Liebster Award - I'm Famous!

I was recently nominated for not one, but two Liebster Awards.  I'm honored and all verklempt.  No really...first and foremost I'd like to thank my Heavenly Father for molding me into who I am, my parents for putting up with me and my husband for choosing me.  Now that I've got that out of the way, let me tell you of the lovely ladies that nominated me:

Whitney from Southern Hope
Alissa from One Part Joy - One Part Circus

**Both ladies are uplifting bloggers who are strong in their faith.  I always come away feeling a better person for having visited their blogs.**

Would it be terrible of me to tell you that I lived in the day of chain letters?  That dates me doesn't it?  I have to confess that I was never very good at those chain letters.  I used to send the recipe or post card or whatever was requested to the next person on the list, but I never followed through with the rest.  Like please copy this letter and send it to 100 of your friends.  I don't know about you, but I don't have 100 friends even though Facebook tells me I do.

So, in keeping with my slacker ways, I will graciously accept this award, refer to my lovely nominators and answer the questions but as for tagging a bunch of my friends...probably not going to happen.  Therefore, I am tagging EVERYBODY!  There you have it...you are all my friends.


The Rules are as Follows:

1. Share 11 facts about myself
2. Answer 11 questions from my nominator
3. Nominate 11 followers (with less than 200 followers) for the award
4. Create 11 questions for nominee to answer

11 Facts about Me:

1. I have a fat cat named Milo.  He looks like Allisa's cat and shares the same name as Whitney's cat.
2. I have been married twice.....to the same guy.  First time here.
3. The second time I was married, my boys were two and three so I'll tell people I've been married for 18 years with a 21 year old son.  GASP!
4. I have an addiction to diet cherry coke.
5. I love to run, though I'm not very fast.
6. Yoga makes me feel amazing and strong even though my daughter says its boring.
7. I'm a youth leader at Church.  Should we be worried?  
8. I have moved 15 times.  I'm grateful to have stayed put for the last ten years.
9. I am an introvert
10. My daughter is my best friend, though, I don't think she likes me as much these days.  
11. I struggle with reading overly long blog posts.  I just get lost in the words...Guess what?  This is going to be overly long.  

Questions from Whitney:

1.  What is one of your favorite quotes?

Happiness is like a butterfly, 

the more you chase it the more it eludes you.

If you turn your attention to other things

for just a moment,

It will come and sit softly on your shoulder ~ Nathaniel Hawthorn

2.  If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?  Mickey Mouse because then I could hang out at Disneyland all day.  ;)

3.  If you had to change your first name, what would you change it to?  I like my first name, so I wouldn't change it.  But when I was in High School, I wanted to change the spelling because it was so common.  

4.  If you could witness any event past, present or future, what would it be?  I think it would have been cool to watch the Berlin Wall come down.  I saw it on TV, but to have actually been there would have been cool.  

5.  What was the last experience that made you a stronger person?  Sending my son off on a Church mission.  It was really hard and a test of faith to let him go.  

6.  What was the last book you read?   I just read a series of young adult books at the recommendation of my daughter.  They are a modern day twist on the Jane Austen books by Jenni James.

7.  Have you ever met a famous person?  Heck, I'm a famous person!  At least on my blog...But, I'm related to a former US Senator and my Aunt is a German Actress.  My Grandpa used to sing at Disneyland and he has several albums which you can't buy anymore.  (he was a crooner)

8.  Why blog?  It is a fun place to express myself, and I'd like to think that I might make your world just a little bit brighter through my blogging.  

9.  Which is your most favorite place?  Disneyland, duh...Is that even a question?

10.  Where are you right now?  Sitting at my computer desk in my family room.

11.  Got milk? Why, yes, I do...

Questions from Allisa:
1. Do you have a favorite Bible verse or quote?  What is it?  Yes, my favorite right now is actually on my blog up top there... "joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody." Isaiah 51:3

2. What was your favorite television show from your childhood? Brady Bunch

3. If you had/have a daughter would you ever let her participate in a beauty contest?  Why or why not? No, I don't think so, or at least I wouldn't push her into it.  I think the most relevant beauty is what is found on the inside.  

4. What is one of your pet peeves?  Toilet seat up...nose pickers...rude drivers

5. Favorite blog and/or link up??  There are really too many lovely blogs to choose from.  Right now I really enjoy reading Ann Voskamps blog A Holy Experience.  The verdict isn't out yet on link ups.  I haven't met one yet that I truly love.  

6. What is one recipe you learned to make in the last year?  Homemade bread but it was an epic fail.  

7. What is one strange habit you have?  I rub my arms when I get stressed.  It seems to calm me down.  I'm thinking my mom must have done that when I was a baby because I'm not consciously doing it.  

8. Where is one place you would visit if cost was no object?  I'd love to visit Scotland or Ireland.  I've read some historical romance books that are set there.  That would be a cool trip.  

9. What is something you want to learn to make or do??  I'd like to learn to be a better photographer.  I have a nice camera, now I just need to take a class.  

10. Beach or Mountains?  Ooo, that's tough.  I've lived in Hawaii, California, Colorado and Idaho.  Both worlds!  In the end, I'd have to go with my toes in the sand and a diet cherry coke in my hand.  

11. Coffee or tea?  Herb tea with stevia and cream.  I like Celestial Seasonings Bengal Spice tea.  It is my favorite right now.  You have to like cinnamon, though.  

Your mission should you choose to accept, EVERYONE, are to answer the following questions:

1. Name one talent that you have
2. What is your drink of choice?
3. Pizza or pasta?
4. If you won the lottery, what charity would you donate some of it to?
5. Who or what is most inspiring to you?
6. Favorite ice cream flavor
7. Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter and why?
8. Who is your favorite musical artist?
9. How many friends do you have on Facebook?   Personal account, not blog account
10. "Buddy the Elf, What's your favorite color?"
11. Will you let me know if you do this so I can come and visit and support you?

Ready, Set, Go...

1. And when the Nominee is finished you must link it back to me (as I did above) in your blog post