Paw-sing to Share Love May 17, 2013

It began like a single snowflake falling from the sky on a chilly December day. Unique in its concept, it has grown and developed over time, and somehow the glimmer of hope that snowflake represented has become a reality.

Today is day 148 in a row of sharing my stories of adventure and joy from the ground up. I set out to blog every day for 365 days, and so far I haven’t missed a single one. But I can’t take all the credit for that commitment. There is something that keeps be going even when I’m certain my ramblings will echo endlessly through the night without touching a single soul.

Something I’ve learned right quick in this blogging business is that the connections we make are legitimate. Anyone who says otherwise clearly has never blogged, or at least not done so in an arena like this one. To each and every person who has liked or commented on a post, followed the blog or even just stopped by to read without making a virtual paw print: thank you for being a special part of my little doggie life.

You are what keeps me writing on a daily basis. As any blogger knows, that is not an easy task. We all have our good days and bad days. There are days I’m certain I won’t make it to day 365. But the support and encouragement afforded me especially in the comments are what get me through the days when I sit and stare at the white screen and cursor hoping a brilliant post will magically appear.

I’ve been doing a disservice to many of you who have taken the time to nominate me for awards lately. There’s no good excuse for this naughty behavior, but I shall attempt to write this wrong today by saying thank you and recognizing those who have awarded me that extra special pat on the head.

I am humbled to receive awards that feature adjectives like versatility, beauty, and sweetness. These are some pretty powerful vocabulary words if you ask me. My sincerest gratitude to:

Sofie’s Diary, Versatile Blogger Award                   Maria at Accelerated Stall, Liebster Blog Award    Best Moment Award

     

Mrs. Seeker, Versatile Blogger Award and Beautiful Blogger Award

     

PeaceLovenWhiskers, WordPress Family Award            Jill London, Super Sweet Blogger Award                 Huntmode (& Fam) Very Inspiring Award

           

Iamforchange, One Lovely Blog Award, Most Influential Blogger Award, Candle Lighter Award

       

Julianne Victoria (and Ku!), Super Sweet Blogger Award, Sunshine Award, Interesting Blog Award

         

Nikitaland, Dragon’s Loyalty Award                               Misufasa at the Presents of Presence, WordPress Family Award

    

Melanie, Because You’re Fantabulous Award and Awesome Blossom Award

  

As many of you know, there are a variety of rules associated with these awards, most of which I intend to break today. However, the one very most important rule of all (in my humble doggie opinion) is to paw it forward. If you’re reading this, please consider yourself a member of the family who deserves the recognition of these awards. Take your pick. Choose one, or a few, but know that I am sharing these awards with my dearest loved ones who have supported and encouraged me to keep on the blogging path less travelled. As American rock bank Fun. puts it “let our past be the sound of our feet upon the ground, carry on!”

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God’s Gift to Me April 20, 2013

I realized today I give out an awful lot of cyber hugs and high paws lately. I love my blogosphere. Seeing it grow into a forum for sharing smiles, joy, laughter, and sometimes even a few tears has been an unexpected blessing. These are all some pretty big feelings we talk about here, which I say brings us together in a way unlike any other.

It brings to mind the thoughts of South African social rights leader Desmond Tutu, who said “you don’t chose your family, they are God’s gift to you.” How blessed I am to have so many people in my life with whom to share all my big thoughts and emotions!

God’s gift came to life in a unique way for me recently, with my receipt of the WordPress Family Blogging Award from two truly inspirational people bloggers. Thank you, Melanie and Misifusa, for what you do each day. You bring sunshine into the daily lives of so many and are truly special to me. Congratulations to both of you for a job well done. Here’s how it works:

Rules:

1. Display the award logo on your blog.

2. Link back to the person who nominated you.

3. Nominate 10 others you see as having an impact on your WordPress experience and family

4. Let your 10 Family members know you have awarded them

5. That is it. Just please pick 10 people who have taken you as  a friend, and spread the love

Sharing the Joy

I’ve said before that joy is best enjoyed when it can be shared, and what better way than to nominate some of the members of my WordPress family who inspire me daily.

Sheila Morris http://essayswithhumor.wordpress.com/

Rumpy Dog http://rumpydog.com/

Maria http://acceleratedstall.com/

Cupcake (and her mom) http://cupcakepetrillo.wordpress.com/

Trev http://writetowag.wordpress.com/

Lyn http://theencouragingscribe.wordpress.com/

Wendy and her Diplomatic Doggie http://diplomaticdog.wordpress.com/

Michelle http://hopethehappyhugger.wordpress.com/

MissEllaTea http://randomencountersoftheinquisitivemind.wordpress.com/

Chaing the Perfect Moment http://chasingtheperfectmoment.com/

Rarasaur http://rarasaur.wordpress.com/

Matthew http://thematticuskingdom.wordpress.com/

Jump for Joy http://jumpforjoyphotoproject.wordpress.com/

Misaki http://themisadventuresofmisaki.wordpress.com/2013/04/20/playdate/

Amba http://soyouthinkyoucanthink.wordpress.com/

Huntmode and family http://chasingrabbitholes.com/best-advice-received/

Mangus http://magnuswendler.com/

Carolyn http://www.abcofspiritalk.com/

HastyWords http://hastywords.wordpress.com/2013/04/20/shattered-broken-pieces/

Scrapydo http://scrapydo.wordpress.com/

This is a sample of some of the most special bloggers in my life. Thank you also to Shaun (Praying for one day), who created this special award.

