Let me ask you a question: What if you decided to begin writing a blog simply to have a place to share crazy thoughts, or experiences that weren’t exactly newsletter material? You know, the stuff that life is all about. And the little everyday challenges that come from living life in a foreign country…like not understanding the bulk of what’s being said to you. Only purchasing the amount of food that you can physically carry home…no car! Living in a huge city after growing up in the suburbs of Cincinnati and then living in the booming metropolis of Salisbury (alias Smallsbury) on the eastern shore of Maryland. Anyway, the idea of a blog was to simply keep my friends and family informed about my life so they wouldn’t worry. Regular posting meant that I was really okay.
Well, then, what if you start reading others’ blogs? And then making a comment here and there. And then people you don’t know start leaving comments on YOURS.
That amazes me. Who would want to read what I’m writing, except for family (they kind of HAVE to read if they want the latest tidbits on our kids!) and those dear friends who encourage the heck out of me just by remaining my friend over the years and the miles.
Now imagine that you’re minding your own business, just posting along, and you get a message to go to another blog to pick up a little something — whatever that could mean.
And THIS is what was waiting there:
Lulu at redefining sanity (how can you NOT love a blog with that title?!) presented me with this award — my very first EVER in the blogosphere! Thank you, thank you, thank you. (I feel like I should have an acceptance speech…)
And now it seems that I am supposed to pass the award on to 10 bloggers of my own choosin’! That will have to wait until tomorrow because it is now the bewitching hour here in Ukraine and, besides, I used all my brain cells getting a newsletter out just moments ago.
Imagine. Someone thinks MY blog is EXCELLENT! I’m shocked. Really.
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I’m not at all shocked my friend…Of course you should have this award. DO you have any idea how many of us have been inspired to blog BECAUSE of you!? I wish I’d thought of the award to present to you:) And I think you should have the award speeches waiting in the wings, for more accolades could well follow. Surely a book of your blog writings should be published. Book one is already written; you just need to printyour daily blogs out from when you started them and bind them. It could be a money-raiser for your mission.
Hear, Hear!
Your blog gets the attention it deserves!
You got me started on my blog about a year ago, you get kudos from me, oh “E”xcellent teacher!
Many congratulations…
Your excellence shines through in so many area’s of your life. What a great example you are to your blogging friends. I am also glad your blog is getting the attention it deserves.
Ann
I find this completely amusing. Grant it, I should probably read the book “War of Words” that you and Dad are reading, but I wouldn’t take something like this so seriously. Then again, I don’t thrive with positive reiforcement (correct me if I’m wrong) so if I got the worst blog ever award, even though it isn’t a real award just like this excellence thing, I’d probably sit up and take notice only then.
Your blog is enjoyed, I read it almost daily. Only way I can keep up with your guys life in my powerless country. Will try to do better with emails myself.
Love you! I’ll give you the Excellent Mother award, even though it’s just as the fake as the one previous mentioned. But I mean it from the heart.
I am not surprised at the award. You have the gift of communicating love even through the small details of life. Thanks for sharing. You and Jim inspire me. When I graduate from seminary in May, I want to start my own blog – you are a great role model! Keep the words and thoughts flowing.
To God be the Glory!
Jan K.
EVERYONE SHOULD START A BLOG!
I am VERY proud of you!
Your Blog Queen….
kibbe: I can’t imagine that I helped inspire you to blog, but, if I did, I sure am glad that you’re writing! I love to read your stories! (Hey, it’s one thing to read my ramblings online FOR FREE; it’s another to bind them into a book and try to SELL them. There ARE blogs out there that really could put their thoughts in a book and it would be totally WORTH buying! But not mine. Really.)
Doug: You’re alive and well! Coming this way??!
Kazakhnomad: You’re too funny. You really took the ball and ran with it. I loved that your students had writing assignments that were posted on their blogs — so creative!
Ann: I’m glad that SOMETHING shines through to folks who only know me from this site…
Anna, Anna, Anna: Always looking at reality. Hey, let your mom enjoy some fun, huh?! I would absolutely give you the “least likely to ever post” award, but now that you aren’t allowed to post…well, it takes the fun out of it! I love you, kiddo, and present you with my favorite oldest daughter award! Does that sound fake?
Jan: I had no idea that you read my blog! I remember receiving your Wednesday Wisdom e-mails back in the day — pre-blog era! I would definitely subscribe to whatever you wrote! Thanks for your kind words. I’m sure you’re READY to graduate…
Michelle: Yes, yes, you ARE the queen. Look what you started!
Anna, I have not met you (your parents did speak highly of you), but I have to agree, you should probably read the book!
Just kidding, if you are anything like your Mom and Dad, you can take a ribbing here and there.
The “Words” book is in my Amazon shopping cart as well.
On a serious note, I am “remembering” you and your work. Keep a low profile!
Marianna, congrats on the recognition. I hope you remember the rest of us common people when you go bigtime. Ask Jim to e-mail if he has any more thoughts on UMO. I have some doctors who would be interested in a teaching type of mission trip. One is a gastroenterologist who actually did something of that sort around 1995.
Wayne, I’m highly offended! Thanks for ‘remembering’ though. Hoping to get the book for a birthday that is coming. (*hint to parental units*)
[...] 13, 2008 by ukrainiac I know that I am supposed to pass on my awesome Excellent award to 10 more bloggers. But I am struggling to find the time to write my normalna (Ukrainian/Russian [...]
Anna: You definitely make me laugh. I miss having you make those silly comments in person!! Wow, you have a birthday coming up?
Your Anna is hilarious!
She sure speaks her mind.
Ann: That’s my girl!
Anna, you are great! i could just “hear” your words! Being one that DOES take both positive and negative words from humans WAY too seriously (getting better, though) I appreciate the nudge back to balance…even if you did say it just to tease your mom.
And Marianna, even though I rarely comment, and have to read in big chunks of many days (cuz you write ALL THE TIME! GOOD FOR YOU!) I really like your blog, too and am very happy for you to get the well deserved award! (Even if it is what Anna says…and how does she know, anyway?!?!)
Good to know some jokes pass in words even without tone of voice and facial expressions. Guess it does help to know the person in real life.
Is there a website for wedding pictures yet? Waiting to see the rest of them!
[...] 15, 2008 by ukrainiac As some of you know, I was recently presented with an Excellent blog award, and part of my job is to now pass on that honor to 10 additional blogs. I have already mentioned 3 [...]
Anna: I, of course, can see AND hear you! Years of observation…
Wedding pictures website is just about ready to go…Cheryl sent the link to me, but we’re waiting for Jeanne and Kolya to be sure that ALL they want are there… Hang on just a bit longer!!