Lemonade Award

"When life hands you lemons, make lemonade!"





A big thanks to Jaime for my very first blogging award! I think most people who read my blog know her since only family members read my blog and she is family. So everyone knows that she is the most consistent blog commenter around and it is always positive, encouraging and much appreciated. Now answering this award has caused my old brain to learn new things - like putting in links to other blogs. This is was a real challenge and I give thanks to Becca for showing me how to do it and of course Jaime for giving me the opportunity.

First of all here are the rules for this award:

1. put the logo on your blog or post

2. nominate at least 10 blogs which show great attitude or gratitude

3. be sure to link your nominees with your post

4. let them know they received the award by leaving a comment on their most
recent post

5. share the love and link this post to the person that gave you the award.


Now it is my turn to pass this award on to others. I only chose six people to honor (because a lot of others I thought of have already been given this award). I wish I were as talented as others at expressing myself in writing, but here goes:

1. Amy - she is my youngest sister. I honor her for something about which she never blogs. Nearly 2/1/2 years ago she helped me find an assisted living place for my Aunt Judy, near Judy's children in Arizona, so they could be more involved in her life. It took a lot of work, but she did it quickly and efficiently. But, that is not all. She continues to be Judy's health/financial/social advocate. She takes her to medical appointments when needed, pays her bills, and takes her to visit relatives when able and buys her clothes and personal items. Judy has Alzheimer's, diabetes, and other health complications. Whenever I apologize that she ended up having all these responsibilities (instead of Judy's children) she brushes it off and tells me it is good for her to help others. And when I get negative she sees the positive. So a big thanks to Amy for handling all this quietly and with grace.

2. Pauline - she is my daughters' (Maria) mother-in-law. I appreciate her the most for the many times she has flown here from Salt Lake City to visit, but mostly to help Maria during her 3 miserable pregnancies. When she was here she worked her fingers to the bone, keeping the family life going smoothly. She would go shopping and fill the cupboards with lots of food, do mounds and mounds of laundry, play with the kids, and did everything she could think of to help find ways to encourage Maria to keep food down (none of which worked well). Maria, truly, could not move without gagging, much less cook dinner and care for her kids and the house. After each were born she was back again to help. I so enjoyed the times we both got together with the kids. It was fun and we were the goofiest grandma's around. This she did while she has her own medical issues and is still dealing with them at this moment. Thanks Pauline for all this!

3. Maria - she is my daughter (and I probably shouldn't brag about my own kids) and has had many trials with her pregnancies and newborn babies. (All her babies had/have severe colic and allergies. Through it all she manages to keep a sense of humor and can makes us all laugh about her problems. Many of us would have become bitter and a hermit. I can't honor Maria without mentioning Eric. He is the best at taking over a lot of home responsibilites during the hard times. Yesterday, when for some reason we were talking about how hard it would be for her if something happened to Eric, she said she would totally lose it. "I can't even handle it well when he gets home late for work", was her reply. So Maria, I don't know if your sense of humor helps you much, but it sure makes life more pleasant for the rest of us.

4. Jamie - she is my daughter-in-law (I told you most of my blogging friends are family). Her blog makes me chuckle. She is not into a lot of "fluff", but tells it like it is. She has a dry sense of humor and that fits in well with our family. Her husband, James (our son), has OCD and some social anxiety which often can be very stressful, for him and for her. But I appreciate her seeing the positive in him, too and picking up the slack in other areas. James may keep the house unusually neat, tidy and organized, but she has a steadying influence on him and is his anchor. Jamie, we don't say it often enough but, you are much appreciated!

5. Debbie Till - she is a very good friend, but does not blog. In fact she does not actually have a computer, but uses her son's whenever she has a need. Debbie is one of those people who has a knack at nurturing others. She worries about me, tells me to slow down, and really listens to me. We can share our real feelings (positve and negative) and never feel embarrassed. Our relationship doesn't require a lot of tip-toeing around or walking on eggshells with each other. She and her husband are the most frugal people around. If you want to learn how to stay out of debt, she is your example. Thanks for being there for me Debbie! Now I will have to go over to her house and get her on this website to show her this award.


6. Melissa - I met Melissa first through Becca who is her neighbor. Then we became blogging friends. She has the most upbeat, humorous and positive blog. I love her perspective about things that would normally throw someone else for a loop. I also love all her comments to others and my blog. She can put into words just exactly what I feel, but she does it in such a clever and more interesting way. Her comments are always accepting and understanding. I love that my grandkids have her kids for friends. And next time I have to plan an fun party, I'm enlisting her help. Her party ideas are always most unique. Thanks Melissa, and I consider you family!!!