Truly, I Am Thankful
Being the self-appointed philosopher that I am, I could not accept the Blog of the Year award without giving some thought as to how far I have come. I am a thinker, as most of my fellow bloggers know, who thinks with the intention of implementing and testing as much of what I believe in my own life as I reach out to others.
What many of you don’t know is that it was 2009 when I finally accepted the mantle that had been placed over my shoulders, since I was conceived in my mother’s womb. I have to admit I fought, ran, screamed and did everything I could to keep from becoming a writer and a singer. Even though, they were imbedded into my genes, my worry about not being able to earn money to pay my bills and enjoy some of those electronic gadgets I so enjoy working with, held me back. I wanted an ordinary life like the ‘Jones’ and I chose to do something else, and I made myself believe that a little singing on the side, or writing a business report for someone else would still the voices within me to move out and do what I was called to do.
It took my editing the second revision of a book by another author to force the door I had kept closed wide open and my heart sprang out and forward and refused to be quieted again. Since then, I write and I sing, and whenever I sit at my keyboard and let my spirit fly out into freedom that it so deserves, I write, which brings me down to this posting.
You see, I am thankful there are other writers on this earthly hemisphere who have been kind enough to recognize my gift. Living in Germany, and sometimes feeling like the lone ranger among German writers who do not write in my native language, I am a long way from an English speaking writer support group and realize just how essential the English writing groups that I am a part of are in my life. They see something in me it took me years to see, and I admit they still have a better view of it than I do.
One of these writers is Raani York. She is a wonderful writer and a dear friend. There have been times in this Walk On series, when I have felt totally overwhelmed from the research. I have asked myself if it were really necessary to get so emotionally involved in what I was writing. I have doubted my ability to write another word, and most of all I have struggled with the technical difficulties, the format, sentences becoming phrases, grammatic structure being challenged to the point that grammar has become one of the arteries running from my heart. I have asked myself continuously, if I have the right to develop my own format, and it was at times like these that I would receive a comment from Raani York and a few others about this series, which encouraged me to keep moving on in the direction I am going.
You are probably wondering whether I am making money so that I may live from my writing or my music or from both. Not yet, I still have to do odd jobs on the side, but let me say that that has become secondary. The main lesson that I have learned in this struggle ‘to become’ is obedience. I obeyed my heart, and the joy that overflows when I write an article, or work on the books I have started writing that I want to complete and see in print, or when I stand on stage and open my mouth and bellow out a song that has etched itself deep in my spirit; all of these things are not comparable to any joy that I have ever experienced. The joy is unspeakable!
So, this morning I am paying it forward by nominating those blogs that have lived close to my heart this year. Some of them have made me cry, others have brought me to endless laughter, others have informed me about what is happening around the world, still others have still my soul and the rest have made me think about the various situations that go on around me and have forced me to reflect, check out my own life and change, even though change is sometime painful.
So, here we go. I have copied the instructions from Raani’s site so that I do not make a mistake with the requirements:
‘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!
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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 me. 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!]
The blogs for nomination
Finally, I would like to say to all the bloggers of blogs I subscribe to that your blog carries weight in my life. What you have to say is important to me and when I write you a comment, it is because I care about you as a person, even though we are a part of this world-wide community connected together through electronic data transfer. So, you the writer have enriched my life significantly and helped create a chain reaction that is causing me to develop into the being what I was call to be.
Below I have inserted a link from youtube with one of my most favourites songs by James Taylor. I thank all of you and wish you a wonderful second Advent.
Shalom,
Pat Garcia
- Posted in: Awards ♦ Inspiration ♦ Support from Writers
- Tagged: awards, Blog, Facebook, Facebook features, FAQ, Germany, oscars, Select (magazine), Star, writing, Year 2012 Award
Walk On 
Thank you Patricia! For all your kind words and the return nomination which got me an additional star!!! Thank you so much! Congratulations – well done!! BIG HUGS and love you!!
