Awakenings: A Date Which Will Live in Infamy

by catnipoflife

The Date of Infamy that launched an epic conflict with Japan took place here in the early morning hours of December 7, 1941. The tranquil waters of Pearl Harbor were forever disrupted by the tides of war. The USS Arizona and 1,177 of her crew were among the first casualties of the Pacific War; the USS Arizona Memorial stands above the sunken vessel and her fallen sailors, serving as a reminder of their sacrifice and commitment.

See on catnip’s sister site www.awakenings2012.blogspot.fr

*********************************

ALWAYS REMEMBER, NEVER FORGET. . .

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE –

IT CARRIES WITH IT THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE!

Awakenings Reflection

2 Comments »

Awakenings: Remember Their Sacrifice

by catnipoflife

See on Scoop.it – America

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…

See on www.awakenings2012.blogspot.fr

Awakenings Reflection

9 Comments »

Faith Squared

by catnipoflife

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.]

Inspiration Reflection Thoughtful Events

8 Comments »

Awakenings: Pre-Christmas Cheer

by catnipoflife

See on Scoop.it – America

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

Awakenings Inspiration Reflection Scoop.it

4 Comments »

Blog of the Year 2012

by catnipoflife

With the holiday season comes blessings galore and a time of giving/receiving thanks, giving/receiving presents and giving/receiving awards! The blogosphere is bursting at the seams with ways of sharing with others that which is so graciously received.

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.

There is definitely something to be said about this virtual world of ours: it is a world of sharing, caring and preparing: Sharing around the world, Caring for others, Preparing for the future. Whatever endeavor you are engaged in at the present moment or seek in days to come, there is always someone willing to tell you his or her story which will in turn provide a beacon of light down a sometimes dark highway.

So, without further adieu, let’s get to the next award…one that requires very little demand and keeps on giving.

Believe it or not…

Yes, an actual “current” Blog Award!

Thank you Jana @cjanas Dreams for my first nomination of the “Blog of the Year 2012” award. Thank you Penny @TheWhyAboutThis for my second and Alastair @Alastair’s Blog for my third. As you will learn in the information to follow, catnipoflife has earned Three Stars. It is amazing how many wonderful, creative and talented bloggers there are in the blogosphere.

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:

‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award

(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!

Need to know more? Check out the FAQ page

And Congratulations! on being chosen for the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award!

‘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!]

A Hairdresser’s Diary

Alastair’s Blog

Arlen Shahverdyan

Aspire. Motivate. Succeed.

Extraordinary Ireland

Forever Poetic

Fortyteen Candles

Free Tag Zone

Greatpoetrymhf’s Weblog

Life in the Foothills

LadyLovelyBlogger

linneann

Lori’s Song

Magic in the Backyard

Make Something Mondays

Northwest Photographer

Some Assembly Required

Stutley’s Tales

Surviving Life My Cats

Susan Ekins

Taylor Made Thoughts and Doodles

Texas, a Cat in New York

The Blazing Trail

The Fat and the Skinny

The London Flower Lover

The One Thing I Know For Sure

Writing My First Novel

Awards/Nominations Reflection

37 Comments »

Weekly Photo Challenge: Reflections

by catnipoflife

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.

Purr-aw-w-w-w…

I luv u, Mommy!

Purr-r-r-r-rfect…

Wanna’ purr-lay…

Too cute…

Reflection Weekly Photo Challenge

46 Comments »

TGIF

by catnipoflife

ARE YOU READY?

T.G.I.F. is a most familiar acronym!

Has this day always represented the ‘end’ of the work week?

Ever wonder where this T.G.I.F. (“Thank God It’s Friday”) catchphrase originated?

In today’s society, “weekends” are taken for granted. However, that luxury has NOT always been recognized. The work week was once Monday through Saturday with work, especially on farms, starting before the sun came up and not ending until sundown. Jobs ‘back in the day’ consisted of positions, such as…

Continued @Awakenings!

Awakenings Reflection

6 Comments »

Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award

by catnipoflife

So blessed with this award being bestowed on catnipoflife by Len @myownheart.me:

Welcome to the Sisterhood!

