Sunday, March 28, 2010

Mental Duck to Mental Swan Award


I have not given this out for a while and as today would have been Renee's birthday..I thought it would be a good day to offer this up again. I miss her dearly but know she would rather we toast her with a shot of Bailey's than be sad.

This award has been in the past and is again dedicated to Renee as she was the inspiration for it. I repeated 2nd grade and was thereafter labeled as the slow one in the family. Despite graduating with honors in high school and being on the deans list in college..I was still the slow one. I was in my 40s before I realized I was not so slow and well, pretty smart after all. During a discussion one day with Renee about how this had kept me from doing so many things in my life she said to me...
"Sarah, you have gone from Mental Duck to Mental Swan."

I can only say that this had a profound effect on me..her words! So this award is dedicated to all of those who are just finding their beautiful big swan wings and those who encourage others to find and spread them. Thank you Renee for helping me find mine!!

This award is not one to be passed on...it is a gift from me to you and I hope you will honor me by taking it! I have been watching you amazing women support up each other and this is my small way of saying thank you! Here is to Renee..Cheers hon!!

The Mental Duck to Mental Swan Award is given to two amazing groups of bloggers;

1. To Bloggers who encourage and nurture others bloggers to explore and grow in their creative, spiritual or mental lives.
2. To Bloggers who are blooming and growing creatively, spiritually or mentally in their lives & sharing it on their blogs .

In no particular order...

Liz of The Fragrant Muse- We must have been sisters in another life...amazing and supportive and spreading her beautiful wings wide with her new training!

Becca of Magikal Seasons. Becca is one of the most delightful women I know.. supportive and funny I have watched her bloom this year!! Her artwork just makes me smile!!

Brenda of Wicked Wool Gathering - Brenda is another dear friend that I have watched bloom over the last year. Another wonderful artist whom I adore! Sweet and caring she never fails to send hugs just when you need them!

Pam of Yoborobo..Delightful and funny and very talented. I do love her little dolls! She is always there to lend and ear or a hug & I adore her too!!

Suzie of Cat in the Moon - One of the most supportive gals I know..I am blessed to have met her!! Creative and funny and a heart as big as Texas!! She has been my shoulder many times..thank you hon! Yup adore her too!

Karen D of Journey to Spirit through Art and Creativity Wonderful ...never fails to amaze me with her depth! Sweet and amazingly supportive. I always smile when I see she has popped by to say hi! A dear friend and creative powerhouse!!

Faerwillow of Serendipity Amazing wordsmith..this girl just glows with a rare light! I am blessed to say she is a friend! I have also been blessed with her sweet caring and hugs when I have needed them! She is just something something!!

Technobabe Always there to support me and so many others..always just the right words to sooth the soul..the girl has a gift! I am blessed to know her too!! Yup adore her!!

Debra of She who Seeks - Another one who makes me smile whenever I visit her blog..sassy and wonderful and always tells it how it is! Delightful, supportive and creative!! Another amazing force!!

Diva Kreszl of Diva's Musings She never fails to be there for me when I need her with supportive words and hugs..amazing..she is! A truly beautiful soul and amazing creative force!!

Stregata of Put a Little Magic in Your Life - Her jewelry to die for..but her caring heart is amazing! Another huge support to me and so many others...Yeah... I adore her too!!

Joanna - of...The Fifty Factor I adore her..I do..she is such a dear friend! I love the fact that she has my Fall artwork in her house! She is a supportive and loving and another woman I am blessed to know!! Am sending chocolate!!!

Tammie of Spirit Helpers One of the most talented photographers & poets I know...amazing wonderful and so sweet!! I am blessed to not only know her but to call her friend and own a few precious pieces of her work!!

The Strawberry Mallard Another beautiful soul and friend!! Artistic and creative..I love her work too! I have only of late gotten to know the wonderful gal!! How blessed am I?

So there are only a few of the amazing women I know here!! Adore each and every one!! More to come soon. Thank you every one of you for the blessings you give me everyday when you visit me here or email me! You have all touched my heart and I am so very thankful for that!
Hugs and love, Sarah

19 comments:

CiCi said...

Thank you for bestowing this award on my little hippie blog and for sharing the love and inspiration of Renee. This award will always mean so much to me and I cherish all it means. You have been great to me and I appreciate all I share with you. Hugs.

Diva Kreszl said...

Oh sweet Sarah, this means so much to me that you would bestow such an award my humble little blog. Today especially, as we lift up our cups and toast to our dear Renee. I have felt the stirriings of my 'mental swan' this year, yearning to come out of hiding, to silence the naysayers who thought my artistic endeavors frivolous. Your voice of encouragement coupled with Renee's gave me the confidence to keep blogging. So many sweet supportive friends here in blogland :)thank you!

Snap said...

Congratulations ladies. As a former winner of this award, I know what it means to Sarah and what a wonderful gift she gives to us.

Tammie Lee said...

Dear Sarah, you are a swan indeed!
I have loved getting to know you as well and love my dragon eye that you drew!
I feel honored that you have given me this award. Thank you. It will be fun to visit your friends as well.
with love,
T

magikalseasons said...

