My Greatest Joy, Awards, and Guest Designer News

Good morning!! This post is of a personal nature and about some blog awards. I will be posting a card for the Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge later today. I am the recipient of the Audrey Award this week for my poppy card! So next week I get to be their Guest Designer :) Ok, back on track. My son is coming to visit on Wednesday :) He is an Engineering student at University of British Columbia and only makes it home 3 times a year (Christmas, reading break, and end of the summer). Last year he helped me set up my classroom :) He was the sweetest child and now he's growing into a sweet man :) He'll be 21 in November and is my greatest joy :) I'm sharing this with you as I need to say 7 things about myself for an award coming up in this post and wanted to share a little more about him. Here are a few photos... his school kindergarten picture at age 4 and his high school graduation photo at age 17.

This next photo was taken on our way to my wedding in 2007. I raised Jake on my own so having him walk before me down the aisle was a moment I ponder in my heart always.

Ok, onto the next part of this post...I've received a couple of awards and need to say "Thanks!" and pay them forward. I'm not sure if I'm allowed, but I'm combining them and only saying pay them forward if you have time, otherwise just enjoy them :) Lovely Kristina from Itty Bitty Pieces of Me sent me the Lovely Blog Award, thanks Kristina!! You honour me again, you sweetie!!

Three lovely and talented ladies honoured me with the Kreativ Blogger award. Hugs and thank-yous to Winter, Tanny P (my fellow Canadian!), and Janelle :) To accept this award: 1. thank the person who nominated you. 2. copy logo and place it on your blog. 3. Link the person's blog that nominated you for this award. 4. name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting. 5. nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers. 6. post a link to the 7 you nominated. 7. leave a comment on each blog to let them know they are nominated.

Here are 7 things you may find interesting about me...

1) I am the youngest of 6 children (good Catholic family!)

2) I wanted to be a teacher since I was in Gr. 4

3) I raised my son on my own (with great support from family and friends) and he is my greatest joy.

4) I met my husband in Starbucks 4.5 years ago

5) We married on July 7/07 and had a big church wedding and reception with all the trimmings as it was my first marriage.

6) I made cards when I was about 10 years old, started up again in the 90s for awhile, was introduced to Stampin Up in 2004 but became serious once I found card blogs two years ago.

7) I have problems with "left" and "right" and often have to make "L"s with my fingers to know which is which (anyone else have that problem? LOL)

Here are my 7 lovely nominees (I would include those who nominated me but I don't think I'm allowed)....please accept these awards for all the encouragement and inspiration you've given to me this summer :)

1) Laural Lee @ Laural's Passion 4 Paper

2)Marisa @ Rosemary's Reflections

3) Ann @ Creative Antics

4) Maile @ Simply Stamped

5) Betty @ Stamping to the Wright

6) Amy @ Crafting Confessions

7) Laura @ Doublestick Heaven

Ok, I'm done! Hope to see you a bit later with my Cinema Saturday card...have a glorious Sunday!!