There are rules for this award which are basically the same as for most any blog award received. The last part, deciding on recipients for this award, is exceptionally difficult. How does one choose from all those who have visited and provided support for catnipoflife? To me, you are all my ‘sisters’ (of course, there are ‘brothers’ too but their honor will need to come in a different form). For a sisterhood, why should some be selected while others are left out? Since there is no other criteria for selection other than choice and even though this is not exactly the intention of the rules, it is the decision of catnipoflife:

All of my ‘Sisters’ are Welcome to the
Sisterhood of the World Bloggers!

Acceptance is contingent upon the following:

1. Leave a comment that you would like to be a member of the Sisterhood.

2. Grab the badge for posting to your blog, thank catnipoflife for this award and provide a link to her blogsite.

3. Answer the same questions as posed to catnipoflife (see below) in your blog posting.

4. Nominate and provide the links to 10-12 blogs that you find a joy to read OR follow the same procedure as catnip. [If you choose to bestow the award on special sisters, be sure to kindly let the recipients know they have been invited into the sisterhood.]

5. Return to catnipoflife as soon as your posting is complete to provide a link to your blogsite. Those links will be added to this posting as comments of completion are received.

Here are the 10 Questions

1. What is your favorite colour?

2. What is your favorite animal?

FOXIE

BOOTS

3. What is your favorite non-alcoholic drink?

4. Facebook or Twitter? = Tweet me @ awakenings2012

5. What is your favorite pattern? = B&W Check

6. Do you prefer getting or giving presents?

7. What is your favorite number?

8. What is your favorite day of the week?

9. What is your favorite flower?

Handful of Daisies

10. What is your passion?

Welcome to the Sisterhood!

1. Posthumously Sandra @ Dare to Dream Big!
Character books for kids and Kids Can Do It! Dare to Dream Big!

2. Claire Cappetta @clarecappetta
A journey through writing and publishing an indie book and all that pleases and irks along the way

3. Marilyn Armstrong @Serendipity
Popcorn on Main Street

4. Raani York @raaniyork
Beauty/Fashion, Diary of a Cat Prince, Letters to Celebrities. . .

5. Gys @ Poèmes Français & Anglais by Gys
Poignant poetry written in both French and English, as well as an awesome photo blog

6. Who is next? Leave your comment per ‘acceptance’ above…

Awards/Nominations Reflection

20 Comments »

Message of Inspiration

by catnipoflife

This is a message of inspiration…a message of unconditional love! Thank you, Raani, for sharing on your blog so its message can hopefully be reblogged, reblogged, and reblogged many, many more times.

Inspiration Reblog Reflection

10 Comments »

The Bench in Waiting

by catnipoflife

Today as I visited Serendipity, which I do quite often for her excellent photography, interesting articles, candid humor and wonderful musings, The Bench in Waiting immediately captured my attention. Thank you, Marilyn for your inspiration that guided me to reflect on The Ol’ Bench. . .

Photo Credit: Marilyn Armstrong

The Ol’ Bench

A resting place, a stopping-off point

Relief from labors along life’s way

The bench beckoned moments for solitude

To ponder reveries of the day

How many have passed this way

Stopped for a moment or two

Rested, mused, wondered

Contemplated what to do?

What decisions were made

Changes to start anew

Thoughts and reflections

Begin again, redo?

Beaten, battered, broken

Life’s pain abates

It holds a lifetime’s worth of stories …

And still, it waits

Awaits the next visitor

To settle down, to rest

To ponder, to wonder

Tomorrow — life’s next test

A resting place, a stopping-off point

Relief from labors along life’s way

The bench beckons moments for solitude

To ponder reveries of the day. . .

Inspiration PoetrybySharla Reflection

34 Comments »

catnipoflife

Observe life at its best, Listen to life’s songs, Embrace life’s bounties, Breathe the breath of life, Savor life to its fullest!

Awakenings: A Date Which Will Live in Infamy

Awakenings: Remember Their Sacrifice

Faith Squared

Awakenings: Pre-Christmas Cheer

Blog of the Year 2012

With the holiday season comes blessings galore and a time of giving/receiving thanks, giving/receiving presents and giving/receiving awards! The blogosphere is bursting at the seams with ways of sharing with others that which is so graciously received.

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.

So, without further adieu, let’s get to the next award…one that requires very little demand and keeps on giving.

Believe it or not…

Yes, an actual “current” Blog Award!

‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award

Weekly Photo Challenge: Reflections

TGIF