Thank you Sarah I'm really honored that you thought of me! Renee's heart lives and she's smiling down from the stars I'm sure. With your friendship I have been encouraged. I never feel alone and I feel blessed with supportive and wonderful friends like you! Thank you so much for everything my friend! :) xoxo Becca

yoborobo said...

Oh my gosh, Sarah! This is so wonderful, especially since today is our dear friend's birthday. Renee always encouraged me and patted me on the back. I know I feel my swan wings because of friends like her, and friends like you, too. Thank you so much! :) xoxoxo Pam

Sarah Sullivan said...

Your very welcome Ladies..every one well deserved!! Namaste!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Sarah, I am SO honoured to receive this from you, and on Renee's birthday no less! This award makes me feel like a Big Trumpeter Swan! I will be on hiatus at my blog for a couple of weeks, but when I'm back I'll post this on my blog and thank you there as well!

stregata said...

Thank you, dear sweet Sarah! I know it is a great honour to receive this award from you. I'm sorry I did not know Renee, but from what I can see in the blogosphere, she must have been an angel on earth.
Thank you for all that you do - I love to visit you - you are so special!

brandi said...

~sarah...so this wordsmith as you have said is sitting here with chills and crying...honored and blessed i am to receive such a gift especially coming from you...when i first started blogging your words and encouragement were always there as a l♥ving gentle hand encouraging me to keep going...thank you so for thinking of me and for such words you have written...to each and everyone of us...you are a unique guiding light that helps us see our way...congrats to all you have bestowed this gift upon...an honor i think we all will hold to the highest...and a beautiful way to have renee remain in our lives...gone but never forgotten...much l♥♥♥ve always and brightest blessing upon you always my sweet dear FRIEND~

Suzie said...

Ok. .confession time. I saw this yesterday, and just as abruptly shut it down.

Hubs happened to be at his computer next to mine, at the time, and asked me what was wrong. I'm sitting here getting all misty eyed.

He asks me if someone said something to hurt my feelings, or if I got more sad news, and I say "No, Sarah gave me an award." And he says, "Well that's good isn't it?" And I say "Yes, but. ."(men just don't understand)lol

I go on to try and explain the story behind the award, and how much Renee means to all of us, and how especially close she is to Sarah, how important this award is to Sarah, and how it was Renee's Birthday. And, how I was overwhelmed that Sarah would bestow her beautiful award to me, and in the company of such wonderful women.

At which point, much to my surprise, he reaches over and gives my shoulder a pat and a squeeze, and tells me that it is well deserved. A moment so rare, it pushed me over the edge, and I burst into tears.

Sarah, you've presented me with one of the few times that I have been rendered speechless, and then when my mind starts minimally functioning, I can't express myself, and what this means to me.

I can only hope that you can read between the lines when I say a very heartfelt "Thank you".

And a huge congratulations to everyone else on your list! I agree, they all grandly deserve it!

Love & Hugs!

Joanna Jenkins said...

Oh Sarah, You made my day! What a lovely award and the ties to your dear friend Renee make it even sweeter. Thank you so much.

I've been on vacation all last week and just put my niece on the plane back East late last night. I need a few days to rest up and then I'll be back to catch up on all your posts and to check out the other award recipients.

Thanks again and have a great week. Love you, jj

Wild Roaming One (WRO) said...

Sarah, what an affirming and encouraging thing to have been told by Renee...and now to pay that forward to other women in your blog/life...well dear one, it's just a testament to who you are!

Thank you for coming by last week...I'm feeling a bit disconnected from my neighbors in our bloghood...your visit is a wonderful surprise!

Peace,
WRO

Brenda LaBell said...

Oh my....I have had the grandkids since Thursday and I am just catching up. Wow, I am, wow. Thank you dearest Sarah. This is so much more than an award it's an inspriation in itself and such a heartfelt piece. I can not begin to express how much this award means to me if you could see my face right now, you would know. Thank you for thinking of me. I am honored.

((Hugs))
Brenda

Liz Fulcher, The Fragrant Muse said...

Oh dear Sarah, I've been so swept up in my own little world that only today did read your post and see this wonderful award. I am touched and honored. Thank you Sarah, Thank you Renee. You and I were were indeed sisters in another life and will no doubt play together in the next life with Renee right next to us! I love how you honored so many fabulous women in such a loving and magical way. How could anyone call you the slow one is beyond me, but I do understand how family dynamics have a way of sticking with us forever. Or at least until we realize that they are a lie.

I am off now to read about everyone on your list!

Unknown said...

Congratulations to all the ladies!!

Dede said...

Congratulations to all! Very well deserved indeed. When I received this award from Sarah, I too was speechless and so very touched. This award to be, in the most meaningful blog award anyone can receive. Once again, Congratulations to a fine bunch of ladies!

(((HUGS)))

Karen D said...

Sarah, this award means so much to me at this time. I have been going through some rough times, which you know about and this award really picked me up and made me feel a bit better. Your friendship has been a wonderful gift and I really appreciate it.
Thanks so much!
Namaste
Karen

Karen D said...

Sarah, this award means so much to me at this time. I have been going through some rough times, which you know about and this award really picked me up and made me feel a bit better. Your friendship has been a wonderful gift and I really appreciate it.
Thanks so much!
Namaste
Karen