This is what Shaun had to say about this it:

“This is an award for everyone who is part of the “Word Press Family” I start this award on the basis that the WordPress family has taken me in, and showed me love and a caring side only WordPress can. The way people take a second to be nice, to answer a question and not make things a competition amazes me here. I know I have been given many awards, but I wanted to leave my own legacy on here by creating my own award, as many have done before. This represents “Family” we never meet, but are there for us as family. It is my honour to start this award”

Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw said “a happy family is but an earlier heaven.” I don’t know how doggie heaven can be any better than this.

You Get What You Give April 5, 2013

Four months ago, it was just an idea. I was playing in the snow with my mom and she smiled the most beautiful smile and it came to me. I want to find a way to make more people smile like that.  A few days later, I began my blogging journey on a quest to share joy: from the ground up with whoever needed it. While I obviously hoped that my joy would reach people, I nearly fell out of my little doggie bed when I got my first couple of followers. “Believe you can and you’re halfway there,” as Teddy Roosevelt said.

Today, I celebrate you, my inspiration, my supporters, my friends. The blogosphere has brought to life the words of Ronald Reagan who once said “we can’t help everyone but everyone can help someone.” What a powerful impact we can have through simplicity. What a blessing to be able to be the difference we want to see in the world. Dear blogging world. You’ve been so good to me. While I set out to share my joy with the world, I did not expect the joy you would share with me.

Thank you especially to Kuruk, Lissa and Lisa who have most recently nominated me for the Versatile and Very Inspiring Blog awards. Both types of awards make a similar suggestion to include seven facts about yourself and then paw forward the appreciation to other inspirational bloggers.

Getting to Know Me

1) I recently got a new collar that says Rescued on it. It might be my new favorite thing.

2) I don’t bark, except when animals (live or animated) appear on the television.

3) I believe in being the change I want to see in the world. Change starts in the mind, but it lives in the heart.

4) I purr like a cat when I’m getting an especially nice scratch in the right place.

5) Little people are wise beyond their years if you ask me.

6) I own a more than one doggie Packer jersey.

7) My favorite place to sleep is right between my mom and dad in my forever home.

I learn something new every day and a lot of that is thanks to the relationships I’ve been fortunate enough to have in the blogosphere. Again, I mean no disrespect to those who nominated me in doing this, but I nominate you – reader and supporter of my blog for these awards. There are so many deserving partners who inspire me on a daily basis with their words, commentary and friendship. Thank you all for being you.

Four months ago, I had no idea who you were, and now I consider each and every one of you a valuable part of my life. “Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle,” suggested Buddha, “and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”

Real Simple Awards February 19, 2013

I find joy in odd things. Among the oddities that entice my innermost insights are simple complexities. Contradictions that meet the eye but test the mind.

Less is more, for example. Less can’t literally be more, and yet is in so many cases. Or, as one of my most favorite artists Leonardo Da Vinci said “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

So I shall take a canvas from Da Vinci and keep this short and sweet (like me). Lately, I have found joy in accepting several blogging awards from some of my friends in the blogosphere I have come to respect. This utmost honor might seem small to some, but not to me.

My sincerest of gratitude to:

Leisa at http://tarotalchemist.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/reality-award/

Ms. Seeker at http://theseeker57.wordpress.com/2013/02/17/the-nominees-are-drum-roll-please/

Loneshewolf at http://theloneshewolf.wordpress.com/

Acceptance of each of these awards involves its own set of rules, which I have outlined below.

In response to Leisa for the Reality Award:
Rules: Thank nominator, answer five questions, nominate five blogs and notify them of their nominations

• If you could change something, what would you change? I would want for us all to live by a simple commitment inspired by Gandhi himself: be the change you want to see in the world.
• If you could repeat an age, what age would it be? There is value in respecting where one is at in life. I wouldn’t change a thing about my age right now.
• What one thing really scares you? Leather belts and all the physical, emotional and psychological pain they are capable of inflicting. I’d rather not discuss it.
• What one dream have you not completed yet which you think you will be able to complete? Publish a book titled 365 Days of Joy: From the Ground Up by Wiley Schmidt.
• If you could be someone else for a day, who would you be? This is a tough one…I think I’d want to be my adoptive mom so I could get in her head and tell her she’s beautiful.

In response to Ms. Seeker for the Shine On Award:
Rules: Thank nominator, tell us one thing about yourself, nominate 15 blogs and notify them of their nominations

• My one thing about myself is that I am grateful to Ms. Seeker and all the other bloggers I’ve come to get to know on my quest to spread my perspective on joy with the world. Thanks to you, I have reasons to give thanks daily for the new blessings in my life. Your words are a constant source of inspiration, and for that I am more thankful than for this award.

In response to theloneshewolf for the Very Inspiring Award:
Rules: Thank nominator, list seven random things about myself, nominate 15 blogs and notify them of their nominations

• Mrs. Prickles is no longer my favorite toy. I have moved on to Mr. Prickles. He was a Christmas gift from my grandma Schmidt and I love him for the same reasons I loved Mrs. Prickles.
• I discovered this week that I have an almost paralyzing irrational fear of balloons filled with helium. Even if they say “I love you” on them.
• I wake up each day with a mindset to see good in all people and things.
• I am currently reading Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy. It inspires me daily.
• I find myself missing those I have loved and lost a lot lately. What is that about?
• I occasionally lick my mom’s legs when she gets out of the shower. And she let’s me. (Shh, don’t tell anyone).

I mean no disrespect to my nominators in this, but with each award came the request to nominate a number of other recipients. I’m feeling the joy today, so rather than pick just one, five or fifteen bloggers from whom I draw inspiration, I nominate you. Yes, you. Reader of this blog, please consider yourself nominated for any or all of the awards I have described and paw it forward as you see fit. Without your support, I would just be a little terrier mutt with a big heart and a lot to tell the world.

I find joy in odd things. Thank you for seeing the more that is less in my life.