Thank you, Thank you, Thank you

First, thank you so much for your heartfelt prayers and good wishes for Nickie. She is still in critical condition in the ICU but her vital signs are improving and they have determined the bacteria responsible for her pneumonia so they can better treat it. She still needs your prayers for recovery. I am blessed and amazed at what a loving community I have found here that will stop and pray for someone they do not know. THANK YOU!

Secondly, thank you so much for all of the encouragement on my Lenten sacrifice. It was moving to read how others struggle with the same addiction and how people deal with it. My sister, Dawn even called to check on me when she read I was giving up shopping! He he! That is one of our favorite things to do together! I have already entered the "no shopping" zone mentally and even returned a few things yesterday that I felt like I really did not need.

See these adorable plates and trays? I had bought several of these and some other pieces for Kate's birthday party. However, I realized it was wasteful and unnecessary and I returned them! They are cute though, aren't they?

Finally, I want to thank two people who have sent me lovely things recently. I participated in the Pink Swap that Hopsy hosts this year. My swap partner was Jenny and she sent me such a fabulous package. My photos of it are terrible because I was cooking dinner, corralling kids and it was DARK and rainy. Plus, I was dying to dig into it and really look at all my goodies.

Jenny included such fabulous pink items. She sent me monogrammed notecards and stickers from here, fun personalized pink pencils, a delicious candle from Nest (love those), a fun LuLu Guinness book, a monogrammed kitchen towel, a pink pig bath mitt for Kate, Essie nail polish and more. I am delighted to have "met" Jenny through this swap. She seems so thoughtful and fun! Her blog is fabulous too.

Also, in the last swap I was paired with Norah ("Ruby's Fairy Godmother"). Actually, I missed the swap registration so Norah graciously offered to parnter up with me. We exchanged packages last Fall and struck up a really nice friendship. A few weeks ago, out of the blue I received a package (don't you LOVE when that happens?). Norah sent me a fabulous prayer journal. What I love about this prayer journal is that is has sections labeled Praise, Ask, Listen (to write down how God is speaking to you), Thank, Change (sharing our journey), and Love (prayers for relationships). It is making me pray in a better and different way. Thank you Norah!!!

Finally, Sweet, sweet Bevy has awarded me the Sunshine award. If you have not visited her blog, I encourage you to do so. She is so positive and inspiring.

The Sunshine Award is given to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspire others in the blog world. Thank you Bevy! That made my day!!!! I am such a rule breaker when it comes to these awards and I think everyone on my sidebar is positive and creative, so y'all get the Sunshine Award! Spread it around.