Super Sweet to Shine On to Inspiring!!

"Love is a gesture of showing not telling."

No, some famous author or screenwriter didn't say this. I did. Just now. At 10:31 PM. I felt it was fitting and rather descriptive of who we are as writers. So, how do writers show love?

We write stories that move the heart, mind, and soul. We dare to explore, challenge, and tease. We offer our time to precious critique partners, and organize fundraisers when tragedy strikes others. We cheer, encourage, and promote one another. And we understand each other.

One of the sweetest ways for a writer to show that love to another writer is by recognition--highlighting a friend's good works and talents.

It's been a while since I've shared and/or passed on any awards here. And, to my humble heart, they've been piling up. I thank each and everyone of you who've spotlighted me, telling others that I mean something. Below, you'll see that someone thinks I'm sweet and that I shine; that I inspire and am loyal. So I'm sharing the four awards, today, and I'm passing them on to everyone who stops by and reads this post. Choose one award or choose them all! I HEART you for being here and being a part of my publishing journey. I'll try and be as brief as possible. :)

AWARD #1, 2, & 3 are all from the fabulous DHD! She's awesome. Thank you so much, Deanie Humphrys-Dunne!


AWARD #1:

The Rules:
 Thank the Super Sweet Blogger that nominated you.

• Answer five Super Sweet questions.
• Include the Super Sweet Blogging award image in your blog post.
• Nominate a baker’s dozen (13) other bloggers.
• Notify your nominees on their blog.
  
  My Super Sweet Questions:      
  1. What is your favorite dessert?  Hmm...Ice Cream.
  2.  Cake or ice cream? Haha--Ice Cream, again!
  3. When do you like desserts most?   For some reason, I like them most when I'm watching a movie. *shrugs*
  4. Would you choose cookies or cake? Oh, cookies all the way!
  Vanilla or chocolate? Chocolate!

AWARD #2: This one is so pretty!

Here are the Rules:

• Display the award logo on your blog.
• Link back to the person who nominated you.
• State 7 things about yourself
• Nominate 15 other bloggers for this award and link to them.
• Notify those bloggers of the nomination and the award requirements.
  
  Seven things about myself:  The Young Years
1. I grew up in a mill town during a time when paper mills where slowly dying. But my grandfathers worked there all their lives.
2. My dad was a youth ice hockey coach for fourteen years and a youth baseball coach for nine. I spent lots of time in a freezing ice rink or a damp, windy baseball field.
3. I had a small closet in my bedroom, when I was little, and I used to get inside to pretend it was a playland--whatever I wanted it to be.
4. During the flood of 1987--floods are rare in Maine--I missed a week of school to help clean up debris. Actually, they shutdown all the schools and business in town. 
5. Growing up, I had either the croup (pretty much during my youngest years) or pneumonia every year until I was fourteen years old. Lots of hospital stays for me.
6. My grandfather taught me how to play the spoons.
7. When I was about eight years old, I was holding onto the screen door in the front of our house and the wind blew so hard it knocked me over, tossed me down the stairs, and I cracked open my head.

AWARD #3: Ooh, sophistocated!

The Rules:

1. Display logo in your blog to show you've been nominated!
2. Link back to your nominator.
3. Share 7 things about yourself.
4. Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award.
5. Notify your nominees.

7 more things about me: The married years.

1. I married the rebel. And he's still awesome.
2. Been married 21 years and have four kids.
3. We didn't have loads of money to start out. Our lawn mower broke, and my hubby had to sickle the backyard. #thefunniestthingever
4. My 2nd son's ear started bleeding, while playing bumper cars with son #1 in the basement; he was two years old at the time. At the hospital, the doctor looks at me and says, "I can't stitch him up. It's not a cut. He's missing a piece of his ear." I'm like *&^$& (He's fine, today. Can't even tell.)
5. Oh, same 2nd son, but now he's three years old, is playing hide-n-seek with me. I sneak around the corner of the hallway, notice the door to the 1/2 bathroom is open just a jar, so I swing it open with all my might and yell 'Gotch'ya!', only to find that he was hiding behind the door. Yup. Doorknob in the eyebrow and he's bleeding like a sieve. Again, I'm like *&^$^
6. BTW - my dad came over (per #5) and we stitched him up at home. Remember, Dad was an ice hockey coach. :)
7. My youngest son, now a healthy thriving nine-year-old, was diagnosed at 22 months with Apraxia of Speech. I am very passionate about this verbal disorder and have set up a website through his name for the cause.  

How special do I feel??? *blushes* One more to pass along.

AWARD #4: Thank you to the amazing C.Lee McKenzie! Seriously. Is this not the cutest award!

THE RULES:

• Display the Award Certificate on your website. 
• Announce your win with a written post and link to whoever presented your award. 
• Present the award to 7 deserving bloggers.
• Drop them a comment to tip them off after you have nominated them in the post.
• Post 7 interesting things about yourself
• If you don’t have a blog but have a website, Facebook, or Twitter or other type account, post there with a link back.

7 more things about me - Miscellaneous

1. Favorite color is black.
2. I'm a dog person.
3. Ice Hockey is my favorite sport.
4. I like coffee, but don't mind tea once in a while.
5. I've broken my nose, not one, but twice. - (Some of you already knew this. Sorry.)
6. Rock music is my favorite, but I have a soft spot for the right ballad.
7. I've always loved to draw.

There you have it - me in a nutshell...or two. Please take at least one of these awards. You truly deserve them all! You can do that, too. I wouldn't be here without you. Honestly. Mmwahhhhhhhhh!

ONE quick SPLAT!! Sarah's Reviews is offering up two YA novels & 1 MG novel by the fabulous C.Lee McKenzie. Make sure to enter HERE, HERE, & HERE Until the first week of August!

What about you? Tell me at least one thing about yourself in the comments. I'd love to know.