There are not enough words to express the emotion felt in reading and/or listening to the poem A Soldier’s Christmas. The words of the poet are emotional enough within themselves. [This poem is different from one posted previously.]
On the eve of the anniversary of a monumental date in history, December 7, 1941 (Attack on Pearl Harbor), we should all stop and be thankful for the sacrifices made ensuring America’s freedom remains intact.
Read the poem and MORE @Awakenings…
This Day in History: December 5, 1933
It was the end of an America gone dry but how did it all begin?
See on Scoop.it – America
December 4th is NATIONAL COOKIE DAY!
Ah-h-h! The cookie
That thin, sweet, small cake
Biscuit or snack treat
What is your favorite –
The one most desired
The one most elite?
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Read the rest on www.awakenings2012.blogspot.fr and watch the video of a “Cookie” tune!
Yum-yum! Cookies – Oreo, Peanut Butter, Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip, Pecan Candies and so many more…Which make your heart flip?
The Addictive Blog and One Lovely Blog Awards
Awakenings is pleasantly pleased and deeply honored to have two awards bestowed upon her by Resa McConaghy @Queen’s End. Resa received the Great Photographer Tribute Award from Free Tag Zone – Inventory of the Ephemeral: “To restore ephemeral art all its nobility …” and has been featured on Awakenings blogpost Real or Art?
See on awakenings2012.blogspot.fr
Faith Squared brings you the 2012 Virtual Advent Calendar
Click the link above or the image for access to Faith Squared: a kind of cyber sanctuary where you can stop, take a break from the everyday wackiness of life…where Faith shared is Faith Squared. Once on the site bookmark the calendar for quick reference each day. During a few quiet moments of reflection or medication, access the calendar and simply hover over the pictures to reveal the hidden links. Each new link will appear one day at a time from now until Christmas. By virtue of this calendar being virtual, you won’t be able to peek ahead.
[Just as a little upfront notice, catnip’s Sharla Shults was invited to contribute to the calendar and is being featured on December 22.]
We invite you to slow down for a few moments each day and open a window…savor the images, listen to the lyrics, ponder the messages. Spend a little time with God and engage in the miracle of this sacred time.
Happy holidays, everyone!
[The links from the calendar to the post go live sometime between 6:30-7:30 a.m. PST each day. If you are a subscriber, you will get an e-mail notification when the post is published.]
Let’s get into the soul of Christmas with song: What better way to spread joyful news than through music! As you watch and listen to the first video, keep in mind its purpose is to stir the heart and lift the spirit as we enter the Christmas season.
See on awakenings2012.blogspot.fr
Doesn’t that make the blog awards more special that any other? Think about it: you don’t put them on a shelf, display them behind glass doors, store them in a box, hide them in a closet or hold onto them to use later only to eventually have them become used up, tattered, torn or wasted away.What do you do? You pass them along, pay them forward, share with others to be shared with others who share with others and the beat goes on.
I’m guessing, no actually I know, that every single blogger I’ve met in my blogging journey so far should have this award. As with the receiving of any award, the difficult part is deciding who will be on the receiving end.
So here is what you need to know about:
(This has been copied word for word for accuracy. It is suggested you do the same…makes posting easy!)
Do you know a blog that deserves an award?
Do you have special blogs that you love to read?
Which blogs do you bookmark and follow?
Would you like to give them an award this year?
Then the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award is for you!
The ‘rules’ for this award are simple:
1 Select the blog(s) you think deserve the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award.
2 Write a blog post and name/tell us about the blog(s) you have chosen – there’s no minimum or maximum number of blogs required – and ‘present’ them with their award.
3 Please include a link back to this page Blog of the Year 2012 Award and include these ‘rules’ in your post (please don’t alter the rules or the badges!)
4 Let the blog(s) you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the ‘rules’ with them
5 You can now also join The Facebook group – click ‘like’ on this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award Facebook group and then you can share your blog with an even wider audience
6 As a winner of the award – please add a link back to the blog that presented you with the award – and then proudly display the award on your blog and sidebar … and start collecting stars…
Yes – that’s right – there are stars to collect!
Unlike other awards which you can only add to your blog once – this award is different!
When you begin you will receive the ‘1 star’ award – and every time you are given the award by another blog – you can add another star!
There are a total of 6 stars to collect.
Which means that you can check out your favorite blogs – and even if they have already been given the award by someone else – you can still bestow it on them again and help them to reach the maximum 6 stars!
‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award Badges
There are six badges for you to collect – you can either ‘swap’ your badge for the next one each time you are given the award – or even proudly display all six badges if you are lucky enough to be presented with the award six times!
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Need to know more? Check out the FAQ page
And Congratulations! on being chosen for the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award!
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‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award – thumbnails
Here are the 6 awards in thumbnail size for your sidebar – feel free to Right Click and save any of the images on this page:
So there you go those are the rules and the name of the game.
The blogs listed below possibly have at one time or another bestowed and/or received an award from catnipoflife or her sister site, Awakenings. Some responded with the utmost gratitude, some do not venture into the award arena and some simply did not respond. Those of you who enjoy playing I look forward to your own post and those of you who chose not to that is okay, too. I have fulfilled my desire to let you know how deserving you truly are and how much you mean to me. 
For those of you who want to play, the ball is in your court!
[BTW If you want to play and I have somehow missed you, I hang my head shamefully but will raise it proudly and promptly add you to the list!]
Photo Credit: Marilyn Armstrong
Winter’s awakenings have come with the first signs of snow knocking at the door in many parts of the country. The coldest part of the year brings with it short days and long nights, hazardous driving, shoveling driveways/walkways, bundling up from head-to-toe, chills and fever, cozy fireplaces, and so much more BUT not without intermingling wonder, amazement and excitement.
BE SURE TO WATCH THE VIDEO – Dog Having a Blast in the Snow !
This week’s photo challenge is guest hosted by Jared Bramblett. Read on @ The Daily Post @ WordPress.com for more information about this week’s theme and Jared’s photography tips!
Since I am a novice photographer I do not have a collection of photographs upon which to offer reflections. So, I challenged myself today when an unexpected opportunity arose as our cat, Foxie, paused at the back door for a peek outside.
catnipoflife 