And My Liebster Award Nominee Is . . .

Last Thursday I received a message from another sweet blogging Mama, Jenny, from Raising Boys With Books, notifying me that she had nominated me for the Liebster Award. Please take a second to click here and check out her blog. She is “A mom who aims to raise kind, caring, courageous boys,” and shares about “the books that help her get there”. I absolutely adore her posts and am always excited to see what new books her and her kiddos are reading.

Thank you so much for this nomination! I am so flattered and so excited to have a part in the giving and receiving of this award.

For those of you who may not have heard of this award before, The Liebster Award is an award that is for bloggers from bloggers.  It is a fantastic way to not only gain recognition for your blog, but to also discover and support new bloggers as well! The earliest Liebster award was given back in 2011. Liebster is a German word that means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and/or welcome.

The rules are pretty simple:

1. Answer the questions given to you
2. Nominate other bloggers
3. Create questions for your nominees to answer

Link to the official rules here. 

Here are my answers to the questions Jenny has given me.

1. If you could have lunch with any person in the world (living or dead), who would you choose and why?

I would have to choose a lunch date with my Great-Grandmother. She passed away in Summer of 2016. She was a wonderful woman, who had lived through so many different experiences. I remember listening to her tell us kids stories when we were little. Her little home was located in Staten Island, near the ocean. She loved catching crabs, and we always heard stories of how her crabs would get loose from the cooking pot and how she would find them around the house days later.

She would have loved to meet our daughter, and I so wish that could hear her parenting advice and watch her play with my Little-bit.

2. What is one thing that makes you weird/unique?

Just one thing huh? I could think of plenty! 😉 But probably the biggest thing that makes me different from most is the way I view family planning. As long as I can remember, I have always wanted a big family. I so strongly believe that every child is a blessing, and I just can’t bring myself to decide that one specific number of children is enough. No judgment for those who happen to disagree with me, I understand that everyone has a different viewpoint, and what works for me does not work for everyone else. But my belief is not a very popular one, and I often get weird looks when I state it. 😉

3. What is your favorite thing to eat?

Um, obviously chocolate. Honestly, I’m a sucker for anything sweet. But I also go for fresh fruits and veggies. Mangoes and cantaloupe are the simply the best.

4. What is your favorite place to visit?

I am a born and raised Northerner moved South, and while I love my new home, there is just something so special about visiting up North again. Revisiting all of my old haunts and being with the people who raised me… It’s familiar, homey, and definitely my favorite place to visit.

5. What is your favorite book? Why do you love it?

I can’t really just pick one, there are too many! I lean towards classics for the most part and have been reading through Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes recently. Perhaps the book that has stuck out to me most in most recent years was The Book Thief. The story really captured me, and I loved how the author told it from a very different point of view.

6. What is your favorite children’s book? Why do you love it?

My favorite book when I was younger was Wind in the Willows. I absolutely loved the adventures of Mole, Toad, and Water Rat! I was young when I read it, and I distinctly remember it being the first book that really came alive in my mind. When I read this book I was not simply reading the words on the pages, but the whole scene unfolded before me. I was part of the story. That has really stuck with me, and it is still my favorite to this day.

7. What are you most passionate about?

Knowing more and serving better my God. Following His will in my life and family, and sharing His love and mercy with others. He is such a Good Father, and I want the life I live to be one that worships Him.

8. If you could give one piece of advice to the next generation, what would it be and why?

Invest in people. And I mean this in a bigger way than just building relationships with your family and friends. Invest your time, and your care into everyone. The cashier at the grocery store? Ask them how their day is going, thank them. The officer handing you a speeding ticket? Thank them for the reminder to be safe on the roads. The young mom in line behind you? Offer her your place. People want to be noticed, they want to be cared for. They want to be valued. Notice people. The world would be all the better for it.

9. Why did you start blogging?

Originally, I started this blog as a way to push myself and learn. I have wanted to blog for years but never gathered up enough courage until just recently. Taking risks, and putting myself out there has never been a part of my character. This is something that I have wanted to change about myself, and this was my first big push to do it! My reasons for blogging have since shifted, however, and now I truly want to use this space as an outlet to encourage other young mothers. To offer tips, share experiences, and give other women something they can relate too.

10. Who are the main influences in your life? Why?

Without a doubt, my husband is the main influence in my life. He gives me such a solid example to follow in the way he pushes himself to be better, the way he chases after God, and the way he loves others above his own self. He encourages me gently motivates me to be the change I want to see.

I would like to nominate Crystal of A Recipe For Life for the Liebster Award. She is another young wife who just started her blog. Check her out here and show her some love! 

Here are my questions for you Crystal! I am excited to read what you answer. 🙂

1. Who, or what provides you with your number one source of inspiration?

2. You are given the option to see what your life looks like in 20 years. Would you look?

3. Crushed pine needles. Freshly baked apple pie. Recently washed and dried basket of laundry. Which is your favorite smell, and why?

4. What do you hope to accomplish with your blog?

5. Which historical figure has impressed you the most, and why?

6. Buttons or snaps?

7. Would you act differently in presence of the President of the United States versus the presence of the Queen of England? Explain.

8. What is your greatest calling?

9. How many failures does it take before you want to give up?

10. What’s a popular item that you think we as a society would be better off without?

11. And finally, a debate that must be settled once and for all, should pineapple really be a pizza topping?

Thank you again, Jenny, for nominating me for the Liebster Award! I had so much fun participating, and I am so excited to read Crystal’s reply!