I’m not going to sugar coat it, I love giving…and receiving… gifts. In this tough economy we all could use more love and gifts but I have to become more creative with my ideas.
In the past month I have received two awards from friends in my social networking world which have brightened up my day. The first, The Circle of Friends Award came from Tara. With this award I need to list five things about myself.
I have been so wrapped up in my children that I have had not one second over the holidays to think about my quirky attributes and what could I tell you that you don’t already know? So, instead I will share with you my New Years Resolutions that are far more revealing:
1. Search for more music. To calm the chaos, I will fix the stereo in our house and build my library, for Brevitt and I are nothing without music.
2. Practice more yoga and dance more. I used to think that I was a laid back person, people always asked me if I was from California. It seems that I have changed into a worrier.
3. Be more organized and focused on the children. No more anger and frustration only humor and patience.
4. Get established as a local travel writer and finish my book.
5. Live life through love and be more tolerant of my mother of whom I adore.
My other award, The Lovely Blog Award, came from my new friend Naomi who is a devoted member of my Aspiring Writers Club on MBC. This is the second time that I have received this award which is making me feel quite lovely at the moment despite my battle with the evil pull of the blue moon and the freezing days spent with children who refuse to go outside.
In honor of my desire to focus more on the boys, I will not produce a new list but invite you to visit my post written back in October that lists my favorite blogs.
I’ll also leave you with an incredible project called A River Blue. Joseph Arthur and Chandler Griffin became aware of children’s choirs that were being established at IDP (internally -displaced persons) camps in northern Ugunda and set up awareness, fundraising and outreach activities in the US for this organization.
The song that is played on the highlighted link above was sent to the camps for the children to practice and whenever I hear it I get the chills.
Happy Holidays!!!
Awards always make the day sweeter:)
Hi Jillian! Congrats on the awards – that’s awesome! So is that song – I can understand you getting the chills! It is so encouraging to see young people today doing so many wonderful things – serving in some capacity rather than bitching about their entitlements! Warms my heart!
Jillian, thanks for mentioning A River Blue on your blog. The one-time arts festival has now become a vocational training school, supporting some of the areas most vulnerable youth through a program of combining tailoring, agriculture, animal husbandry, the arts and psycho-social counseling. If your readers would like to support the program, or learn more about A River Blue, they can visit http://www.ariverblue.org/donate/donate.html. I enjoyed reading your blog. Happy New Year!
Congratulations on the awards.
It’s always nice knowing that others are thinking of you when the words lovely and friends pop up.
Your kids refuse to go outside, but mine do not yet know the joy of the snow, and THAT is my fault. I could blame it on being busy, or being sick…but we’ve had wonderful snow to play in for a week now and I haven’t done my parental duty. I will take my children out. Today. Or tomorrow. It might be too dark by the time I get off work today.
Happy New Year!
Congratulations on the awards Gillian! Blogging can sometimes seem like a lonely undertaking, never knowing if anyone really enjoys your articles. So I’m sure this is really validating. I hope you achieve your dreams for the New Year. I sense determination, and focus in your writing and also that age old battle of giving yourself to your children. I truly wish you the best, and I really appreciate all of your encouraging comments on my site. They mean more than you ever know. (Ok I’ll stop the soapy lovefest now!)Happy New Year.
Congratulations, Jillian. I’m just now catching up on my blog reading. I’ve missed you. So much to do this time of year.
Happy New Year, my friend.
I’ve missed you too Darrelyn!
It’s so difficult to keep up with everything over the holiday.
Thank you Vivianne.
I agree, it’s difficult to not get bogged down in the social networking aspect of writing. I am doing my best to focus on the writing and not worry about how many people are reading me.
Jessica, cut yourself some slack and remember how much you rested with your first pregnancy. You are not allowed that luxury now and I think that you need it more than ever!
Thank you for visiting Brooke. I hope that this helps to spread the word!
Hello Suzen,
I’m glad that you listened to the song, A River Blue. It seems like an incredible organization!