Karen at Karen’s Ramblings nominated me for this blogger reflection award. She said,
“Annie, every day this lady has something awesome to share, be it her journey of weightloss with devotions, wonderful recipes, what the Lord has shown her, or her amazing journey of faith and hope regarding her beautiful daughter Izzy. Her amazing attitude, her love for her family and her faith shine out of the pages. I so recommend that you visit Annie and her daughter Izzy’s blog!” Thanks so much Karen, very kind of you to pass this on to me and say such nice things.

When I first saw this award I think at Barb’s blog, I followed it back to it’s origin (I know, get a life right?) but, I was interested in how these things begin… It was a girl who is 16 years old. She has a pretty blog and if I could find it without retracing 100 steps I would share her address with you… but anyway, if you have a spare hour or so you can go look for her. She started this award because she had followed the thinker blogger award and wasn’t pleased with it’s origin (I don’t remember why … I’ve slept since then… good thing this isn’t the intelligent blogger award huh?). Anyway, now here it is on my bloggy doorstep. I read and keep up with so many blogger and really enjoy reading about their lives that this is a hard one to pass out. But, I’ll do my best. Is it just me or do you always feel like your excluding people when you don’t give it to them? Yep, you’ve got it… I’m a people pleaser.

Here are the rules for passing this award on: The reason for the title is because this award should make you reflect on five bloggers who have been an encouragement, a source of love, impacted you in some way, and have been a Godly example to you. Five Bloggers who when you reflect on them you get a sense of pride and joy… of knowing them and being blessed by them.

1. Copy this post.
2. Reflect on five six bloggers and write a least a paragraph about each one.
3. Make sure you link this post so others can read it and the rules.
4. Go leave your chosen bloggers a comment and let them know they’ve been given the award.
5. Put the award icon on your site

Here’s my top 5 in no particular order:

sheryl… I found Sheryl early on in my blogging. I visited her menu each week and repeatedly told her how cute her blog was… we became bloggy friends and I have been encouraged by her posts and her comments. She is a faith filled lady with a love for her husband and family. Her blog has had a makeover, but it is still cute. You should get to know Sheryl… she is starting a new meme called faith lift fridays. I can’t wait to participate.

ann… this is my SIL who I have come to know more than ever before through the world of blogging. She began by just commenting on Izzy’s progress and then started her own blog when caring for her mother in the last months of her life. Ann always has something deep to talk about and is ALWAYS a prayer support and warrior for Izzy. Her daughter Elizabeth (my niece) is also a deep thinking blogger.

karen… Karen is an author of a great book she actually mailed to me after I made her a signature for her blog. She has something thought provoking to say most days and I always enjoy visiting her.

amanda… you might know her as OhAmanda… She is a newer bloggy friend, but a reflective blogger if I’ve ever met one. I love her faith and reading her posts each day. I love that she offers prayers of faith for Izzy too.

jenny… aka coach, she and I have been emailing our food each week to each other, and have had a lot of behind the scenes conversations about God and faith. This is a faith filled lady and she tells it like it is. She passed along the 28 day bible study that I thoroughly enjoyed. I have felt love and encouragement from her consistently.

jenna… she’s one of my very first bloggy friends and I just can’t not include her. Jenna has shown love for me & Izzy from day one! Jenna is my friend and has been a Godly example to me.

Honorable mention goes to everyone else on my links because you all inspire, encourage, and love me & Izzy and I really appreciate it every day!

“The Lord rewarded me for doing right; he compensated me because of my innocence.” II Samuel 22:21

Don’t expect God to make you thin. You have to do the hard part for yourself. Do know this, however: God will bless you beyond your wildest hopes if you will put forth your best efforts and not give up. When we show Him we really are serious about being better people. He is pleased beyond measure, and He will do all kinds of wonderful things to help us along. When we refuse to give into the temptations, to dirty our hands, then God will reward us and lift us up. All He asks is that we give our best effort. If we do that, we will succeed.

Today’s thought: God is pleased by my best effort to lose weight!