Six Awe-Full Life Experiences and a Passing of Awards

Earlier this week I was gifted by Kelley from Between the Bookends and Hope from My Protector, The Calling with the Versatile Blogger award and the Kreativ Blogger Award.

I highly recommend, if you don't already follow them, to go check out Kelley's and Hope's blogs, because they are fun to follow.  Kelley has fabulous posts that I never get tired of reading.  Hope has the best link lists regarding different writing needs I've ever seen.

Because I was in the middle of the week from hell, I didn't have a chance to accept the awards properly and to pass the awards on right away.  I am going to do that today!

I have received the Versatile Blogger Award before, and if you would like, you can read that post here.  I was still excited to receive it again, because of the cool, new badge! 

To accept the awards, I am supposed to tell you all interesting facts about myself.  I decided to choose six awe-full (meaning full of awe) moments in my life.  I love the feeling of being overwhelmed with the beauty or miracles that can be found in the world, if you just take time to notice them.  So, here we go!

*  Not trying to be sappy, but I thought I'd get this one out of the way first.  Being pregnant was truly one of the most amazing experiences of my life.  I was made to have babies, I think.  That I got to do it twice was a blessing.  Holding my children after giving birth to them, knowing that I grew a human being, is truly a miracle.  I'll throw in marrying my husband on this one, too.  I didn't think it would happen, and I am so grateful that it did!


*  When I was nineteen, I nannied in New York City, at the same time as my sister.  She arrived earlier than I did, and the first weekend after I got there, she took me into the City.  I will never forget stepping out onto the sidewalk in front of Penn Station.  My knees literally got weak.  The buildings went on forever, people were everywhere, a low-level hum of daily noise filled the streets and I totally went into sensory overload.  I fell in love with NYC that day.


*  While in New York (I nannied in Queens, actually) I got to visit the ocean for the first time.  My Nanny-family took my sister and I to Jones Beach one day.  The power of all the water stretching for miles was spectacular.  It was a blustery January day, and the waves crashed onto the beach and I felt so tiny.  I began to get an idea of exactly how huge the world is.


*  In 2001, I went to Ecuador for a three week language immersion trip.  On one of the weekends, I visited an hacienda near Cotopaxi, which is an active volcano.  I got to climb the volcano to the point where the snow begins (very hard to do, mostly because of the altitude) but the actual awe-filled moment was the trail ride we took.  It wasn't on a trail, though.  We meandered through the lands of the hacienda, through the potato fields, and into the plains. My sister had died six months earlier, and the whole trip turned out to be an escape.  In Cotopaxi, I galloped across the plains, my heart lifted by the expansive beauty surrounding me, and the horse running under me.  I felt free, in awe, and at peace.  Unintended hippo-therapy, I think.


*  Enough of the sad stuff!  My next awe-full moment was in Peru.  My husband and I went on a language immersion trip, staying with a family in Cusco (with whom I remain in contact with to this day).  Peru, or maybe I should say Cusco,  is just a magical place all by itself.  I love the people there, I love the history and traditions, I love the land.  All four of my dogs are named Quechuan names, in tribute to that wonderful region.  We went to Machu Picchu one weekend.  Our guide for the trip grew up in the Urubamba River area, and so he got us up to Machu Picchu before the sun came over the mountains, and placed us in the perfect location to watch the sun burn away the mist over the ruins.  There is no picture or video, or even words, that can capture the essence of the moment. You'll just have to believe me that it was awesome!


*  Dang this is long!  I didn't mean to write so much about each moment, but kind of got caught up.  Last one, and it's a quick one.  Every acceptance e-mail I've ever gotten.  My thoughts: "Holy Cow! Someone liked it enough to print it!" :)


Okay - six people I'm passing the awards to. I'm going to stretch out on this one, because Hope and Kelley already hit a lot of the people I would have given them to!  I also stand by my recognitions in the previous Versatile Blogger post.

Adventure Without End Tony Slater is a travel writer who is currently living in Australia.  I have had no interaction with him (through comments, etc...) but I love his posts.  They are funny and unique.

Aloha, and Hi! from HI Mark Koopmans is a stay-at-home father and writer who has a great sense of humor.  He's currently running a "Follow Your Dream" contest on his blog, so go over there to at least enter the contest!  You don't have to be a follower to play, but you might find out you want to join up anyway!  (I totally didn't mean to rhyme.)

My Imaginary Beings  Emilia Quill is from Helsinki, Finland.  I found her through the Nightgale Blog Challenge, and I love her stories.  The Sacrifice is amazingly poignant, and I think you should go read it!

Word + Stuff   Besides writing books, Trisha writes songs, for goodness sake. That is super creative, as far as I'm concerned!

Cranky Old Man  Joe Hagy writes about pretty much anything, but I really liked his post about bullying.  He has a great sense of humor, and isn't afraid to say anything.

Writing Fire  Nick Hight is a teenage writer/blogger from New Zealand who already has over 100 followers and an interesting perspective on writing and writing tips.  Definitely worth it to check him out!


Do you have any Awe-Full experiences you'd like to share?  I'd love to hear your stories!