Before I take care of the formalities of receiving this sweet award, let me acknowledge the many who have given me this (and other) awards, and hopefully, this one (divine) act will satisfy them all. I am hopeful and I am humbled.

Thank you…….to my beautiful friends – Mary, Willow, Soumyav, Linda, James, Wendell, Mira Jay, J. E. Lattimer, Blue, Leroy, Jaana, Paul, Larry, Dan, and Vimal. Forgive me in advance for rolling all of these into one post. Know that I love each of you far more than words could say, and am thankful for Mary for giving the latest award such that it served as a much needed kick to do something other than say thank you (although thank you is, hopefully, understood).

Thank you, Mary for your love and your light. I am graced by that which falls against my shadows. This reward is of no comparison to the graces you share with us here. ~ http://godisiam.net/

I believe you say it best when you say quite simply – namaste.

The rules –

1. Accept the award, post the picture of the Liebster Award on the top of your post and say who nominated you for the award and list their blog site. (Check)
2. List 11 random facts about yourself.
3. Nominate 11 other bloggers for the Liebster Award and list their blog sites. (Okay, you’ll either have to accept that I can’t count or that I think rules which define love are a waste of time.)
4. Notify the bloggers of their award.
5. Ask the award winners 11 questions to answer when they accept their Liebster Award.
6. Answer the questions left for you by the blogger who gave you the award.

11 facts
1. What I know. Some things don’t last forever, but some things do. Like a good song, or a good book, or a good memory you can take out and unfold in your darkest times, pressing down on the corners and peering in close, hoping you still recognize the person you see there. But always, that place, that person or song is there.
2. I am a very spiritual being.
3. My life is very blessed, such that I could not forget it if I wanted to.
4. I love. If there is one thing I know about myself it is this. It is not what I do, but who I am.
5. Morning is the time I enjoy writing the most. In that time, more than any other, words rush right past my hands.
6. I may not make a difference to a lot of people, but I can make a difference to a few. Since I don’t know who those are, I try to reach a lot. 🙂
7. There are no problems bigger than a person to love.
8. My parents live not far from me. My dad turned 80 last fall and suffers from Parkinson’s, and yet, he laughs. He loves and no matter how weak he might be, there is room on his lap and in his rocker for me. Home is where it is easiest to simply be, where love aspires to be nothing more (or less).
9. Nature is my cathedral of choice. It is there I hear angels most often.
10. I pray that I never live long enough to think I have learned everything. I pray that I am always a smile on the face of memory.
11. I am grateful for this place and these lives that have expanded to include me. I am quite positive that you grow tired of the word ‘love’, and yet there’s not a second choice word that does you justice.

11 questions
1. Why do you write? Because I don’t know how to not write. I am quite certain it would be easier to stop breathing. I am reminded of the answer to why does the caged bird sing ~ because he has a song.
2. Where is the one place you wish you could live? Actually, I live in every place that I have lived…..and love in every place I have loved. Beyond this life, I pray I live.
3. If you had the opportunity to go back in time to do whatever you wish, would you take it? No
4. What’s your writing process like? I don’t have one. I don’t question or wonder or plan. I write. Words come and I let them.
5. Among your work, do you have favorite poem? If so which one and why? Yes, and no. I have lots of favorites and some are posted here – deliberate pause, another me, where kisses fell, and one Kentucky (after all). They are all favorites for different reasons. I could no more choose a favorite than I could name a favored season, moment, or love in my life. Every day is the best day, every kiss the sweetest, every sunrise, the most beautiful.
6. What made you start writing? I wrote in college and then lost touch with it for a while. In 2001, a friend gave me a journal and all I had saved rushed forward to the page.
7. What is your favorite topic to write about? Life, love, truth, nature, and the beauty that sits just beyond the window’s edge. Remember – I write.
8. Who is your favorite poet or author? I’ve always loved Emily Dickinson, but also love e e cummings, Mary Oliver, and Lyn Lynfish.
9. What inspires you to write? Truth, love and divine (sweet) grace.
10. Is there someone famous that you admire? Actually, I admire anyone (famous or not) who chooses to make this world better, whether in little ways or big ones. We belong to one another. I admire those who love the job.
11. Which time period do you like the most? Early morning. Early afternoon. Late night. 🙂 All of them.

And finally, answer time: 05/13/2013 @ 12:50 a.m.

As for recognizing other bloggers, I am already extremely aware that I will miss someone that I don’t mean to. There will be someone that I love that is left from the list. Just know it wasn’t intentional, and that I love you (already) for any forgiveness you send my way.

– http://foreverpoetic.wordpress.com Wendell loves such that his words glow. I, for one, am grateful.
– http://liliessparrowsandgrass.com Dee writes with such grace and with divine gentleness. I am awe of her words and the love she breathes into them.
– http://lindawillows.wordpress.com and http://lesplaisirssimplesdelavie.wordpress.com Linda and Cynthia (Cindy) share an extraordinary talent for marrying image to words, such that I am not sure which is the most envious of the other. Always, they take my breath away.
– http://soumyav.wordpress.com Soumyav is a soul of pure white light.
– http://jamesfielden.com James is an extraordinary writer, and a beautiful tender soul.
– http://makebelieveboutique.com and http://sbsebring.wordpress.com Blue and Bob both make me think. Always, their words pull me to another dimension of thought, of understanding, of questioning. In your words, Blue, I have found the perfection that is being imperfect – the bliss that is allowance.
– http://bluesander.wordpress.com Nessa is a sweet young, exquisite talent ~ a breath of innocence and strength (even when she doesn’t think so).
– http://throughthehealinglens.com Robyn has a heart of a gold, and a soul in full blossom!
– http://betweenpoles.wordpress.com Vimal is a dear sweet friend, and an amazing poet.
– http://ladybluerose.wordpress.com Mary is a sister of spirit. Her love is a blessing.

And a host of others for no other reason than that I love them, and always their words inspire me, delight me, and move me. Thank you Dean, Martin, Lenise, Willow, Stephen, Dennis, Peter, Seb, Mira Jay, Vanessa, Tracie and Paul.

– http://deanjbaker.wordpress.com
– http://agapintheclouds.wordpress.com
– http://iamleniselee.wordpress.com
– http://willowdot21.wordpress.com
– http://bumbastories.wordpress.com/
– http://dcardiff.wordpress.com
– http://grandfathersky.wordpress.com
– http://beijomacio.wordpress.com
– http://divinerhythm.wordpress.com
– http://ordinarylifelessordinary.wordpress.com
– http://tracielouisephotography.net
– http://pjb1943.wordpress.com

*whew*