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Hi,
I thank you Raani! You are very dear to me and I thank you for your love and friendship. You really do come in at unexpected times when I need encouragement and your articles give me that added lift that I need. I am so thankful for you.
Ciao,
Patricia
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Congratulations on the award. I hpe one day sooner rather than later to make the leap you did in ’09.
I appreciate the recognition.
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Hi,
I sincerely hope that for you. Believe it or not, I did everything that I could to avoid taking this route. I cannot say that I was unhappy at first with what I was doing. The first year or two, I thought I was happy doing something else other than what I was called to do. It was as I began to feel unrest, dissatisfaction with people and things around me that I notice the problem lay within me. It took a few more years exactly said, five more years to finally be kicked out there with a boot from an unexpected corner. Now that I am here, the joy that I expeerience is unbelievable. I am even happy when I have to eat spaggehti with only tomato sauce, and I use to hate eating spaggehti like that. Now I love it. I think I have fallen in love with what I am writing and what I sing.
Ciao,
Patricia
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I know it is easy to say but I feel that I have to do what I have to for my family. I recognize to an extent that it is an excuse.
Anyway, I think it is awsome that you are doing what you want to do and that you are feeling that sense of satisfaction.
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Hi,
It is never an excuse when you put others before you and that is what you are doing. You are making a willing sacrifice, and there is a big difference between making a willing sacrifice, and one where you make people think they owe you something for doing what you are doing. So, you are not making an excuse. Do what you have to do because that is where your heart is at this moment. The time to branch out and change will come. It didn’t come over night for me either. I did a lot of kicking, screaming and hesitating before I moved out. I had a mom and dad to take care of back in the USA, and that was one of the reasons why it took me so long. Do you think I regret this? No, I don’t! It was one of the most rewarding periods of my life, and I have many memories in my treasure trove of the good times we had, just because I stepped up to the plate and took care of them. So hang in there! Your time will come. I know it. Look at my example and I hope I am a good example for you of putting people first and my goals second.
Have a great week and I hope you enjoy the last two weeks of school before the Christmas vacation.
Shalom,
Patricia
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And I am thankful for you, Patricia. I’m pleased to be included among your nominations. I’m not sure I can figure out how to participate – still so new at the mechanics of all this.
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Hi Ellen,
I cannot express how much I enjoy reading your blogs. I don’t always leave comments, and right now I am trying to catch up, because I participated in the National Novel Writing Month, but when I sit back and began to read the blogs I follow, yours is one of the ones I look forward to. So, your nomination was from my heart.
Ciao,
Patricia
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Thank you so much, Pat, for honoring Awakenings. This is her third star. How on earth did I miss naming you in my catnip postings? Catnip received an extra star so I am going to send it to you! OK?
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Good morning Sharla,
Thank you and I accept your star. Don’t worry about forgetting me. It is easy to forget me because I am sitting here in Germany. Most people don’t expect to find a native English speaking writer living in Germany.
Have a great day.
Ciao,
Patricia
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Thank you for the nomination Patricia, I am truly honored. You are such a blessing and may God continue to bless you richly!
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Good morning,
I thank you. Your posts are always a blessing and a light into my life.
Ciao,
Patricia
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http://mypenandme.wordpress.com/2012/12/08/blog-of-the-year-2012-award-4th-star/
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Truly, we are thankful to God for YOU! God bless you and the wonderful gifts you are using for Him! love and prayers!
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Good morning Debbie,
I thank you. You are a blessing to me.
Ciao,
Patricia
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Pat, I just sat here and I smiled. Your words always bring a lift to my heart, and I am so glad that you haven’t given up. God won’t let you, you know. There is so much love inside of you for Him that has to come out, and when it does it explodes in to the most beautiful prose I have read in years! I am sure it is a delight to the Father’s ears. Congratulations on this award, you are so very deserving, and thank you so much for nominating me. It humbles me as well. I thank God for the same group of writers that encourage and bless me. Have a beautiful evening my friend!
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Your writing sings! Thanks for the follow.
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