the day!
  9. I was part of a traveling Choir in college, and I loved it!
  10. I have a fear of spiders–just the thought of a spider crawling on me creeps me out!
  11. One of my favorite food indulgences is a warm Cinnabon cinnamon bun! I try not to eat them too often, however–they are definitely not a low-calorie food! 🙂

The Questions

  1. If we were to live in a V is For Vendetta society and all media were depleted, which single song, book, and movie would you keep in a secret stash and why? The single song would be  “Come Thou Fount,” it is a hymn that has been very meaningful in my life. The one book would be the Bible, because I can’t live without it! And the movie (this is so difficult, as I love so many!) would be Dirty Dancing, because it is lighthearted, funny, and romantic, and I can watch it over and over and not get bored! 🙂
  2. What is your favorite thing to do in your free time? That would be blogging 😉 And I wish I had more time for it!
  3. What single smell takes you back to a happy place and why? I would have to say Irish Springs soap…because it’s the soap that my husband uses and the scent reminds me of him–fresh, clean, and manly! 🙂
  4. Which celebrity or author do you look up to most? Probably Taylor Swift. I think that she is so talented, and yet she handles her fame so well.
  5. What is your favorite quote and why? It would have to be a quote from the Bible, Lamentations 3:22-23 ~ Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ~ This verse reminds me of the Lord’s great mercy and compassion, and that these blessings are given to us anew each day! He wipes the slate clean! And He is faithful to walk with us and guide us in all that we do.
  6. How many countries have you been to and which is your favorite? I have been to 4 countries (besides the U.S.): Canada, Mexico, Chile, and China…and Chile is my favorite! ❤
  7. If you had to choose between the four life elements (fire, ice, water, and earth), which would represent you? Probably earth, because it’s beautiful but composed of dirt–it has many imperfections. 
  8. What is your favorite type of shoes? In the spring and summer (and sometimes fall) flip flops/sandals; in the winter, boots!
  9. Which literary influence has made the biggest impact on your life? One of them is A.W. Tozer — his writings are so thought-provoking!
  10. If you could cut one thing out of your life to benefit, what would it be? Definitely junk food!!! :-/

My Nominations for the Award

http://rachaelneville.wordpress.com/

http://www.brennerbunch.com/

http://youmakemebrave.wordpress.com/

http://hopewissel.wordpress.com/

http://ellensocdblog.wordpress.com/

http://www.forwantofwonder.com/

There are so many other blogs that I would like to nominate, but many of your blogs have more than 200 followers (I’m following the rules here–it’s the OCD in me). I still treasure and appreciate you, and think you should all have awards! 🙂

Questions for Nominated Bloggers to Answer

  1. Are you a dog or cat person (or both), and why? (or if you aren’t fond of either, please us which type of animal–if any–you like best, and why!)
  2. What is a favorite High School memory?
  3. What is a gift that someone has given to you that you greatly treasure?
  4. If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be, and why?
  5. Who is one person in your life that you really look up to, and why?

lovelyinspiringaward

I am also so very grateful for this award! My hope for my blog is that it truly would be encouraging and inspiring. 🙂

Seven Facts About Me

  1. I prefer cloudy skies to a cloudless, blue sky…I guess I just find that clouds give the sky more character. I also LOVE when you can see rays of sunshine coming through the clouds!
  2. I went to a Christian college in the Northeast and studied Bible and Elementary Education.
  3. I have one sibling: a brother, who is two years younger than I am. He is the best! ❤
  4. My husband and I were able to buy our own home when we got married, thanks to the Lord and to help from his parents. Working on our house has been a mess of one project after another, but it’s encouraging to see it transform little by little! 🙂
  5. My favorite color is sangria (I know, it’s also a wine!) It was one of our wedding colors, along with light pink, ivory, and grey/silver.
  6. My favorite place to hang out since I moved is a nearby Target (it includes a Starbucks). You can find me there often with my wonderful God-daughter!
  7. I can’t stand sleeping with socks on at night; I don’t know why, it just bothers me! This is unfortunate for my husband, as he is often surprised by my cold feet, lol!

My Nominations for the Award

http://rachaelneville.wordpress.com/

http://www.brennerbunch.com/

http://youmakemebrave.wordpress.com/

http://hopewissel.wordpress.com/

http://ellensocdblog.wordpress.com/

http://www.forwantofwonder.com/

http://akauffman.wordpress.com/

http://beautifullifewithcancer.com/

http://deepbluesandseafoamgreens.wordpress.com/

http://lightthelie.wordpress.com/

http://jackieleasommers.com/

http://pastorchrisjordan.wordpress.com/

Again, it’s so difficult to narrow them down, as I follow so many amazing blogs! Thank you to all of you for the inspiration you bring to me!

Blessings,

~Crystal